NAC 52 versus NAC 252

I think the "controversy" springs from those who say the 282 is better.

Not surprising in this day of "source last" with plastic turntables and CDPs.

252 is better than the 52. There. It's settled.

quote:

Originally posted by Engelbert:

Far better to save for a 552 and have your socks blown off.

There's not much criticism of the 552 on the forum but the 252 is quite controversial.

Engelbert

the controversy is between the 282 and 252 which is understandable as they sound very different same would apply to cdx2 and cds3, i dont get it because i have had all of them and the 252 is in another leaque to my ears as is cds3.and as far as no criticism for 552 i should bloody well hope not for £15,500.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Coleman:
252 is better than the 52. There. It's settled.

short, sweet, to the point and on the money.

How things change.

A few years back when I wrote 252 is better than 52, I got my head bashed in.

A 52 is still good for what it does. I love my cartoon preamp.

quote:

Originally posted by 151:

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Coleman:
252 is better than the 52. There. It's settled.

short, sweet, to the point and on the money.

Indeed.

I do wonder about the point of posts such as these.

Some may prefer the 252, others the 52. Then we'll get a few brave souls (I'd almost say 'lunatic fringe', while making it very clear that I'm not having a dig at anyone here who has expressed such a preference, but it would suggest that Naim's design team had screwed up badly), claiming that the 282 thrashes the 252. And, of course, many will roll in, suggesting that the 552 trounces all three of the previously named.

I wonder if any single person has ever actually changed their mind as a result of reading such a thread? I rather doubt it.

For what it's worth, I'm very happy indeed with my 52, which will need a full and expensive recap/service very soon. Are other control amps named here better? Possibly yes, although I'm not persuaded that, in my system and for what I listen to, the 252 is better than my 52. But I feel no need to change in any event!

CDS3 + XPS2 + 252 + 250.2 is a best VFM system.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:
How things change.

A few years back when I wrote 252 is better than 52, I got my head bashed in.

Not by me you wouldn't . Amazing how bandwagons start!


RR

I love my 252, upgraded from a SuperNait. Would love a CDS3, but am distracted by this digital music burning lark with an HDX, does this mean I have to set fire to my CD's

Tim

the cds3 is beautiful no matter what.

quote:

I am confused! You prefer the 282 to the 252 "because" you have never heard a 252?

an attempt at humor...I consider myself very fortunate, very fortunate indeed, to have reached Hi Fi nirvana with my modest system. And I'm not interested in finding out that a 252 might be better (or different, as some on the forum have said) than my 282. Just last night I heard some new notes on Art Pepper's "The Trip", that I haven't heard in the many times I've listened to it over the years. As long as I can continue to be amazed by my Black Stack o' Naim, I don't need to change anything.


Tom

quote:

Originally posted by TFE:

quote:

I am confused! You prefer the 282 to the 252 "because" you have never heard a 252?

an attempt at humor...I consider myself very fortunate, very fortunate indeed, to have reached Hi Fi nirvana with my modest system. And I'm not interested in finding out that a 252 might be better (or different, as some on the forum have said) than my 282. Just last night I heard some new notes on Art Pepper's "The Trip", that I haven't heard in the many times I've listened to it over the years. As long as I can continue to be amazed by my Black Stack o' Naim, I don't need to change anything.

Tom

Ah, I missed your good (British) sense of humor .

Hi Timbo,

I'll happily take your cd collection off your hands before you set fire to it.

Engelbert

quote:

CD555 is better looking.

For sure it looks more German than Italian

quote:

Originally posted by Red Rooster:
Amazing how bandwagons start!

RR,

I think those old timers either upgraded or moved on to something else.

I still think it's a good fun preamp but the current Naim preamps are better rounded and more open.

I've a feeling that a 52 will always be a classic as a 52/135s still are musically valid.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

quote:

Originally posted by Red Rooster:
Amazing how bandwagons start!

I've a feeling that a 52 will always be a classic as a 52/135s still are musically valid.

I'm sure all those 52 owners will rest easy knowing that.

FWIW I would be interested in the exact differences (apart from case and feet) between the 252s and the last 52s.

When I had the latter, I spent some time with the 252 and decided the difference wasn't worth the considerable cost. Most other upgrades yielded far more. The difference between 72 and 52 for instance, was much larger.

Joe

In comparing 52 to 252, I found a much greater improvement by putting my 52 on a Sonority Ultra Roller shelf (on Fraim). Well worth a try if you want to extract the best possible performance.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
FWIW I would be interested in the exact differences (apart from case and feet) between the 252s and the last 52s.

When I had the latter, I spent some time with the 252 and decided the difference wasn't worth the considerable cost. Most other upgrades yielded far more. The difference between 72 and 52 for instance, was much larger.

Joe

well of course the 72 to 52 was much larger sound difference thats from the cheapest to the dearest naim made at the time not the case with 52 vs 252 although i think the 252 is a lot better and naim obviously think so,but then what do they know, the 252 as kuma pointed out is more rounded more open and has more detail,but then for those who cant hear that, great save a little money.

quote:

Originally posted by 151:
well of course the 72 to 52 was much larger sound difference thats from the cheapest to the dearest naim made at the time

It certainly wasn't. The 72 was the top pre-amp until the 52 arrived IIRC.

Joe

yes sorry i wasnt thinking but my point was the gap between the 72 and 52 is far wider.

I think you will find that 52 was intended to be the top pre-amp and was created before the 72, but not released until a year after the 72 went on sale.

72 was never planned to be top of the line, it just happened to occupy that slot for a year whilst naim were ironing out engineering issues with the 52 (according to JV).

Naim numbered their amps sequentially (so both 52 and 62 were created before the 72).

HTH.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:

quote:

Originally posted by 151:
well of course the 72 to 52 was much larger sound difference thats from the cheapest to the dearest naim made at the time

It certainly wasn't. The 72 was the top pre-amp until the 52 arrived IIRC.

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:

quote:

Originally posted by 151:
well of course the 72 to 52 was much larger sound difference thats from the cheapest to the dearest naim made at the time

It certainly wasn't. The 72 was the top pre-amp until the 52 arrived IIRC.

Joe

It is remarkable how well the 72 compares with the 52. I have run both - the 52 for six year and the 72 [currently resting] for two.

I do not feel deprived with a 72 after the 52, though side-by-side I imagine that the 52 would seem more resolving.

In isolation I prefer the 72, as it has some magical sense or organic wholeness than the mighty 52 never quite seemed to have. I was often struck by some apparent anomaly in the recording with the 52, and this detracted from the musical concentration, whereas the 72 does not do this. All there is to listen to is a wonderful presentation of the performance of the music – beautifully articulate, full of expressive detail, and no tendency to show up faults in the recording.

The new series seem to combine the organic quality of the 72 [by far my favourite Olive pre-amp] with resolving power of the 52 and some!

Altogether the new series, specifically [in comparison to the 52], the 252 and the 552 show a tremendous advance.

As I cannot afford these marvels, I am easily able to enjoy the 72, and admire from a safe distance the greater resolution of the 82 and 52.

It is quite true that for a while the 72 was the best pre-amp that Naim made, and the 52 was quite something in terms of a headline release! No less remarkable than the 552 in its turn, though the 552 seems to be the perfect balance of resolution and musical sense! It took a long time to develope the 52, and indeed it continued to be developed for some years after first appearing.

ATB from George

the 72 is indeed very,very nice.