News

NAIM Back In The Turntable Tonearm Game

Michael Fremer  |  Jun 21, 2021

Naim Audio launches first-ever turntable plus next-generation Aro tonearm as part of complete Solstice Special Edition package – limited to 500 units.

Salisbury, England (June 21, 2021) - Vinyl-lovers can now finally enjoy the full Naim Audio experience with the launch of Solstice, the first turntable in the British brand’s almost 50-year history. It comes partnered with a next-generation version of the iconic Naim Aro tonearm, an Equinox MC cartridge, Solstice Series Phono Stage, Power Supply and bespoke accessories set. Naim will create just 500 units of this Solstice Special Edition package.

“Solstice Special Edition offers an exceptional all-round experience,” said Paul Neville, Naim Audio Research & Development Director. “If you love the organic, authenticity of vinyl, now you can enjoy it with the musical purity and passion only a Naim system can deliver.”

The Naim Solstice Special Edition package in full:
Naim Solstice Turntable NVS TT – combining core Naim design philosophies, such as multiple levels of mechanical decoupling, with a celebration of beautiful materials. Features a magnetic bearing supporting a high-mass, highly polished aluminum platter, with a unique, self-calibrating motor drive system, meticulously delivering the Naim sound. Naim Aro Tonearm - retaining the original’s design principles and excellence but boosting performance further still by using improved materials – including tungsten and carbon-fiber - and adding an all-new, no-compromise bias, arm height and azimuth adjustments.

Naim Equinox MC Cartridge – featuring a microline stylus shape - closer to the original cutting lathe head to enable the retrieval of accurate high-frequency information - and a boron cantilever, a stiff-but-light design that faithfully transfers the stylus movements to the moving coils.

Naim Solstice Series Phono Stage NVC TT – the first Naim phono stage to use DR technology, first used on the flagship Statement amplifier. Sophisticated, ultra-low-noise Class A design with dedicated MC and MM head-amplifiers.

Naim Solstice Series Power Supply NPX TT - powers both the turntable and the phono stage. For the ultimate performance, these two different power supplies are completely isolated, with no risk of interference. Also uses Naim DR technology.

Solstice Accessories Set – including Digital Stylus Gauge; Bubble Level; Hex Drivers (x3); Vinyl Adjustment Tool; Dust Protector and Cleaning Cloth

Naim Records True Stereo album – a curated collection of superb-quality True Stereo recordings, newly remastered for vinyl by original engineer, Ken Christiansen.

Solstice Special Edition Book – including insight into heritage, technology and design Suggested selling price £16,000 / €17,000 / $20,000 USD / $26,000 CAD

COMMENTS
volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Mon, 2021-06-21 10:16

The power supply or phono preamp looks like a Linn Klout. Only 500? I thought that would be the first run with a possibility of more made, if there is a demand. In another forum, I read that most are already spoken for. I hope that Naim will offer the phono preamp or tonearm seperately.

gMRfk6LMHn's picture
Submitted by gMRfk6LMHn on Mon, 2021-06-21 11:56

According to What Hi-Fi Magazine....

The skills set required to design, develop and manufacture a record player are different from those needed to make audio electronics, so it makes sense for Naim to team up with turntable specialist Clearaudio to make the Solstice.

James, Dublin, Ireland

Naim admits that Clearaudio has manufactured the deck, arm and cartridge, but the company is also keen to point out that everything is done to its design and specifications. The Solstice isn’t simply a rebadged Clearaudio product.

Tom L's picture
Submitted by Tom L on Mon, 2021-06-21 15:56

Too bad it only works on two days out of the year.
At Stonehenge.

lennyw's picture
Submitted by lennyw on Tue, 2021-06-22 03:07

Come on, seriously. Why would one be interested in this, when there are so many specialist TT and arm manufacturers out there offering amazing products in this price cat?
I can only imagine it's aimed at Naimheads who want the logos to match across their whole range (any who doesn't prefer their old logo, anyway).
Should they be reintroducing the Aro tonearm, then this would be interesting, but this is just trying to cash in on naim-credibility...

Trevor_Bartram's picture
Submitted by Trevor_Bartram on Wed, 2021-06-23 08:11

I lived near Naim but, at the time, I could not afford their products. They (and Linn) had a fanatical following among UK HiFi enthusiasts in the 70s. I heard Naim systems on several occasions and was always impressed. However, as an engineer, I was always put off by their use of DIN connectors, with their low contact area. It was hard to get over such a poor choice of connector.

figaro's picture
Submitted by figaro on Wed, 2021-06-23 12:47

the original fanboys of audio
I almost drank their Cool Aide.....

dial's picture
Submitted by dial on Sat, 2021-07-03 03:08

You've got everything : turntable, arm and cartridge + a great phono pre and separate power supply. The only strange idea is to put both in the same box ?!

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