TAS 194: Naim Audio SuperLine Reference Phonostage

A World-Class Phonostage

It could be argued that high-end audio components have personality traits similar to those of their companies’ founders. While specific examples abound, let’s consider just a few from our most auteur-driven companies. Even if the founder wasn’t always the actual or sole designer, who can think of the finest Audio Research gear without also thinking of William Z. Johnson; a massive Krell amp conjures Dan D’Agostino; Magico speakers certainly reflect Alon Wolf’s perfectionist streak; while Dave Wilson’s background as a recording engineer and quest for excellence is apparent in every Wilson Audio design.

And nearly a decade after his death from cancer, the gear built by Naim Audio continues to reflect the imprint of founder Julian Vereker. Although he had a forceful personality and a wide-ranging love of life that drew him to non-audio activities such as auto racing, sailing, and bicycling, Vereker’s Naim electronics never seemed to draw attention to themselves, but instead always seemed to exist in order to serve the music. Indeed, with their ultra-minimalist black-box chassis, one could say they were designed to be the functional opposite of the proverbially perfect child—heard but not seen.

But looks can be deceiving. Nestled within these plain albeit handsome-looking boxes is some serious engineering that extends across Naim’s surprisingly vast product range. While most TAS readers are familiar with the hugely popular and terrific-sounding Nait integrated amp (the latest version, the 5i-2, sells for $1450), Naim components hit many price levels before stopping at the relatively lesser-known Reference series, which can reach $20k per component. That’s a lot of jack under the best of times, let alone one in which that figure might equal the latest hole blown out of your 401(k). Of course, Naim’s price points are complicated by the fact that, unlike most gear, Naim’s can be upgraded by a choice of outboard power-supply options. And trust me, as you step up the level of power supply the sonic rewards are not only easily audible, they spell the difference between good and frickin’ wonderful.

If we apply this thinking to the company’s $2950 SuperLine Reference Phonostage, which, in order to isolate noise, contains no built-in main power supply, owners have four options for siphoning in electrical juice. One is by way of piggybacking the SuperLine to a Naim component of similar performance; either a preamplifier or the SuperNait integrated amp ($4450) via Naim’s SNAIC-5 connecting cable. The other is to mate the SuperLine with one of three standalone Naim power supplies: the FlatCap2x ($1100), the HiCap2 ($1900), or the SuperCap2 ($5950).

For my evaluation, Naim USA, which recently became part of the Audiophile Systems Group, supplied a HiCap2 and SuperCap2 for evaluation purposes. And while $5950 for a power-supply upgrade may have you questioning its value, the SuperCap2 transforms the SuperLine from very good into one of today’s finest phonostages, right up there with perennials like the Manley Steelhead and the battery-powered Sutherland PhD. But before we talk sound, let’s take a peek inside.

In a chassis measuring 8" wide by 12" deep, and just over 3" tall, the SuperLine contains a key feature that Naim borrowed from its upper-end CD players and preamps, a weighted floating circuit board—or “high-Q spring suspension system”—that isolates the design from environmental vibrations. Naim says this is a first in a phono preamp. A pair of transit screws ensures stability during shipping; I suggest leaving them in place while connecting your cables, because it’s much easier to plug things in and out when the rear panel isn’t jiggling around.

The unit’s RIAA phono equalization is semi-passive, while amplification is delivered via a two-stage, single-ended discrete Class A circuit coupled to what Naim’s literature calls 25 “internally regulated” power supplies.

Impedance matching for different moving-coil cartridges is handled at the back of the chassis, by means of four resistive and three capacitive load plugs, which provide twenty total load combinations. In the unlikely case that these won’t match your needs, custom configurations can be ordered through your Naim dealer.

Tonearm connections are provided for both RCA and BNC connectors, and, in an ultra-minimalist touch, there are no controls whatsoever on the SuperLine’s front or backside, not even an on/off switch. That control, of course, is to be found on whichever power supply you choose.