I've recently acquired a pre-owned AV2 on the secondary market and, after some assistance by other forum members (thanks!) have now figured out how to properly connect it to my Nait5i using the Nait's "unity gain" feature.

I've benefited greatly from the increased functionality of the AV2 and the sound seems a bit more detailed and with slightly better soundstage, but there also seems to be a much higher noise floor -- and I was wondering if that was to be expected (switching from passive to active preamplification?) or if there might be a performance problem with my particular AV2, suggesting a need for service. Any thoughts?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

Hi Dave & welcome to the Forum.

The AV2 shouldn't be noisy. either it's faulty or perhaps you've got the speaker levels set too low - what volume setting do you need for normal listening?

Interesting: I've found that the noise goes down if I attenuate the speakers, so I ran the front L and R settings down to -30 and took some of the noise out, but that means I have to turn the volume way up. From the sounds of things, I should have adjusted it the other way? I could certainly try that. One other thing you should know is that the AV2 also makes a small "pop" every time I advance or reduce the volume even a single step. I guess maybe she needs to be serviced?

Greetings Dave,

I have been using the same setup as you for the past 2 years but I do not have any issues with the volume control. Was it inherent at the time of your purchase from the previous owner? You may wish to check with your local naim dealer.

I noticed both the popping sound in the volume pot, and the high noise floor, the instant I took the unit from the box. I also have some minor functionality issues with my Nait5i, though, so I think maybe the thing to do is to send both of them to NANA for service? It doesn't sound as though the consensus in here is that I'm imagining things....?

From memory the noise level on AV2 should not be excessive. At what volume level are you listening to this at?

Is it the same from cold? or does it change when warm?

I normally set all trim values to zero, set the main volume to a reasonable listening level and then tweak the trims accordingly (using an SPL meter and measuring distances properly).

The click is normal, this is usually heard at higher volumes (with no signal present). Its a function of the volume chip used.

I hear the noise (as a steady-state hiss) whether the volume on the AV2 is set high or low, but it does seem to be slightly louder at higher volumes. I've been listening with the trim levels both set at minus-thirty, and the volume pot set at about 42, running into the unity-gain-enabled Nait5i, driving a pair of Linn Ninkas (which are, if I remember correctly, 90db sensitivity).

The noise does not seem to go up or down with temperature of the rig.

The popping sound in the volume pot of the AV2 is constant, regardless of current setting, and the knob itself doesn't "work" unless I push it slightly in.

Also, the Nait5i used to freeze occasionally when I was running it as a stand-alone piece, not allowing me to change inputs. Oh, and there's something loose inside it that I can hear tumbling across the circuit board if I tilt the chassis.

Thoughts?

I suspect the lids been of this pre-owned unit and the M3 screw that holds the lid firm to the front panel was not properly screwed down and is rolling around inside.

Unplug the unit from mains now and take it to a naim dealer!

The encoder sounds like its a bit dodgy if the volume is not reacting to the knob (or is intermittant). Get this replaced.

to be honest if you are having this many problems, have it sent back to naim via your local dealer, perhaps we should investigate

Thank you! I'm sending both pieces first thing Monday.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave - Naim Knave:
Thank you! I'm sending both pieces first thing Monday.

Do this via your local Naim dealer - who may well be closed on Mondays.