A hi-fi maker in Salisbury, Wiltshire, founded by Julian Vereker, that designs and builds amplifiers, streamers and the Mu-so wireless speakers largely in the UK.
Naim Audio designs and builds high-end music equipment in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Its range includes amplifiers, a CD player (the CD5si), network streamers in the Uniti family, and the Mu-so all-in-one wireless speakers launched in 2014, which use drivers made by its sister company Focal. In 2023 it launched the New Classic 200 and 300 Series, which split the amplifier, preamplifier and streamer into separate parts. Naim also designs sound systems for cars, including for Bentley and for the Pininfarina Battista.
Julian Vereker, born in Oxford and with a background in motorsport, started Naim Audio Visual in 1969 after becoming dissatisfied with the audio equipment he could buy. His first products were a sound-to-light box for film companies and his own power amplifier. Naim Audio was incorporated in 1973. Naim's design approach, as described in a reference entry, relies on heavy toroidal transformers and careful earthing, screening and isolation, and its equipment is designed to be used together. Vereker also started a record label in 1993, Naim Label, whose catalogue runs from Sons of Kemet to Charlie Haden and Kurt Elling.
Naim's registered address is Southampton Road, Salisbury, SP1 2LN. A visitor to the factory in 2020 reported that most of the catalogue is still made in the UK, even after Naim joined the French loudspeaker maker Focal in 2011. The two brands now sit within Vervent Audio Group but Naim Audio Limited remains a British company. A reference entry says about 60 per cent of sales went to export markets, and that Naim had 140 staff in 2010, 170 in 2016 and later more than 200. Those are dated figures.
The same visitor described a family-business feel rather than an impersonal production line, with a relaxed atmosphere and passionate engineers, which is one outsider's impression. Naim builds to order instead of keeping shelves of boxed stock. Every product has a master model that engineers must match, including how internal cables are routed, and a machine nicknamed the 'snake shaker' tests every DINN cable before it leaves. Long-serving staff include Roy George, who joined in 1985 and became technical director in 2000, and Guy Lamotte, a designer hired in 1983. Mark Raggett, international product training manager, joined at 19 and has more than 25 years with the company.
A factory like this employs electronics and mechanical engineers, designers, production and test staff, quality control, product trainers, sales and customer support, and a small team around the record label. The refurbished demonstration room shows how much of the work is about listening as well as building. Check Naim's own site for current roles. In 2022 Cedric Magnaud became site director, so ask who leads which team when you get in touch.
Website: www.naimaudio.com
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