Faulty NAIM Flash remote control

Mine also decided to go into a weird mode after many years faithful service - it started to flash on and off on the display and I can no longer use it. Not a troll message as it may seem that the Flash developing a fault of flashing on and off is too crazy to be true - but that is how mine ended its days.

I have the RCOM remote but don't like it as it has limited functionality so don't use that. So one of the plastic remotes is what I had to revert to. The main function of the Remote is to work with a minimum of fuss and do all I want it to do - the Flash was a fantastic device but is no  more!
Using a tablet with scrolling touch-screen operation injects more irritation than I like to have personally. Plonk and play and track-selection by numbers on the remote will one day be rediscovered in the distant future as the elegant way of selecting music it is.

Does not help you, other than a report that they can fail.

DB.

Mine is really weird - but only because I was trialling an early test version of the fw and there were some rather strange issues.  I was supposed to bring mine back and swap out the PIC for an amended test fw but never got around to doing so.  

FWIW, it's worth taking out the batteries and leaving it for a while to let the cap discharge.  Then try reinserting the batteries.  You need to one careful - wait for the last one then cleanly snap it into place.  If not, then you get a partial charge on the cap and weird stuff happens...

Hi. I followed your advice Richard and removed the batteries going on three hours. Snapped the last one into place in one hit but no better I am afraid so it looks like its RIP for my Flash. The replacement RCOM is a quality product but lacks the "style". Best to remove the batteries otherwise the outcome could eventually be a bit messy.

Also thank you DARKE BEAR.

Douglas.

I really loved the deign and build of The Flash but unfortunately mine packed in with a 'bleeding' screen a few years ago 

Richard

Douglas, Naim may well still be able to repair.

Mine is no longer being used - it worked fine and then suddenly the volume would rocket upwards causing sudden anxiety as my Focal speakers were on max volume!!  I had to run and hit mute and thankfully speakers were fine. After it happened a second time I became afraid to use it.  Now I use the plastic remote that came with my 52. Works fine but doesn’t light up in the dark and has none of the hefty feel of the Flash.

not sure if this can be fixed. If it could and was guaranteed that this sudden volume problem wouldn’t happen again, I would fix it.  Beautiful piece of engineering- except for battery compartment.

david

This sounds like a cue for a Naim Remote picture thread!  I have always meat to start one.  I never had the Flash, I do have an RCOM, but much prefer a plastic remote which came (I think) with an old 52.  The buttons are so logical that it is a pleasure to use (the RCOM I always need to move it, to check I am about to press the correct one).

Its worth a visit to my dealer to route my Flash back to Salisbury, Richard.

Scary, if the volume control gets a mind of its own. Had a lucky escape with my B & W 802's  and 500. I run the TV via the system and my "helpful" sister-in-law, in my absence, was trying to get some TV sound. I arrived home to be asked to fix it and could have just pressed the mute button to activate things.  The volume control was on 4 o'clock and for a reason unknown to me I returned the volume control to zero. Lucky escape.

I have never gone beyond 11 o'clock on my pre-amp and that's really pushing it! Its mostly at nine.

Douglas.

Douglas, I'd ask first whether repair is still possible.  It may be that it needs to be seen first - I know some parts are no longer available.

hello all,

I phoned Salisbury and there are NO spares for the Flash remote at all. So it is now an object to admire only. The advise was to sharpen the end and use it to remove ice from the car windows! Looks like this part is on borrowed time.

Douglas.

I have one of these that simply stopped working some years ago.  Asked Naim about repairing it but no interest as far as I could tell.  Some years later I put some batteries back in and Lo! and Behold! it was working again.  Don't use it, though.  

I love my Flash and fortunately have two, one I keep as spare. I tried and hated and sold on the RCOM. I seem to recall there was some funny trick for resuscitating the Flash which I had to use once, but I've forgotten what it it was. I think it was just a short cut to leaving the thing battery-less for long enough for everything to discharge.

davidf posted:

Mine is no longer being used - it worked fine and then suddenly the volume would rocket upwards causing sudden anxiety as my Focal speakers were on max volume!!  I had to run and hit mute and thankfully speakers were fine. After it happened a second time I became afraid to use it.  Now I use the plastic remote that came with my 52. Works fine but doesn’t light up in the dark and has none of the hefty feel of the Flash.

not sure if this can be fixed. If it could and was guaranteed that this sudden volume problem wouldn’t happen again, I would fix it.  Beautiful piece of engineering- except for battery compartment.

david

Mine has recently been doing the same  -  very scary. The Volume Up command stuck fast one evening (I'm sure self-prompted by the unit), which was very difficult to see in half-light  -  I think it's done this 2x of late. I now point the Flash away from the 552 when not in use - and the batteries aren't running down with any speed which would suggest a recurring issue. 

I've also had the source change unprompted by me on the 552 a few times (i.e. up one = silence) - and wondered if this is down to the low sun we get at this time of year/my Pio plasma TV giving off stray waves or the 552 (unlikely). None of the kit is in direct sunlight.

My Flash has had a few foibles e.g. stating low battery levels very soon after new batteries have been installed - but removal and a bit of un-powered resetting time (an hour or so - better overnight), has normally fixed things. 

X-fingers, for now mine is OK (just?) - and I much prefer it to the other Naim remotes. 

I never liked the Flash remote. I had one with my CDS2. I found it too heavy and clunky and much preferred the plastic remote which came with my NAC52 (possibly the best one Naim has ever used IMHO). In fact, after the novelty had worn off, I removed the battery, packed it back in the box and it remained in the loft until I sold the CDS2. The RCOM is OK, but limited in its functions, although strangely I find the volume control operates much more smoothly in response to the RCOM than to the plastic remote. 

I dug my Flash out of storage, put new batteries in it, and it has been going strong for 3 months now. I like the volume control with my 52. It seems more responsive than the plastic remote. Keeping fingers crossed. It has a bit of a James Bond gadget appeal as well...

BBM

I bought a used Flash remote a good while back. Lovely piece of design, quite an unusual shape that always attracted attention. I eventuality sold it on for the same amount I bough it for, the RCOM replacing it. I much prefer the buttons on the RCOM but miss the design of the FLASH even though it used eat batteries and replacing them was a bit of pain. 

RIP FLASH! 

Yes, I used to quite like the RCOM batteries, but curiously enough I found it much more battery hungry than the Flash. Incidentally, in my experience both work just fine with rechargables.