Re-Cap

Naim usually recommend around 10 years for most kit but up to 15 years for the 500 series.

I thought it was 10 years for amps and powersupplies? What about CD players... I have owned my CDX2 from new from around 2004 and it has probably never sounded better to my ears.. Will this CDP start to detereiate very suddenly when it needs recapping?

Simon, It's probably never sounded better because of improvements to the other equipment you use.  The deterioration will mainly be due to changes in the electrolytics in the analogue stages (but there'll also be more breakthrough from the power supplies in the digital sections as their electrolytics degrade).  The changes year on year will be subtle, but they gradually build to a significant deterioration overall.

Timescale?  I'd have thought anything 10 to 20 years, (and most probably the later half of that, before a recap becomes really significant for a CDP).

Huge, thanks.. Yes I am sure as I have said elsewhere it's only since I got my 252DR that I could really enjoy what the CDX2 is capable of.. and placing on full fat Fraim with a Hiline has helped as well.

BTW I think it's the Tantalum bead capacitors that tend to be the aging culprits with analogue stages... and the large wet electrolytic caps more for PSU reservoir type duties.

Simon

From personal experience, Naim serviced my old NAC32.5 pre-amp after 17 years and the Service department described it as "about to fall over".

My NAP135 power amps have really needed a service after only 7 years since their last service by Naim.

My CDX2 and CDS3 sounded surprisingly better after being serviced 7 years from new.  Lots of small capacitors and other PCB components were changed, as well as firmware being updated.

The 555PS is still strutting its stuff after 9 years & counting.

So, bearing this in mind, together with Naim's official recommendations, something like the following might be a reasonable rule of thumb:

• Classic CD players: 8 years (CDX, CDX2, CDS, CDS2, CDS3 etc.)
• Power amps & classic power supplies (hicap, supercap, XPS etc.): 8 years
• Pre-amps: <15 years
• 500 series: 15 years

Streamers: no idea, sorry. 

It would be interesting to hear of others' experience.

Hope this helps, FT

Thanks for the sharing.

How about Superline?

My 202 and 200 are both from the early 2000s (though I've only owned them for a couple of years), so I am also planning a recap for them. I got a wide range of advice about when one should recap from several Naim dealers I asked (much of it contradictory, I have to say), so I emailed Naim HQ who recommended a re-cap/service after 8-10 years. This might just be specific to my kit, of course.

My understanding is that you get more than just replacement capacitors for your money - other changes and general 'polishing and tidying' are also part of the service. This certainly fits with my experience of sending my old CD5i off to have a bleeding logo exchanged - when it came back it was neater and tidier in several minor but noticeable ways. I don't think it sounded better, mind you, but they'd clearly done more than just take out one logo and put a new one in.

Mark

Hi, owning a pre CD nac72 which I suspect has never been serviced (still sounds great to my ears!) can anyone remind me of the naim authorised service company based in Sheffield?

Many thanks,

Robert

Class A. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Class A. 

+1

Yes, Darran is your man!

Brilliant - many thanks!

Robert

My understanding was that some amps are "more sensitive" than others. For example, a 250 will deteriorate sooner than a 140.

My own 250s started sounding distorted after 10 years necessitating a service whereas my 140 didn't.

+1 for Darran at Class A in Sheffield 

Safe to assume the Muso and Qb preclude re-cap concerns?

When to replace the grills or re-foam the speakers will be the biggest maintenance issue with those?

Too soon to know?