All Digital Inputs on AV2 are dead :-O

Posted by: GreenAlex on 01 August 2013

I had my entire System (DVD5/AV2/NAPv175/NAP200) powered down because I was away for a few days and wanted it all to be nice and safe.

Came home and turned it all back on and wanted to watch some TV (sat receiver via toslink) but the signal kept dropping and then plops and weird noises came from my speakers :-O

Reset the DVD5 and AV2 but still, both on Toslink and Coax the signal locks, then after a few seconds no more sound and then some plops and weird noises :-(

The VIP inputs (analogue CD from DVD5) works with no issues at all. Both in Direct mode and in NEO:6 etc.

Anybody ever had this? Any ideas? "Newest" firmwares on everything. AV2 has been working without an issue and was turned on 24/7/365 and now i turn it off for a week and it breaks down?

Please someone tell me this can be fixed locally by a reset or some kind of adjustment?

Pretty please :-)
Posted on: 15 August 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by GreenAlex:

Thanks guys :-)

 

I will contact Naim mid-week to give them some time to return from their short summer break before bothering them with my broken av2 :-D

Any luck with the AV2 Alex?

Posted on: 16 August 2013 by GreenAlex

Unfortunately I have only just gotten round to send the eMail, but I will of course keep you updated, if that's OK with the service departement :-)

 

Posted on: 18 August 2013 by GreenAlex

it's not looking good

 

managed to rule out dvd5, poweramps and connections like dvi or any other sources. it's obviously the av2.

 

not sure whether it would even be sensible to have it repaired. always thought it woulf last me a lifetime but it seems like i was wrong

 

even more annoying now that the nvi isn't a viable replacement as the display is dead (common nvi problem) and standby doesn't work (also common nvi problem). 

Posted on: 18 August 2013 by rackkit

That's bad news Alex. Depending on repair costs, it might be worth looking out for another used AV2. The last one i saw was going £500. I'm considering doing a similar thing as a back up in case the same thing happens. I hook up separate amps, so no NVi at this end to worry about. You might consider a NAP 175 and 150 to replace yours. I've used the same and it sounds fantastic. Currently using NAP300, 145 and 200 tho. 

 

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

Cheers,

 

Rack.

Posted on: 19 August 2013 by GreenAlex

i am using av2/napv175/200 right now... well, until the av2 went bananas

nvi used to be my bedroom system and is now in the living room. watched django unchained on it last night and sounded pretty great.

 

anyway, if the av2s repair costs are tol high, then i doubt i will replace it with another av2. somehow doesn't seem smart to replace it with another one. might keep it for stereo usage. not sure yet.

unlessssss i buy a second one, use it replace piece by piece in my old one, find the damaged chip, order the replacement from naim and then sell one of the two again or use the second one as bathroom surround sound :-D

 

thing is, i need to get it to the uk first before i can know anything for sure. 

and seems like repairing the nvi is pointless also as the standby issue was never fixed.

 

naim uk have always been great with their support, but warranty has long expired of course so i fear it might get pretty expensive :-(

 

i wouldn't mind doing the work myself. with the proper esd in place it's mostly unplugg and replace by the looks of things. but of course i cannot know for sure which part needs replacing

 

why can't the naim factory be closer? any naim av engineers visiting southern germany some time soon and would fancy an espresso or latte or mocca? :-)

Posted on: 19 August 2013 by Richard Dane

Get in touch with the local distributor Music Line.  They have an excellent service department and can fix the majority of problems locally

Posted on: 19 August 2013 by GreenAlex
I met a few guys from Music-Line and they were very kind in person, but they are also pretty expensive and there is far less goodwill/amiability (not sure what the english word for "Kulanz" is).
And I had quite a bit of hassle getting my DVD5 fixed (took multiple attempts). And they do not allow any work to be carried out by dealers, which makes it all much more complicated, and again expensive.

I have to say there is never a substitute for Naim UK in my experience.

I mean no offense to Music-Line who are highly competent and even extend the warranty to 5 years because they believe in Naim so much.
But I personally just prefer Naim HQ who are more forthcoming.
So this is really meant as high praise for you guys and not an insult or offense to Music-Line!
Posted on: 18 November 2013 by rael

I have just purchased an AV2 from ebay and from the outset I am Experiencing exactly the same problems described on this thread, the previous user did not experience these issues as the AV2 had been left on always, never powered off or put on standby.

 

i.e. Interference/noise from the digital inputs using tv and sonos as sources on optical 1 and coaxial 1 respectively, same problem on op2 and co2. I have tried hard switch on/off and restore default values by holding disp key down, which has returned the sound, but I am also getting intermittent noise through  the speakers which is a concern. regardless of which digital input used.

 

If anyone can help I would be very very appreciative ..

 

Thanks...

Posted on: 18 November 2013 by rael

I have tried to isolate the power cables from all other cables and the interference has gone at the moment and after the factory reset we have no loss of sound on digital inputs, early days, but looking alot better at the moment.

 

cheers.

Posted on: 19 November 2013 by rael

Hmmm back to no sound this morning on AV2, tried another factory reset to no avail ... 

Posted on: 19 November 2013 by blythe

After posting back in August that mine was running fine, it subsequently died 10 weeks ago - I guess I was tempting fate :-(

Sadly for me, it meant the AV2 had to take a trip back to Naim for repair which unfortunately took a staggering 9 weeks 

Posted on: 19 November 2013 by rael

Thanks for coming back to me, can I ask how much the repair cost to see if it is worthwhile,

 

Did Naim indicate what the issue was ?

