Second Hand - Good As New ?

Hi Jack,

I've got 2x20 year old 250s, both serviced & both sounding very good.

The service dept.@Naim have a deservedly high rep.

To my ears, and here I'll wait for some howls of annoyance, the chrome bumper kit has always sounded better than the olive; although I accept this is very subjective.

A serviced chrome is not going to sound like an olive 250. If you can it is worth trying to compare the sound of the different generations of amplification. If you prefer the olive kit then it might well be pointless to buy the older kit and then change.

As to the price, I would have thought you could get it somewhat cheaper - BUT provenance is worth something, so if it is from a well known source who you trust it might be worth a bit more to you.

Jack, although not an expert on these matters I'll give you my opinions. I think the price seems too high for a model of this vintage. However It's still a great amp (I bought one in the early eighties). I believe servicing will not make it into a two year old model; some internal circuit modifications will only do that. Issue 4 of Hi-Fi Plus contains an excellent comparison of "old" versus "new" 250's, well worth a read. If you are keen on a 250, my overall advice is to search around for a more recent vintage (post a "wanted" ad in "Loot","Topica", "Pink Fish Media" etc. or contact Naim Dealerships; a relatively "new" 250, as you've already ascertained, shouldn't be too much more. Last comment; there is NO OTHER HI-FI COMPANY WHO TAKES CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS LIKE NAIM AUDIO DO.
regards, Neil

I think this is a reasonable price. After all you aren't going to get an old 250 any cheaper than £500 - £600 and to sevice and do the cosmetic upgrade would cost £200 - £250 so £750 seems reasonable to me.

This sounds like one of my trade ins to Acoustica. I did a swap of my 1983/84 250s to two new 250's. Both are in stunning condition and I have mothered them both whilst in my care. They were both driving active SBLs and sounded fine till I got the new 250s.

Tim

Jack

Naim keep a service history of everything that's been through their hands. They'll tell you whether this particular 250 had the 'full-monty' or not (depends what the current owner was prepared to spend)

They are of course, learning all the time, and it may be possible to take it a bit further; two years on.

Serviced, second hand kit is never quite as good as its brand new equivalent, but Naim make a superb job of wringing the last ounce out of old kit, making it excellent v.f.m.

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies,sorry for delay, been out the last few nights.

Timbo...likely to be the same units. It does sound good. Can I ask why did you decide to buy new 250's after servicing the units?

Thanks again.

Jack