Naim Chrome Bumper

Thanks, Dan –

I thought the ‘Fraim’ would take me a few weeks to knock out… it ended up taking me the best part of two years!!1

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@TimD- that’s friggin awesome :heart_eyes: :+1:

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It was worth the wait. Looks stunning.


Here’s my lot. 2 x 135s.

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Be interesting to know what the other boxes are too. SNAXO, HiCaps? 2 pre amps? Tell us more Tim. We are all enthralled!

Ah, right… from the top (underneath the LP12): 2 x NAC 32.5, 2 x HiCap (I had a spare 32.5, so thought I would give dual mono a go…), NAXO 3-6, HiCap, Headline (CHC NAPSC is hidden), SNAPS (for the PreFix). Trust me, that Headline is getting the Chrome-Bumper treatment soon… bwah, hah, hah…

Also, not all of it is connected: currently running 2x NAP 250s passively into the ‘Briks…

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Dan – interesting shelf you have there for the LP12… what make is that?

Hi Fi Racks oak turntable shelf. Looks the part and goes with rest of furnishings. Downside is it’s not completely level and have had to use spacers for LP12. Suspended timber floor so having LP12 on Fraim just doesn’t work!

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Here are a few blasts from the Chrome-Bumper past: I remember seeing this in a copy of HFN&RR; it was a full-page ad, with the bottom quarter taken up by a facsimile of a cheque that read ‘Pay Russ Andrews Hi-Fi the sum of Four Thousand Three Hundred Pounds Only’. My seventeen year-old self honestly thought that this sort of thing was beyond the reach of mere mortals (but see my next post)…

ETA: £4,300 is just about the cost of a single NAP 250 these days…!!!

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But here’s the counterexample: as I said, I simply couldn’t believe that mere mortals could own this sort of stuff, but there was Peter Drew and his fabulous barnet proving me wrong… Isobariks on castors, though… all that’s missing is a Swiss-Cheese plant…

And I’ve bested you now Peter Drew… you drink your milkshake…!!!

(Popular Hi-Fi, 1980).



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Three 250s stacked on top of one another on a cabinet. Hmm.

Now, children, what reaction do we think such a picture would get from a hifi magazine’s editors or readership nowadays?

Personally, I reckon he’d get three weeks of solid abuse on social media before having to relocate to Antarctica. He certainly wouldn’t get an admiring article written about it, that’s for dang sure.

Mark

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Indeed… Isobariks on castors, too… naughty!

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So true.

At least he didn’t also plonk the pre-amp on top of the 250s - men have been flogged for less.

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This is how they did it back in the day. 6 pack 135s stacked on top with 32.5, HiCap, Snaxo on top of that. No stands. Still would sound amazing, and look better and very very cool.

We now know that’s not the way to do it!

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Interesting that it says nothing much about preamp and HiCap/Snaps.

Modern day and alot of people on forum say preamp first and go 552 before 500.

Back then it was all about power amps in multiples. Bit like your system really.

Great to see an excerpt from Popular Hi-Fi. Used to love reading about the readers systems in Casebook.

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About my NAC 32.5: all is not what it seems… can’t say any more on here, though…

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Hi Richard

I have some CB gear 32.5/hicap/250 etc with LP12

Is there any reason why I could not use a stageline K with another CB hicap should I get my hands on one ?

Thanks Richard

Bevo

You can do that although a nice serviced set of late issue phono cards may be great too and will save you a fair bit of money.

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Thanks Richard - yes that thought had crossed my mind also

Haven’t checked in here for a while…some lovely examples of chrome bumper equipment chaps.

Re; changing of old and/or damaged fascias. I’ve changed several in the past and found it best to simply pull off the old one first, then line up the new one ona ‘trial fit’ and apply it. Just be careful when aligning it as sometimes it can catch the outer case when reinserting the inner if it’s not lined up perfectly. It’s pretty easy but you just have to be careful.

Re; price of a Nait 2. They can regularly fetch up to £1k for a decent one and i’ve sold several for around that kind of price range in the past. It’s actually a bargain when you consider it’s performance and it’s broad ability. I’ve powered many different types of speakers of all shapes and sizes and it does it all without getting bent out of shape. Clearly if you want the last degree of fine control and finess at maximum volumes then it’s not the one for you but as a ‘budget’ integrated it’s quite amazing. If i had to sell everything and just have one amp it wou;d either be Nait 1 or 2. You will also never lose money if you decide to sell it again so it’s a win win. Sadly I had to sell my last one a while ago but I still have a lovely Nait 1. I actually prefer how they look when switched off as they have the nice grey and chrome/black contrast. The Nait 2 looks amazing in use as the bright green logo is part of the magic aesthetically, but when it’s just sitting there switched off it can look a little too dark if that makes sense.

Currently i’m still running the Nap 120 and Nac 22 and really enjoying it with the IBL’s. There is something about the 120 it is spot on.

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