NAP250 first edition pt. II
Posted by: Bas V on 07 November 2000
I have learnt a couple of things about the bargain I can get.
I know it's old... I know it's a good buy... I know it's a gamble... I know that it can't be brought up to latest specs... But
Can anybody show me what a 1977 NAP250 looks like?
Thanks from a still rather confused mind!
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by John Schmidt
The outward appearance of a 250 has been almost as invariant as the inside. Take a look at the main Naim page under Products/Amplifiers. The image there is identical to my ca. 1982 250, except for the luminescent green logo. On mine the logo is the same silver tone as the aluminum edge of the case. I imagine that a 1977 model is much the same.
BTW, if you don't like the silver edge (I don't) black Krylon paint works well to give a more discreet look.
One other minor point. The earlier 250s (and, I assume, other power amps) used a small filament bulb to illuminate the power switch. Mine were always burning out. You should be able to get an LED replacement from a dealer.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Phil Barry
Weren't the 1977 editions made with bolt-together cases? I always thought they'd look differenet from the 'old-style' extruded cases.
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Bas V
Yeah Phil, I think you're right. But what do these bolt-together cases look like?
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Paul B
There is a picture (plus review by Paul Messenger) of the original 250 in Issue 4 (December 1999) of hi-fi+
Paul
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Tony L
quote:
But what do these bolt-together cases look like?
Pretty much the same, but with bolts. They look fine. The finish is not textured like the extruded cases, and the chrome bumpers are not as thick. If I remember rightly the Naim Audio logo is a sticker rather than printed on. The bulbs in the green light up buttons blow just as regularly as they do in my 135s...
Tony.
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Bas V
Paul, if you know this, you can probably describe it! Even better, could you scan this picture somewhere? Nowadays scanners are in every office, aren't they? Please help me!
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Bas V
Thanx Tony, you Great Cornholio!
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Bas V
How much did you pay for that Eden?
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Tony L
quote:
I recently inquired as to the cost of recapping my 250 and NANA quoted a figured of between $1500-2000.
Thats absurd - I can't believe that is just for re-capping. You could gold plate it for less.
Tony.
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Rico
quote:
You could gold plate it for less.
heh heh - it'd still have better rythmn than one of those Quad II limited edition models, eh!
Rico - musichead
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Bas V
I don't know if it's the same thing, but Naim England informed me about the NAP250 as follows:
"This was made in 1977. You can't upgrade it to new spec, but assuming there are no serioues problems with it, a complete service would be anywhere between £100-180."
Now, the figures NANA mention seem to be absurd!
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by David Dever
For what it's worth, most pre-1980 NAP 250 units ("bolt-together") will have been serviced or repaired at least once by the year 2000; certainly one can understand the need for me (as a service technician) to give a worst-case (ballpark) estimate, should the unit be in lousy condition when I'd received it.
Though there is some difference in parts pricing between the quoted price in the U.K. and ours in the U.S. for obvious reasons, we do tend to take the issue of reliability pretty seriously.
For the record, I have no vested financial interest in what we charge for parts or labor, but I do take pride in my work--and if I can't guarantee that something is "fixed" or substantially reliable for another five years, you have the option to refuse what may be necessary service, at your own peril.
Dave Dever, NANA
Oh, and here's one from the archives:
[This message was edited by David Dever, NANA on TUESDAY 07 November 2000 at 19:32.]
Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Chris West
I am not surprised to see guestimates for service to unseen old 250's that vary wildly. The range of
servicing required or requested runs the gamut from adjustments and tweaks to serious rebuilds.
The point is, these old amps vary in condition very greatly depending on their mileage and environment over the past 23 or so years. We have seen amps that haven't been opened since new, and others that have been through torturous conditions
like hot/humid/salt air/lightning prone areas in the US.
There is only one way to know more accurately, and that is to have the actual amp physically checked over and tested. Of course, things look brighter
if the amp is in "working" condition rather than broken. However, the old type 250's we see for service in the US are typically broken. This means
they need fixing before we can find out how functional the rest of the amp is. Consequently
a "simple service" is relatively rare for the oldest vintage 250's.
Regards,
Chris
NANA
Posted on: 08 November 2000 by Bas V
Thanx, you all helped me a lot. I think it would be most wise if I neglect the offer and start upgrading at front. This yet constitutes another problem, for which I will post a poll!
Bas V
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by Alco
Hi Bas,
Here's a piccie mate
Greetings,
Alco
Posted on: 05 September 2003 by gaby yoon
Hi,
Even better, here's the internal picture of an early 250 (I suppose).
Try :impulse7.com/naim.
You have there plenty of pictures of old models.
I'm a little bit suprised that posters to this thread have not mention it.
Sorry for a too big size of the picture. I was unable to make it smaller.
Gaby
[This message was edited by gaby yoon on SATURDAY 06 September 2003 at 00:02.]
[This message was edited by gaby yoon on SATURDAY 06 September 2003 at 00:04.]
