552 DR upgrade cost and 'recovery'?

As far as i recall £1750 DR upgrade, £538 service if done at the same time.

enjoy

ken

When I had my old 552 DRd and serviced last year I don't remember any significant sound changes after it arrived back. So I don't think there's much, if any, running-in needed.

However, because it was away several weeks I can't say whether there was an improvement in the overall sound compared to before.

Roger, this is something I am considering too (once by SNAXO SC is upgraded).  How long have you had your 552? For me I would be wondering if the service is at all due.   

rjstaines posted:

Can anyone help?   What's the cost of the 552 DR upgrade and (if you know it) the cost of a service done at the same time?  (in the UK, please)

Thanks for your help.

Roger

 

 

Roger,

We share the same excellent dealer...................if you haven't already done so, talk to them, and you may be pleasantly surprised, as I was, that a brand new 552DR, (with a five year warranty), is maybe a better option. 

Dave.

"or does it come back from Salisbury sounding wonderful straight away?"

Yes it does.

Go for it Roger, and enjoy half as much again of that 552 magic. The sound of course blossoms further as the weeks and months pass, but I had a big smile on my face from the first couple of notes I heard on my newly DR'd 552.

John.

Gavin L posted:

Roger, this is something I am considering too (once by SNAXO SC is upgraded).  How long have you had your 552? For me I would be wondering if the service is at all due.   

My 552 is of 2009 vintage.  I've had it 3 years now, (bought from my dealer 'pre-loved', or second hand as I prefer to say).

So at 7 years old, it doesn't need a service, but two things prompt me:

1.  It's going to be away a few weeks - let's get the pain of being without it over all at once.

2. Once serviced it'll be good for another 10-15 years, and there's as much chance of me upgrading to Statement as there is of winning the lottery, so the 552 is here to stay.

3. The reduced cost of a service when done with a DR upgrade is attractive  (in fact anything that's £'reduced' is attractive)

And finally, if serviced = like brand new... I'm wondering what a brand new one sounds like (it was 4 years old when I acquired it).  OK, I know this isn't a real reason.

Roger

J.N. posted:

"or does it come back from Salisbury sounding wonderful straight away?"

Yes it does.

Go for it Roger, and enjoy half as much again of that 552 magic. The sound of course blossoms further as the weeks and months pass, but I had a big smile on my face from the first couple of notes I heard on my newly DR'd 552.

John.

...what John said... 

enjoy

ken

rjstaines posted:

Can anyone help?   What's the cost of the 552 DR upgrade and (if you know it) the cost of a service done at the same time?  (in the UK, please)

And then what's your experience of the 'recovery' time it takes for a newly DR'd 552 to achieve its peak musical performance?  Is it like running in a brand new one, or does it come back from Salisbury sounding wonderful straight away?

Thanks for your help.

Roger

 

 

I had my 552 serviced and DR'd in August 2013 at the following costs.

NAC 552 service          £346.56    

552PS service          £490.42

552PS DR upgrade          £1750.00

Plus carriage to and from Salisbury. Hope this helps Roger       

Graham Russell posted:

When I had my old 552 DRd and serviced last year I don't remember any significant sound changes after it arrived back. So I don't think there's much, if any, running-in needed.

However, because it was away several weeks I can't say whether there was an improvement in the overall sound compared to before.

Graham

Perhaps I am misunderstanding something so can you please qualify your post.  I read it to mean that you did not detect any significant upgrade from DR'ing your 552.  In other words you did not find the DR upgrade to be worthwhile?

Best

Gregg

Gavin L posted:

Thanks, I think mine is around the same vintage. Not sure I will go for the service if there is another 5+ years. For me, I can switch in my old 52, which would be interesting in its own right. Be interesting to hear how you get on.

BTW - Did you consider SL as an alternative?

> On 14 Feb 2016, at 09:07, Naim Audio Forums <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I have SL interconnects for the NDS & LP12 and also have SL speaker leads.  At the moment I have din to XLR (552 to 500) in both SL and Chord STA on dem trying to choose between them.  The STA is winning hands down (or more to the point, soundstage wider and deeper), but what I read about the SL starting off 'flat' (what I'm hearing) but coming on song after a few weeks is making me wonder whether I should be more patient before returning one of the cable sets to my dealer.

