case style

Maybe I am wrong, but it could be that the pre-80's case was built from screwed together sheets of aluminium. Whereas the post-80's casing is a single piece of extruded aluminium.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

For the power amps at least, Andrew is correct. We have a 1979 NAP160, used with a 1982 NAP160. A quick glance makes them look very similar. The older one has the "roof-bolt" case, which is made of slabs of aluminium held together with bolts in the top and sides, finished in gloss black with unpainted (silver) front edges. The biggest differences between the old bolted case and the newer "sleeve" case are:

1. Smooth gloss finish with allen-headed flush bolts (responds excetionally well to T-Cut).

2. The front panel logo is bigger than on the later design, and implemented with a silk-screened sticker (silver on black). The sticker is only a bit bigger than the logo itself, so it's quite obviously a sticker (you can see the edges).Later models still used a "sticker", but it covered the whole front panel. The rectangular green-lit power switch is identical to later models (yellows with age!).

3. The aluminium slabs forming the case are slightly thinner than the later "sleeve" case, and the front panel is still recessed, but a few mm less.

4. The AC inlet uses a 3-pin Bulgin connector, rather than IEC. The Bulgin is a sod to solder if you get a new Naim lead, as I did. However, it is a 90 degree unit, so less clearance is required behind the unit.

5. The speaker terminals are 4mm binding posts with sockets built-in. The spacing precludes the use of current Naim speaker plugs, but you can use the pins from these without a problem. Unfortunately these require a bit more clearance behind the unit, neatly wiping out the benefits of (4)!

I understand that there were also minor changes after the sleeve case was introduced. Example: earlier "sleeves" had a smooth inner finish, later ones were "grained" as per the outer surface. You can check this by running a fingernail along that part of the inner surface of the sleeve which is exposed by the recessed front panel.

I have occasionally been known to wear a waterproof jacket...

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)

Mark,

That's one hell of a good post.

The old smooth bolted cases are breathtakingly good looking.

Ian
Listening to a Kate Rusby CD and finding it quite fun so the system must be working