Naim is out with their New Classic range of electronics including the NSC 222 streaming pre-amplifier; an all-new iteration of the iconic NAP 250 power amplifier; and the NPX 300 power supply upgrade. Each boasts more features – including balanced connections – without sacrificing sound quality.
Designed and engineered in England, the New Classic range is handcrafted with care and built to last. Sophisticated yet simple to use, these timeless products aim to bring you years of listening pleasure. There are also a range of ways to integrate these new products with existing Naim models.
“From designing in our best-ever performance at this level, to added features and flexibility to eco-friendly elements – New Classic products use less than 0.5W in standby – we’ve combined our 50 years of experience with the very latest technology to redefine home hi-fi,” said Steve Sells, Head of Engineering (Hardware) at Naim Audio.
NSC 222 – A SUPERLATIVE STREAMING PRE-AMPLIFIER
CES® 2023 Innovation Awards honoree
Start your New Classic musical journey with the Naim Audio Mu-So : a multi-talented streaming pre-amplifier that lets you keep things simple with without compromising on musical quality. Enjoy streaming performance from Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, a world of internet radio and more, with support for bitrates up to 32bit/284kHz.
Prefer vinyl? The NSC 222 has an integrated MM phono stage. A headphone fan? The NSC 222 features Naim’s latest headphone technology as featured in the multi-award-winning Uniti Atom Headphone Edition, for a sublime solo-listening experience.
Everything you’re enjoying listening to is beautifully displayed on a larger, 5.5″ full-color screen. Easily control the NSC 222 via the Focal & Naim App, the smart Zigbee remote-control handset (no line of sight required) or via the unit itself: the illuminated volume control is a joy to use.
NAP 250 – THE ICONIC POWER AMP: BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER
To drive the speakers, simply pair the NSC 222 with the Naim Audio NAP 250 power amplifier. In continuous production since 1975, the NAP 250 has gained iconic status. Featuring trickle-down technology from Naim’s flagship Statement amplifier, the new sixth-generation model delivers more power, even better performance, and greater system-matching flexibility.
The new NAP 250 is a 100W per channel dual-model design, with full power regulation. It’s a party-proof design: its heatsink reacts as the volume increases, keeping things cool. Other enhancements include the addition of true balanced XLR connections, plus a range of trickle-down technology from Naim’s flagship Statement amplifier, including an eddy-current circuit breaker between the speaker outputs.
NPX 300 – UPGRADED POWER AND PERFORMANCE
Take your musical experience to the next level with the NPX 300 power supply: an instant upgrade for the NSC 222 streaming pre-amplifier. It disables the internal power supply – immediately reducing the noise floor further still – and provides superior, cleaner power.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
New Classic pricing below with availability January 2023.
- NSC 222 – $8,999 USD / $11,999 CAD
- NAP 250 – $8,999 USD / $11,999 CAD
- NPX 300 – $8,999 USD / $11,999 CAD
The Audiophile History of Naim Audio
Few brands in high-end audio have earned the kind of passionate, almost tribal loyalty that Naim Audio commands. Based in Salisbury, England, Naim didn’t rise through flashy marketing or chasing trends. Instead, they built their reputation the old-fashioned way—through unrelenting dedication to sound quality, bulletproof engineering, and a signature sound that’s anything but sterile. Naim has always done things its own way, and that maverick spirit is exactly what has kept audiophiles coming back for more over the decades.
Naim was founded in 1973 by Julian Vereker, a man who didn’t come from the traditional audio establishment. He was a racing enthusiast, a self-taught engineer, and most importantly, a music lover. Frustrated by the lackluster sound of commercial hi-fi gear at the time, Vereker took it upon himself to design an amplifier that could recreate the pace, rhythm, and timing (often referred to by fans as “PRaT”) he heard in live performances. That philosophy became the cornerstone of Naim Audio.
The first real commercial breakthrough came with the NAP 200 power amplifier, followed by the NAC 12 preamp. These weren’t just competent pieces of gear—they had personality. They didn’t just reproduce sound; they made music move. Naim’s sound was fast, engaging, and incredibly dynamic, even when compared to more expensive and more spec-heavy competitors.
Unlike many hi-fi brands, Naim didn’t obsess over flashy cosmetics or endlessly chase specs. Instead, the company focused on modularity, upgrade paths, and long-term system building. You didn’t just buy a Naim amp—you bought into a system philosophy that could grow with you. You could start with an integrated amp and later add a separate power supply for improved performance, or stack multiple components with matching design and synergy. It was engineering with a long view, not just the next quarterly product cycle.
In the 1980s and ’90s, Naim doubled down on its analog roots with the release of their legendary turntable collaboration, the Aro tonearm, and expanded into CD players with units like the CDS and CDX. Even when the world moved quickly into digital convenience, Naim found a way to apply its purist, music-first mentality to the digital domain without compromising the qualities that defined the brand.
By the early 2000s, Naim was producing a full range of electronics—from preamps and power amps to streamers and DACs—all bearing that unmistakable house sound: bold, rhythmically tight, emotionally engaging. It’s not the kind of sound you forget. For some, it’s a revelation; for others, it’s a religion.
In 2011, Naim took a major step by joining forces with Focal, the French loudspeaker powerhouse. This merger brought together two companies with similar values: both engineering-led, fiercely independent-minded, and obsessed with creating emotionally compelling music playback. While some purists raised an eyebrow at the corporate pairing, what followed was a period of unprecedented innovation. With Focal’s design flair and manufacturing scale combined with Naim’s electronics expertise, both brands benefitted. The result? Systems with tighter integration, stronger R&D investment, and a deeper focus on lifestyle products that didn’t water down audiophile performance.
The Uniti series is a great example of this new era. These all-in-one streaming systems brought Naim’s sound to a broader audience without dumbing it down. They’re compact, beautifully built, and sonically faithful to Naim’s roots—proof that digital convenience and high-end performance don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Yet despite the evolution, the core of Naim remains unchanged. The company still builds its gear in Salisbury, still obsesses over power supply design, and still draws a clear line between “hi-fi” and musical experience. There’s a philosophy at play—one that prioritizes timing, energy, and human connection over cold technical perfection.
Naim’s fanbase reflects that. You’ll find Naim lovers who’ve been building systems for decades, painstakingly assembling their “Naim ladders” one black box at a time. You’ll also find younger listeners discovering the brand through streaming and wireless speakers, drawn in by the emotional immediacy of the sound.
