Isn’t the recommended service for the new gear more like 12-15 years?
Well you can try that but I’m my experience 5 to 8 years is probably optimum.
Tend to agree. It’s the electrolytics that drive the maintenance interval. Whether on or off. Yep, they degrade from day one.
I work in a reliability driven business. We change electrolytics out 10 years after manufacturing.
And heat accelerates the degredation. No surprise there.
But, unless your hifi is critical to your location life, I’d relax and change say at 15 yrs. If critical ( and I’d like to see your definition!) Then maximum of 10.
As to whether you keep it switched on, depends on how much heat is generated. My MF pre and power amps kick out some heat, so I switch off. But that does mean turning on 30 mins before I want to properly listen.
In that case then, with the NAIT XS amplifiers, the reservoir electrolytic caps are located dangerously close to the heatsink…
Designed to keep the service dept. in a job then!
You’d not choose to put them next to a hot source.
Some( perhaps not Naim) caps have a very limited life at their quoted temperature. I’ve seen some data sheets that show 2000hrs@ 85 degrees.
Yes i’m not doubting what you’re saying, it was just a observation of mine. I’m sure their CAD models have calculated what’s best for what and where. As i say, i’m no expert here but am just merely looking in and questioning things, as it’s of interest from a general perspective. I’m wondering now that the harder one drives an amplifier can also influence and accelerate these service intervals. Luckily i never drive my SN3 past 10 O’ Clock as my ears will probably need looking at before the caps do!
It is the one big advantage ( amongst many others) that having an external PSU brings. It tends to keep the caps away from the power transistors. Although the regulators will get warm in the PSU.
Things start to go awry sound wise between 5 and 8 years. It’s no more complex than that. The theoretical life of components is irrelevant. The actual determinant is when there is a deterioration in the sound.
Wouldn’t Naim’s recommended intervals account for that?
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