Everything that Naim has built in the UK has proven to be extremely reliable. What the future looks like remains to be seen…
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Hifi equipment is generally very reliable in my experience. I would be very surprised if Naim products are any less so.
With amps the only problems I’ve ever had were with Sinclair Project 60 power amp modules back in early 1970s and a Musical Fidelity Preamp2A once had had a moving coil cartridge input go into oscillation. Otherwise I’ve had no issues whatsoever with amps, and I’ve had amps up to 30 years old.
I found CD player mechanisms suffer from mechanical wear, with my usage lasting about 10 years. Styli of course are consumables. Streamer/DACs no issues though not had any for more than about 6 years as yet.
Speakers I’ve found extremely reliable unless subjected to damaging input. I did discover that a supertweeter on one ~45 year old speaker had failed, with no known reason though as the output of the supertweeter was by then inaudible to me it might be that it had failed a few years earlier when a bass unit was damaged by the aforementioned preamp oscillation (I had been playing loud at the time).
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My NDX2 broke after one year, repaired and hope it last many years now, received a unity atom he faulty out of the box, was exchanged by a new working great unit.
Not a great start, but hopping that the naim gear stays for a long long time working without issues.
probs the most reliable gear on earth!
I have owned Naim equipment for over 30 years, and have experienced just two failures, both in recent months.
My CDS II transport has died, and I am waiting to hear - I hope - that replacement parts have been located.
My lovely NAT-01 was misbehaving, drifting off station. The boxes have been returned after servicing, but I have not yet hooked them back into the system.
So I would give a mark of 99%.
I’ve owned Naim gear since ‘94 and never had any issues. Their stuff is more reliable than just about anything I’ve owned.
Relay’s must be one of naim’s biggest reliability issues
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I reckon failed CD mechs has also got to be right up there too. Not that Naim make them of course.
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Been a Naim user for forty years C/B then Olive upgraded to the Classic range in 2015 the C/B and Olive was bullet proof never a problem but I have had a few failures with the new stuff.
Core replaced as it was getting warmer and cutting out, ND555 relay fault and then the DAC board went down my 552 also had a relay fault however whilst I have had the problems the service from my dealer Audience in Bath and Naim has been faultless.
Core replaced within 72 hours, ND555 relay problem a loan streamer installed within 24 hours of the failure same when the Dec board went down a 282 was installed on loan the following day when the 552 relay failed.
No.
Is there any particular reason you ask?
NDX green screen died after 6 years - well documented on Gen 1 streamers. Had it serviced and replaced…
Naim’s fault or just a badly manufactured batch - difficult to say; but I wonder how easy it would have been to get it sorted had I bought something with a less robust servicing and back-up regime?
I guess that I’ve been quite lucky with all my kit. A CDS3 DAC channel died and needed changing at Naim UK. After 17 years without a service, the power switches on all the power supplies needed replacing.
Apart from that all my Naim equipment has been very reliable.
Have had many different naim boxes more or less always on for 10 years. Never had any issues related to power or other major things. Only thing I remember was a broken relay on a SN3 which was covered on warranty.
You’ve owned 200 Naim components? Wow! 
Ive been using naim kit for 25 years, the sum total of failures and issues is 0. It is regularly serviced though.
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I’m no mathematician, JDP, so you may have got me there on the figures!
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Owned tons of Naim amps, very reliable.
Oled screens on Uniti’s fade over time, (had my SU changed after 4 years only) not reliable and now very expensive to have serviced.
Well generally I leave my gear on all the time…gently cooking…I just wondered if one day I would end up with burnt toast… The 500dr concerns me as it appears a complex beast…that has potential to take down my speakers…
I thought that the oled failures on Gen 1 streamers was a bit of a let down by Naim but then I look back on my other old kit where the display has failed (Audiolab 8000CD and Yamaha dsp-e492) and realised it’s a pretty common issue across many manufacturers. As such and the relatively cheap fix, I don’t now count this against Naim.
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Ah, I see. My understanding generally in electronics and some other areas of engineering is that kit is generally designed to be switched on/used pretty much permanently so leaving your kit on (probably) reduces the risk of failure rather than increases it.
Think of your 500 as a diesel engine - much better used for long journeys than short ones!
Mark
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