Naim olive tuner considerations

Posted by: booja30 on 28 December 2017

I've been interested in Naim gear for many years (since first seeing it in a local shop during college) and just recently bought a second hand olive setup (72/HiCap/140). I am really interested in finding an olive tuner to go with the set, and have been looking for one of the shoebox/olive models (NAT 01, 02).

My main question is about reliability and repairability. I've been reading a bit and people have mention FM 'heads' failing. Is this some component that was sourced by Naim, maybe with some ICs or logic boards that aren't serviceable? I don't see anything like that in the older 101s and I'm imagining that's just a variable capacitor tied to the MHz indicator. Can anyone recommend one model over the other if they wanted to keep it up and running for many more years?

One other thing, and I'm less concerned about this -- I seem to see Naim tuners come up far more frequently in Europe far more often than over here, which makes sense. The voltage change is fairly easy if the transformer supports it (I did it myself on the 140). But Naim mentioned a 'de-emphasis network' that needs to be changed from 75us to 50us (or vice versa) which from what I've read would only mean a couple of components swapped out. Has anyone done this or had it done?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Posted on: 28 December 2017 by Richard Dane

The tuning head in the NAT01/101/02 is Naim's own. With proper servicing - and due to the very specialised equipment required this can only be done by the factory AFAIK  - it should last a lifetime.  However, the FL display used on the early NAT01 is a possible point of failure as it can fade to the point of becoming nigh on illegible. The later NAT01 with improved display is much better here (likewise the NAT02), and the NAT101 is an illuminated drum so just a bulb change required.

If you source a European NAT and looking to use it Stateside then you should budget to have it fully serviced and converted at the factory before its travels. Notwithstanding forum rules re. DIY, working on the NATs is definitely NOT a DIY job, which is why only the factory can work on them. 

Posted on: 28 December 2017 by Arthur Lee

I’ve owned my Nat 101 / Snaps since 1987 went back to the factory in 1997 when a fault occurred when the stations kept drifting. The Naim service department had the tuner for several weeks when they informed me that they fault was in the motherboard which they did the cost was a ver reasonable £106. The tuner has been giving me such wonderful service ever since.

Regards,

Martin

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by Ravenswood10

Agree with Richard that any attempt at DIY servicing is a real no no. Mine went back to Naim for a full service including NAPST recap and head realignment.. I’ve had mine for 12 or so years buying it second hand from Tom atom in the U.K. it’s in use practically every day which makes it my most used and dependable source. Can’t say more than that. 

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by Clive B

I've had my NAT01 since buying it new in the mid 90s. I sent it to the factory for a full service only a couple of years back (its first service!). I think I recall it cost about £450 to service both the head unit and the NAPST, which seems quite reasonable given how much I use it. On a live concert broadcast on BBC R3, there's really no source to beat it.

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by Bob the Builder

I had a NAT01 for a short time a couple of years ago which I have to say sounded fantastic when properly locked on but a lack of decent FM stations and the need for a large outdoor ariel put me off long term.

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by stuart.ashen

Good point about needing a top quality ariel Bob. Another source first concept...

Stu

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by Mike-B

    Problem is the rain washes it away  

  I found these aerial things worked best

Sorry Bob & Stu, just a leg pull,    maybe we need to do like the US & start calling 'em antenna's 

Posted on: 31 December 2017 by Adam Meredith
Mike-B posted:

-   maybe we need to do like the US & start calling 'em antenna's 

Or antennae - as we already do.

Posted on: 01 January 2018 by AB

I posted here years ago about a comparative test between a Quad FM4, an A&R Cambridge T2 and a Naim NAT02. The Naim was head and shoulders better. Still in perfect order and indeed a very robust piece of kit. 

Regards 

Adrian 

Posted on: 01 January 2018 by Ron Toolsie

I had the NAT01, NAT03 and Magnum 101 side by side all using a G-17. Sonically the Magnum came in a distant third with the 01 still leagues ahead of the 03.