NAP 500DR HI-FI News review

Thank you Tony - very interesting!

Seven weeks in, and still waiting for return of my NAP500 from its DR upgrade trip to Naim Towers........  Looks like they've become victims of their own success with all the DR upgrade work.

ATB. George.

My fault, George. Apologies as they have been busy fixing my humble streamer. Your 500 is next!

Wish there could have been some comparison to the non-DR version.

Yes, I feel it was a bit damning with feint praise.  No real relative comparison and 89% rating for sound quality. 

Thanks for the link Tony.I thought it was a very good review.As a long term regular reader  of HFN 89 % for sound is very high on their scoring scale.The 250 DR when I heard it at Naim Statement event sounded awesome.And better value for money then £20 000 for a 500 at retail the law of diminishing returns and all that.

What a poor, no information, review. It, basically, doesn't tell you anything about the amp or what it was used with. Even using Kylie as its test album, what more can I say?

Dont buy the mag for this review like I did, a total waste of money.

Tabby cat that is nice to know, can you explain in what context you heard the 250 DR compared to 500 DR what was the preamp and front end, which speakers?

Analogmusic,

The 250 DR was being used with a 552 DR and NDX and Focal Sopra 2' s and SL cables.

Then a 300 DR was tried which was impressive and a 500 none DR.

The 250 DR I thought sounded lovely with great transient bass slam and a nicely voiced soundstage.I once had a Chrome bumper 250 years ago and it's nice to see how the 250 has evolved with the new 009 caps.

I am waiting for Colloms' articles on Naim DR Technology and 300 DR SQ in the last issue of Hifi Critic to be posted on Connection.

While the first article is more a reflection of a presentation given in Salisbury on DR Technology and NA009 in November, it starts with an interesting prospect on the effect of negative feedback on SQ. The second article should be another acclaim for the 300 DR.

Chag -

thanks, how would you compare the 300 DR and 250 DR?

I personally think my 282.hcdr.250dr is all the amp I could need....

Of course 552/500 is awesome, but then...as you said, diminishing returns bite?

aThe Listener posted:

What a poor, no information, review. It, basically, doesn't tell you anything about the amp or what it was used with. Even using Kylie as its test album, what more can I say?

Dont buy the mag for this review like I did, a total waste of money.

At the first sight in fact, it does not tell much about the rest of the chain

About raw figures, as far as i can remember in their previous review of the 250DR  this one, scored really well with a 8 ohm output of 94 watts and 176 on 8 and 4 ohm respectively.

It seems that the 500 is more  tuned for finesse and refinement like it has always been, than sheer power.

I remember the first Italian review on Suono magazine in June 2000, they compared it like a Nait 1's much bigger brother than an evolution of the classic series.

Power figures were 142 w on 8ohm and 231 on 4ohm if this matter for someone.

Regards

Roberto