Can you peel an olive?
Posted by: Richard Paget on 14 June 2003
In regard to the new 'classic' range, Naim in their literature have put great emphasis on the new chassis and feet design. The power amps are radically different in design but the preamp/power supplies are more subtley tweaked in componentry terms it seems. Esp the hicap/armageddon which is claimed to sound 'much better' due to the new case and feet near exclusively.
It is obvious(to me at least) the olive aluminium cases are thus far from ideal in terms of microphonic effects. Naim have radically 'tweaked' even the classic 250 over the years-but have been locked into the early 80's case design due to natural brand image/ compatibility--ideal for electromagnetic shielding--not for case resonance--they ping like crasy don't they(the classics don't)? That plastic slide thing at the back of the newer olive cases, the use of foam blocks on the 72 and the isolated pin mounted boards are an attempt to counter this???
So it begs the question can the olives not just be tweaked by the heretical soldering iron(not for me--I trust Naim's expertise here)--but by simple case/board damping or suspension??
Is this why Mana is radical(love it or hate it) with Naim much more than other amps with less resonant multi piece cases (IMHO)?
Circuit board vibration is also very important to Naim(now released with a new chunky chassis)--look at the lengths they have gone to in the stunning 552. Boards on suspension mountings and a brass plate (the ideal resonance properties I was told).
So what can be done??
1)New foot conversion
2)most boards are mounted on little plastic pillars--replacing these with little damped springs would be no need to alter/drill/rewire the case.-the naim equivalent to the Cirkus.
3)? a simple tensioned bolt through the middle of the case--though this would effect resale(not reversible)
4)? the Linn approach with a glued on damping bar(LP12 style)
It is never in any manufacturer's interest to radically improve on an old range when a totally new one is available (reduces the performance differential slightly)--but I wonder if a suspension kit for the preamps and power supplies would pay for itself but obviously not totally bridge the new/old performance gap?
In Naim's defence they almost uniquely will upgrade their products from 25yrs ago as best as possible.--this has been made possible by their continuation of the 80's style aluminium sleeve and rather incredible policy of customer care.
I'm tempted to see what a suspension/brass plate on my old 42.5 will do for it's performance (will this be infringing copyright?) --don't think I'll be unofficially playing with my 52 though!!
Just some thoughts!
Regards Richard
It is obvious(to me at least) the olive aluminium cases are thus far from ideal in terms of microphonic effects. Naim have radically 'tweaked' even the classic 250 over the years-but have been locked into the early 80's case design due to natural brand image/ compatibility--ideal for electromagnetic shielding--not for case resonance--they ping like crasy don't they(the classics don't)? That plastic slide thing at the back of the newer olive cases, the use of foam blocks on the 72 and the isolated pin mounted boards are an attempt to counter this???
So it begs the question can the olives not just be tweaked by the heretical soldering iron(not for me--I trust Naim's expertise here)--but by simple case/board damping or suspension??
Is this why Mana is radical(love it or hate it) with Naim much more than other amps with less resonant multi piece cases (IMHO)?
Circuit board vibration is also very important to Naim(now released with a new chunky chassis)--look at the lengths they have gone to in the stunning 552. Boards on suspension mountings and a brass plate (the ideal resonance properties I was told).
So what can be done??
1)New foot conversion
2)most boards are mounted on little plastic pillars--replacing these with little damped springs would be no need to alter/drill/rewire the case.-the naim equivalent to the Cirkus.
3)? a simple tensioned bolt through the middle of the case--though this would effect resale(not reversible)
4)? the Linn approach with a glued on damping bar(LP12 style)
It is never in any manufacturer's interest to radically improve on an old range when a totally new one is available (reduces the performance differential slightly)--but I wonder if a suspension kit for the preamps and power supplies would pay for itself but obviously not totally bridge the new/old performance gap?
In Naim's defence they almost uniquely will upgrade their products from 25yrs ago as best as possible.--this has been made possible by their continuation of the 80's style aluminium sleeve and rather incredible policy of customer care.
I'm tempted to see what a suspension/brass plate on my old 42.5 will do for it's performance (will this be infringing copyright?) --don't think I'll be unofficially playing with my 52 though!!
Just some thoughts!
Regards Richard
Garyi
I'm sure you are right in that its not No vibration, it's the right vibration that matters--i.e brass not rubber to mount the boards in a 552 or the contraversial ringing mana effect.
But I wonder if the old Aluminium case was vital for that naim sound we love the boards would be mounted on steel not more isolating plastic--and the new classic range would use an undamped aluminium ring case as before but with the new fascia.
Naim have gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate the 552 boards on tuned special thickness brass plates--definately trying to isolate them from any case microphony--? part of the reason why this product is so much better than a 52/252.
As a design feature the old case is fantastic for rapid repair/manufacture--and feels more solid than modern cases. Isn't Solidity something the new look is to trying achieve?
But blue tak now there's an idea.....
Case upgrades is something I've heard rumours for and against--board layout is so different any new case chassis would need to be specially made--i.e a 52 electronics won't mount directly on to a 252 chassis (or an 82 chassis for that matter)
I'ts not just the matter of changing a stick on olive front,a switch, a logo on your old chassis and sliding on a non chrome bumper cover as it was for the past case upgrade.
?Hicap/geddon/supercap maybe(can swap identically positioned electronics into a new case)--?not preamps
regards Richard
[This message was edited by Richard Paget on SATURDAY 14 June 2003 at 18:45.]
I'm sure you are right in that its not No vibration, it's the right vibration that matters--i.e brass not rubber to mount the boards in a 552 or the contraversial ringing mana effect.
But I wonder if the old Aluminium case was vital for that naim sound we love the boards would be mounted on steel not more isolating plastic--and the new classic range would use an undamped aluminium ring case as before but with the new fascia.
Naim have gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate the 552 boards on tuned special thickness brass plates--definately trying to isolate them from any case microphony--? part of the reason why this product is so much better than a 52/252.
As a design feature the old case is fantastic for rapid repair/manufacture--and feels more solid than modern cases. Isn't Solidity something the new look is to trying achieve?
But blue tak now there's an idea.....
Case upgrades is something I've heard rumours for and against--board layout is so different any new case chassis would need to be specially made--i.e a 52 electronics won't mount directly on to a 252 chassis (or an 82 chassis for that matter)
I'ts not just the matter of changing a stick on olive front,a switch, a logo on your old chassis and sliding on a non chrome bumper cover as it was for the past case upgrade.
?Hicap/geddon/supercap maybe(can swap identically positioned electronics into a new case)--?not preamps
regards Richard
[This message was edited by Richard Paget on SATURDAY 14 June 2003 at 18:45.]