Naim Nait XS3
Our fourth system of Award-winning genius is an undeniably expensive combination. As with so many things in life, however, you really do get what you pay for here – and then some.
As with our other three systems here, the synergy produced by these masters of their art means that you are getting more out of the system than simply adding four random products together. This is a magical combination of what are, individually, considerable talents.
The Vertere DG-1 Dynamic Groove is a deck/arm package that offers a fair dose of the performance of Vertere’s top-end turntables but at a far more approachable outlay. It’s designed to be easy to use, and even has the option of a fitted cartridge for those who want a complete package.
That cartridge is the new Vertere Magneto moving magnet, and it’s essentially a rebadged Audio-technica AT-VM520EB. Bought separately it costs £220. It’s a capable piece of kit but in this context you should think of it as something to get you going, rather than the final destination; ultimately, the DG-1’S abilities demand something better.
The DG-1’S motor is derived from the one used in Vertere’s more upmarket offerings and is a 24v pole synchronous design. As with other Vertere turntables, the motor body is designed to move in order to absorb belt tension effects, so helping to improve speed stability.
It doesn’t take long to realise that the Vertere DG-1 is a terrific-sounding deck. It has a bold, outgoing sound that brims with energy and drive. Bass notes hit hard and fast, but in an impressively controlled way. There’s little in terms of overhang and at no point do we feel that the lows are dominating unnecessarily.
We’re impressed with the level of detail too. The DG-1 is a precise and highly resolving product, one that’s able to dig up plenty of information and organise it into a cohesive and musical whole. It’s excellent rhythmically, and has our feet tapping with ease. We haven’t come across a rival that communicates the changing momentum of a piece of music so explicitly.
A better cartridge would see an improvement in refinement at higher frequencies, where the Magneto sounds a little coarse, and would also reveal even more in the way of subtleties. But, even as the package stands with the Magneto in place, it’s easily the most entertaining option we’ve heard at the price.
A marriage made in heaven
It’s great that we can marry this fine turntable with a wonderful Naim amp and streamer combination. The Nait XS was introduced in 2008, when vinyl was going fairly strong – as it always had – but hadn’t quite hit the enormous revival we have enjoyed in the past decade or so. We had to wait for the third iteration of the XS before a phono stage was introduced. Which makes it absolutely ideal for what we have in mind here.
It’s somewhat of a surprise to find that digital inputs and Bluetooth aren’t on the menu still. Naim would argue that an outboard DAC would be a better solution, and at least that way the analogue performance doesn’t suffer and the price doesn’t change too much.
We’ve always liked the Nait XS; yet, compared with the last generation, and thanks to tweaks in the power-amp circuitry, the 3 sounds a little crisper and more agile than the model it supersedes. The differences aren’t massive, but they’re enough to keep Naim at the cutting edge of performance at this price.
Built-in phono stages are often included as a box-ticking exercise with little regard to getting the best results, but the circuit in the XS 3 bucks that trend with a detailed and punchy performance that brims with energy and interest. It’s relatively quiet too. When we move to the line inputs, the Nait continues to impress with a combination of insight, dynamic subtlety and rhythmic drive that’s hard to better at this level.
As one might hope, the amplifier is the perfect partner to Naim’s ‘entry level’ streamer, the ND5 XS 2. (For ‘entry level’ read ‘cheapest’.) Never mind entering at this level – if this is the best your system ever sounds you’ll be doing your ears mightily proud.
You’re unlikely to be disappointed with this streamer even straight from the box, but be aware you might not experience its full potential for some time after its purchase. We always run in any kit before we test it, but Naim products in particular tend to benefit from lengthy use to get up to full pace.
Tonally it is even, with the ability to dig deep into bass frequencies with ease and tempering that with rich and insightful mids and treble. It possesses that neutrality required to paint an honest picture of a track, refusing to force its own presentation simply to catch the listener’s ear.
And let’s not ignore the impressive detail on offer here. The XS 2 is as masterful at conveying timbre as anything you could hope to find for this kind of money. That applies to the breathiness of a reed instrument just as it does the shape of a synthesized waveform or timid croak in an intimate vocal performance.
And its insightful nature is present even when streaming from Spotify via
Bluetooth. It remains a pleasant surprise when a streamer displays any kind of aptitude for timing, but the clock here is admirably precise, while an abundance of punch and terrific dynamic range make for an entertaining, exciting listen.
The best of all worlds?
The fourth member of this stunning quartet manages to maintain the stellar performance of its trio of bandmates.
The use of two types of 16.5cm mid/ bass driver working in tandem in the Proac Response DT8 may be clever from an engineering point of view, but visually it unsettles us. Why use two types of mid/bass driver? In engineering terms, there’s always a trade-off between the optimisation of midrange and bass performance in a drive unit. By using different drivers working in tandem, Proac’s engineers have attempted to get the best of all worlds. A polypropylene cone in the top unit shoots for natural mids, and a stiff poly mica diaphragm in the lower is there to deliver powerful but articulate bass. The trick is to get the two working seamlessly, which isn’t easy.
These floorstanders use Proac’s usual downward-firing port arrangement that vents to the sides. This configuration makes the speakers less fussy about room positioning than conventional rear-firing ported alternatives tend to be.
When fed Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony the Response DT8S respond with a large-scale sound full of force and fury. They deliver the music’s high-octane dynamic swings with enthusiasm and plenty of punch, yet have the skill to render the subtleties with care.
Detail levels are high, with the DT8S able to resolve layers of information and organise it in a cohesive manner. They render instrumental texture superbly, and deliver slight changes in intensity and drive well.
Stereo imaging is lovely too. These speakers paint on an expansive sonic canvas, and locate instruments with precision and stability. The orchestra is laid out convincingly, the sound extending well beyond the space between the speakers.
Proacs engineers can give themselves a hearty pat on the back. While the presence of two different types of mid/ bass driver caused us to have doubts at first, we’re impressed by the DT8’S expressive and transparent midrange performance. Voices come through with clarity, and are nicely separated from the complex instrumental backdrop.
Add in a healthy level of agility and you have a pair of floorstanders that sweetly complement the detail and insight found in such abundance elsewhere in this talented quartet.