Naim CDP/amp - the burn in cycle

Posted by: Mr_Sukebe on 13 January 2004

I was just wondering whether others feel that Naim kit seems to go through the same kind of burn in cycle from new.

I recently bought a CD5i, and like most people on dem, found it rather veiled in the first couple of weeks.

I'd like to suggest that it's now lost the veil, but is a little "strident" and slightly "shrill" in areas.

From experience with my Nait, I seem to remember it doing exactly the same. Although I also remember that a couple of weeks post that, the Nait calmed down and became lovely and natural, so I'm assuming that the CD5i will do the same.

Anyone else have the same experience?
Posted on: 13 January 2004 by Paul Downs
From my limited experience, I have found that all Naim gear takes quite a while to "bed in", but once it is on song it will sound truly stunning.

Regards

Paul.
Posted on: 13 January 2004 by HTK
It's questionable how valuable personal experience is, but FWIW, with CD5 then Hi Cap a year later:

Not too bad out of the box. Then getting brighter to the point of ouch! Bass settles down after about 1 week and just keeps extending and tightening. But the overall balance takes about a month. At first I wanted the treble to roll off but if anything it extended, becomming sweeter and more detailed until the ouch! factor vanished - leaving me wondering if I'd imagined it.

Like I said, FWIW.

Cheers

Harry
Posted on: 13 January 2004 by Geoff P
Yep!
Every bit of Naim Kit I have bought, be it CD, pre-amp, power-supply or power amp has taken about a month of daily use to come on song and I have typically continued to hear improvements for another month.

The other key IMHO which we all agree here, is you have to leave it all switched on and even having to turn off for some emergency like a blown fuse etc and then turn back on again after a minute or so has impact though the circuits have hardly cooled down at all.

This is the problem with the "demo" thing. I know that dealers have "burned in" examples but they are forever having to re-configure power supplies and switch on and switch off to demo different combinations.

I don't believe you get to hear the TRUE sound you have bought until you have literally bought it , set it up at home and allowed a couple of months for it to stabilize.

THis is a nervous period during which the "oh my god what have I done" thoughts can surface.
Fortunately ( for most of us) things come good with time.

GEOFF
Posted on: 13 January 2004 by HTK
Right on Geoff.

Switching it off is a no no and if you have to, the next few hours, or even days can be very frustrating. I've found this with most Hi Fi boxes but Naim seems particularly fussy. The whole mains thing's a can of worms really.

Cheers

Harry