Snaxo 362 service

Posted by: mlauner on 18 September 2016

I am curious about the time frame for recapping a Snaxo 362? It has been used for only around 9-10 years despite being older and sounds great. all my Nap 250s that have been recapped exhibited obvious signs[ running very hot or degraded sound] leading to servicing. Will the Snaxo show  signs like the amps did? I do not want to commit until I have to since it is very costly[ $1000]. Anyone had experience that can offer insights?

Thanks

Posted on: 18 September 2016 by Ron Toolsie

The filter caps in your power amps are much more vulnerable to breakdown since they are handling high ripple from the rectifiers (which is why they are also referred to as smoothing caps) in a warm to hot environment-and it is ripple and heat that are the two main causes of accelerated cap degeneration. I think you should be good for at least another 5 years on the Snaxo before considering any service. I'm not sure if routine service includes the Cermet trim pot replacements, as they are likely to get sticky over time. For the price commanded for a service, the money could almost certainly be used better elsewhere-or simply kept. 

It may be that the like-for like replacement done during service replaces components with similar but higher spec ones....it has been a long standing discussion of which bead tantalum caps are the best...and certainly the latest yellow ones made by AVX are a modest improvement over the previous blue colored ones...which were maybe a tad better than the mustard color ones etc. If you are in the US, do check with AV Options about having the Snaxo serviced...they usually have a few 'extra options' that can boost performance above a standard part swap service that seem to not incur the incisive sword of the moderators. 

Posted on: 18 September 2016 by mlauner

Ron,

Thanks for the advice. Glad to see you are still active on Naim site.  

 

Posted on: 19 September 2016 by Jay Coleman

I'll second AV Options for a recap of a SNAXO. They did mine a few years ago and the improvement was noticeable. Ideally, don't wait until it really sounds "off."