Recap... Why,When,How much, Worth it... ?

Posted by: Alco on 12 April 2003

Hi Y'all,

I've got a question about recapping, that's probably been asked somewehere before but still...
Here's my situation:
Currently I own a NAC72 from 1994 and a NAP180 dating from late '96.
(I also still have my Nait-2)

If I'm correct a power-amp would benefit more from a recap than a pre,right?
Now, let's say I'll keep the 180 for the years to come, most Naimaholics agree that a recap would be wise after about 10 years of daily use.

Here are the quastions:
- Will it be noticable after more or less 10 years, or will it degrade in soundquality VERY slightly/slowly ?
- Sonically, how does (for example) a NAP180 sound when it could need a recap ?
- How much will it cost to recap a NAP180 (or/and a NAC72)
- Are there some of ya folks out there who still listen to old(er) Naim kit, without having a recap done, and still love the sound of their amps ?

Another thing that kept me thinking was this:

The last time I visited a former Naim dealer in Holland (the one I bought my current NAC72 from) I asked him about recapping Naim kit.
He said:"If you bring along your Naim amp to me, I can do it myself, it'll cost me something between 50 and 100,- euro, and it's ready for action again within a week!
He said he'd have the same (or of equal quality) parts needed for a recap.

Whatta ya guys think of that... Wise move or not...

Greetings,
Alco

Posted on: 12 April 2003 by Justin

Alco,

How do you gather the 72/180 combo compares to your nait 2?

All the juicy detail, please.

(sorry if Alco already did a thread on this--in that case, please point the way).

For what it's worth, I would no recap either unit. But, a recap of the Nait 2 is worthwhile, I think. Though, at $300, that's quite a bit.

I plan on doing a recap of my nait two in the coming weeks. I'm going to be using Nichicon Audio Grades and Sanyo OS-CONS. I hope to post running pics and instructions. The cap grade I have chosen is NOT exotic (which I think is not the point), that they are of decent quality and, above all, new. I think a recap of the Nait 2 is probably worth it. NANA offered to do one for me for $300, which I am sure was worth it (and maybe uses better parts--I don't know), but I paid WAAAAAAY too much for my Nait 2 to make that economically feasable at this time. So, I'm going to do it myself.

Judd

Posted on: 12 April 2003 by Manu

The twist in your ex-dealer answer is "of equal quality". No, it should be the same components. I doubt he can do a 180 recap for 100 euro with original parts. The parts price are more than this, and he will have to charge labor.
If you like the Naim sound, you do if you bought the gears, send them to the distributor or to Naim... Or don't make them recapped. You still have time to think about it.
Naim does not only quote for a capacitor change, it's a full refurbishing.
And yes it worth it, see the numerous posts on this.

An amp needing a recap will:
lack sparkles in the highs,
have a round bass,
lack extension in the bass,
have less dynamics, sound compress.

A preamp and its PSU has the same symptoms except maybe the dynamic part and has less details and timing and the back ground is more noisy.

I can't tell you about costs in your country.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

Posted on: 13 April 2003 by Alco

quote:
How do you gather the 72/180 combo compares to your nait 2 ?
All the juicy detail, please.
(sorry if Alco already did a thread on this--in that case, please point the way).

Hi Justin,

(to make a long story short) Imho the 72/180 certainly is better than the Nait-2. The main difference I noticed are: more drive/control in the bass, and a little bit more polite/smoother in the highs, without lacking the same sparkle of the Nait. But then again, when I swithc back to the Nait-2, my ears are adjusted within a couple of hours, and I seem to enjoy the music just as much.
One of the fine things about the 72 is the much better volume pot, so no low-level channel unbalance!

Ok, now to the point:

quote:
For what it's worth, I would no recap either unit. But, a recap of the Nait 2 is worthwhile, I think. Though, at $300, that's quite a bit.

I think a recap of the Nait 2 is probably worth it. NANA offered to do one for me for $300

Hang on..... here comes the surprise....

My Nait-2 has been 'recapped' last year. This is the first time I'm mentioning it on the forum.
A friend of mine also has a Nait-2, for many years. He loves the little bugger. One day he heard/read some good stuff about a guy in Holland (Louis Raatjes) who 's specialized in modifying/refurbishing HiFi. I also told this friend that if he would to do a 'recap' there, the Nait might come back sounding different than before, but also at the risk of losing the typical Naim sound.
He told Louis to do replace the old capacitors with new/better ones, but in such a way that the typical charachter of the Naim sound wouldn't be harmed.

Within 2 days (!!!!) He had his Nait-2 back, properly cleaned and recapped, sounding better than ever!
For only 80,- euro's/55,- UKP(!) which was including labor!

He brought his Nait-2 along to my place to do a A-B test next to my Nait.
They sounded more or less the same (which I take as a good sign), but the main difference was, that the 'recapped' Nait-2 sounded a bit more mature, more powerful in the low-end.
So, a few weeks later I did the same thing, and I've never regret it for a minute.

300,- US$

for a recap is absurd imho. That's almost the price of a 'new' s/h Nait.
I reckon that this 300,- US$ is EXCLusive the cost of posting/transport ?

If a Nait-2 recap already cost 300,- US$, I'm too afraid to ask what a 180/72 recap might cost...

regards,
Alco