552 DR First Impressions

Posted by: rsch on 09 February 2016

Unpackaging and Swissvaxing

Final installation

Cables run decently behind

After the282 departure, i was planning an upgrade to 252 when my dealer offered an ex demo 552

(very scarce opportunity on our shores)

At the beginning it was meant to be a late 2012 unit, but last week he called me telling .. "I have a surprise for you, I' m packing up the 552 and the psu is already DR ! "

An hour later he popped in at my workplace with the "beast"

Once at home, for a few adverse circumstances on "Une Heure De Tranquillitè" style had the

opportunity to install it only last Sunday, since such a special event deserve all the time necessary

I began, white gloves on disassembling every Fraim Stack to insert the new boxes.

For the record the new one i added last December was a bit loose already, despite it was re-tighthned a week later the arrival, while the old stacks seemed fine.

On the first hour i can't say was like turning on the light on in a dark room, but something

interesting was already showing.

On the same evening the sound was definetely opening out and yesterday and yesterday night

night even more so.

We have to bear in mind that even the 250 lied unused for 3 months

I played a good variety of records from early medieval to 70's pop rock, neo folk and electronic and

particulary with most dense & complex music, the most positive effect i noticed, was the almost total lack of fatigue.

Despite even at 9/10 'o clock it seems to play quite louder and with bigger scale than before,

i no longer urge to drop the volume with loud and complex piece of music, the music flows

now naturally and effortlessy and probably there is still room for improvement with a proper

run in and warm up since i' ve been told that it saw very little use.

At the same time i' m also praising the effect of my trusty Nait XS within its obvious limits

it's not ashamed in this company

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by MDS

Congratulations, Roberto. I enjoyed your write-up and especially your excellent pictures. I'm sure you are going to have great fun over the coming weeks. Do keep us updated as to how it settles in.

Mike

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by hungryhalibut

That's a very elegant setup, with everything nicely spaced out for optimum performance. You'll love it once it's all warmed up. Your SL2s are very lucky!

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by rsch

Thank you,

I' ll keep you updated for sure.

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by Dave***t

Swissvax? Opaque?

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by The Strat (Fender)

Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by Foot tapper

Oh Roberto, that looks the business!

Congratulations!

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by ken c

Hi Roberto. very nice setup, good view outside and congratulations. upgrade to a 552 is a very significant up in music.

i like the cable dressing -- made a little easier with the space between the fraim and the back wall. so you belong to the very elite SL2 user grp as well!! Great...

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by rsch

Dave***t posted:
Swissvax? Opaque?

Swissvax Nanoexpress with Microabsorb towel

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by hungryhalibut

Is that a high tech coffee?

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by rsch

The Strat (Fender) posted:
Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!

552 it's not quite a novelty, it was just to share my experience compared with previous

stages, getting if possible some advice not really for flattery

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by MDS

rsch posted:
The Strat (Fender) posted:
Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!
552 it's not quite a novelty, it was just to share my experience compared with previous
stages, getting if possible some advice not really for flattery
Regards
Roberto

Roberto

I suspect what the Strat meant by that post was your jumping to the lovely 552 from the 282 is stirring up temptations he feels to follow your example! The British use of irony doesn't awalys have the effect intended

Mike

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by The Strat (Fender)

MDS posted:
rsch posted:
The Strat (Fender) posted:
Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!
552 it's not quite a novelty, it was just to share my experience compared with previous
stages, getting if possible some advice not really for flattery
Regards
Roberto
Roberto
I suspect what the Strat meant by that post was your jumping to the lovely 552 from the 282 is stirring up temptations he feels to follow your example! The British use of irony doesn't awalys have the effect intended
Mike

Exactly that Mike. I am trying to convince myself that the 282 is where I should stop!

Roberto - that is some set up!!

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by MDS

The Strat (Fender) posted:
MDS posted:
rsch posted:
The Strat (Fender) posted:
Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!
552 it's not quite a novelty, it was just to share my experience compared with previous
stages, getting if possible some advice not really for flattery
Regards
Roberto
Roberto
I suspect what the Strat meant by that post was your jumping to the lovely 552 from the 282 is stirring up temptations he feels to follow your example! The British use of irony doesn't awalys have the effect intended
Mike

Exactly that Mike. I am trying to convince myself that the 282 is where I should stop!
Roberto - that is some set up!!

Me, too, Lindsay. I'm also trying to persuade myself of that but I can feel my will weakening......

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by Dave***t

rsch posted:
Dave***t posted:
Swissvax? Opaque?
Swissvax Nanoexpress with Microabsorb towel

Aha, a nano-sealant. How do you find it helps, dust repellant, UV barrier? Or is it just the appearance?

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by nigelb

MDS posted:
The Strat (Fender) posted:
MDS posted:
rsch posted:
The Strat (Fender) posted:
Roberto - why did you have to post this??!!!!
552 it's not quite a novelty, it was just to share my experience compared with previous
stages, getting if possible some advice not really for flattery
Regards
Roberto
Roberto
I suspect what the Strat meant by that post was your jumping to the lovely 552 from the 282 is stirring up temptations he feels to follow your example! The British use of irony doesn't awalys have the effect intended
Mike

Exactly that Mike. I am trying to convince myself that the 282 is where I should stop!
Roberto - that is some set up!!
Me, too, Lindsay. I'm also trying to persuade myself of that but I can feel my will weakening......

