Hi-Cap vintage

Posted by: Jrook on 22 April 2002

I am new to the Naim game. When I recently purchased a secondhand HI-Cap to power a Stageline I was wondering how old it may be. I have heard that Hi-Caps need to be recapped sometimes and I was hoping there may be a place that I could get a manufacturer date. I know that my Hi-Cap is the old style cosmetics but I don't really know how old it is. I e-mailed Naim in the UK but as of this writing I have had no response. The serial # is 43775 any help would be greatly appreaciated.
Cheers,
JC

Posted on: 22 April 2002 by sceptic

This is on the Naim website

Serial number
Year of manufacture

000016 - 006933
1982

006944 - 011998
1983

011999 - 019752
1984

019753 - 026689
1985

026690 - 031999
1986

032000 - 041484
1987

041485 - 049945
1988

049946 - 060867
1989

060868 - 069924
1990

069925 - 076367
1991

076368 - 083272
1992

083273 - 093739
1993

093740 - 105143
1994

105144 - 117211
1995

117212 - 128626
1996

128627 - 139322
1997

139322 - 150454
1998

150455 - 161170
1999

161171 -
2000

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Posted on: 22 April 2002 by Jrook

Thanks mates, I had aan idea it was over 10 years old. Now about the sound difference. I have read that the earlier HI-caps were made with Holden and Fisher power transformers. Opionions differ but many users say that the Holden and Fisher Hi-caps were better sounding had more of that naim groove thing going on. What's the story here.
JC

Posted on: 22 April 2002 by Stephen H

Hi JC,

Did you write your e-mail address in the body of your message to Naim?

When I e-mailed Naim without the e-mail address included I got no response, so I tried again and included the address. They replied within a day or so.

I think maybe they have one of those wierd set ups where the internal mailboxes cannot 'see' the senders address!

Regards,
Steve

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by sceptic

000016 is not a HiCap. They were not made in 82. The serial numbers are used for all products with nothing to tell them apart.

Posted on: 24 April 2002 by seagull

but what about 1 to 15?

Or was that a ploy to make the owners of the early stuff think that Naim had sold more than they had - though 15 is hardly a large starting offset.

My pre/power amp combo are 8xxx and 9xxx (from 1983), recently serviced and sounding beter than ever.

What is the earliest piece of kit still in use?