CES 2014

Naim’s Statement Amplifier

John Atkinson  |  Jan 19, 2014

Though English manufacturer Naim Audio has had some very affordable products in their line, like the original Nait integrated amplifier from the mid-1980s, their reputation for sound quality was established with relatively expensive models. But nothing in the company’s history prepared me for the Naim Statement six-piece preamplifier/twin monoblock system (center in photo) that made its debut at CES. To be available in July, the Statement, which comprises the NAC S1 line preamplifier and two NAP S1 power amplifiers, will be priced at $200,000 and is specified as delivering one horsepower (740W) into 8 ohms! Its weight matches its power: the preamp weighs 135 lbs and the power amplifiers each weigh 222 lbs.

The Statement is the result of three years’ work by a team led by the company’s Electronic Design Director, Steve Sells. Steve showed me the interior of the power amplifier (above) to emphasize that the topology is based on a vertical layout, with the power supply in the base of each unit suspended on an A-frame and coupled to the floor using spikes. The audio signal paths are kept as short as possible, with a three-dimensional layout minimizing electromagnetic interference and eliminating parasitics. Even the output devices are made especially for Naim, and mount the transistor die directly to the heatsink to lower the thermal impedance and shunt heat away from the transistor as fast as possible. The circuit was described as an error-correction type and Steve said that the amplifier was so stable that you could clip it continually at high frequencies without breaking anything.

The class-A preamplifier also features vertical layout and disconnects unused inputs to lower the noise floor. It has a unique dual-action volume control: volume is established by a resistor divider; however, this is only when the volume is set; when the volume control is turned, reed relays disconnect the resistor ladder and the new level is set by a Cirrus Logic volume-control chip; as soon as the volume control is released, the Cirrus chip is disconnected and the better-sounding resistor ladder immediately assumes the new setting. I tried this out and could not detect any glitches that might result from this process. It was seamless.

One more photo of the Naim Statement, this time from Jason Serinus, to emphasize the gorgeous industrial design, which sculpts the heatsinks with a wave motif. The sound in this room, with the Statement driving Focal Stella Utopia speakers, was one of the best I experienced at the 2014 CES, with an enormous dynamic range and the feeling that you could follow reverberation tails on a recording like John Rutter’s Requiem down for ever into the ultimate silence. Amplifiers that can play very loudly are plentiful; Naim’s Statement is the rare amplifier that simultaneously plays extraordinarily quietly without the music becoming submerged.

COMMENTS
volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on January 19, 2014 - 4:04pm

Looks like something out of T2.....interesting how Naim has always designed gear to primarily fit smaller British spaces, perhaps these amps are now targeted for the new wealthy oligrachs living on Moscow on the Thames or the new wealth coming out of Asia or the American hedge funders.  Either way very beautiful, and can say the build quality looks amazing, dare I say matches the price.  Would love to hear them one of these days.  But Wow! 

corrective_unconscious's picture
Submitted by corrective_unco... on January 19, 2014 - 4:17pm

That's a crazy serious audiophile who (in the middle photo) has stored all his capacitors, resistors, relays, transistors, etc., inside his own personal bank vault.

popluhv's picture
Submitted by popluhv on January 19, 2014 - 6:28pm

Can't wait to see the optional power supply upgrade for this ;)

shinri's picture
Submitted by shinri on January 20, 2014 - 11:53am

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on January 20, 2014 - 7:47pm

One should not speak ill of the dead, I suppose, but it does seem that Julian Hirsch, former editor-at-large of Stereo Review, obeyed his thoughts far more than his ears.

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on January 21, 2014 - 5:50pm

Jason Victor Serinus wrote:
One should not speak ill of the dead, I suppose, but it does seem that Julian Hirsch, former editor-at-large of Stereo Review, obeyed his thoughts far more than his ears.

I believe the poster was referring to Naim's founder, the late Julian Vereker. See www.stereophile.com/content/whats-his-naim-julian-vereker.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Timnlex's picture
Submitted by Timnlex on January 29, 2014 - 6:50am

Wondering who could justify designing this - much less purchasing it. Seems very wasteful of materials, and money. 

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on January 31, 2014 - 12:51pm

 

I've always liked the Naim sound, this should be very interesting, but if they went for a name like Statement I would have prefered to see many more smaller power supply caps for even lower esr than two baked bean can caps.

 

Cheers George

billyb's picture
Submitted by billyb on April 17, 2014 - 7:37am

One could say the same, Timenlex, of an SUV or a large boat, both of which are common enough and tend to escape criticism most of the time.  Have you seen the way luxury yachts are appointed?

Perhaps you should get out more often.

Should every manufacture make humble, modest appliances - underspecified even, in order to satisfy the tastes and priorities of those with modest means? If anybody won the lottery tomorrow, this Naim amp, and the new house to put it in, would be on several audiophiles shortlist. 

One thing i'll perhaps never understand is why after a nice and informative article, especially one about something new or innovative, there is always a bench of people waiting to take down the author, the equipment, or both.  I think of the line from Elenor Rigby...

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