This is true, but it's only the same in this regard as other consumer items. TVs get thrown away in working order all the time. So do cars. I run cars until they are dead, my last 2 went to breakers, my current one is on 192k miles at 13 years old. I have a bicycle that's 25 years old with about 25k miles under its wheels. Not many are like me. Once a car dips below £1k value most owners give up on maintenance and at the next MoT it hands them a bill for £2-300 and that's the end. It's driven, as ever, by residual value and function. Nobody in their right mind is throwing away a Rolex worth £X thousand when it needs a £500 service. Meanwhile my mother has a mechanical watch from the 60s, a gold Rotary, that barely runs, and she pays the repair bills that exceed its value out of sentiment. When she dies, it's going to go in a drawer. That's any consumer item. Some will end up in the bin, some won't. Witch Hat won't need any extra technicians, the stuff that people are prepared to pay for will be repaired.
Naim, What!!
- Thread starter mikegreenwood
- Start date
Craig B
Re:trophile
Other way round, i.e. converting NAIT3 to NAC92/3 pre-amp. That is, should the NAP90/3 amplifier board within be beyond repair. Cost would be whatever 2 x Preh DIN sockets plus one Naim NAC link plug comes to (easily recouped by selling on the "genuine Naim NAIT3/NAP90/FLAT-CAP transformer, lady driven only")
Below is a photo I saved from a very informative thread on here about NAIT3 splitting from back in June 2016. The LH DIN blank is where DIN4 goes, allowing connection to NAP; the RH position is for DIN5 for dual-rail CAP connection (which requires the usual link plug fitted for NAP only connection). Once the NAP90 board and power supply gubbins are removed (and the 2 x DINs fitted to NAC), the only difference between this and a factory NAC92/3 is the rear label/holes cover (i.e. the one chassis is pre-drilled for all 3 Series models).
I've @Mike Hanson's old faithful FLAT-CAP here collecting dust, which could be used to test the result, however, I'd likely pass this on to someone else who dares to step up onto the Naim ladder.
On the other hand, were one so inclined (demented?), a Sidney 'Sid' Phillips like alternative configuration would be to remove all but the 24V supply circuit from the NAP90 board, and run this as a self-powered FrankenNAC (NAC-CAP?). Single rail though (NAC-SNAPS?); perhaps repurposing an old FLAT-CAP board pull to use with the existing electrics would be more up to the Dr. Frankenstein standard vis-a-vie... ...IT'S ALIVE!
[Image credit: @nimsterov]
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MJS
Technical Tinkerer
I really can't see why repair is so much more on top of the service cost. Most repairs to older kit are minimal work after you've got the unit apart for servicing anyway. I often used to include it in the cost of service if it was nothing too major, and even then it was just the cost of components and extra time on top.
Craig B
Re:trophile
Good to know. The whole thing looks minty on the outside, olive fascia and all.
Craig B
Re:trophile
I see, so if my none working NAIT 3 were to be both repaired (for arguments sake, let's just say an obviously burnt emitter resistor in the ch1 side of the NAP90/3 within) and serviced (full recap of both NAC92/3 and NAP90/3 boards) I should be charged 'combined service/repair' just because some other blokes' amps might require more diagnostic and/or repair effort?
Trouble is, we all know that a recap represents the absolute most effort ever put into one of these amps short of initial assembly, not to mention that a Welwyn 3W resistor goes for £0.365 each from Farnell, and half that in quantities of 1000+ which Naim would be buying in. Either job requires resetting of quiescence current and a good soak test; the difference being, "Hey, there's a burnt resistor in here, don't forget to change that £399 to $699 on the invoice."
mikegreenwood
pfm Member
Thanks for great comments, speaking as a layman I want a company who I can trust to be fair and have my interest a heart. ( maybe asking too much) in the old days Quad we’re magic and I felt safe in their hands, I don’t feel safe anymore with Naim. When my Uniti gives up the ghost sadly I will move on. What would Julian have made of this attitude by Naim to its customers. As a friend of mine always says, “ your as good as your last game” anyway my money my choice.
There again the Uniti may outlast me. Hope not!
There again the Uniti may outlast me. Hope not!
Anh
Naim ghetto blaster
Remember the Uniti I was £2500 back in 2009, adjusting for inflation this will work out at approx £3500 today...servicing & repair costs are reflective of the class of product and not what they cost in the 2nd hand market...
You can pick up a 16 year old V12 Mercedes S class for £6K but the average cost of upkeep is intune to a £90,000 car. Spark plug change? That will be £340 (plus labour) for all 24 plugs sir...
Is one of your ABC shock absorbers leaking? That will be £1400 EACH sir ...
You can pick up a 16 year old V12 Mercedes S class for £6K but the average cost of upkeep is intune to a £90,000 car. Spark plug change? That will be £340 (plus labour) for all 24 plugs sir...
Is one of your ABC shock absorbers leaking? That will be £1400 EACH sir ...
Meridian don't service their older kit any more and it'll be interesting to see what happens with Tannoy as they no longer have any manufacturing in the UK.
