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Naim Nait XS3
The NAIT XS 3 is an integrated amplifier delivering outstanding audio performance. Its advanced features and high-quality components ensure excellent clarity and detail, making it a perfect choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike. Launched after the NAIT XS 2 (2013), the NAIT XS 3 significantly updated the power amplification sections. Whether you're using it with a streamer, CD player, or any other music source, and whether you're listening to your music through a pair of speakers or headphones, it delivers the signature Naim sound and provides a more dynamic and immersive musical experience.
Features
With our meticulous attention to detail, we strive to deliver the most authentic musical performance possible.
The NAIT XS 3 benefits from the following features:
• Class A headphone amplification
• Alps Blue Velvet volume control
• Reed relay input selection
• Ceramic insulators for the power transistors
• Galvanic isolation of control and audio circuits
• Microphonic-isolating PCB mounts
Versatile and reliable
The NAIT XS3 comes with a powerful 70W power amplifier and five analogue inputs, as well as a phono stage, making it a versatile and reliable choice for any music lover. Its preamplifier stage is incredibly transparent, ensuring that the sound is pure and precise.
Additionally, it features a single-ended class-A headphone output, which is ideal for private listening. it is also upgradeable with external power supplies, power amplifiers, and cabling upgrades, allowing you to achieve the best possible performance from all your audio sources.
Technology & Savoir-faire
Our R&D team has made significant improvements to the NAIT XS 3 performance. We have doubled the speed of the voltage gain stage, which doubles the rate at which the speaker output stage can react. The second gain stage transistors have been optimised, eliminating the need for a cascode stage transistor, which means less amplifier stabilisation is needed, doubling the slew rate, and improving sound quality.
Our phono circuit topology consists of three stages, which results in outstanding noise performance, extended RIAA equalisation beyond the audio band, and great overload headroom. All RIAA equalisation capacitors are through-hole mounted film designs to provide low microphonic pickup and excellent transient performance. Our input impedance is 47kΩ in parallel with 470pF capacitive loading, and our gain is perfect for 5mV moving magnet cartridges.
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Professional Reviews 92/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Connectivity
86/100
Value for Money
95/100
The Nait XS3 delivers rhythmic precision, taut bass and an emotionally charged, richly detailed performance that makes every track feel purposeful. What Hi-Fi? admired its insight and dynamics, while Hi-Fi Choice praised its agile musicality. Its superb MM phono stage and Class A headphone output make this a compelling analogue-first integrated amplifier.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptionally fast, controlled and engaging rhythmic performance, with strong dynamic expression.
Built-in MM phono stage is unusually detailed, punchy and quiet for an integrated amplifier.
Class A headphone stage preserves the speaker output's enthusiasm and insight, while driving a wide range of headphones well.
Solid, meticulously assembled chassis with useful pre/power separation for future system upgrades.
&
Cons
No digital inputs, onboard DAC or Bluetooth; a separate digital source is essential.
The phono input supports moving-magnet cartridges only; moving-coil users need an external phono stage.
Some pricier rivals offer greater bass authority and a more expansive stereo image.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers consistently describe an unusually involving, rhythmically alert amplifier that combines clarity and control with real emotional pull. Its strongest suit is musical momentum and cohesion, while spatial presentation is natural and spacious rather than the most overtly holographic or large-scale in its class.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
What Hi-Fi? finds detail resolution good and particularly praises the way the XS3 assembles information into a convincing whole. HiFi News hears huge amounts of detail alongside clarity and insight, while The Ear describes its ability to deconstruct densely arranged material without losing musical coherence.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
The presentation is widely heard as balanced, engaging and emotionally articulate rather than overtly coloured. StereoNET calls it controlled and even-handed yet involving, and Hi-Fi Choice says its carefully ordered sound also genuinely sings; reviewers also note a warm, rich and controlled low end without excessive heaviness.
Dynamics
95/100
Fast transient response, rhythmic grip and punch are recurring strengths across the reviews. Hi-Fi+ praises precise leading edges and microdynamic cues, while The Ear reports effortless power on busy material and HiFi Choice finds control, speed and high-volume punch beyond expectations for the class.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Reviews describe convincing space, cleanly separated musical strands and a natural sense of acoustic environment. Hi-Fi Choice hears broad width and useful depth, but Hi-Fi+ says it is not the last word in holography and What Hi-Fi? notes that some pricier competitors offer greater scale and a more expansive image.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
The chassis and internal execution draw strong praise. What Hi-Fi? reports crisp, solid casework, immaculate assembly and meticulous wiring, while Hi-Fi+ highlights excellent finishing and unusually durable long-term presentation; reviewers also cite the ALPS control, relay switching and isolation measures.
Features Connectivity
86/100
This is a deliberately analogue-focused integrated amplifier with five line inputs across RCA and DIN, an MM phono stage, subwoofer and preamp outputs, remote control, and a capable Class A headphone stage. The phono and headphone sections are repeatedly praised, but reviewers consistently flag the absence of DAC, digital inputs, Bluetooth and true XLR connectivity; the phono input is MM-only.
Value for Money
95/100
At its original £2,199 UK price, multiple reviews considered the XS3 a particularly compelling proposition among similarly priced integrated amplifiers. Audiophilepure and StereoNET explicitly place it at the top of its class for value, with the latter praising a meaningful improvement over the already capable XS2.
Reviews
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Naim Nait XS3
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Adventures in HiFi — in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 272 more verified dealers