Lots of nonsense posted in here. None of these people could hear the difference between amps in a blind test. All Lies, placebo effect and nonsense.

I normally use Audio Research top of the line amplifiers (mono blocks-love the warmth but are not now tight enough).with a Theta Voyager (superb when on form but unreliable)front end, a Theta Casa Blanca 111, driving B&Ws 800Ds in a difficult room. The sound is boomy but fine for films witha Pioneer Blue Ray RayLX 91etc> But serious classical music from early 78s to the latest CDs are my real pre3ferences
A friend who has naim 500s with whom I listen to a lot of music and is extreme reclusive asked me to bring over my Naim cd555 and power supply to play with the Naim 500s with the top of the line Naim preamp. and with the superb PMC mid range speakers proved wonderfully satisfying listening, -no fatigue- lively yet musical and altogether. If only one could afford them
Is the 300 acceptable.
I rely on Naim products for the last forty years having started wiyh the Nap250 with Hi Cap most of the CD players and am using the Naim Super Nait in my small system. Great sound Musical Musical.

Khushroo Suntook
chairman
The National Centre for the performing Arts
Mumbai 400 006
India.

Tremendous sense of ease no matter what--allows music to breathe naturally. The most tuneful amplifier I've ever heard. I think it is the best amplifier available in terms of musical and sonic quality.

Price, but since nothing else comes close, this must be taken with a grain of salt.

I have heard a variety of systems with the NAP500. They have been, without exception, the most engaging systems I have heard. On first hearing, the 500 impresses as sounding like it is not even there. There is simply no compression--music is allowed to breathe naturally, to ebb and flow, or to start and stop on a dime. The other truly remarkable element is the 500's supreme tunefulness. With the 500 in the system, it is simple to pick out any musical line you care to and to follow it no matter how complex or crazed the recording. In terms of more sonic qualities, the 500 represents the best amplifier ever from Naim. It is fast, rhythmically correct, and transparent--there really is no sense of a power amplifier working. Perhaps the most surprising aspect to the 500 is this: A friend had Naim NBL speakers driven actively with 6x135s (and all the top Naim bits up front). A single 500 in passive mode was immediately and substantially better, both musically and sonically. The other sonic element that really struck me was the sense of refinement the 500 brings. It is dramatically more refined--it does imaging and soundstaging very well, and uses a much wider palette of tonal colors than 135s or 250s. The 500 has a purity that is addictive. This quality is not only available to users of Naim speakers. In another system, the 500 drove ProAc Response 5 speakers brilliantly, easily eclipsing anything else I've heard them driven with, including some tube amps from the silly price zone. Similarly, the 500 drove Vandersteen 5s better than anything else I've heard. While it is far from inexpensive, I don't know of an amplifier that sounds better. That includes the Linn Klimax solos, which I was able to compare directly. The Linn's just don't have the same level of tunefulness or grip on the music--they sound rather "airy-fairey" and ephemeral in comparison. In conclusion, the 500 is the best power amplifier I have heard, and by a large margin. Truly a remarkable piece of kit and an astonishing accomplishment.

Similar Products Used:

Naim NAP250, 135. Linn Klimax Solos. Krell FPB-600. Levinson 333. Classe DR-9.

Rythm, flawless presentation, transportation of micro details which are so key to understand the intention of the piece itself and the musicans.

Non

With this review I want to comment both the NAP 500 qualities and the quality of Jizz's review. The NAP 500 qualities probably only can be fully appreciated and understood if you have extensively listend to other Naim equipment before and have compared lets say a Nait and then Pre/Power combinations with the products of other manufactures. Once you have experienced the way Naim presents Music and transports the intention of the musicans to your home, you will find that not many if not even no other product is capable of involving you into music to a similar extend. It is as simple as that, listen to Naim and you will gain insights to recorded Music you have never experienced before. You will continiousely enlarge your interest in music in general. And you will listen more and more to live music as your experiance grows. The NAP 500 then is in a completely new league. It comletely redifines the capabilities of a power amp. 25 years ago the NAP 250 was miles ahead of competition, and now when other products come close to it the NAP 500 opens a gap to everthing else on the market which will take many years to close for all other manufacturers. Jizz's review is more a psychogram of his personality and has nothing to to with a serious description. Not even a company like Sony is able to produce a product of this high quality, even if they would use all their R&D and supplier resources. Key components are not available to them and they by far do not have the required manufacturing know how.

Similar Products Used:

Most of what is currently available (heard but not owned)

It''s HEAVY.

Incomparable and astonishing. Tremendous grip on bass. Music is natural and sounds like music. The pinnacle of pace, rhythm, and timing - things for which Naim are wickedly famous. The 250 is muddled and boring by comparison. The 135s are shrill and sterile by comparison. And both are excellent amps.

Clarity,Drive,Technically well designed

Listener fatique sets in, after the first, initial impression.

This amp appears awesome @ fist but when you really start wanting to listen to the music, then compared to a Phase Linear 400 for example, it looses it,s emotion.
Jullian,s vision was nearest captured with the NAP250 ( 135 series )and I would suggest that this is still the best option especially if you can obtain an Avondale modified version.

Similar Products Used:

Phase Linear 400, fully modified