Naim Olive

You’ve certainly got a full house in there. Very nice. I hope it brings you many years of happy listening. Lovely amps :+1:

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Not been serviced then? Dump the 328 boards, and good luck finding 326 boards. Just remake the link.

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My local dealer - Basically Sound - have checked and told me these pre-loved units have no service history. That is, they have not benefited from a service. So, I’m thinking about that…

In the meantime, I’m just enjoying listening to these “new to me” pieces and getting used to how they work and sound.

Currently listening to Elbow “The take off and landing of everything”. Sounds pretty good.

Any thoughts on servicing. Is it worth doing do you think? Is there a gain in SQ to be enjoyed ?

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My 72 is currently being serviced at Focal Naim America in Canada after 31 years. @Thegreatroberto has had 2 72’s serviced of similar vintage and could tell you where and what his experience was.

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Mine is 1989. As mentioned, records indicate no service in all that time. My own visual inspection during today also suggests nothing has changed inside the box too. So, it’s probably overdue by now.

I considered younger models - late 1990’s - however I was attracted to this one, because it is fitted with K phono cards, which I hope to use with my Linn LP12 c/w Troika when I have it back from my dealer (following upgrade work).

I reckon your 72 is due for a service. My 72 had no service history after 31 years and was working fine for a couple of months before before I noticed a precipitous drop in sound quality, and then no sound. Class A Repairs in Sheffield is Naim authorized to perform repairs and he comes highly recommended on this forum. Class A maintains a website with their contact. Their prices are very reasonable in my view.

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@Thegreatroberto Thanks.

In the absence of any NA326 boards - tough to find - maybe it’s possible to use the RSL link boards “line level jumper” as an alternative.

@Aren thank you.
Already chatted with Darren. They are not far for me to drive. Quote received and being considered.

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Darran will be able to talk you through options. I had him change the bnc phone connections for rca. That may suit you too.

@Thegreatroberto
During this week, already chatted with Darren at Class A and my local dealer, Basically Sound. So, have options for both Class A and Naim HQ.

Tony at Basically Sound has been particularly helpful - calls, texts and emails - with background information and thoughtful advice on various small details. (It’s so often said here, in this forum, a good relationship with your Naim dealer is priceless). Tony and Graham at BS are a treasure of information and always so helpful.

Roberto, that’s a really useful suggestion - changing rear panel connections from BNC to RCA. Thank you. That’s really interesting - Please can you share a photo of your 72 rear panel, to show this?

So, decisions to make about how to make best use and configure these “new to me” pieces, with my other sources and musical tastes in mind…

In the meantime, I’m just enjoying using these beautiful music making boxes over the long weekend.

QUESTION :
I’m interested to know if forum members have serviced one or all three of these Olive items 72 - HC - 140 and the results / effect, if any?

72 - not yet - tbd (still works fine)
HC - yes - mine are done regularly, every 8 to 12 years
140 - yes - mine had its first service after 25+ years - sounds fab…!!
(not out of place with my 82-HC/HC and driving my Kudos X3’s)

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@IanRobertM
Thank you. That’s the sort of feedback that’s helpful in this situation. Good to know. Can you say how they sounded, post service?

I think I have the same predicament. The 72 sounds fine today. But logic suggests a service is over due. I’m wondering if the system might benefit from servicing HC & 140 first. Maybe do things in stages?

QUESTION :
Can members describe the effect of a service on such items : 72 - HC - 140

The usual priority for service is based on what the caps inside do. These are the main items that degrade sound.
So, NAP 140 and HC first. Perhaps even HC ahead of the 140.
The 72 actually can go a long time before service. Yes it is caps that form the majority of the service, but in a slightly different way. So, you will not hear a dramatic change in the same way you will with the NAP or HC.
The service will also clean the pots and check everything else works. I did my items as they’d never been serviced and I wanted them brought back to as close as a performance as new. The bnc for rca swap was suggested by Darran. Good idea too.

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Better… Just Do It. IMO, its not possible to really describe the change - unless the unit is really very old & almost dying. Even at 25 years plus, my NAP140 was still working and sounding OK.

Priority (IMO) would be NAP then HC then NAC.

The NAP & the HC will both have some very big Capacitors in them. Small Coke Cans…!!

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Picture of one of the 72s with RCAs from Darran.

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For comparison, here are the Phono sockets which were removed from my NAC42, back in 1985.

They are both colour coded Black. So… Naim.

(My 72 & 82 both came with BNC’s - which suited me fine - and still does…)

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@Thegreatroberto
Ooooooo
That’s looks like a really nice job.
I’m now tempted with that great idea. :thinking:
Thanks again for your input.

Looking at your rear panels, your 72 looks like a later model, as the second input is DIN and marked CD, etc.
Mine is the earlier version with two BNC fitted for both phono and Aux.
But, as it came with K phono card, happy to compromise on age and rear panel connector configuration.

I plan to use Phono input mostly.
I’ve just had a new arm cable (T-Kable) added to my LP12, which is terminated with RCA. Also, my Rega TT has arm cable with RCA’s

Thanks for sharing :+1:

Darran does a great job for an extra £6!
And yes mine is a later 72. I think they only did the earlier type for a couple of years. Once naim worked out that CD was here to stay ( for a while anyway).
If you have the early version you could convert both to RCA, and have the links remade on the second one( loosing the 328 boards) then you could use it as a regular RCA input.

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I got Darran to put the original bncs in the box. Goodness really knows what I will ever do with them though!

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@Thegreatroberto
I suspect you are a bit like me - like to keep EVERYTHING - just in case and for the future. :+1:

Personally, my aim is always to keep items stock or at least as near as possible as originally designed and intended.

For me, hunting down the correct bit or whatever, is a fun thing and no bother at all. All part of the fun of this hobby.

Collecting, curating, cataloguing, etc, etc, maybe is a form of OCD… :joy:

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