Craig B
Re:trophile
Aye, we're soon to cross the meridian where if your quad has a leak you tannoy send it to Garrard in service anymore.
mikegreenwood
pfm Member
Aye. To Naim a few, if I was on a Mission through Wharfedale I could take a picture with a long Exposure of a Pioneer heading for Cambridge.
Stew B
Doh !
Guys, it's all relative to what is important to you. Playing music puts me in a really happy place, I get enormous joy from it so to me paying out to keep my equipment in good order is what I decide to spend my hard earned income on, it's what floats your boat. If you hate Naim and see them as the root of all evil, then fine, don't buy their equipment, it's your choice.
I have older Olive Naim equipment, Class A offer a good service and are a reasonable cost for Naim servicing. I recently bought a 82 Pre and Olive Hi Cap off Darren at Class A, all updated, fully serviced with Pots 8 upgrade too at a cost less than that asked for some units on eBay with poor service history. I am happy, they will last a long while, I also got my 180 power amp serviced last year. I am happy with the Naim sound I get from my Olive system and cannot afford the 1000's of pounds for new Naim equipment or similar others for a similar performance. Yes the cost of servicing old HiFi sometimes is not recoverable if you sell it, but then again a couple of hundred pounds to get something serviced that will last 10 years minimum and give me much enjoyment for this period is peanuts compared to a 2 week holiday in the summer. That's gone as soon as it ends and can cost many many times more depending on where you go etc. Look at the cost of a meal out nowadays with wine etc, turn up, eat it then waste disposal the next day. Yes enjoyable but only lasts hours. At least you can get Naim products serviced at the moment, there will come the day that perhaps the people that can do this will not be there but I think this is a way off yet and for me what I have will last me out.
I have a 30 year old Micromega Solo CD player, beautiful to look at, plays only 2/3rd of the CD then skips so useless. Can't get it fixed as the mech is no longer available and so am screwed, shame, it is only good for a doorstop and i cannot bring myself to chuck it in the bin. Naim did fix my CD5 end of 2021, put a new Mech in it, yes the cost was probably more than the unit value but still far cheaper than a new CD player and if it lasts me even another 5 years is still cheaper than a break at Center parcs. I looked at the cost for a room at Premier Inn in Portsmouth next April when a motorsport event is on at Goodwood Circuit, they wanted £124 and another £25 for the meal deal, so that's £149 for 1 night, puts it all into perspective in the end.
I have older Olive Naim equipment, Class A offer a good service and are a reasonable cost for Naim servicing. I recently bought a 82 Pre and Olive Hi Cap off Darren at Class A, all updated, fully serviced with Pots 8 upgrade too at a cost less than that asked for some units on eBay with poor service history. I am happy, they will last a long while, I also got my 180 power amp serviced last year. I am happy with the Naim sound I get from my Olive system and cannot afford the 1000's of pounds for new Naim equipment or similar others for a similar performance. Yes the cost of servicing old HiFi sometimes is not recoverable if you sell it, but then again a couple of hundred pounds to get something serviced that will last 10 years minimum and give me much enjoyment for this period is peanuts compared to a 2 week holiday in the summer. That's gone as soon as it ends and can cost many many times more depending on where you go etc. Look at the cost of a meal out nowadays with wine etc, turn up, eat it then waste disposal the next day. Yes enjoyable but only lasts hours. At least you can get Naim products serviced at the moment, there will come the day that perhaps the people that can do this will not be there but I think this is a way off yet and for me what I have will last me out.
I have a 30 year old Micromega Solo CD player, beautiful to look at, plays only 2/3rd of the CD then skips so useless. Can't get it fixed as the mech is no longer available and so am screwed, shame, it is only good for a doorstop and i cannot bring myself to chuck it in the bin. Naim did fix my CD5 end of 2021, put a new Mech in it, yes the cost was probably more than the unit value but still far cheaper than a new CD player and if it lasts me even another 5 years is still cheaper than a break at Center parcs. I looked at the cost for a room at Premier Inn in Portsmouth next April when a motorsport event is on at Goodwood Circuit, they wanted £124 and another £25 for the meal deal, so that's £149 for 1 night, puts it all into perspective in the end.
Thats good to know, refreshing if they can service and support older players again.
Those old Philips swing-arm transports are ridiculously reliable so there is a good chance it not the mech that's at fault. If i remember correctly there is a capacitor that goes off spec and the lazer doesn't get the right voltage, something like that. It's an easy fix anyway.
Even if it does need a new mech, they were used in loads of players so you should be able to pick up a working donor CD player for £20. There are lists on line which tell you what players used which mech.
I had my 52 upgraded to Pots 4 by Naim USA and it came back without the remote working. They claimed it was faulty when they received it which was BS, and said it could not be fixed due to lack of parts. With some help from PFM folks I discovered that when they changed the Pots board they reversed a connector which caused the remote to malfunction. Additionally the other items 'serviced' looked like they had been soldered by a 5 year old.