Superline Service Quandary/Disappointment.😮‍💨

The decision has been made purely because of the likelyhood of PCB damage. In the case of the Superline, it looks like it would be an relatively easy task. Several people have tried across the PCB & service department, myself included. I thought “hold my beer” whilst accepting the challenge - it didn’t go well. Some of the caps come out quite easily, others not so.
The last thing we want to do is damage boards & complete PCB replacement is not sustainable from a service perspective.

Regards
Neil.

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Thanks for the update Neil. Well, that’s that. I can imagine that people scattered when the work was handed out in the service dept if a Superline came in.
Anyway, for old times’ sake, do you fancy one final go?

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:smile: I’m sure you’d prefer it working!

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Leave it well alone. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

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@Thegreatroberto, trying to be positive now:

The Superline probably doesn’t need a service.

If it sounds off or doesn’t work, ask Naim to repair it.

@NeilS has explained the problems and it is best not to service it as they can’t replace PCB for all services.

If it sounds wonderful try to forget about it.

Like I said I wouldn’t be happy about the situation and you’re timing has been unfortunate.

But, does it sound better than phonostage beforehand?

I would imagine it will take time to get your head round it. I would feel a bit angry and annoyed!

Initial reaction would be to get rid of it.

Maybe after some weeks I might come round.

Sometimes with these things purchase is soured and there’s no going back.

Things mellow with time.

I would feel it like this. A mix of emotions!

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I’ve heard back from Naim, and it’s just as Neil says. The problem is that it’s been found to be all too easy to damage some of the PCB tracks and with the SMT mix on the NDS and CD555 in particular it can write off an entire board. In spite of this, Naim have decided though to continue undertaking repairs on these products.

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So the question is why is this just now becoming an issue? It’s not like the Superline is a new product, so how is it that it use to be serviced without risk of damage but no longer the case? This isn’t making much sense to me, or am I missing something?

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Good stuff there Dan. The Superline does sound good, inital thoughts are it is different to the last one. I’ll have a good listen when at home friday. No plans to move it on at all, it was bought at a fair price, so no complaints. A lot of people rave about it, so it can not be all that bad, serviced or not. Clearly naim have had some issues servicing these units.

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I think they’re trying to force consumers into their new styling and lifestyle products.

They do appear to have rode rough-shot over their traditional consumers with existing products.

New record deck, with no thought for replacement cartridges. New range of products without cables to connect with traditional products. Lack of servicing on traditional products. Website, not knowing where it is.

Their ethos does appear to have changed.

DG…

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The caps are actually Elna RJH series which are also discontinued or at least almost impossible to obtain.

However, they have quite a long life rating of 5,000 hours at 105 C .

Theory states the 5,000 hours life doubles for every 10 degree reduction in temperature so even if they run as warm as 45 C that would double their life six fold so 10,000 hours then 20,00 hours then 40,000 then 80,000 then 160,000 hours then 320,000 hours or 36.5 years.
I would consider 30 years to be a realistic maximum.

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It has been a known issue since servicing of Superlines has been requested, during the limbo period before the current decision, the whole PCB was likely replaced. As said though, this is not a sustainable solution.

Regards
Neil.

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And using that logic, if they run at say no more than 35C in our mild climate, that would give another doubling to 60 years.

Sounds good to me ! (too good in fact - but one can hope).

Yes. It was basically adding a Zobel network and whilst it stopped the motor boating the sound was dire. So this bandaid was no cure.
The simplest another band aid is to add more capacitance which makes the unit stable again it kills the music. I prefer not to use a capacitative plug.

What loading are you using with yours?
Are you using with a Supercap or Supercap DR?

I recall Richard mentioning that SC connection sometimes make the Superline unstable. I do not recall he meant DR or non DR SC.

What do you mean exactly?

You can ruin the whole PCB whilst you are recapping? You do not have enough trained staff?
I am not understanding because it looks pretty easy things to do from looking inside.
Too many mistakes and you do not want to waste the PCB boards. That’s it?

Well, my Superline came back just fine from AV Options. Chris West recapped it. So if he could do it why not Naim UK staff? What am I missing here?

P.S. Also what is a standard Superline service intervals? I read somewhere that it does not require it as frequent as a power amp or preamp. Any truth to this?

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I assume it’s not profitable to keep replacing the entire PCB board but then this type of operational cost should be included into the unit cost. I do not mind paying extra to ensure the longer term service.

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where did you see that?
I see they are still in the catalogue so I assume Elna RJH are still available?

SC DR
Loading varied with cartridge.
100Ω with Transfiguration Proteus or SPU Century.
220Ω With SPU Royal N
470Ω With Denon 103 or DV17D3

I’ve tried 470pF and 1nF plugs at various times but I don’t think they affected the motorboating much.
The higher resistance loadings seemed a bit better than the lower ones. Not connecting a ground wire from the arm was most effective.

If the Zodal network is degrading the superline then my preference for a SUT into the stageline N on the Century might be a bit less surprising. I presume they don’t install a jumper to defeat it and it took the nearly three months to install.

Thanks Yeti,

That’s interesting because Capacitance plug stops the noise straight away in my case.
I think we tried disconnecting the earth wire but did not do much. :expressionless:

So what is your next step? Give up ? :crazy_face:

My first call would be to AVOptions in the US. Chris West has rebuilt several of my Naim pieces thanks to lightning damage. He did his best work on my Superline. It is now better than new thanks to AVOptions and Chris West. Tell him I sent you.

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Welcome to the disposable society. I understand the reasoning for the CD555 (lack of optical drive availability) but not the electronic components. One of the most compelling reasons to invest in Naim gear has just gone gone out the window (talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater)!

I’m so glad I got my 252/SC/250 serviced and DR’d in 2022 - it should outlast me now!

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