Audiophiles assemble! I’ve built an outrageously good hi-fi system out of Black Friday separates deals

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It’s powered by a classic Naim pairing

Naim ND5 XS 2 streamer, Naim Nait XS 3 amplifier and KEF R3 Meta speakers on a white background
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Part of the fun of wading through Black Friday deals is that not only can you find some great savings on individual products, but when you start combining some of the deals, there’s also the potential to create some amazing systems with big money off.

And that’s exactly what I’ve done with the trio of products that you see below.

Naim ND5 XS 2
Save 40% (£1,000)
Naim ND5 XS 2: was £2,499 now £1,499 at Peter Tyson

The Naim ND5 XS 2 is a mighty fine music streamer boasting excellent sound quality. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast are all present and correct, and you've got a wide range of connections to take advantage of too. Now with an impressive £1000 off. Five stars

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While I’ve still got plenty of time for CDs, for this particular set-up I’ve gone with a streamer as my source. The Naim ND5 XS 2 might be approaching the end of its life (it was first reviewed back in 2019, after all), but this is no reason to stay clear – quite the opposite in fact!

It’s a great option for anyone looking to step up from a budget model to a more refined and sophisticated performer, and the fact that it’s available with £1000 off at Peter Tyson makes it an appealing prospect if you’re fishing in those waters.

It’s fair to say we were and still are huge fans. In our five-star Naim ND5 XS 2 review, we said, “There is nothing sonically for which we can fault its performance.” We also said it has “the ability to dig deep into bass frequencies with ease, tempering that with rich and insightful mids and treble”.

Naim Nait XS 3
What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame
Save £1,000
Naim Nait XS 3 : was £2,499 now £1,499 at Peter Tyson

We tested the superlative Naim Nait XS 3 at £2199, but it tends to sell these days for £2499 at full price. That is, unless a very tasty £1000 discount comes along and knocks the Naim down to an incredibly tempting price of just £1499. At that price, there isn't a finer amplifier that we can think of on the market today. You'll need to be quick, though.
Includes free Chord Leyline RCA cable

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For optimal system synergy, we’ve gone for a stablemate of the ND5 XS 2, which is also enjoying a lovely Black Friday discount of £1000 over at Peter Tyson.

The Naim Nait XS 3 stereo amplifier is an absolute classic when it comes to hi-fi kit, and we rate it so highly that it’s still being used in our test rooms to put price-comparable products through their paces.

It sounds enthusiastic, entertaining, and in our Nait XS 3 review, we also praised its organisational skills, saying, “Detail resolution is good, but it’s the amplifier’s ability to assemble all that information into a cohesive whole that really impresses".

KEF R3 Meta
KEF R3 Meta: £1,999 at Sevenoaks Sound and Vision

The KEF R3 Meta are stunning standmounters that look and sound sensational. They combine KEF's iconic Uni-Q driver array with a hybrid aluminium bass driver to devastating effect. The speakers produce a wonderfully cohesive yet expansive sound, which is a great fit for the Naim electronics.
Includes free AudioQuest Rocket 11 speaker cable

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Now, technically speaking, the speakers I’m suggesting you use in this system aren’t discounted for Black Friday, but the savings being made on the electronics cover the cost of these beauties.

And the truth is that if you want to get the best sound possible from this Naim pairing, I wouldn’t go for just any pair of speakers in the Black Friday sales. You want a pair that’s going to help bring the best out of the two Naims, and the KEF R3 Meta will do just that (another option would be the Epos ES-7N).

In our KEF R3 Meta review, we said, “We haven’t come across many stereo speakers at this price point in recent years that are so accomplished in all the ‘hi-fi’ ways and fun to listen to in the same breath.”

Add the fact that they look stunning and are impeccably made, and you have a good-looking system that is guaranteed to give you years of enjoyment. If you already have stands, that’s great, or alternatively, KEF does matching stands, the S3 (£649), which I’ve seen discounted to £399 when you buy the speakers.

MORE:

This stylish, compact turntable system is ideal for modern vinyl fans – I would recommend it any day of the year

This Cambridge Audio amplifier is enjoying a £200 Black Friday discount, but I've found a better alternative for the same price

I’ve been waiting all year for Technics’ Award-winning earbuds to get a decent discount – and it’s finally happened

Andy Madden
Andy Madden

Andy is Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and a consumer electronics journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing news, reviews and features. Over the years he's also contributed to a number of other outlets, including The Sunday Times, the BBC, Stuff, and BA High Life Magazine. Premium wireless earbuds are his passion but he's also keen on car tech and in-car audio systems and can often be found cruising the countryside testing the latest set-ups. In his spare time Andy is a keen golfer and gamer.

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