FAQs, Hints and Tips

Please see below for some of the more commonly asked questions, if you need more information please call or email us.

 

Naim Audio Tips & Tricks

  1. Most of you are probably aware of the order in which too plug mains plugs into the wall outlet. Shore has a data sheet that we can email you with; alternatively give us a phone call. Please on use Naim mains cables, anything else is retrograde.
  2. Those with post 2000 CD players check that only one source has been selected on your CD players output, either DIN or RCA, some have found BOTH outputs have been selected, this degrades sound quality hugely. This is how to check:
      Select and push the ‘CD” button on your remote control,. Then hold down the “DISP” button on remote. If you see “O oo”, means both outputs have been selected.Quickly push “DISP”, this will cycle through the outputs. Big “O” is the DIN output; “oo” is the RCA output.

      Once you have selected the one you require, either “O” or “oo”, push and hold “DISP” button, this locks in the chosen output. (We can talk you through this on the phone, it sounds longwinded in print, but it really isn’t).
  3. Make sure your CD players puck is in good condition, 90% of CD players misbehaving can be put down to old worn out pucks.
      On older CD players, using a cotton bud and gently cleaning the metallic inner ring of the CD transport helps (It’s the bit that you place your CD software on when playing the disc).
  4. Turning the CD display off whilst listening improves sound quality.
  5. Pulling ALL your connection in and out every six months is a must, (please power down all equipment).
  6. Naim electronics heading towards Nine years old will benefit immensely from being recapped (Upgrade of tired selected internal components).

Loudspeakers

  1. Make sure speakers are rigid, with all spikes and locknuts are tight.
  2. If on carpet with wood flooring screw in some Philips head or square drive screws down to just below carpet level (No this will not damage the pile, and can be removed later leaving no indication they were ever there). Place the speaker with spike on bottom onto the screw. This will tighten bass performance; vastly improve midrange and treble detail.
  3. Use quality metal spiked stands; wood tends to be poor in terms of sound quality. Note there are exceptions such as Sonus Faber that purposely use wooden stands as part of the design makeup.
  4. Tighten ALL drivers, as most speaker drivers are screwed into wood not ‘T” nuts, they loosen over time.
  5. If you have Banana plug connections, turn amplifier/ receiver power off. Pull all speaker connections in and out ½ a dozen times, as they will renew their contacts.
  6. Always use speaker cables that are the same length. Listening tests at Shore have found even as little as a 1 Metre difference causes problems. Never join cables, as this has the potential to short, and most of all sounds really bad.

General Electronics

  1. Avoid the use of multi board for connecting multiple electronics into one mains outlet. Multiboards have numerous links and connections internally. Basically they sound woeful. For details on how to avoid using these contact us at Shore.
  2. Again cleaning all RCA & speaker connections by pulling in and out numerous times (remember, always switch mains power off before undertaking this).
  3. Leave all electronics powered up, or at least on standby. Not only does this make your Hi-Fi sound better due to being at operating temperature, but also improves reliability hugely. Electronics like to be at a good operating temperature, going from stone cold to very warm daily fatigues components and puts a strain on all the tiny internal soldered joints.
  4. Old amplifiers often get “Scratchy” volume controls. These are often easy and cost effective to fix.
  5. Keep amplifiers and particular Home theatre receivers well ventilated. Again doing this lessens breakdowns and prolongs life spans.
  6. Avoid stacking electronics directly on top of each other as the transformers radiate electromagnetic energy this disrupts delicate signals in other more sensitive product.
  7. If you have bare wire speaker connections, either “Tin” the copper, or use banana plugs. One stray wire can potentially short out your amplifier. Again we can do the soldering for you. Remember bringing your Hi-Fi back up to sounding great doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune, you can do most of these tip’s yourself. Getting your basics in order is the key.

Turntables

  1. Make sure the Turntable is perfectly level on both "X" & "Y" planes.
  2. Nothing cleans the record like the stylus, so maintain the stylus properly. Shore has some specially selected carbon fibre brushes for the job.
  3. Again use a proper carbon fibre brush for the records surface, this removes airborne contaminants.
  4. If records are really dirty, then a good wash in proper record cleaning machine such as the Knosti Disco record cleaning system, available from us, and retails for $320. The Knosti system will clean approx 300 very dirty records.
  5. Remember stylus life is approx 1400 hours – lets face it who can remember how many hours your needle has done, if in doubt, bring the stylus into us we can check it under the microscope. A badly worn stylus can end up resembling the original cutting devise that made the master record. If your stylus gets that worn you can potentially damage your valuable Vinyl permanently.