 

I assume you can power it on and off if required now without the issue repeating itself.. ?

 

Cheers 

 

 

Posted on: 20 November 2013 by Richard Dane
Originally Posted by rael:

Hmmm back to no sound this morning on AV2, tried another factory reset to no avail ... 

 

Rael, if it was couriered it may have been shaken badly and developed a bad connection somewhere - possibly between the DSP board and the main board.  Get it checked out by a Naim dealer.  DO NOT be tempted to open it up yourself.  The AV2 board's DSP is highly sensitive to ESD and must be only be handled under a FULL ESD precautionary environment.

Posted on: 22 November 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by blythe:

After posting back in August that mine was running fine, it subsequently died 10 weeks ago - I guess I was tempting fate :-(

Sadly for me, it meant the AV2 had to take a trip back to Naim for repair which unfortunately took a staggering 9 weeks 

That's a worrying thought for me as the main tv is routed through my AV2. If it goes pop, i'm screwed. Really thinking about getting another one as a spare. 

Posted on: 22 November 2013 by tonym

Much as I loved my AV2, and can understand you folks' reluctance to part with yours, I do think the time's come to bite the bullet & move on to another processor. 

Posted on: 23 November 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by tonym:

Much as I loved my AV2, and can understand you folks' reluctance to part with yours, I do think the time's come to bite the bullet & move on to another processor. 

If it ever comes to that, what would you recommend as i'd be wanting to keep my Naim amps (NAP 145/200/300/n-Sub?

Posted on: 23 November 2013 by karyboue

I suppose that your AV2 still works on analog inputs ?

 

What about a cheap http://shop.emotiva.com/products/umc200 that decodes HD sound, plugged in the 7.1 analog inputs of the AV2.

Posted on: 24 November 2013 by blythe
Originally Posted by rael:

Thanks for coming back to me, can I ask how much the repair cost to see if it is worthwhile,

 

Did Naim indicate what the issue was ?

 

I assume you can power it on and off if required now without the issue repeating itself.. ?

 

Cheers 

 

 

I think it was around £450 for the repair and that was for - if my memory serves me correctly (I am currently away so don’t have the invoice with me) a couple of replacement chips and/or a “Gen 6 Board”.

Turning on and off has been no problem since it was repaired.

Posted on: 09 December 2013 by GreenAlex
I was also quoted an estimate of around 500 GBP for a repair of mine.
That was of course without seeing my AV2, so it could be far more or far less.

One way or another, it seemed Naim did not really recommend a repair as the cost was relatively high

mine has been collecting dust ever since. it also got worse an worse when i tried it again, so if mine is any indication, it is only a matter of time before the digital inputs are completely useless.

It is all quite unfortunate, since for some reason, Naim AV has never left the buggy stage.
My nVi, which is currently replacing my AV2, takes much longer to lock onto a DD5.1 signal and of course, like almost all other nVis, has a broken display AND cannot be put into standby for more than a day without the need of a hard power down.

I never felt the need to replace my AV2 soundwise, but it seems there is no way around it anymore. Right now I have a nVi in use, and an AV2, DVD5, NAP200 and NAPv175 collecting dust...

Sad really
Posted on: 22 December 2013 by GreenAlex
finally found the time to investigate again.
am currently checking all the inputs one by one.

IF i am lucky, the av2 might still work on analogue inputs. which sucks on the one hand, but on the other at least lets me use it further for CDs and maybe let the sources decode.

does anybody know if the dvd5 is able to output 5.1 analogue out of the box? or will i need an upgrade? the socket is there so hopefully it won't be a dummy. any ideas?

I don't have a suitable cable to test it and of course makes no sense to order one without knowing^^
Posted on: 23 December 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by GreenAlex:
finally found the time to investigate again.
am currently checking all the inputs one by one.

IF i am lucky, the av2 might still work on analogue inputs. which sucks on the one hand, but on the other at least lets me use it further for CDs and maybe let the sources decode.

does anybody know if the dvd5 is able to output 5.1 analogue out of the box? or will i need an upgrade? the socket is there so hopefully it won't be a dummy. any ideas?

I don't have a suitable cable to test it and of course makes no sense to order one without knowing^^

I was going to suggest connecting up the DVD5 using the analogue outputs into the AV2 but you're already it. 

Posted on: 09 February 2014 by Massimo Bertola
Originally Posted by GreenAlex:
finally found the time to investigate again.
am currently checking all the inputs one by one.

IF i am lucky, the av2 might still work on analogue inputs. which sucks on the one hand, but on the other at least lets me use it further for CDs and maybe let the sources decode.

does anybody know if the dvd5 is able to output 5.1 analogue out of the box? or will i need an upgrade? the socket is there so hopefully it won't be a dummy. any ideas?

I don't have a suitable cable to test it and of course makes no sense to order one without knowing^^

Alex,

 

the DVD5 needs a custom board to replay 5.1 or 7.1 in analogue, if I don't remember incorrectly. I had bought the extra board from Naim to replay DVD-As, and the result was quite good. Perhaps at Naim they still have some.

 

Best

Max

Posted on: 09 February 2014 by Richard Dane

correct.  The DVD5 came in two versions - one with and one without the high performance analog multi-channel board.