NAP 250 query

Posted by: kota on 21 October 2016

Hi there
Recently came across an olive NAP250 which hasn't got a serial number on the back so presumably has been built by a Naim employee sometime back in the nineties. Can't find out its history because of that but I suspect it has never been recapped.
My question is what's the devaluation percentage, if any, when compared to a similar one with a proper serial number of the same vintage?
 
Cheers,
 
Pedro
Posted on: 21 October 2016 by Richard Dane

Kota, it might be a staff build (and that could be anyone at the factory from Paul Stephenson to the cleaner) but it might also be a unit that has had the serial number removed off the back panel for some reason (often nefarious).  Without a provenance it's impossible to know.  As such many will give it a wide berth, which means the second hand value will be far lower than a serial numbered unit.

There are ways to check on whether it's a staff build or a potentially dodgy de-serialed unit but that's a specialist job only for the Naim factory or an authorised service person.

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by kota

Thanks for that Richard. I'll forget all about it then.

Cheers

 

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by JRHardee

When I bought my second-hand 52, I was told that it was built by a staff member at Naim Audio North America for a friend. NANA would neither confirm nor deny this. It has a serial number. 

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by Adam Zielinski

There should be a second sticker with a serial number inside....

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by Loki

If there isn't, walk away!

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by Richard Dane

The inside sticker is only there on more recent builds. Any serial numbered item should also have an identifier scratched in to the chassis somewhere, often under the transformer or under the main board. 

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by David Hendon

If it's very cheap then you could get it recapped anyway and keep it, in which case its resale value isn't really an issue.  The concern would be whether it wasn't what it appears to be (so not actual Naim electronics) or, as Richard hints, it is stolen or in some other way "repurposed" in which case you wouldn't want to be rewarding anyone for doing that.

best

David

 

Posted on: 21 October 2016 by kota

Thanks for the replies. The present owner got it from that auction site some time ago and to be quite honest he hasn't got a clue of its origin. Apparently it works fine but I haven't seen its innards nor listened to it in my system anyway.

He's asking more than a grand for it so it's just too much of a deal for me and I' not at all prepared to make him an offer bearing in mind it still would be needing a service in any case.

Call it a day.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 22 October 2016 by nickpeacock
I've bought quite a few second hand Naim boxes in my time, including from *that* auction site. They've always had serial numbers, which I then check with Steve Hopkins at Naim. No serial number - forget it.
Posted on: 23 October 2016 by The Dude

...hmmm; I have just acquired an ex Naim staff Olive 250 having benefited from a new 250.2 case...no serial number however having opened her up can verify tis a genuine Naim Nap...I will send to ******** for a service and upgrade at which point for little more than a grand I should have an astonishing amp...sounds sublime listening to Katie Melua as I type...

Moderated Post:  Dude, I've removed the name of a company who have said to Naim that they do not wish for their name or their products to be mentioned or discussed on this forum.

Posted on: 23 October 2016 by The Dude

Understood and forgive my ignorance...