What are the signs that amps need servicing

When a regulated power amp such as your NAP250.2 needs servicing then performance goes off the boil pretty sharply.  If you find yourself losing engagement, finding it just rather flat, soft and unexciting then that's a sure sign. 

Richard Dane posted:

When a regulated power amp such as your NAP250.2 needs servicing then performance goes off the boil pretty sharply.  If you find yourself losing engagement, finding it just rather flat, soft and unexciting then that's a sure sign. 

Yep. Flattened dynamics, cotton wool sound and rolled off frequency extremes. Non regulated are more gradual. Getting both serviced will be like cleaning your windows after a storm. Acoustic perspicacity will return, as will the boogie factor.

My 250-2 is from 2005. My HiCap and 282 are from 2008. I just had the whole lot serviced and DR'd, and WOW!, what a difference that makes. Still breaking in but the improvement already has me so engaged in listening. My cycling has suffered as a result and I love that as much as listening to music.

Richard Dane posted:

When a regulated power amp such as your NAP250.2 needs servicing then performance goes off the boil pretty sharply.  If you find yourself losing engagement, finding it just rather flat, soft and unexciting then that's a sure sign. 

I would just like to be ahead of that, so what would you say the average time is that a 500 can play without trouble after it had been serviced (as I am running such a machine).

Funnily enough I asked the same question about the 250.2 post DR service. The answer seems to be between 3 to 5 months. Mine's about 6 weeks in and still occaasionally screechy or lumpy depending on mood. But Asgaardians have an eternity, so a piffling amount of time and a lesson in delaying pleasure 

Bert, hard to say - I remember my own NAP500 sounded pretty good after a few days, but I was travelling a lot so difficult to know about any ups or downs. The original NAP300 I recall took ages to run in (3 months or more), whereas my recent NAP250 DR seems to be great after just a few days.

Quad 33 posted:

Hi everyone, this is a general question regard the signs / symptoms to sound quality if any to indicate that a service is due. I have noticed a change in the sound of my system over the last month or so which I can only describe as a softening and a change in the balance / imaging of the sound stage not quite as focused not unpleasant but different . I also have to increase the volume slightly, any  comments will be welcome. Both my NAC 282 NAP 250.2 left Naim in September 2006  I have owned both since March 2012 from Moorgare Acoustics and will be giving Darran  at Class A a ring in the morning to ask the same question.

Regards Graham.

 

Generally, the signs are that your bank balance is looking better than average and you have a bit of a desire to upgrade, but not sure what and anyway can't afford a new box.  It's a mild form of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), but beware - it can develop into the full-blown form if not controlled.

Beachcomber posted:

Quad 33 posted:

Hi everyone, this is a general question regard the signs / symptoms to sound quality if any to indicate that a service is due. I have noticed a change in the sound of my system over the last month or so which I can only describe as a softening and a change in the balance / imaging of the sound stage not quite as focused not unpleasant but different . I also have to increase the volume slightly, any  comments will be welcome. Both my NAC 282 NAP 250.2 left Naim in September 2006  I have owned both since March 2012 from Moorgare Acoustics and will be giving Darran  at Class A a ring in the morning to ask the same question.

Regards Graham.

 

Generally, the signs are that your bank balance is looking better than average and you have a bit of a desire to upgrade, but not sure what and anyway can't afford a new box.  It's a mild form of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), but beware - it can develop into the full-blown form if not controlled.

That's funny that you say that, because this year I have a very attractive monthly bonus structure (as long as I'm leading a team at a client site). As a result I decided I to take the opportunity to service and DR all my Naim, which I was hoping to do before my retirement in a few years.

RaceTripper posted:

 

That's funny that you say that, because this year I have a very attractive monthly bonus structure (as long as I'm leading a team at a client site). As a result I decided I to take the opportunity to service and DR all my Naim, which I was hoping to do before my retirement in a few years.

I have recently had a similar experience - my job had been underpaying me for a bit, so paid the missing amount as a lump sum - which went on getting my NAP500 DR upgrade.  And similar reasoning - I should have retired by now, and want to have the HiFi in good fettle before then to last me through my retirement...

Beachcomber posted:

RaceTripper posted:

 

 

I have recently had a similar experience - my job had been underpaying me for a bit, so paid the missing amount as a lump sum - which went on getting my NAP500 DR upgrade.  And similar reasoning - I should have retired by now, and want to have the HiFi in good fettle before then to last me through my retirement...

Now I'm thinking about replacing my Dynaudio Contour S3.4 speakers with a pair of Confidence C2 Platinum. Dynaudio has discontinued the model (new Confidence on the way) so good deals can be had while they still have stock.

RaceTripper posted:

Beachcomber posted:

RaceTripper posted:

 

 

I have recently had a similar experience - my job had been underpaying me for a bit, so paid the missing amount as a lump sum - which went on getting my NAP500 DR upgrade.  And similar reasoning - I should have retired by now, and want to have the HiFi in good fettle before then to last me through my retirement...

Now I'm thinking about replacing my Dynaudio Contour S3.4 speakers with a pair of Confidence C2 Platinum. Dynaudio has discontinued the model (new Confidence on the way) so good deals can be had while they still have stock.

Let me know if this pays off RaceTripper as I have Dynaudio Contour S3.4's and although I love them very much Confidence C2 Platinum would be one of the only speakers that might replace them one day.

