Statement amps

[Innocent_Bystander]

No that post is still there.

[frenchrooster]

I was surprised to read that Statement is class A, specially as the Nap S1 is 800W ( or something like that).
So I checked.
And also class A have a distinctive sound vs AB generally. Not like Naim. At least the class A i could listen to, as Vitus R101 and Pass Labs.

[Blackbird]

Why Class B and not Class AB in Naim amps?

Naim amplifiers have been class AB for 50 years FYI the class AB bias current is small, just enough to stop crossover distortion and not too much to cause the lesser known ‘gm-doubling’ distortion. For each new amplifier we measure an acceptable range on the bench. Then try each setting until it sounds best. Cheers Steve

[HappyListener]

With respect FR, it’s only a side-show matter to @Dunc ‘s potential mission here. I’m 99% convinced that an authoritative comment has been made about how Statement NAPs work i.e. they’re not 100% AB in operation - I could be wrong. We all know they don’t operate 100% in Class A, as that would need each installation to come with a power generator, with a home’s heating system being rendered superfluous if left switched on 24/7!

Sadly, much of the internet posts and detailing has been archived/lost and, intriguingly, the Statement handbook (via Naim’s ‘site) doesn’t assist. Most of the ‘Spec’s’ detailing for the amps used to cite them as AB, but the Statement’s detailing doesn’t do this.

[frenchrooster]

HL, I would see to lack of respect if you have not written « with respect « .
@NeilS or @110dB I am not sure who exactly of them both, should give us an enlightening.
I just read the Hifi News specs, which may be imprecise.

[frenchrooster]

I mean « no lack of respect « , not « to lack «

[Innocent_Bystander]

I am not an exert at amplifier design, however my understanding is that class A/B effectively operates in Class A at low level, swapping over to Class B as power increases. There is something called the bias current, and IIRC it is when the output current reaches the same level (or it might be 2x) the bias current that Class B takes over. The bias current can be set to give more, or less, output in class A. Whether in Statement it can be and is set to do 30W in Class A I have no idea, but it does not sound implausible. I think the term is “biased heavily into Class A”. My MF power amp does just this.

[Dunc]

It’s not a class A amp, it’s class A/B, it works very different to a true class A amp.

My amp has a true class A setting, this gives me 30 watts per channel max, or i can manually switch it over to class A/B, just like the naim amp, in this mode it has 200 watts per channel

[Blackbird]

Maybe the confusion related to Class A come from here (Naim white papers)

wp-balanced-audio-2025.pdf

[Innocent_Bystander]

My amp is rated at 185w rms, actually apparently first 18w Class A (nominally all music except peaks over 101dB with my speakers) and capable of continuous 200w. Not quite as powerful as a Statement!

[GraemeH]

An interesting read. I’ve always preferred the 333 to 332 via XLR than Din, regardless of naim’s recommendation for the latter. Perhaps that’s because I’ve always used balanced out from the 332 too. Who knows.

G

[james_n]

Casually browsing around and I see that Tom Tom have a couple of S1 pre-amps available. Not bad prices either,

[NeilS]

I’ve not worked on a Statement - I’ve not even looked at the schematics, but to the best of my knowledge it’s class A/B using paralleled, stacked 009 BJTs.

Steve would be the one to give you chapter & verse on it.

Regards

Neil.

[Thomas]

→ https://youtu.be/yqDlAV_tr2s?si=BZk7ldk01U1sg9n0

Steve Sells shares insight into the design philosophy and key decisions behind the Naim Statement.

[MKL1]

Brand new complete Statement system available from US dealer for $118000. Great discount !

[Dunc]

Haven’t heard anything back from signals/naim as yet on service costs, etc. But it might not matter now anyway as it looks like he might have found a buyer in the US. I couldn’t commit as I just didn’t have all the info, looks like he is or has accepted a lower offer for them, than I sort of put to him last week. O well life goes on.

[steve66]

Hi Dunc, I was contemplating a statement purchase from the US, subject to conversion (110/240) cost, might you have any recommendations re shipping/import taxes….?

[Dunc]

I can’t really say or help as it was not using the normal way you would normally bring in stuff. Nothing illegal about the way, just a service you can’t buy.

As for tax/duty just look on the government’s website as it has all info you need.

[Richard.Dane]

Steve, re. working out the duty and VAT you’ll need to pay, see my post here;

Statement amp's

If you want to work out the import duty and VAT you will have to pay on importing back into the UK then there are a number of duty calculators online that are free to use. You’ll need the HS code (IIRC 8518 for amplifiers, but most of the calculators will be able to help you ID the correct code you need) and also you’ll need to know the shipping and insurance costs. The duty itself will likely be very small, the big one is usually the VAT on the overall value.

[Blackbird]

The major part will be adding 20% for VAT importing the goods to UK. Then you will have to add some import taxes too. Normally a few percent.