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At £2,695, this sits a touch above the £2,501 median and just under the £2,735 75th percentile, so it reads as a fair-to-slightly-ambitious ask rather than a bargain. It’s not overpriced, but it’s close enough to the upper end that condition and provenance should do the heavy lifting.
The appeal is the usual NAC 252 story: a genuinely serious, musically fluent preamp that still earns its keep in high-end systems. If the unit is clean, properly serviced, and includes the right power arrangement and accessories, it remains a very sensible route into reference-level Naim performance. At this level, original ownership, service history, and cosmetic honesty matter more than small price differences.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Naim Audio, a cornerstone of British hi-fi excellence, traces its origins to 1973 when Julian Vereker, a self-taught engineer, racing driver, and music enthusiast, formally incorporated the company in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Vereker's journey began earlier, in 1969, experimenting with tape recording and sound-to-light boxes before designing his first power amplifier in 1971. Amid the British hi-fi industry's recession, he secured a pivotal contract with Capital Radio, blending entrepreneurial grit with a passion for authentic sound reproduction that challenged conventional wisdom.
The brand specializes in premium integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, preamplifiers, digital streamers, DACs, and compact music systems, often featuring built-in amplification for streamlined setups. While not delving into speakers—beyond a historical foray—or headphones and turntables, Naim emphasizes modular, upgradable components that prioritize pace, rhythm, and timing (PRaT), a signature sonic philosophy rooted in the "source first" approach alongside contemporaries like Linn.
Naim holds a commanding position in the high-end market, revered by discerning audiophiles for its handmade, innovative systems that deliver emotional musical engagement over mere specifications. Now part of VerVent Audio Group following a 2011 merger with Focal, it exports to over 45 countries, sustaining a cult following for resilient, influential designs that transcend economic cycles.
See all Naim Audio listings on RADAR.