Bob the Builder posted:

RaceTripper posted:

 

Let me know if this pays off RaceTripper as I have Dynaudio Contour S3.4's and although I love them very much Confidence C2 Platinum would be one of the only speakers that might replace them one day.

At the moment I have a major hurdle: she who muct be obeyed. LOL

RaceTripper posted:

Bob the Builder posted:

RaceTripper posted:

 

Let me know if this pays off RaceTripper as I have Dynaudio Contour S3.4's and although I love them very much Confidence C2 Platinum would be one of the only speakers that might replace them one day.

At the moment I have a major hurdle: she who muct be obeyed. LOL

Oh dear!

Try the following: my ears will decline in their ability to perceive the frequency extremes, thereefore, for my mental health I need a good auditory memory upon which to draw in my dotage and as such I need to buy the best hifi I can now in orde to carry me through to eternal rest. Alternatively become immortal and wrestle the problem over aeons. 

Richard Dane posted:

Bert, hard to say - I remember my own NAP500 sounded pretty good after a few days, but I was travelling a lot so difficult to know about any ups or downs. The original NAP300 I recall took ages to run in (3 months or more), whereas my recent NAP250 DR seems to be great after just a few days.

Richard I meant the question in a different way. My 500 was just serviced 1 year before I bought it, so when in time speaking should I need to again reckon for a service ?

Loki posted:

Try the following: my ears will decline in their ability to perceive the frequency extremes, thereefore, for my mental health I need a good auditory memory upon which to draw in my dotage and as such I need to buy the best hifi I can now in orde to carry me through to eternal rest. Alternatively become immortal and wrestle the problem over aeons. 

That's how I got my second REL R-328 sub (pre-loved) that came today. I need a much better strategy for the C2s. I'm going to try, "my Apple position gained in the last year what I need to spend for the C2s. We won't even miss the money"

That might work, or I might be trading dinner with my dog today.

Oh, Ok, sorry Bert.  I think Naim's recommended service interval on the NAP500 is around 15 years.

RaceTripper posted:

Loki posted:

Try the following: my ears will decline in their ability to perceive the frequency extremes, thereefore, for my mental health I need a good auditory memory upon which to draw in my dotage and as such I need to buy the best hifi I can now in orde to carry me through to eternal rest. Alternatively become immortal and wrestle the problem over aeons. 

That's how I get my second REL R-328 sub (pre-loved) that came today. I need a much better strategy for thew C2s. I'm going to try, "my Apple position gained in the last year what I need to spend for the C2s. We won't even miss the money"

That might work, or I might be trading dinner with my dog today.

Lucky dog. But remeber, it's worth it! Just don't make a dog's dinner of your bid 

Richard Dane posted:

Oh, Ok, sorry Bert.  I think Naim's recommended service interval on the NAP500 is around 15 years.

Do all the DR amps have a longer service interval?

No.

Loki posted:

Richard Dane posted:

Oh, Ok, sorry Bert.  I think Naim's recommended service interval on the NAP500 is around 15 years.

Do all the DR amps have a longer service interval?

I seem to remember reading that the 500 series have a longer service interval due to the more rigorous selection process used for components, so nothing to do with DR as such.

Loki posted:

RaceTripper posted:

Loki posted:

Try the following: my ears will decline in their ability to perceive the frequency extremes, thereefore, for my mental health I need a good auditory memory upon which to draw in my dotage and as such I need to buy the best hifi I can now in orde to carry me through to eternal rest. Alternatively become immortal and wrestle the problem over aeons. 

That's how I get my second REL R-328 sub (pre-loved) that came today. I need a much better strategy for thew C2s. I'm going to try, "my Apple position gained in the last year what I need to spend for the C2s. We won't even miss the money"

That might work, or I might be trading dinner with my dog today.

Lucky dog. But remeber, it's worth it! Just don't make a dog's dinner of your bid 

Apparently my strategy worked. Once I figure out the tax implications I'm cashing in some Apple stock (to cover speakers and capital gains tax) and ordering the Confidence C2s. And my dog ate her own dinner tonight. I did not partake of her morsels.

Recently tried playing my NAC 72 to some newer power amps than my Olive 250s for interest when trying a NAC 282.

With a 300 DR I got a 'ripping/static' noise through one channel so assumed that the 72 needs a service, but my dealer pointed out it might have been the Hi-Cap as I'd have been using 2 outputs from it.

Having returned the NAC 282 and NAP300DR I decided to try the NAC 72 again via a NAP 250DR and it sounded pretty good - then briefly last night I got that static noise again - so no idea if it's 72 or Hi-Cap.

The Nac-72 is over 25 years old and has never been serviced so this seems a 'no-brainer' but do the optional input boards get serviced too, or is that a separate job?

I suspect not, but has anyone serviced older equipment and disliked the refreshed sound, perhaps due to newer components that don't precisely replicate older ones which may be unavailable?

Yes, the boards are part of the service.  And especially you have a fault somewhere; can you get both 72 and Bicep serviced?

AC, Naim don't just put in any old part.  R&D get involved so that any replacement part such as capacitors are usually just as good, if not better than the originals (I'm told that electrolytic caps have generally improved since the '80s and '90s).  After a full factory service what you get back should be at least as good as it was when new, and sometimes even better.