“The delights of active operation for hi-fi loudspeakers have long been known, but few manufacturers venture from passives. To read Audiograde’s SCM40A review in full, click here to visit their website. Put simply these speakers make the case like few others for the active path, they’re exceptional.” Audiograde, December 2022. “This brand knows a thing or two about studio grade audio, so when it decided to fit three Class AB amps into its already acclaimed SCM40 speakers we knew they were going to be something special. If you’re looking for an integrated at this level, you must hear this one.ATC SCM40A awarded by Audiograde & Stereonet as ‘Best of 2022’ and ‘Product of the Year ’22’ Our SCM40A active 3-way loudspeaker has proved very popular in 2022 and the press agree with Audiograde featuring it in their ‘Best of 2022’ and Stereonet UK also featuring it as one of their ‘Products of the Year ’22’. But, in adding a good quality MM phono stage and tweaking the power amplifier section, it has made a great amplifier even better. The previous generation of Supernait wasn’t broken and so Naim hasn’t fixed it. The Supernait produces an informative and enjoyable sound regardless. We try a range of headphones from the Beyerdynamic T1s to Grado’s RS-1s without issue. Normally such outputs are a box-ticking exercise for manufacturers and most sound compromised compared to the speaker outputs. The front panel headphone output is similarly pleasing. The phono input retains the entertaining character of the line stages and is pretty quiet as far as hiss and unwanted noise are concerned. We use a Goldring 1042 MM on our reference Technics SL-1000R and this amp delivers fine results. If you do need an MC cartridge, Naim’s Stageline outboard phono stage (£399) could be powered by a dedicated socket on the Supernait 3. But the company says that would mean a more compromised design and an increased price. We’re a little disappointed that Naim hasn’t included moving coil capability for the phono stage here. The Supernait 3 conveys the changing momentum of this music brilliantly, capturing the various mood changes between tracks with conviction. We can’t think of a more capable alternative when it comes to rhythmic drive and precision. We’re impressed by the organisation on show and the amplifier’s ability to track a multitude of musical strands and still tie them together as a cohesive and musical whole. It has a fast, punchy sound that’s backed with real heft at low frequencies. We start with Four Tet’s There Is Love In You set and the Naim sounds as happy as a toddler in a sandpit. That’s what the Supernait, regardless of generation, has always done best. When that subliminal messiness of an amplifier struggling isn’t present, it’s easier to focus on the music instead. Such confidence works wonders for the listener. We try a range of alternatives to our reference ATC SCM 50s and the Naim never sounds like it has to try hard to make them bend to its will. The Supernait 3 sounds solid and muscular, handling whatever you throw at it in terms of music and partnering speakers.
We use Naim’s range-topping ND 555/ 555 PS DR music streamer for much of this test, though the ND5 XS2 (£2299) or NDX 2 (£4999) should be more usual partners.
Given a suitable amount of time to settle, and a source of suitable quality, this amplifier turns in a remarkably assured performance. There is a hefty mains transformer, and the use of good quality motorised Alps potentiometers for volume and balance controls. Take a look inside the amplifier and it’s hard not to be impressed by the neatness of the build or the obsessive attention to small details such as the deliberately loose fitting mains socket, which reduces the amount of vibration fed into the casework. Most times, something as humble as a Chord Mojo does the job better. In our experience built-in digital modules rarely perform as well as carefully chosen outboard units. Naim’s thinking is that including such inputs not only raises costs, but also has the potential for affecting analogue performance. The original Supernait had some but these were dropped for the sonically superior Mk 2 version. Some may question the lack of digital inputs.
#Atc subwoofer upgrade#
While we can’t see many Supernait owners stretching to the SuperCap DR option, the other two look tempting when the urge to upgrade strikes. The upgrade potential doesn’t end there, with the Supernait 3 able to make use of Naim’s Flatcap (£939), Hi-cap DR (£1419) or SuperCap DR (£4599) outboard power supplies. There’s a variable line output available with both socket types, in case you want to add an additional power amplifier or subwoofer. Inputs Four line-level inputs, MM phono, 6.3mm headphone
0 kommentar(er)
