Naim Audio's DAC-V1 and NAP 100 Now In Store

March 28, 2013 - PRLog -- Naim today announced that its first DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) with an asynchronous USB input is available for demonstration at Naim retailers worldwide. Hailed by the experts at What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision as one of the most exciting and innovative hi-fi products launched at CES Las Vegas in January, the DAC-V1 is designed for the customer who uses a computer as their main source of music. The DAC-V1 will allow them to play back those audio files in stunning Naim sound quality.This is the second DAC in Naim’s range, sitting below the award-winning Naim DAC in the hierarchy.

The DAC-V1 is also a remote controlled digital preamplifier with five S/PDIFdigital inputs, a volume control and a very high quality headphone facility -Naim’s research indicates an increasing number of computer audio listeners arelistening through headphones.

The matching NAP 100 power amplifier delivers 50 watts per channel into 8 ohms – enough to fill all but the largest of rooms with sound – and together withthe DAC-V1 makes a compact and stylish system. Naim’s UnitiServe hard disk player/server with CD ripping is also an ideal match, and can be introduced tomake a truly versatile three-box system.

Both DAC-V1 and NAP 100 are available in store now at a price of £1250 and £650 respectively.

The compact design of the DAC-V1 is suited to being positioned near acomputer, on a desk or work station, as well as matching Naim’s existingproducts and working especially well on a Naim Fraim.

Key Features DAC-V1
•   1 x high-speed asynchronous USB input up to 24bit/384kHz
•   5 x S/PDIF inputs up to 24bit/192kHz (1 x BNC, 2 X RCA, 2 xTOSLINK)
•   Selectable fixed or variable analogue outputs (DIN or RCA)
•   Zero S/PDIF Jitter design in common with the original Naim DAC
•   Naim custom designed Digital Filtering with 16 times oversampling
•   SHARC ADSP21489 DSP for Digital Filtering and zero S/PDIF jitter
•   Classic discrete Naim preamplifier gain stage topology with selectedcomponents
•   High-quality Burr Brown PCM1791A DAC, in common with NDX andSuperUniti
•   Single ended Class-A headphone amplifier. Front panel ¼ inchheadphone output
•   Galvanically isolated - optical isolation between digital and analoguesections
•   Naim digitally controlled analogue volume control for performance andprecision
•   Linear power supply with 210VA transformer, windings for Digital, DACand analogue stages
•   Operates with computers running OSX, 10.7 and above, Windows 7 and8
•   Floating or Chassis ground switch for optimum performance with anysystem
•   Field upgradeable firmware
•   OLED display for adjusting settings and checking incoming bit-rates
•   Control via IR remote control or front panel controls
•   DAC-V1 can control computer playback and volume
•   Compact non-magnetic low-resonance chassis and sleeve
•   British design and build

NAP 100 Key Features
•Compact Design
•Classic Naim discrete transistor power amplifier
•50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms
•Dual Mono Design
•Audiophile grade selected components
•Linear power supply with a generous toroidal transformer
•Compact non-magnetic low-resonance chassis and sleeve

More about the single ended Class-A amplifier headphone output

Naim has a long tradition of using discrete transistor, single ended class-A amplifiers for all its pre- amplifier stages. This has now been extended to the headphone amplifier of the DAC-V1. The headphone amplifier cleverly uses the pre-amp output amplifier for headphone drive. The moment headphones are plugged in, the output current drive is automatically turned up five times to give dynamic drive for all headphone impedances. The amplifier runs from a high voltage power supply so has the ability to drive high impedance headphones with the voltage swing they require for open and dynamic sound. The result is the audio stages are kept as simple and pure as possible for both normal and headphone modes.

Single ended Class-A is long known for its natural sound quality and exhibits zero crossover distortion. Its Achilles’ heel is that it is inefficient, for headphone drive however this is not important, so all the benefits can be exploited. Most headphone amplifiers are Class-AB, where the amplifiers output stage is in two halves; one pushing and one pulling. Here the two halves meet in the middle and can produce
non-consonant distortion or distortions that do not occur naturally in music.

For further information, please contact:

Steve Harris

AudioPlus Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 8642 4436

Email: steveh@audioplus.co.uk

Patrick O’Shea

Naim Audio Limited

Tel: +44 (0)1722 4266647

Email: patrick.oshea@naimaudio.com

Download images from here: www.audioplus.org.uk

About Naim

Naim has a passionate and committed interest in music. This is as true today as it was at the time of the company's formation in Salisbury, England, over 35 years ago. Enjoyment of music has driven Naim to design and manufacture the finest range of audio equipment available.

Top engineering principles ensure that all Naim products meet and exceed the measurable parameters essential for state-of-the-art performance, safety and reliability: all essential qualities for which Naim is renowned. Measurement alone, however, is not enough: every product must also deliver the emotion of music. This is what makes good hi-fi great hi-fi.

Naim quality requires an attention to detail verging on the obsessive: a special and unique approach to component selection and system design, all within a highly specialised production environment. Every aspect of a Naim product’s design is considered for its impact on sound quality.

Naim's toughest critics are its management and its employees. Together with customers – music lovers and numerous musicians, who regard Naim's products as the closest to live music – Naim push onward on a path of continuous improvement.

Naim does not chase market fashion and will not move from its overriding objective of achieving consistent musical performance. The company has its own record label, Naim Label, which specialises in high-quality music recordings. Naim has moved steadily into the world of audio streaming and Multi- Room, introducing the award-winning NaimUniti all-in-one audio player and a range of multi-room audio products: NaimNet, designed to bring new customers to the Naim fold without sacrificing Naim's legendary performance. Naim also announced an exclusive partnership with Bentley Motors in 2008, with the launch of the Naim for Bentley Premium Audio System, which is available across all Bentley models.