Naim Audio NAP 500 DR

• 140 watts output power per channel into 8 ohms (operation into 2 ohms possible without noticeable degradation)
  
• Bridged design with ten local voltage regulators per channel
  
• Separate power supply to reduce electromagnetic interference
  
• Split-rail configuration, 1,100 VA toroidal transformer and twelve supply rails
  
• 25 kg brushed and black anodized chassis with heatsink and intelligent fan system for additional cooling
  
• With discreetly built voltage regulator (DR)
  

The NAP 500 ushered in a new era for Naim. Thanks to novel transistors and numerous other innovations that led to this reference power amplifier, all Naim amplifiers could be raised to a new level of performance. The NAP 500 stands for pure realism – it simply leaves nothing to be desired in terms of sound quality.

To avoid the usual compromises when using multiple output transistors, Naim already looked for an exceptionally powerful transistor before developing the NAP 500. Since nothing suitable could be found on the market, novel semiconductors, dubbed "007", were developed in cooperation with a semiconductor manufacturer. Since 2015, the NAP 500 has been using the even more powerful 009 transistors, specially developed for the Statement series. They use aluminum nitride, a substrate with ten times higher thermal conductivity than the commonly used aluminum oxide. In addition, a thermal paste with diamond particles is used (diamond conducts heat two and a half times faster than copper). The result is a transistor that offers maximum thermal stability and linearity.

The two channels of the NAP 500 are designed as a bridge circuit, which increases the amplifier's performance even with very steep signal edges. In addition, care was taken to reduce thermally induced distortions, which is of great importance for power amplifiers. A virtually silent intelligent fan with variable speed ensures increased heat dissipation when needed.

Naim has always been aware of the importance of avoiding distortion related to the power supply, which is why regulated power supplies are always used in its top amplifiers. The channels of the NAP 500 each have ten local voltage regulators. To further reduce interference from the mains supply, the transformer is housed in a separate enclosure. The high-quality Power-Line mains cable is included with the reference power amplifier.

The NAP 500 delivers an output power of over 140 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The measurements show an exceptionally high internal bandwidth, and distortion values and noise are reduced to a minimum.

Quality at this level deserves an appropriate appearance, and the NAP 500 lives up to all expectations in this regard. The housing is mainly made of solid and extruded aluminum, which would even meet the requirements of aerospace technology. Each housing part embodies unique aesthetics and precision.

Given all this, it goes without saying that the sound quality of this power amplifier is exceptional in every respect. The NAP 500 is extremely fast, agile and powerful, which makes music reproduction breathtakingly authentic.


The new Naim DR technology

The NAP 500 is now equipped with a Naim-proprietary, discreetly constructed voltage regulator and therefore bears the suffix "DR" (discrete regulators). In addition, the NAP 500 DR benefits from new high-performance transistors developed for the Statement series and optimized circuit layouts.

The voltage regulators, developed during a two-year development project, are characterized by a thirty times higher signal-to-noise ratio, faster response to load changes and approximately ten times less ripple than previous regulators.
In the larger power amplifier models (NAP 250 DR, NAP 300 DR, NAP 500 DR), multiple DR modules on the mainboard regulate the entire power amplifier, and new, extremely powerful output transistors are also used.