Nait II Recap

Posted by: JYOW on 25 March 2002

I have a 10 year old plus Nait II that has been serving me flawlessly all these years. I am wondering if there is a generally perceived time when this beauty will need re-capping. Or is there a way to check or measure the health of its cap?

Also, is there aftermarket part that can improve upon the sound of the origional?

Regards
J Yow

Posted on: 26 March 2002 by Sigmund

I recently asked the same question to the folks at Naim NA. They replied that I should wait another ten years and see if the sound degenerated at all by then.

Posted on: 26 March 2002 by Rico

I had my Nait 2 serviced by Naim. It was the early model with chrome bumpers. It sounded a shitload better than before, and it was pretty good before! Get it serviced.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 26 March 2002 by David Dever

Depends on use--the smaller fom-factor capacitors tend to be pretty rugged as long as you don't cook the unit.

Full service, though, includes the current (complementary pair of) output transistors as well as small bits here and there-well worth it if your NAIT licks the chrome bumper.

Posted on: 27 March 2002 by Craig B

Hello David,

I imagine that you have amassed a wealth of experience regarding the sonic differences between serviced and un-serviced Naim amps.

I have a few concerns regarding the eventual servicing of my now ~10 year old dearly loved NAIT 2. If you could answer a couple of amateurish technical questions, then I am sure that I, and possibly a few others here, would reap some benefit...

Could you elaborate upon 'the current (complementary pair of) output transistors’ ? Are they the same as those fitted to the 5 Series, or are they matched pairs of the NA001 or something else entirely? What affect would substituting these have upon performance relative to fresh original replacements (assuming availability of such)?

Are the replacement power supply capacitors that NANA (and Naim HQ) use of the same make and spec as original, or would they be a of a similar or superior spec from the same or another manufacturer? If the latter, then what affect would they likely have upon the amps performance wrt fresh original spec replacements (again assuming availability)?

Also, if possible, could you suggest what a fully serviced 10 year old NAIT 2 might sound like with these combined 'updates', i.e. would it be noticeably better than original or somewhat the same as new?

Sorry for all of the questions, but [suck up mode] you are the forums best and most active 'official' technical resource and I for one appreciate your continued contributions. [/suck up mode]

Craig
PS. I don't think that I would approve of my little NAIT licking the chrome bumper unless, of course, we are talking about a NAIT 2 vs. NAIT 1 hot hatch shoot out.