This whole DR scenario started when someone mentioned SL links for speakers rather than the supplied links... that progressed to a bi-amping trial with a NAP500 and a NAP300, but that was a major disappointment, so we progressed to the idea of using the available interest free credit to fund a 552 DR, resolving to try bi-amping again when I can afford an additional NAP500 rather than the 300 I was dem'ing.

Life is never simple.

Anyone else buy the wrong sort of chocolates today?  (Feb 14th)

Roger

rjstaines posted:

Gavin L posted:

Thanks, I think mine is around the same vintage. Not sure I will go for the service if there is another 5+ years. For me, I can switch in my old 52, which would be interesting in its own right. Be interesting to hear how you get on.

BTW - Did you consider SL as an alternative?

> On 14 Feb 2016, at 09:07, Naim Audio Forums <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I have SL interconnects for the NDS & LP12 and also have SL speaker leads.  At the moment I have din to XLR (552 to 500) in both SL and Chord STA on dem trying to choose between them.  The STA is winning hands down (or more to the point, soundstage wider and deeper), but what I read about the SL starting off 'flat' (what I'm hearing) but coming on song after a few weeks is making me wonder whether I should be more patient before returning one of the cable sets to my dealer.

This whole DR scenario started when someone mentioned SL links for speakers rather than the supplied links... that progressed to a bi-amping trial with a NAP500 and a NAP300, but that was a major disappointment, so we progressed to the idea of using the available interest free credit to fund a 552 DR, resolving to try bi-amping again when I can afford an additional NAP500 rather than the 300 I was dem'ing.

Life is never simple.

Anyone else buy the wrong sort of chocolates today?  (Feb 14th)

Roger

 

Oops!!!

Not the wrong chocolates, but I know new boxes from NAIM are at the wrong end of the spectrum in terms of "wife appeal". I am surprised others have not mentioned what must be one of the biggest benefits of SL: they can be added with obviously changing anything!

The "recovery" of our 552 after DR took a long time. It sounded superb right out of the box and it kept changing subtly and positively for the best part of six months. Just when we didn't think it could get any more realistic, transparent and tonally convincing, it did. Just a bit. I expect I imagined it.

Gavin L posted:

Not the wrong chocolates, but I know new boxes from NAIM are at the wrong end of the spectrum in terms of "wife appeal". I am surprised others have not mentioned what must be one of the biggest benefits of SL: they can be added with obviously changing anything!

I was going to say "Surely you wouldn't..." and then I remembered that's just what I've done.

Luckily she doesn't read this forum (as far as I know).

Harry posted:

The "recovery" of our 552 after DR took a long time. It sounded superb right out of the box and it kept changing subtly and positively for the best part of six months. Just when we didn't think it could get any more realistic, transparent and tonally convincing, it did. Just a bit. I expect I imagined it.

I suspect you didn't Harry !

glevethan posted:

Graham Russell posted:

When I had my old 552 DRd and serviced last year I don't remember any significant sound changes after it arrived back. So I don't think there's much, if any, running-in needed.

However, because it was away several weeks I can't say whether there was an improvement in the overall sound compared to before.

Graham

Perhaps I am misunderstanding something so can you please qualify your post.  I read it to mean that you did not detect any significant upgrade from DR'ing your 552.  In other words you did not find the DR upgrade to be worthwhile?

Best

Gregg

Gregg

I obviously don't have good "music memory" compared to others. But because the upgrade and service and DR upgrade took several weeks I honestly couldn't detect a significant improvement. If I'd heard the two side by side then I'm sure I would have. The pre-amp sounded great when it came back. My comment is simply that I didn't remember the previous sound well enough to say how much better/different it was.

I hope this helps

Graham

Graham

Thank you for the reply. 

While this thread is going does anyone else care to post some thoughts on the degree of improvement yielded by the DR upgrade to the 552?  I vaguely remember there being mixed impressions back when it was announced and the first completed units went back to their owners. 

My 552 just hit the 10 year mark.  Theoretically 500 series units are good for 15 years before needing a recap. Curious to know if the DR is really worth it when I eventually tackle the recap.

