SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE WITH A 552. A NEW WORLD!!

Marc Newman wrote:

quote:

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Went from Dean Martin......

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I guess i'm ok with the Dean Martin part here Marc(barely). Just don't start telling me that a 552 makes Doris Day sound like Ella Fitzgerald.

Arthur Bye

Arthur....



Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

Congrats Marc, you're a lucky chap!

A somewhat unrelated question, but i noticed from your profile that you're using a "01/XPS2-T". Do I take it that you're powering your NAT01 with an XPS, or am I very much confused?!


Cheers

Matt

Matt,

You are not confused.
Naim has this piece of kit on special order.
Anyone can have one built.

What it does for the 01 is just amazing!
More,and more of everything!

Regards,

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

Nice one Marc, congrats on your new gear. I guess it would take a non 552 owner to mention that it will continue to improve for some time to come! Best get a full-harness for that listening chair.

best

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

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Originally posted by Marc Newman:
I have had the 552 now about 3 weeks and wanted to give an update on how it's coming along..


HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!

My old benchmarks have been blown away!
I have NEVER in my life heard a system so real, and so organic!!...AND WITH DYNAMIC SPEAKERS!!

THe 552 has raised the bar on every level I looked for in a musical experience.
Tonight there were times I really thought I was in the 3rd row of my favorite venue!

Went from Dean Martin,Coldplay,Clapton,B.B.King,Godsmack,Little feet(same one Doug),and finished it off with Radiohead.....

And it gets better than this???????

DAMN!!!!GREAT FUN!!!!

Best to all,

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

[This message was edited by Marc Newman on TUESDAY 09 September 2003 at 05:07.]

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Marc

Did you compare the 552 against the 252 before you decide on the 552? If you did please share with us your experience. I am saving up for the 252 (the 552 is way out of my reach lol).

Yuan,
As a matter of fact, I did hear the 252 before I bought the 552...
I heard it at the San Fransisco show back a few monthes ago...

Remembering what Paul S. had said to me:
"THE BETTER THE HI-FI,THE LESS YOU SHOULD HEAR IT."
With this statement, I think I can give you my vector on things..

The 252 does everthing the 52 did and a fair amount less...
The Naim signature is there in spades for one.
What I believe has been left out is color. The 252 itself can be heard less.More natural sound comes through.
More dynamics,and organics to be specific...

THe 252 as compared to the 52 brings you a fair amount closer to the performers performance and the emotion of the music.

It is a great upgrade for those who want to step up to the next level. Well worth the money.

The 552 compared to the 252 I think might be a little unfair.
The 552 is lightyears ahead of the 252. There is absolutely no sense of Hi-Fi. There is only you and the performers enjoying the moment.

The listening room in my experience makes so little difference to this piece of gear.
I use ROOM TUNES in my dedicated room....
In the last week I would say I have taken down 30% of them.
YOU JUST DON'T NEED THEM..

And they tell me,"It will get even better".

WOW!!!!!

Hope this helps,

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

Marc,

I am flattered !
That sounds like a dream.

Ozren

Hi,

My feelings about the 552 are identicle. It is just so fluid and organic and just absent from the music. Going back to a 52 is very very depressing as you notice so much smudge, compression, grain, and an overall clunkiness in presentation. The 552 really made my ACT 2s vanish. Even huge propulsive bass sounded as if it was coming from a point source in the room as oposse dto one of the speakers. The ACT2 is pretty good at handing you a midrange and trebble that sounds like its not coming from the speakers at all, but with a 52 the bass still to some degree sounds like it originates from on of the two drivers. Not so with the 552. I couldn't believe how great the CDS2 sounded, and this is with none of the new upgrades.

dave

Marc. Thank you.
David, you probably the only one who has tested the 552 here in Ontario (lol).

[This message was edited by Tuan on TUESDAY 09 September 2003 at 19:53.]

Tuan,

Sorry, don't have one yet. Just had a great 1 week home demo and plan to buy within 6 months. Maybe I'll get the new burndy as well. Right now can't stretch to new Source boxes and a new preamp, so I'll pass on the CDS3, do the new burndy thing, and move into 552 territory. It really is that great!

dave

Sounds like the 52 to 552 jump is similar to the 32.5 to 52 jump but with a hell of lot more (or less).

Steve, when are getting one (552) for the shop??

Cheers,

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Originally posted by Geofiz:
Sounds like the 52 to 552 jump is similar to the 32.5 to 52 jump but with a hell of lot more (or less).

Steve, when are getting one (552) for the shop??

Cheers,

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yes we have one, but the in home demo is on a pre-pay , you buy it we set it up and you used it of a day or two, this way people don't use the store to do a/b of things they can't afford....not being mean it is just we get that crazy and I don't like working unless I'm getting paid.....

The taking down Room Tunes comment interests me.

What is it about lesser systems that require room treatments where the 552 does not?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

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yes we have one, but the in home demo is on a pre-pay , you buy it we set it up and you used it of a day or two, this way people don't use the store to do a/b of things they can't afford....not being mean it is just we get that crazy and I don't like working unless I'm getting paid.....

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Steve, doing an install or at home? Obviously not at the shop. I don't like working and not getting paid as well!!

Guess I'll hear it if and when it ever makes it back to the shop. If it is a good as they (above) say, then who will need an A/B.

Cheers

"What is it about lesser systems that require room treatments where the 552 does not?"


Greg,

a large part of the difference between a mediocre system and a great one is control.

My brief exposure to a 552 confirms this for me.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com

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Originally posted by hi fi fo fum:

quote:

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Originally posted by Geofiz:
Sounds like the 52 to 552 jump is similar to the 32.5 to 52 jump but with a hell of lot more (or less).

Steve, when are getting one (552) for the shop??

Cheers,

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yes we have one, but the in home demo is on a pre-pay , you buy it we set it up and you used it of a day or two, this way people don't use the store to do a/b of things they can't afford....not being mean it is just we get that crazy and I don't like working unless I'm getting paid.....

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It is a sensitive issue here. This thing is so bloody expensive. The majority of us will have to settle for the 252. Also, it is quite unfair to ask dealers for a permanent in-store demo unless the dealer is a Naim superstore (laugh... for sure not in Canada). This bloody thing is probably made for the american market (US dollars).

I concur, the 552 just keeps getting better. Sweeter, more open sounding each day. It makes everything sound bigger, with more impact yet without force. Music just hangs in the air effortlessly.

My CDS3 lands next week, so I am sure the performace level will jump into a new leauge all together.

Chris Bell

Chris,
This is a reminder for next week...

GO TO WORK!!

Well-for a while then come and order pizza.



Regards,

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

I had always thought I would need to have a second system. Well, at least a second pair of speakers to have the best of both worlds.

A pair of DBLs and Quad 988s were my best bet.
I had used 63s for 18 years and loved what they did....

With where I am at, I think there is no need to (ever)think about it again.
What the DBLs are doing since the addition of the 552- I am most satisfied....

The CDS2 has never sounded SO good. I look forward to upgrading to the XPS2/S-Burndy, then the CDS3 head...

Hats off to NAIM in this achievement they have accomplished....

I have bought more music in the last few weeks than I have in the last year........


Regards to all,

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

OK! Its been 5 weeks and all I can say is...

Nothing can touch this Pre-Amp... Nothing...

It gets better and better........


Me

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

I agree, the 552 keeps getting better. It's an amazing product, I have no regrets.

Chris Bell

Chris.

Did you get your S3??

Marc

She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...

Still waiting for CDS3...factory is having part problems. Maybe 2 weeks from now...can't wait.

Chris