My love/hate relationship with my Naim
Posted by: faz on 25 March 2004
When my Naim gear sounds good, it's really good but sometimes it just sounds like I'm listening through water. Last night I was listening to some music and in the space of about a minute the sound just suddenly cleared (like a veil being lifted)and I found myself turning the volume down as it was getting louder and clearer. What's going on?
The gear is always left switched on, so no warm up problems.Could my 140 be at fault? It was last serviced about 9 years ago,the 32-5 has never been serviced (is there much to go wrong?) and the Hicap was serviced about a year or so ago.It doesn't seem to matter what source is selected ie CD/tuner/phono.
I'd really appreciate some ideas as it's driving me mad.
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by yannzola
Bad power from the mains? Are you in a house or apartment? How old is the wiring?
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by Sir Crispin Cupcake
Your 140 probably needs a service since caps deteriorate after 8-10 yrs. Should cost £140ish I think - money well spent though, it'll come back sounding a lot better.
Rich
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by BigH47
Just (2 weeks) got my 140 back from Salisbury and it sounds F***ing er really good! Mine is 10 years old Naim changed the Tants but not the smoothing caps as they wer deemed to be OK after testing. 140s are unusual in this respect apparently. Cost £116 including postage. Regardless of others opinions Dire Straits G.Hits on at the moment and it sounds superb. So ya boo sucks to you all.
Howard
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by Geoff P
Was it pretty late?
Usually your system will sound at it's best when all the electric cookers and washing machines that dirty up and consume the local power have been turned off for the night.
I get some of the best sounds from my system which is more or less brand new after midnight when the rest of the locals have gone to bed.
It is unlikely the kit needs servicing if it sometimes sounds great. If it was the kit it would sound rough all the time.
regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by J.N.
Hi Faz
The 140 definitely needs a service at 9 years old. The 32.5 is probably OK - if the input selector and volume control aren't making any noise, there's little else to degrade.
Do bear in mind that all good systems (permanently powered-up) sound better after 20 - 30 minutes of actually playing music. Speakers 'warm-up' as well as electronics.
If your 140 is shagged; it might be doing this in a more exaggerated fashion?
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by faz
All my hi-fi is housed in a 10 year old extension to the main house that I currently live in so guess the wiring is probably ok.
I have wondered about the 140 but if it is in need of a service surely the problem would manifest itself the time.
I must say though that I'd never even considered the effect that other electrical eqpt might have on the mains supply. Does this really make a difference? I cannot rewire the house as it's not mine. I do however recall my local dealer mentioning that a mains conditioner (isotek, I think) would clean up the sound on any hi-fi. Do they work well with Naim? I get the impression that some people swear by them while others just swear about them!
Posted on: 25 March 2004 by P
Nope. He's OD'd on the OCD therapy.
P
Posted on: 26 March 2004 by kan man
Faz
Your 140 is definitely due for a check up. Try switching it off tonight and back on tomorrow morning. If it sounds better cold then it's a fair indication (ime) that it needs some attention. I would also be inclined to get the 32.5 serviced. Best thing to do is ring Naim or talk to your dealer.
Regards
Steve
Posted on: 26 March 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
quote:
Dimmer switches are really bad news as well. I have to unplug a dimming bed-side lamp and a cordless phone to get the best sound out of my system.
That's certainly true of some, but the IR controlled one I use has no discernible effect on my system. Modern electronic dimmers are much smarter than the simple contrpations of old, which were notorious for their mains and airborne polution.
Andy.
