Naim has announced this week the launch of a new network streaming pre-amplifier, the new NAC-N 272 will be available from March. The 272 will have a zero jitter S/PDIF DAC and DSD64 compatibility.
Naim suggests that future customers of the NAC-N 272 will be upgrading from SuperUniti, or NaimUniti 2. As a Uniti2 owner I can certainly say I’m very keen on upgrading to this product. Naim are always looking for new customers and they note ‘NAC-N 272 will also bring new customers to the Naim brand possibly initially as a front end to their existing power amplifiers or for someone looking for an extra degree of performance over a Uniti solution without losing out on convenience and functionality.’ I’d be looking to put the NAC-N 272 with a NAP 200 or 250 power amplifier.
Additional features include the first Naim product that is DSD64 (Direct Stream Digital) compatible, offering the highest quality audio sources a perfect home in the NAC. The summary feature list makes for impressive reading. With a high quality Bluetooth codec, Spotify connectivity and an array of music files supported this will be a must look in the spring. The product will retail at £3,300 or £3,595 including a DAB/FM module.
NAC-N 272 – Summary Feature List
PLAYBACK FEATURES
- High quality preamplifier including improved version of Naim hybrid volume control
- UPnPTM-enabled to allow streaming of audio files at up to 24bit/192kHz resolution from Naim hard disk servers, network-attached storage (NAS) devices or any home computer
- Supports a broad range of music formats: WAV, FLAC, Apple Lossless, DSF64, DFF64, AIFF, AAC, Windows Media-formatted files, Ogg Vorbis and MP3
- Spotify Connect built-in to stream millions of songs from the world’s most popular streaming service
- Six digital inputs (S/PDIF) for sources such as diverse as CD players, TVs, laptops and games consoles
- Bluetooth connectivity with high quality aptX audio codec
- vTuner 5* full-service internet radio
- Optional DAB+/DAB/FM radio module
- Multiroom & Party Mode compatible
- iOS and Android Naim app and supplied remote control for intuitive control
Performance and engineering features - Unique Naim electronic design combining award-winning digital and analogue technology
- Powerful 40bit DSP with unique Naim software authored to achieve optimum sound quality and eliminate S/PDIF jitter
- Naim single-ended Class-A headphone amplifier
- Large toroidal power supply with four separate windings for each section of product
- Performance-upgradable with XP5 XS, XPS and 555 PS power supplies
- Hand-matched, discrete analogue components selected through listening tests
- Inputs individually hand-wired and relay switched to decouple from interference
- Non-magnetic anodised aluminium casework to reduce resonance and reduce eddy currents
- Engineered and hand-built by Naim in Salisbury, England
Specification
- Outputs Preamplifier (2 x DIN, 1 x RCA), Line (1 x RCA), Digital S/PDIF (1 x BNC), Headphones (1 x 6.3mm)
- Preamp Output 775mV
- Line output 275mV
- Frequency Response 4Hz – 40kHz
- S/N Ratio 87dB (measured at 2V in, 775mV out)
- Analogue Inputs 3 ( 1 x DIN, 2 x RCA)
- Analogue Input Sensitivity 275mV
- Analogue Input Overload 34dB
- Digital Inputs 6 (1 x BNC, 2 x RCA, 3 x TosLink)
- Digital Input Sample Rate Max Coaxial – 192kHz, Optical – 96kHz
- Other Inputs DAB/FM, USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- iRadio Service vTuner 5* full service
- Audio Formats WAV and AIFF (up to 32bit/192kHz), FLAC (up to 24bit/192kHz), ALAC (up to 24bit/96kHz), WMA (up to 16bit/48kHz), Ogg Vorbis (up to 16bit/48kHz), MP3, M4a (up to 320kbit/s), Playlists (m3u, PLS), DSF64 and DFF64, Gapless playback supported on MP3, M4A,
- AIFF, WAV, FLAC and ALAC.
- Internet radio formats supported: AAC, Windows Media™ formatted content, MP3 streams, MMS, Ogg Vorbis, Spotify® Connect: Ogg Vorbis (up to 320kps) Bluetooth: SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX-LL
- Upgrade Interface mini-USB
- Wi-Fi Compatibility 802.11b, 802.11g
- Idle power consumption 21W
- Mains Supply 100V, 115V or 230V, 50/60Hz
- Power Supply Options 555PS, XPS, XP5 XS
- Dimensions (H x W x D) 87 x 432 x 314mm
- Weight 12.5kg
- Finish Black anodised aluminium with brushed and black anodised fascia
