Naim Classic NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier

NSC 222

Sleek design meets audiophile quality

NSC 222 is an easy-to-use streaming preamplifier with multiple functions, offering uncompromising sound quality. With its high-precision engineering and exclusive British design from Naim, this product brings you a world of streamed music and radio, handling vinyls and audio headphones, as well as creating a high-performance analog preamplifier. Combine it with the NAP 250 power amplifier for an exceptional assembly: just add loudspeakers.

NSC 222

Begin your New Classic musical journey with the highly versatile NSC 222 preamplifier. Access a wide range of music streaming platforms (Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, etc.), a very large number of online radio stations, handling bitrates of up to 32bit/284kHz.

Want to enjoy vinyl? The NSC 222 has a MM phono input. Do you like headphones and want to dive into a world of solo listening? NSC 222 is also equipped with the full Naim technology for headphone listening, which is inherited from the Uniti Atom Headphone Edition: our amplifier-DAC, the recipient of several awards all around the world.

A unique streaming platform

NSC 222 incorporates the very latest Naim streaming platform. Made by our experts in Salisbury, it sets new standards in terms of its prowess, functionality and ease of use. It is designed to offer true Hi-Fi performance, with the legendary Naim sound. Play all your favourite radio stations non-stop, as well as any music you choose from Spotify Connect, Apple Music, TIDAL, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, UPnP™ servers, USB key, Roon Ready, and more.

Easy App control – in one room or many

The Naim App – available for Apple and Android devices – makes it simple to control your NSC 222, and even link up other music systems around your home into a stunning multi-room set-up. Use the App to access all your music, including your favourite radio stations, streaming services and playlists, and explore artist discographies and biographies.

Simple and enjoyable to use

The NSC 222 is very simple to use – you can easily control it using the Focal & Naim app, available on iOS and Android, but also with the Zigbee smart remote control supplied. Of course, you can also access many features via the NSC 222 itself, and its backlit volume button. For your listening pleasure, the 5.5” colour screen displays the tracks being played.

Naim know-how

Under the guidance of our Technical Director, Naim’s engineers have developed simple but elegant circuits, combined with our acclaimed and high-performing DR technology, guaranteeing the stable and fluid power supply so essential for superior performance. Our teams opt for the highest-quality components and perform ultra-precise measurements for an uncompromising result.

A timeless design

Naim products are designed to be both contemporary and timeless. Our creations forego any unnecessary decoration that does not contribute to performance targets or add to the sound quality. The design of the NSC 222 streamer and preamplifier combines extreme precision, impressive functionality, sleek design and innovative materials to make it easy and enjoyable to use.

The story of Naim and aluminium

Our founder, Julian Vereker, immediately understood the many benefits of aluminium as a material for wrapping Naim electronic components. He knew that delicate audio components are very sensitive to the effects of magnetic fields, unstable temperatures, unwanted vibrations, etc. While other manufacturers were bending thin sheets of steel, Naim used thick plates of aluminium.

The Naim Classic range maximises this highly technical and durable approach, with aluminium housings rivalled only by Statement, our flagship product. Naim chose a superior-quality aluminium, which optimally combines thermal and microphonic properties. The front panels are treated with solid 20mm-thick aluminium billets; heat sinks frame the side panels and 5mm plates cover the top and bottom surfaces of the products. The aluminium is brushed, sandblasted and anodised to guarantee unalterable beauty throughout the product's life. The New Classic range can be immediately distinguished with one look and one touch, before the first note of music even plays.

Google Cast™ for Audio

NSC 222 is native support for Google’s latest technology, Google Cast™ for Audio. This streaming service allows you to seamlessly link to hundreds of supported apps including Deezer, Qobuz, Plex, TuneIn, Soundcloud and Pandora from your smartphone or tablet and stream directly to NSC 222.

Apple AirPlay 2

Stream music from your iOS device or Mac, using Apple Music and more.

TIDAL Connect

The lossless streaming service is integrated into the system for an immersive, high-quality sound experience.

Spotify® Connect

Native support for Spotify® to stream millions of songs from your portable device.

Bluetooth® aptX

Pair with a Bluetooth device to instantly play your music. Also compatible with aptX for high-performance audio where supported by the device connecting to your system.

Roon-Ready

Roon transforms the experience of browsing music. Beautifully laid-out metadata is located automatically, then interconnected by links to build a surfable, searchable digital magazine about your music collection.

Internet Radio

Access thousands of internet radio stations and save your favourite presets for easy access.

UPnP™ (Universal Plug and Play)

Stream music from a PC, Mac or network-attached storage in high-resolution ‘better than CD’ quality.

Multiroom Ready

Play music between any combination of our streaming products. Choose the same song in beat-perfect sync or play different music in different rooms in your home all via the Focal & Naim App.

Digital/Analogue Outputs

For connection to an external power-amplifier or a sub-woofer.

USB

Play music from USB-connected storage devices.

Qobuz

Qobuz allows you to stream the most comprehensive CD-quality music catalogue currently available and the largest selection of albums in true high-resolution studio quality directly to your Naim music streamer.

File formats

Supports a broad range of music formats including WAV, FLAC, DSD, Apple Lossless, AIFF, AAC, Windows Media-formatted files, Ogg Vorbis and MP3.

Wireless Updates

Over-the-air updates via the Naim App now enable you to update your NSC 222 system at the touch of a button.

Headphones

Front panel 6.5mm headphone jack with new upgraded headphone amplifier with significantly improved bass extension.

Digital Input (S/PDIF)

Boost audio from digital sources such as TVs, set top boxes or games consoles.

• Statement volume control architecture using reed relays. Premium sound quality of fixed resistor volume control, providing precise channel balance. This miniaturised version of the Statement volume control uses super smooth fly-by-wire optical encoder with precision ball raced bearing.
• Reed relay input switching
• Single ended discrete transistor class A input buffers and filter circuits; using hand soldered polystyrene capacitors.
• Built in high quality MM phono stage
• 5.5 inch colour display
• Configurable inputs: Input sensitivity pre-set, naming, AV bypass mode and unused input disabling.
• Uses Naim’s latest NP800 streaming card with LVDS balanced digital signals for low noise. Stream internet radio stations, music from Spotify Connect, Apple Music, Tidal (and Tidal Connect), Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, UPnP servers, USB attached storage and Roon ready.
• aptX Adaptive Bluetooth®
• App control continuity from Mu-so through to Classic range.
• Multi-room capability with other Naim streaming products (right up to Classic range and 500 Series).
• ZigBee RF bi-directional remote control, line of sight not needed, volume changes reflected on the remote.
• Dual optical 3.5mm inter-product communications for synchronised standby and lighting, compatible with the new NAP250 power amplifier.
• Twin fixed frequency (44.1kHz and 48kHz based sample rates) master clocks for ultra low jitter.
• DSP RAM buffer for SP/DIF inputs, eliminates jitter caused by SP/DIF modulation (4x SP/DIF inputs).
• Naim’s proprietary DSP 705.6kHz/768kHz integer oversampling filter.
• PCM1791A DAC Custom polystyrene ultralow dielectric absorption Post DAC filter components.
• PSU upgrade with NPX 300 via two Burndy cables (one digital and one analogue).
• 0.5W standby power Using two internal power supplies; one is a high quality audiophile linear type, based on a large toroidal transformer. The other is a highly efficient SMPSU for 0.5W power consumption in standby during standby mode.
• Galvanic isolation of control and audio circuits.