Case damping.
Posted by: Tony L on 09 November 2001
I'm not for a minute championing this as a wonder tweak, its not, its small, but these little things do all add up - I would rank it along with removing the black plastic covers of the speaker cable, centring the locking DIN plugs etc. i.e. not huge, but worth a try to see if you like it, plus its free (assuming you have a little Blu-Tac).
Tony.
--Eric
I tried -- oh hell; why beat around the bush?... I invented ;-) -- this tweak a couple of years ago.
Yeah, it's cheap, reversible and definitely worth trying. My only reservation is that you shouldn't overdampen the case. Overdampening causes a dull, leaden sound, so use only enough Blu-Tac to stop the case from making a sustained "ping" when you flick it. I jammed a single rolled piece of Blu-Tac, about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch long, into the back of the case.
Don't use lots of Blu-tak or jam bits of it all over the back of the case. If the case sounds absolutely dead, so will the music.
Joe
quote:
I tried -- oh hell; why beat around the bush?... I invented ;-) -- this tweak a couple of years ago.
My lawyers will be in touch.
quote:
Overdampening causes a dull, leaden sound, so use only enough Blu-Tac to stop the case from making a sustained "ping" when you flick it. I jammed a single rolled piece of Blu-Tac, about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch long, into the back of the case.
Did you do it to your CD2? My feeling is that it probably makes more difference to my CDX than my Nait 2. I will try with smaller lengths - I have used about an inch on both items.
Tony.
Well, this is a simple and affordable tweak.
I do have some Blu-tack left,so I'll try it out.
I guess it'll give a same sort of improvement as damping the lid of CD-players with lead bitume.
(hope I spelled that right)
btw,Tony: Do you also have a simple trick to clean the casework of the Nait-2 ?
Mine is about 10 years old now,and the black case is not as black and new looking as my CDX is.
Is there a simple and affordable trick that gets the job done ?
(not a disaster if there isn't,but I'm just getting a little curious)
Greetings from a chilly and wet Holland,
Alco
One of the Pauls once mentioned that Naim use a soft dry(?) sponge to clean the cases.
When I bought my Nait 2 (used) I used a 1" artists brush, which I dampened by brushing/cleaning the bristles with a damp cloth. This worked very well at cleaning deep into the rought matte finish of the older style sleeve with getting things too wet.
These days I just dust it regularly with Mr. Fuzzy and it still looks great.
Craig
Obsessive Compulsive Naim owners club member
Craig
quote:
Did you do it to your CD2? My feeling is that it probably makes more difference to my CDX than my Nait 2.
Makes sense. A tweak should make a bigger difference with a source component than with the amp but I Blu-Tac'd everything to make sure -- CD2, 102, Hi-Cap, 250, the cats, my bird Schmedley....
quote:
I will try with smaller lengths - I have used about an inch on both items.
I preferred "damped enough so the case doesn't ring" to "damped the living crap out of it." A fully damped case probably isn't the best because if it were Naim presumably wouldn't use those plastic sliders to control vibrations. I suspect that if you use too much Blu-Tac, you'll couple the case (and airborne vibrations) to the electronics within.
It's also possible that for components with transformers, a slighty live case helps dissipate internally generated vibrations. Use too much Blu-Tac and the case won't be able to "bleed" away the vibrational energy.
Joe
[This message was edited by Joe Petrik on FRIDAY 09 November 2001 at 19:35.]
Actually, I think the biggest vulnerability from overdampening would be electrocution. I don't think rust would hit any Naim equipment, but maybe that's apotential problem, too.
Overdamping may cause a dull, leaden sound.
Phil
I like Led Zep!
Gimmee that B flat ringing anyday.
You're all mad !
P.
Good eye but where were you when I sent that newsletter to the printer -- the one that had an article about woodpeckers?
It wouldn't have been that embarrassing except the word "woodpecker" broke over two lines -- "wood-" ending one line and "pecker hole" starting the next. Guess I should be thankful the word broke over two lines, not over two pages.
