In Praise of the Naim Service Department - a Member Writes

[Tom Tom Audio]

Never underestimate the magic that the Naim service department can deliver when they wave their wand over your classic Naim kit. We recently arranged for a chrome bumper Naxo cross-over to be serviced for a good client of ours , John B-G. We were delighted to receive this email once it was re-installed.

Hi guys,

 Just to say thanks for the service, I expected an improvement, I didn’t expect what sounds like a serious upgrade!

 Problems with the Mrs though, the volume on the 72 keeps creeping up to 11 from 10!

 The whole system has opened up even further, more control, more delicacy and even more detail, still hearing new things on old records yet again, and it’s still burning in

 Fantastic stuff

 all the best

John

We asked John to share his Naim journey with us:-

Back in the early 80s, I finally bought an LP12, originally with a Rega arm. I then won a competition in HiFi Review mag, which was supposed to be a budget system. I asked the dealer if I could have an ARO instead, which had just come out and much to my astonishment he said yes! I was using a Nytech amp and shortly after bought a second and a pair of ARC101 speakers so have been active for a long time. Many years passed, had a family, started a business etc. About 5 years ago I by chance saw a pair of active Linn Saras on e-bay. The first time I had ever thought about hifi kit for decades, my dream speakers and I snapped them up. The Nytechs could drive them but they were somewhat ‘loose’ top and bottom. I knew I had to really go ‘green’ finally. Then I discovered Tom Tom Audio and soon bought an olive NAP92 and a pair of NAP90s. At the time, James couldn’t find me a s/h crossover and after a few months I tracked a CB Naxo down from another dealer. In spite of not supplying it, James sent me (from Naim) an old wiring diagram, that is real customer service, and so finally I was active again. (The Nytechs and ARCs are now happily retired in James’s ‘museum’). In spite of the fact these were the babies in Naim classic range, I was in a new world. The famed Naim control and PRAT was finally in my house. All was good for a few years but I knew the Saras demanded much more. From reading the Naim forum I took the plunge late last year and bought a NAC72, which James had serviced by Salisbury. When it arrived I unpacked it and my heart sank. BNCs! A quick e-mail to Tom Tom and a set of adaptor arrived in the mail the next morning (since re-plugged!). I pretty quickly realised that a good pre-amp lifted the system into a much higher world. For my own Xmas present last year, I had the LP12 properly serviced, Cirkused and an olive ‘Geddon fitted. Wow! I was getting there now. The 90s days were numbered and in March I went back to St Albans and bought myself a birthday present, a pair of olive NAP250s. The first hours were oddly underwhelming and I even thought I had made a mistake. It finally dawned that I was really now in a totally new world. But I wasn’t quite there yet. I checked with Naim and the Naxo hadn’t been touched since 1984, back it went to Salisbury via St Albans at the end of May. I ‘played’ with my mini-collection of passive speakers whilst it was away (Kans - shreeky, Royd Mistrels – OK but lightweight, Royd A7s –surprisingly good, IBLs – still don’t get them sadly, ARC050s – the best of the bunch) which was fun for a few weeks but ultimately rather ‘hifi’. Classic Linn/Naim active systems just play music. Last weekend my Naxo came home. I plugged it back in expecting an improvement but was not looking forward to the burn-in. Within hours I realised what an upgrade the service had been, the system stepped up another two big notches, really open, loads more detail and so delicate now in the upper frequencies. I finally feel I’m there, even planning to take a week off work and just enjoy my music!  One day perhaps a six pack and DBLs……bigger house first required I think. Its taken a long time but oh so worth it. I have a CD system too, Rega Saturn/Nait 5i (from St Albans) and the ARC050s, that’s pretty sweet too. Thanks to James and Henry for all the kit and their fantastic assistance so far. 

John.