In May of 2022 I posted the following in the HiFi Corner:
My love of music reproduced well has tested my resilience these last couple of years. Just as we went into the first lockdown I started experiencing loud cracks on vinyl replay. The problem was resolved after many false dawns, one of which involved my Superline going on a trip. It was finally resolved some 8 months later when the DV XX-2 was replaced, even though Dynavector couldn’t find a fault with it.
Then late last year my system lost all deep bass and solidity as well as a momentary loss of the right channel when using the balance control. I suspected it to be the NAC 252 DR. My dealer provided a 252/SC combo for me to substitute. The other Supercap DR gave a bass uplift so mine went back to Salisbury for repair. Naim found it to be “sounding thin” and replaced the DR modules.
I thought that would be it but on plugging back in things still didn’t sound right. After a couple of weeks to allow for burn in there was no real improvement so the NAP 300 DR was returned to base. This came back last week with “no fault found” but some capacitors changed.
Happily, this has given the sound the solidity that was lost. However, the momentary loss of the right channel when using the balance control is still evident. So it looks like another item is on its way back to HQ. That’ll be five boxes packed off in just over a year. A bit more than unlucky.
Sadly, the problem with the loss of deep bass and solidity has happened again. I said at the time that I was probably done with Naim, but after the repairs the system sounded better than ever, and I decided to stick with the system and the sound I enjoy so much.
However, at this moment in time, I can’t begin to articulate just how disappointed I am that the problem has reoccurred so quickly. I really can’t see a future for me and Naim.
That is unfortunate and not nice to experience. I have nothing to say in Naims defence, it just shouldn’t be like that. I have been fortunate and not had such problems with my Naim equipment.
You simply cannot deny Naim’s devotion to good service, and obsession with quality. When I had my Aro rebuilt, suspecting it to be the cause of terrible distortion after a mishap induced by Loki-son, it didn’t fix the problem. Naim took pity on me and voided the invoice. A while later Peter spotted the contamination of my then Cirkus, due to inept attempts to mitigate the impact of multiple house moves. I picked up the not inconsiderable tab that time!
@Christopher_M my dealer doesn’t open again until Wednesday, so in limbo for now.
@sktn77a no there’s no crackle, and last time the drop out issue was with balance pot.
When I get chance I’ll put the SCDR from the Superline on the 252 and that might show the SCDR on the 252 is at fault, or it could narrow things down to the 252 itself, the 300DR or the 300DR PS.
On the one hand, I’d like to advise you to vote with your feet, mentally detach from the brand loyalty and memory of the exquisite sound, and simply shop elsewhere. But then there is this faith, maybe not blind faith, that makes one hope that things will be done properly. Are you just unlucky? Can I get the sound back? etc.
I have been through this journey too with all three of my Naim units having issues that meant they had to go back for repair. I decided to vote with my feet and shop elsewhere, but only after 1.5 years of mucking about. It also just so happens that the prices of the NC range and not having an integrated made it a relatively easy decision to go elsewhere…
Sometimes it makes sense to have a break and a change. I’ve moved on from Naim but the door is still open for the future. After selling my Naim gear I’m still left with a system that has value plus the cash I’ve banked would let me go back to Naim in future to a system that is newer and at least as good as what I had. I always like to have options.
I feel your pain I had a similar issue just before Covid….
First challenge was diagnosing the problem with 6 boxes and multiple cables / plugs - couldn’t have done it with out my dealer (basically sound)
It transpired my 552 was the issue but it took Naim 2 attempts to get it right but it was a massive faff …
This was the point I said I’m trying another brand… I had a listen to chord and linn and deciding they just didn’t cut it for my tastes and I have stayed with Naim.
Multibox systems are a joy but when there is an issue it’s a devils job to diagnose.
I have simplified (ish) my system by going active (2 less boxes and cables) but would love Naim to produce a streaming pre of 552/555 quality….
Sounds like you have a good dealer to support. As frustrating as it was when I reflect back both my dealer and Naim stepped up to get a resolution for that I’m grateful!
If it’s any consolation I’ve suffered undiagnosable and intermittent problems when my 500 power amp was DR’d. As awkward and inconvenient as it was to constantly have to send the amp back, I’d say that both my dealer and Naim did everything in their power to solve the problem. I think in total it went back five times. Always with the same issue, the left channel would suddenly lose bass weight and resolution but not all the time. In the end they got the guy who builds the Statement to strip my amp down to basic nuts and bolts and to rebuild it from scratch and then Jason had it in the dem room for a week listening to it. The result was ‘perfection’. When my dealer listened to my amp in the shop they said that it was the best sounding 500 they’d ever heard and I have to agree, it sounds absolutely amazing. You a probably going to ask why all 500’s don’t sound like this but Jason response was that about 100 additional man-hours had been spent fiddling with mine, making it one of the most expensive 500’s ever to be assembled but it does show you how dedicated Naim is to getting things right.
At the time of the last failure I did the same thing; auditioned a few things but they just didn’t compare. The main problem was nothing I tried could drive my Totem Mani-2’s. And, truth be told, I’ve never gad better sound with any system I’ve owned. It has sounded sublime. But, and it’s a big but, I find that now I’m older I’m less able (and less inclined) to be on my hands and knees trying to squeeze myself in and around the racks and boxes. And also less tolerant and forgiving of box failures.
My dealer is currently raving about the Accuphase range he’s just acquired. Will have to see if I can have a listen to that while my stuff is away …
That Isa sad story - agree with gecko that naim very dedicated to make the things right.
How long have you waited to get your units back each time - hope this was not too long.
What a story and I am happy that you are happy. But it apparently is difficult to build units with consistent build- and sound quality. That is a bit worrying, but also understandable for units that are built manually or at least partially.
It’s is difficult, especially with electronics. I’ve had three 72’s over the years and they all sounded different.
The 500 was a strange one. They had it on soak test for nearly a month and couldn’t induce the issue. They still don’t know the real reason behind the issue just that they solved it.
Before I switched to Naim and went up the food-chain (still modest), I never realized how sensitive equipment can be. More revealing systems can be very sensitive to change. Apparently also sensitive to build quality, electronic component quality and maybe even engineer quality etc.