NAIT XS 3

Major performance upgrades and now with added love for vinyl.

Customer Reviews Overview Features Technology Reviews & Awards Book a Demo Support

In the six years since the last NAIT integrated amplifiers were released, our research and development team have worked on a range of amplifier improvements.

The result is upgraded power amplifier sections for NAIT XS 3, delivering greater pace and intimacy to their musical delivery – whether it's driving a pair of loudspeakers or your favourite pair of headphones.

The NAIT XS 3 has received significant performance upgrades, including a built-in phono stage, making it a perfect partner for turntables, as well as for streamers, CD players, or any other music source people want to enjoy with the signature Naim sound.

The NAIT XS 3 offers much of the performance of our reference quality SUPERNAIT 3 in a simpler, slimmer package combining a 70W power amplifier with five analogue inputs plus a phono stage. Its high-performance preamplifier stage is as transparent as you would expect from a Naim Audio amplifier, and it also shares the single-ended class-A headphone output of its larger sibling.

The NAIT XS 3 can be upgraded with our external power supplies, power amplifiers and even cabling upgrades to get the best from all sources.

Features

With our typical obsessive attention to detail – all in service of achieving the most authentic musical performance – the NAIT XS 3 benefits from the following features:

Class A headphone amplification
Alps Blue Velvet volume control
Reed relay input selection
Ceramic insulators for the power transistors
Galvanically isolated microprocessor control section
Microphonic-isolating PCB mounts

Technology & Craft

The upgrades in more detail:

Our R&D team has found a way to more than double the speed of the voltage gain stage, which in turn doubles the rate at which the speaker output stage can react.
The second gain stage transistors have been optimised, so they no longer need to be shielded by a cascode stage transistor. Removing the cascode means less amplifier stabilisation is required: that doubles the slew rate and delivers another uplift in sound quality.
The phono circuit topology comprises 3 stages: the gain stage, passive equalisation and final gain and active equalisation. This enables excellent noise performance, extended RIAA equalisation beyond the audio band and great overload headroom.
All RIAA equalisation capacitors are ‘through-hole’ mounted film designs, with low microphonic pickup and excellent transient performance. As phono stages are 1000x more sensitive than other inputs, this greatly benefits the sound quality.
Input impedance is 47kΩ in parallel with 470F capacitive loading; the gain is perfect for 5mV moving magnet cartridges

Product Specification

Audio Inputs
	Attribute Value
MM Phono Input	via RCA, 47k parallel 470pF input impedance, suitable for 5mV cartridges
Line Level Inputs	130mV sensitivity, 47k input impedance, suitable for 2V
Power Amp In	DIN Socket

Audio Outputs
	Attribute Value
Powered Accessory Sockets	+24V for Naim phono amplifier
Speaker Outputs	70W per channel into 8 ohms (4mm sockets), 100W per channel into 4 ohms
Line Outputs Variable (level)	Pre-amp (DIN), Sub (RCA pair) 775mV, <50 ohms
Line Outputs Fixed (level)	AV (DIN), Stream (DIN) 130mV, 600 ohms
Headphone Output	1/4 inch (6.35mm) TRS Socket

Connectivity
	Attribute Value
Updates	1 x USB mini-B
Remote Input	1 x 3.5mm Jack on rear

Finish
	Attribute Value
Case	Black powder coated
Front	Brushed and black anodised

Physical
	Attribute Value
Shipping Weight	12 kg
Shipping Dimensions	200 x 590 x 500 mm
Weight	8.5 kg
Dimensions (HxWxD)	70 x 432 x 314 mm

Power
	Attribute Value
Power Consumption (max.)	350VA
Mains Supply	115V, 230V; 50 or 60Hz
Power Consumption (quiescent)	16VA

Supplied with
	Attribute Value
Supplied with	NARCOM-5 Remote Control, Mains Lead, Link Plug and Safety Manual

User Control
	Attribute Value
Front Panel	Volume control and front panel buttons
Remote Control	Infra-Red (RC5)

Manuals & Downloads

Product Manuals

NAIT XS 3 - Spanish

NAIT XS 3 - Korean

NAIT XS 3 - Dutch

NAIT XS 3 - English

Reviews & Awards

Latest Reviews

Hi-Fi+ | NAIT XS 3 | Review, Jun 2020

"Thirty years on, the core concepts have not changed: the Nait was a damn good amplifier then, and the Naim Audio Nait XS 3 is a damn good amplifier now."

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AVForums | NAIT XS 3 | Best Buy , Apr 2020

"The NAIT XS3 is an absolute star and an unquestionable Best Buy at the asking price."

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Hi-Fi Choice | NAIT XS 3 | Group Test Winner , Jan 2020

"The best-sounding amplifier is Naim’s Nait XS 3, which is consistently brilliant with all types of music. It’s beautifully made, attractive, easy to use and has an MM phono stage for turntable use, which all adds up to a winning combination at the price."

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Stereonet | NAIT XS 3 Integrated Amplifier, Jan 2020

This latest Naim NAIT XS 3 represents a subtle but really worthwhile improvement on its XS 2 predecessor and puts it back at the top of its class in terms of value for money. It has a thorough and even-handed yet engaging and enjoyable presentation that's hard not to love.

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AVTech Media | NAIT XS 3 | Review , Nov 2019

"It ticks all the right ‘hi-fi’ boxes with a well-defined, highly detailed and carefully ordered sound, but more than this, the new Nait really sings and transports the listener deep into the musical event."

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Hi-Fi Choice | NAIT XS 3 | Editor's Choice Award , Sep 2019

"The Nait XS 3 is a clear improvement over its already fine predecessor, and a really strong purchasing proposition in its own right. It feels like it has been dusted down and sharpened up, and the result is a more emotionally articulate and engaging performer that’s hard not to love."

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Hi-Fi News | NAIT XS 3 | Highly Commended , Aug 2019

"What the Nait XS 3 does so well is clarity, that usual foot-tapping Naim thing with an insight that draws you into whatever’s being played."

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What Hi-Fi? | NAIT XS 3 | 5 Star Review, Aug 2019

"It slots into your system and does exactly what you want it to, and that’s deliver the music with emotional impact intact. We can’t ask any more of an amplifier than that."

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Awards