Joe
quote:
Date: 22-Feb-99 02:37
Author: julian vereker
Subject: connection
If one mechanically connects the case top to the chassis with anything except the plastic extrusion fitted to most of the large case equipment, the sound is very noticably degraded, and even sliding the 'case damper' up, so that it makes contact with the case top and damps the ringing, affects the sound in subtle way.Boring, but true. . .
julian
quote:
btw,Tony: Do you also have a simple trick to clean the casework of the Nait-2 ?
Oh yes! I used to work selling vintage analogue keyboards, old Moogs, Arps etc, and the difference between selling them clean or dirty could amount to at least a hundred quid or so. If something looks immaculate people will pay more for it, so I quickly learnt how to clean stuff really well! I will now never attempt to sell something that is not spotlessly clean.
Best part of ten years ago I discovered Servisol Foam Cleanser 30, this is designed for cleaning computer casework etc, you can usually find it at computer fairs. The stuff is absolutely bloody marvellous, its an aerosol spray which sort of foams up and it removes grime, tobacco, and just about any grunge that gets onto stuff over the years. Just don’t spray it onto anything electronic, i.e. the DIN sockets, volume pots etc. With Naim kit I take the case and knobs off and clean everything separately, then stick it all back together. This means that it is possible to really soak and scrub the case without risking getting any fluid into the electronics. I am sure anyone out there who bought my old 32.5 / Hicap / 250 will testify to how effective this stuff is, they all looked as new.
As for the case damping, the jury is still out – I took it all off again last night and suspect I may prefer it un-damped… ho hum. It makes a difference, but I don’t know if I prefer it, though my system is very smooth and controlled, if I suffered from any harshness or over brightness I am sure I would prefer it.
Tony.
PS Just read Martin's post above, it looks like that Julian bloke might be right
Allan
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To my ears, though, it was worse for sure.
Agreed. I’m leaving mine un-damped. Weird how the opposite of what is expected sounds better…
Ah well, I did get something right today, I got a wallpaper stripper and levered the grills off my Kan IIs to do up the driver bolts. The grills came off with no damage at all to the woodwork which is excellent news as I would have been well gutted if I had stuffed them up. Tightening the bass drivers really made a good difference – a no-brainer, obviously better. I easily got half a turn on each bolt which proves just how much they had worked loose over the years, and mine are a really late pair! They now sound tighter, cleaner and more open. Cool!
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I do not have the plastic gizmo.
Its only fitted to the bigger cases which contain a transformer. My previous old style 135s, old style 250 and current CDX all had / have them. The Nait 2 does not.
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How well did your 32.5 respond to supports (eg Mana)?
Massively. The 32.5 is really microphonic and also really susceptible to transformer / magnetic fields. It is a great component to audition stands / the ferrous phenomenon with, as is my CDX. Mana really does the Mana thing in abundance with the 32.5, therefore if you like that sound it is excellent value.
Tony.
PS Now I have realised the case damping stuff deadens and blands out the sound a bit I am willing to concede that Joe did invent it…
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Now I have realised the case damping stuff deadens and blands out the sound a bit I am willing to concede that Joe did invent it...
To be fair I use(d) only a very small amount and it ain't real Blu-Tac. I've never been able to find that stuff here. I use(d) a tiny amount of Fun-Tac.
Anyway, I removed it and the system now has a bit more life. Sorry, I unreservedly apologize. Tony invented the tweak.
Joe
I think some of you need either a glass of whisky, a good woman or a damm good holiday.
This stuff is resposible for the general public coming up with the term anorak.
Regards
Mick
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What the f***? For kicks and grins I removed the case off my 32.5 completely and damn if that did not make a another whopping improvement!What gives?
Grunge and hash dropped noticeably. More liveliness.
Yes I tried this. I agree about the openness and clarity, but I felt it lost something in the rhythm and drive departments. Its weird just how much effect even a non-ferrous metal case can have. I am convinced that DNM / Tom Evans etc have it right by using plastic.
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geeeesh, there isn't much actually inside a 32.5, is there?
There's bloody loads compared to a 42.5 or 62!
Tony.
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Originally posted by Alco:
btw,Tony: Do you also have a simple trick to clean the casework of the Nait-2 ?
Alco
Try WD40 on a lint free cloth.
Graeme
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Originally posted by Mr Tibbs.:Probably talking crap.
Good try but ... yes.
Emmanuel