Do my amps need a service?
Discussion
I’ve Naim amps and their main capacitors need replacing at intervals of ten to twenty years. This is a well known topic, with the factory, factory approved, and independent workshops providing a service. They also replace a few minor items if needed, and reset/check potentiometers.
Have you checked on a forum specific to your amps, or maybe pinkfishmedia?
Have you checked on a forum specific to your amps, or maybe pinkfishmedia?
As Tony says, Naim recommend servicing within 10 to 20 years. Their dealers will do it or the factory. The problem is, you have so many boxes if they all get serviced at once it costs a fortune. Something around £200 a box.
These guys http://avondaleaudio.com/naim-audio-upgrades/ used to do servicing a bit cheaper than Naim, and better according to them Not sure if they'ed do your gear but maybe worth a call.
I understand a service can make a big difference to your listening pleasure. Components will degrade gradually and imperceptibly so it makes sense that they will improve if renewed.
These guys http://avondaleaudio.com/naim-audio-upgrades/ used to do servicing a bit cheaper than Naim, and better according to them Not sure if they'ed do your gear but maybe worth a call.
I understand a service can make a big difference to your listening pleasure. Components will degrade gradually and imperceptibly so it makes sense that they will improve if renewed.
Denis O said:
As Tony says, Naim recommend servicing within 10 to 20 years. Their dealers will do it or the factory. The problem is, you have so many boxes if they all get serviced at once it costs a fortune. Something around £200 a box.
These guys http://avondaleaudio.com/naim-audio-upgrades/ used to do servicing a bit cheaper than Naim, and better according to them Not sure if they'ed do your gear but maybe worth a call.
I understand a service can make a big difference to your listening pleasure. Components will degrade gradually and imperceptibly so it makes sense that they will improve if renewed.
Eeeek, £600 of servicing These guys http://avondaleaudio.com/naim-audio-upgrades/ used to do servicing a bit cheaper than Naim, and better according to them Not sure if they'ed do your gear but maybe worth a call.
I understand a service can make a big difference to your listening pleasure. Components will degrade gradually and imperceptibly so it makes sense that they will improve if renewed.
Thanks, I'll give them a call.
You don’t need to service everything at once!
Maybe contact this company:
http://redhillaudio.co.uk/hifi-upgrades/audiolab-u...
Maybe contact this company:
http://redhillaudio.co.uk/hifi-upgrades/audiolab-u...
Speaking as someone who spent 20+ years servicing audio equipment +other electronics (and still involved as a hobbyist), so long as it's all working fine, I simply wouldn't bother.
Unfortunately, Naim chose to use poor quality capacitors in a lot of their stuff back in the 70's / 80's (the round red capacitors with a plastic body - I forget the brand) and those capacitors were prone to early failure in just about any piece of electronic equipment I saw them in.
I have several Japanese amps from the 70's and 80's (JVC, Pioneer, Sony amongst others) and none of them have required recapping or even servicing.
Why? Because the aforementioned Japanese companies used quality components (Rubycon and Elna capacitors for example).
The only thing I would recommend, is that if your equipment has been subjected to a particularly dusty environment (in the case of equipment with air vents) would be to blow the dust out with a tin of compressed air and that's about it.
If the volume control is 'scratchy' and contact cleaner doesn't resolve that, then you probably have some leaky capacitors in the signal path, allowing DC through to the volume pot.
Unfortunately, Naim chose to use poor quality capacitors in a lot of their stuff back in the 70's / 80's (the round red capacitors with a plastic body - I forget the brand) and those capacitors were prone to early failure in just about any piece of electronic equipment I saw them in.
I have several Japanese amps from the 70's and 80's (JVC, Pioneer, Sony amongst others) and none of them have required recapping or even servicing.
Why? Because the aforementioned Japanese companies used quality components (Rubycon and Elna capacitors for example).
The only thing I would recommend, is that if your equipment has been subjected to a particularly dusty environment (in the case of equipment with air vents) would be to blow the dust out with a tin of compressed air and that's about it.
If the volume control is 'scratchy' and contact cleaner doesn't resolve that, then you probably have some leaky capacitors in the signal path, allowing DC through to the volume pot.
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