WARNING! North America NACA 5 Buyers
Posted by: Greg Beatty on 17 January 2003
Based on the recent thread about NACA 5 length, I suspect there may be some readers who will want a longer than 12 foot run of NACA 5. Also, with the wonderful success of the new 5 series and the new kit, I suspect that there will be more folks joining the Naim fold
So here's the warning. The cost of NACA 5 has gone up quite a bit and neither my dealer nor Hawthorne Stereo has an updated price sheet. Also, the NANA price sheet does NOT mention that there is a service charge amounting to 1.5 hours of tech time to terminate the NACA 5. This tech charge applies should your dealer order your NACA 5 termineated by NANA rather than terminating the cable him or herself.
What this means is that, until NANA supplies current and informative (mentions the service charge) price sheets to dealers, it is likely that both your dealer and you will get an unpleasant surprise when the cable and invoice arrive. The total cost went from an estimated $330 (also the price given to me by Hawthorne) to well over $500. This is a HUGE difference.
That said, the stuff is GREAT
and the wife and I like it in white. So purchase with care.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by John Sheridan
quote:
that there is a service charge amounting to 1.5 hours of tech time to terminate the NACA 5.
To solder 4 plugs? Someone's taking the piss there.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Greg Beatty
...directly with folks at NANA and the word is that it is careful work and must be done properly.
Done wrong = sounds wrong.
Hard to imagine, though, that a local dealer would, or could afford to, take 1 1/2 hours to make up one set of speaker cables.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
[This message was edited by Greg Beatty on FRIDAY 17 January 2003 at 15:30.]
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by BigH47
He will take most of that time getting the bloody sheathing off!
Howard
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Thomas K
quote:
To solder 4 plugs? Someone's taking the piss there.
No piss-taking here. I've "stood by" on a number of occasions, and IIRC Naim dealers are trained to terminate the cable very conscientiously -- it really does take some time.
Thomas
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by John Sheridan
quote:
...directly with folks at NANA and the word is that it is careful work and must be done properly.
I watched one of the Naim guys do my cable... it took him well under 30 minutes. Seriously, if someone is telling you it takes 90 minutes to do 8 bits of soldering then I don't think they're being particularly honest.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by tre2fly
I Concur...
Recently I got 15' runs of NACA5 from NANA, and had the same experience. It's not that the charges are unreasonable, rather neither the dealer nor myself were advised of any costs or charges involved.
Tom.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Chris West
Greg,
All US Naim dealers were sent price sheets in October of 2002 with current recommended prices. Dealers can buy reels, cut lengths of wire or custom built wires to order. The custom wires involve too many variables to list comprehensively on a price sheet, but naturally cost more than loose wire. More frequently now our dealers are taking advantage of NANA's ability to supply quality custom made wires and common sense dictates that a special order costs more than loose wire or some standard item. If someone gave you a price estimate off an old list and/or without allowing for custom build, then that was less than thorough but it's the reason why many people get a written quote.
Chris West
Naim USA.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Rockingdoc
I suggest you order it from a nice UK dealer and ask him to stick it in the post. My dealer has never charged me for soldering (or for the plugs, for that matter).
malcolm
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Greg Beatty
quote:
If someone gave you a price estimate off an old list and/or without allowing for custom build, then that was less than thorough but it's the reason why many people get a written quote.
Yes - I considered that my dealer may have been sloppy and misplaced the current price sheet. However, Hawthorne Stereo gave me the same information. I'm obviously not going to call every Naim dealer to see what prices they have, but 2 out of 2 were using the "wrong" sheet. And there is no indicatation that there will be a labor charge to terminate or what that charge would be.
Also see the post above where another customer had the same experience. You may want to re-send the price sheet to the dealers.
The cable sounds fab BTW and I'm not trying to diss NANA here. I had an unpleasant surprise and the stage seemed set for others to have the same experience. Just trying to head that off.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Andrew L. Weekes
Plugs and soldering.
I'd have to agree that there's much more work to soldering the plugs on properly than meets te eye (it's an unwieldy process to hold everything properly and solder to a high standard) so the charges are not entirely unreasonable. Forming everything neatly for best sound (as has been discussed here previously) takes some time too.
I would expect it to be done FOC if part of a system purchase though.
Andy.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by John Sheridan
quote:
it's an unwieldy process to hold everything properly and solder to a high standard
that's what a cable jig is for. Clamp in your cable and solder away.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by John Sheridan:
quote:
that there is a service charge amounting to 1.5 hours of tech time to terminate the NACA 5.
To solder 4 plugs? Someone's taking the piss there.
My local Toronto SUPER Naim dealer comes to my place, we talk about HiFi, making jokes, laugh, he cuts the NACA5 cable, terminates them with Naim fittings, solders with pure silver and only charge me with the component costs. And I call this guy my friend, my Naim guru and the BEST Naim dealer in the country.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Chris West
Greg,
We appreciate the feedback and we will be notifying our dealers about the issue. I am glad you are pleased with the cables.
Chris West
Naim USA.
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by David Dever
IIRC, the labor cost would likely vary depending on the speaker-end terminations, i.e., bi- or tri-links versus the standard Naim dual plug.
IMHO it is a job worth doing right, even if this means making someone wait slightly longer so as to cut off the substandard termination and re-terminate properly. It's often that these inexpensive (but time-consuming) steps greatly affect system performance.
Dave D
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Not For Me
Soldering ? So 1980's....
All the best people are going with the airlocking crimping system aren't they ?
DS
OTR - Dead Ringers
Posted on: 17 January 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by David Slater:
Soldering ? So 1980's....
All the best people are going with the airlocking crimping system aren't they ?
DS
OTR - Dead Ringers
Crimping first and then seal the bare wire area with silver.
Posted on: 18 January 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by David Slater:
Soldering ? So 1980's....
All the best people are going with the airlocking crimping system aren't they ?
Oh God, I hope not.
It sounds like runny poo compared to Naim plugs soldered properly.
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 18 January 2003 by Not For Me
Martin, whats your address, i@ll send some Earex.
DS
Posted on: 18 January 2003 by Manu
Wait a minute,
I understand NANA charge for the labor, they are the distributor not a retailer.
If a dealer don't want to, or don't know how to do it, he has to pay for it.
I do it myself, it costs me labor.
I don't charge for soldering, only for parts, but it is a favor i do to my customers. It's my choice, the distributor has nothing to do with it.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 19 January 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by David Slater:
Martin, whats your address, i@ll send some Earex.
David,
as long as you don't send me any of the F****** awful QED airlok plugs.
I paid Grahams about £120 to put these on my six runs of A5. I guess at the time I thought it was better, but a year later I paid another £100 for pukka Naim plugs which was an awsome upgrade.
Keep 'em.
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