Me too. But I have partially scratched that itch by swapping the 282 for a 252. I am fully aware that a 252 is NOT a 552 but it is very good. I planned to go from 282 to 552 but the jump was just too far for me financially.

Congratulations Roberto. It is weird that you planned to upgrade to a 252 and ended up with a 552 and I planned to upgrade to a 552 and ended up with a 252! Strange how things work out.

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by rjstaines

Exactly that Mike. I am trying to convince myself that the 282 is where I should stop!
Roberto - that is some set up!!

Give up this futile torture now Strat, and accept the inevitable graciously.

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by rjstaines

BTW, has anyone got a feeling for how long a newly DR'd & serviced 552 will take to come on song again?

Posted on: 09 February 2016 by Allante93

I know it wasn't planned Roberto, but that's exactly the way I would like to do it!

Here's the quote that got me started with Naim:

"I've had 282 with HC and SC, 252 and 552. Clearly, 552 is the best - there is just a certain "rightness" to it that it is instantly recognizable.

If I had to do it all over, I would have gone straight to a 282 with supercap and stayed with it until a secondhand 552 became available.

A 282 with supercap won't resolve absolutely everything from the recording, but it will be close enough that you never care, IMO."

Joined the Forum January 16th 2015, 2nd hand 2008 282 first purchase Fall of 2014!

Enjoy your 552!

The Armchair QB

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by rsch

Ok guys,

Yes it was a weird situation.

I didn't want actually go further a 252 but my friendly dealer told me, "wait, i have this opportunit take it at home and decide yourself if it's really worth.

You know how bastards are situations like this, it's just like if i'm used with an entry level sports car

and someone tells me, Try this Ferrari 458 or MC MP4 for a week , the outcome is quite obvious.

Now I' d try a comparison, i have no experience at all with 252, and 282 was a very fine solution in my

system as was the XS, they seem pretty similar on presentation.

According to other people's experience there are 2 schools of "Naim Sound"

The first one for engagement, speed and clarity including CDX2 (my previous CD) Nait XS , 282, SL2

The other one for refinement, and smoothness with CDS3, SN2 , 252, Ovators.

My little experience with the 552 is that you get the best and everything from both worlds

Apparently the leap of performance from 282 to 552 is bigger than CDX2 to 555

Pretty much every piece of music and singing is so well resolved with a real taste of "Live Experience"

and not a mere hi fi reproduction.

Ironically one that left me a bit disappointed was a so called "Audiophile " OMR Rickie Lee Jones

We Belong Together" where the piano intro was pretty dull but at the same Rickie's voice peaks

were a bit shrilling , well i' d like to point out that i'm not a fan of audiophile records, but every

now and then i don' t resist the urge to buy someone

On the other hand a tricky one since the beginning like "Momus - Cicus Maximus" is nicely

resolved.

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

rsch posted:

"Momus - Cicus Maximus" is nicely
resolved.
Regards
Roberto

A great record now awesome i suppose

Congrats!

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by Mr Happy

rjstaines posted:
BTW, has anyone got a feeling for how long a newly DR'd & serviced 552 will take to come on song again?

I had mine dr'd only and it took months to fully stop changing. From memory (it was a couple of years ago) it sounded great even from cold but after a few weeks it really started to sound much more relaxed and easy sounding.

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by rsch

Dave***t posted:
rsch posted:
Dave***t posted:
Swissvax? Opaque?
Swissvax Nanoexpress with Microabsorb towel

Aha, a nano-sealant. How do you find it helps, dust repellant, UV barrier? Or is it just the appearance?

Hi Dave,

Appearence for sure, and dust repellant as well.

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by rsch

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:
rsch posted:

"Momus - Cicus Maximus" is nicely
resolved.
Regards
Roberto

A great record now awesome i suppose
Congrats!

Hi Gianluigi,

Not the only one

Btw it's a new 2015 reprint in digipack sleeve

Roberto

Posted on: 10 February 2016 by rackkit

rsch posted:
Dave***t posted:
rsch posted:
Dave***t posted:
Swissvax? Opaque?
Swissvax Nanoexpress with Microabsorb towel

Aha, a nano-sealant. How do you find it helps, dust repellant, UV barrier? Or is it just the appearance?
Hi Dave,
Appearence for sure, and dust repellant as well.

Great set up rsch. I'm guessing you're into your car detailing then knowing at Swissvax? Car detailers are known for their OCD!

Cheers,

Rack.

Posted on: 11 February 2016 by rsch

Hi Rack,

Yes definetely i am!

At amaterur stage of course, normally om my cars i use Concorso carnauba wax.

there is now a new one called Utopia which is a mix of premium carnauba wax enriched with

PTFE.

Unfortunately my OCD is growing with age, i hope that when i' ll be older still my body decadence

will divert me from this.

Regards

Roberto