New SNAXO

The SNAXOs have been completely revised with improved circuit topology, re-laid PCBs, new relay drivers, and revised transistor grouping for greater thermal consistency. Connection has also been revised - now one stereo amp can be used for each drive unit L&R, i.e. the amp now drives either the treble, mid or bass for both left and right speakers.

Power supply options remain with either a Hi-Cap or Supercap.

Richard

Is it possible to have an olive Snaxo upgraded?

- Jun

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Connection has also been revised - now one stereo amp can be used for each drive unit L&R, i.e. the amp now drives either the treble, mid or bass for both left and right speakers.

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Are these connections an option (ie. can the older configuration still be used as well)?

Are the new connections applicable to the 2-4 as well?

Lastly, what advantages do the new connections provide (in addition to "its better that way")? I had thought that the reason for the original arrangement was to provide complete electrical/amp separation of left and right speaker.

My goodness what is next? RCA phono connectors? (Wait a minute that's already been done!)

Paul

I was shown one last week at Naim.
Looks very different inside--has new board.
I guess this answers the upgrade question---
If you change the board all thast would be left is the box and sockets, so probably v expensive conversion+? board would mount in an olive case.
Not quite sure what Richard meant--
olive Snaxo 2-4 was set up vertically 3-6 horizontally.
Do you think he is saying the new 2-4 is now horizontal (1 amp does both trebles rather than bass/treble of just one speaker)
I rewired my older naxo 2-4 horizontally (to use unbalanced amps) and it sounded worse cf vertical when I upgraded to balanced amps.--I put this down to L/R channel cross talk that you don't get if vertical.
3-6 has to run horizontal of course as each Stereo amp has only 2 channels(Naim's av amp excepted).
Got a headache yet?
Richard

I just installed the new series Snaxo 2-4. It replaced an IXO, so I can't give a comparison between the old Snaxo and new Snaxo. I can say that the improvement over the IXO is phenomenal. Bigger, warmer, smoother sound The IXO was a sonic cork in my system.

It's currently powered by a Flatcap2, pending funds for a supercap and burndy.

Note for Richard Dane. The manual that came with my new Snaxo was for the old style. Is there a manual for the new Snaxo? The PDF file on the Naim website is also for the older unit.

Charles
Los Angeles

fyi - To clarify on the old 3-6 SNAXO:
It is not a "horizontal" connection plan. When a stereo amp is used (e.g. a NAP250) the SNAXO is oriented toward running one channel to a woofer and one channel to a midrange. A three amp setup would provide a "vertical" orientation on L & R bass/mid and a "horizontal" orientation on the tweeters.

I hope this new connection arrangment is optional. Everyone having done the comparison easily agree that vertical setup is much better.
Giving the choice would be a good thing, it eases the upgrade to an active setup.
Or is it a side effect: SNAXOs have the same connection patern but as active is only recommanded by Naim with 300 and 500, it is possible to plug them horizontal or vertical.

Richard, more info please.

Emmanuel

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

Is the new Snaxo for dbls only or will there be a isobariks version too?

I guess there will be plenty of s/h SNAXOs on the market soon. :-)

cheers
Gus

The real question is the new Snaxo more user friendly? In my dream world, the new Snaxo would be remote controled, so you could sit in your listening position and make adjustments...if you have ever tweaked a Snaxo you'll know where I am coming from.

I hope at least the trim pots are marked for direction this time.

Chris Bell

From what I saw
No remote and blue unmarked trim pots are the same.
There is a very clever thing on the circuit board, where some of the components are in a sealed enclosure to make temp and humidity more consistent.
Richard

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Originally posted by Richard Paget:
components are in a sealed enclosure to make temp and humidity more consistent.
Richard

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There are called transisitor rooms, first seen on CDS11 and NAP500 and now on new 250, 300, and on NAC 552 but not NAC 252!

Dev -- who being more nerdy than is good for aa young man.

Dev, you forgot about the new "thermal hats"....

Richard

p.s. more info to come shortly....

The new SNAXOs can be easily wired horizontally or vertically with mono input amps such as NAP135, NAP300, NAP500. With special leads stereo input amplifiers could be wired vertically but the internal socket wiring would not be optimal.

There are no plans to offer upgrades for olive units.

There is a new manual for the 242/362, unfortunately a couple of early units do appear to have been sent with the old manual - if anybody finds one with their new SNAXO just contact the supplying dealer and we'll send them a new one. The new manual is due to be posted on the web shortly.

The 242 and 362 can be set up for other speakers as before.

The channels are labelled and the trimmers are arranged very logically for easier adjustment.

I think that's covered just about everything...

Richard

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....I think that's covered just about everything...
Richard

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You really think so!

"There are no plans to offer upgrades for olive units."

Richard,

What about the upgrades to the Prefix and the retro-fitting of the new output boards to olive 250s?

Jo

See...

...And the 007-transitor upgrade to the nap135...?

I spoke to Naim about the 007's being fitted to my 4x135's-currently being serviced. Apparently they can't be fitted as replacements on the amp boards,but can be added to the Power supply boards. The original amp boards are just too 'unstable' for them.
At £40 each they felt it wouldn't be a VFM or jaw drop upgrade like when they are fitted to the amp boards on the newer stuff.
I'm not sure whether the last 135's/250's had them on redesigned more stable amp boards or just on the power supply boards.
Richard

Richard,

They were just fitted in the power supplies. Well, on the 250 anyway. No idea about the 135s. It cropped up in a thread a while ago, and the serial number was given for the point at which the change happened.

Hope this helps,

Stephen.

Roy George stated a while back that the complete amp board could be fitted to olive style amps to allow them to benefit from the new output trannies.....has there been a retreat on this?

Jo

It may be since the advent of the 300, throwing a lot of money on 135's 250's is a little more discouraged by Naim. Gulf to 500 has been bridged
Richard

A bit disappointing - having heard the designer say at a show and on a factory tour that it would be possible to upgrade older amps to the new output transistor circuits, it seems that it will not be on offer. Is this a result of the marketing guys worrying about affecting sales of the new range?

I would be very interested in upgrading my present gear, but i am not going to change from my beloved olive boxes to the new ones - so Naim is not going to lose a sale by offering an upgrade.

Jo

Jo,

in theory it all seemed possible until we actually tried in practice. The reality was that in order to have everything work as we wanted would have required scrapping all the internals of the old amplifier, re-machining the chassis and replacing with new internals. The cost to do this would actually exceed the cost of a new amp so not a very practical proposition.

We did put 007 transistors in some later Olive fascia NAP250/135s but only on the power supply. This was possible without problems but was only done to preserve stocks of the older 001 transistors. Performance was basically unchanged and as such it's not a worthwhile upgrade for earlier units.

Richard

Richard,

Thanks for the explanation - a pity it didn't work out as Roy had hoped.

But you did mention earlier that the Prefix could be upgraded with the new circuit - can you let us know cost etc in due course?

Jo

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But you did mention earlier that the Prefix could be upgraded with the new circuit - can you let us know cost etc in due course?

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I'd like to know this too, mine has turned back into a radio with the high pressure atmospheric conditions we're having, most frustrating!

I'd like a longer SNAIC too, if that's possible without degrading the music.

Andy.