Naim Audio Presents NAIT 50 Limited-Edition Integrated Amplifier

On the occasion of its 50th Anniversary (1973/2023), British hifi brand Naim celebrated with a limited edition of a very special product. The NAIT 50 is a remaster of the very first NAIT compact integrated amplifier released in 1983, limited to only 1,973 pieces. The Salisbury-based company carefully recrafted its iconic product from the Naim archives and gave it an updated inside and adding new features such as an headphone output.

Andover Audio announced the launch of its new SoundBites Series of audio components with the SpinStage phono preamp (MSRP $249). Making an elegant style statement in a bead-blasted, anodized aluminum chassis, the SpinStage has been painstakingly engineered to deliver ultra-low noise to support virtually any moving-magnet (MM) or moving-coil (MC) cartridge. For the MA-based audio manufacturer this is a great addition any home audio system that needs to improve on an existing preamp’s internal circuitry.

Vertere Acoustics announced that its DG-1 record player/turntable has been updated and improved. After little more than three years, the company already had many ideas on how to improve its original product and announced the DG-1 S, which will be available in September 2022. Also updated and improved is the Vertere PHONO-1 MKII L MM/MC Phono Preamplifier, now featuring a new gold-plated L-shaped PCB and significantly enhanced accessibility for the customization DIP switches.

It's time for the Glass Audio/Tube Focus edition of audioXpress. In this issue, Michael Boele shares his long-term review of a pair of 2021 new production Western Electric 300Bs, Merlin Blencowe explains how to add Bluetooth to a Tube Amp, and Alan Kimmel introduces us to the possibilities of the Pentriode. There's also a Market Update report on vinyl sales and the latest trends in turntables and cartridges, as well as a review by Stuart Yaniger of the latest Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra GaN-based amplifier.

Simply the highest performing, most flexible, affordable phono preamp... That was the Mani phono preamplifier. And now Schiit Audio introduced the Mani 2 phono preamplifier, which is even better. The successor to the original Mani, in production since 2014, is simply even more performing and more flexible, even when compared to products several times its cost. In addition, Mani 2 is produced in the USA like all Schiit products and remains as affordable, available for only $149.

Sumiko announced three new phono cartridges and one new stylus, extending the company’s high-end audio collection with enhancements for any turntable system. The brand debuted the Blue Point No. 3 High and Low output phono cartridges that replace the venerable Blue Point No. 2. The new limited-edition Celebration 40 phono cartridge is so named in honor of Sumiko’s fortieth anniversary. The new RS78 RPM stylus answers a long-time request from vintage record enthusiasts.