Best

Gregg

If feelings were mixed then you're going to get a mixed response. Ours were wholly positive. Clarity, transparency, tonal accuracy were improved to a degree that justified the cost for us. Only your ears will be able to tell you if it is justified for you. Perhaps a demo is in order?

Harry

Even though I am just outside of NYC a demo is short of impossible. Dealer inventory of Naim products is a bit woeful here. Easier to fly over to my friend in Leicester - only a 5 hour "car" ride!

Even in the UK I doubt anyone has a non DR 552 side by side with a DR version. 

It has been a while however I do seem to remember the verdict was mixed early on in the feedback. 

Opinions however on the DR amps seem to be universally positive. 

This kind of scenario was going through my head when I posted. Some of us are more fortunate than others with dealer and equipment access.  If you have a good relationship with a good dealer and own a non DR 552, a home demo side by side should be relatively straightforward. Past that your ears are on their own.

It will be a gamble. I don't think it will come out bad but that doesn't give you any guarantees.  We don't buy on the recommendations of others and therefore we wouldn't expect anyone else to. In all seriousness, if you are happy with your lot I would stick with non DR - even at service time. Why introduce an unknown? Problem is that I've heard what the upgrade does, as have many of us.  I think you'd be missing out. But that's just what I think. I don't have your room, system or ears.

Again, of no direct help to you but for information, we will get the 500 DR'd on spec and are waiting for a slot. That's how much we believe in what the transformation will bring us.

glevethan posted:

Graham

Thank you for the reply. 

While this thread is going does anyone else care to post some thoughts on the degree of improvement yielded by the DR upgrade to the 552?  I vaguely remember there being mixed impressions back when it was announced and the first completed units went back to their owners. 

My 552 just hit the 10 year mark.  Theoretically 500 series units are good for 15 years before needing a recap. Curious to know if the DR is really worth it when I eventually tackle the recap.

Best

Gregg

Hi Gregg,

I hope life is treating you well and the weather is behaving itself there.

DR'ing the 552 is a biggie. As I said before; I reckon one gets about half as much again of that 552 magic. Or just cut your losses and get Peter to bring you one of those upright thingies!

Good listening.

John.

rjstaines posted:

Gavin L posted:

Thanks, I think mine is around the same vintage. Not sure I will go for the service if there is another 5+ years. For me, I can switch in my old 52, which would be interesting in its own right. Be interesting to hear how you get on.

BTW - Did you consider SL as an alternative?

> On 14 Feb 2016, at 09:07, Naim Audio Forums <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I have SL interconnects for the NDS & LP12 and also have SL speaker leads.  At the moment I have din to XLR (552 to 500) in both SL and Chord STA on dem trying to choose between them.  The STA is winning hands down (or more to the point, soundstage wider and deeper), but what I read about the SL starting off 'flat' (what I'm hearing) but coming on song after a few weeks is making me wonder whether I should be more patient before returning one of the cable sets to my dealer.

This whole DR scenario started when someone mentioned SL links for speakers rather than the supplied links... that progressed to a bi-amping trial with a NAP500 and a NAP300, but that was a major disappointment, so we progressed to the idea of using the available interest free credit to fund a 552 DR, resolving to try bi-amping again when I can afford an additional NAP500 rather than the 300 I was dem'ing.

Life is never simple.

Anyone else buy the wrong sort of chocolates today?  (Feb 14th)

Roger

 

I've done the Din/XLR comparison between SL and Chord STA several times now (552/500, 552/300DR and 552/300) and on each occasion the STA has been much preferred.

In your position, you might find it interesting to add a set of ChordMusic into the mix as, price-wise, they're not too much more than SLs, iirc. The difference they make though is simply huge.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave,  that's very interesting indeed about the S/L vs STA... I was thinking it might be just me

I'll have a look into ChordMusic too, not that my dealer has mentioned it, so very probably doesn't have it (and maybe even doesn't want it if Chord don't do sale-or-return to their retailers*).

Roger

*PS - and at £3,800 for the din-xlr, that'd explain why he doesn't have a dem pair