Naim Audio Solstice turntable system

REVIEW
Alan Sircom
Oct 27, 2021

In fairness though, the package itself is so damn good in and of itself, I think that downside is a bit of a ‘reach’; in reality, after about five minutes in the presence of the Naim Audio Solstice turntable, you will be too busy tapping in your credit card’s PIN number to think about what’s presently sitting on your shelves. Otherwise, for cat-related reasons, I’d like a lid… that’s it!

In a way, what buoys me most about Solstice is the potential it holds. It’s a great turntable package and I hope Solstice isn’t a ‘one off’, but instead the first of a series of vinyl-related components that add a high-performance Naim LP source component to a wider range of price points. I would love to see a Naim turntable that sits alongside a Supernait in price and performance, for example. If the Solstice is the launch pad for such a range of devices, 2021 might just turn out to be one hell of a summertime!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

NVS TT turntable

Type: Turntable system
Plinth: 47 wooden layers, metal skinned
Decoupling: arm and bearing island
Bearing/Platter: Magnetic bearing, high-mass platter
Speeds: 33.33rpm, 45rpm
Motor type: High torque, 24V DC brushless motor
Motor Control: Optical feedback
Dimensions (H×W×D): 182 × 420 × 358mm
Weight: 25.4kg

ARO unipivot tonearm

Arm height and azimuth adjustment: Yes!
Tonearm connection: 5 pin mini DIN
Equinox moving coil cartridge
Output voltage: 0.4mV
Impedance: 11Ω
Recommended MC input values: 100Ω, 1000pF, high gain
Weight: 8g

NVC TT Phono stage

Input: phono (MM, MC), earth tag
Output: Stereo RCA, 5 pin DIN, 8 pin DIN
RIAA accuracy: ±0.1dB
IEC cut (Partial): -2dB at 20Hz and –3dB at 14Hz
Gain: 42dB (MM), 61dB (MC, low gain), 67dB (MC, high gain)
S/N ratio: 83dB (MM), 84dB (MC)
THD+N: <0.005%
Crosstalk: >75dB
Max output signal: 8Vrms
Loading: 47kΩ/100pF (MM), 1000Ω, 600Ω, 430Ω, 330Ω, 250Ω, 215Ω, 185Ω,165Ω,150Ω, 140Ω, 125Ω, 115Ω, 105Ω, 100Ω, 90Ω, 85Ω, 100pF, 400pF, 700pF, 1000pF, 1300pF, 1600pF, 1900pF, 2200pF, 2500pF, 2700pF, 3100pF, 3400pF, 3700pF, 4000pF, 4300pF, 4600pF (MC)
Dimensions (H×W×D): 70mm × 214mm × 329mm
Weight: 3.4kg

NPX TT Power Supply