Wot to do next?

If I had your system (I sort of did once, with a CDS3, 555PS, 252, 300) I'd save a little harder, bite the bullet, and get a used 552, which is also what I did. Yes, DRing the 300 would make a difference, yes SL leads would be good, and the 252 might be a little better than than 52, though I doubt you'd really notice, but the 552 will transform everything. Goodness knows whether it will give you all that Hifi stuff you mention, but what it will do is give you a level of communication with the music beyond your dreams. 

I will comment on S400s, since HH extensively covered the rest.
You are definitely not at a limit with them... Fantastic speakers, can handle pretty much anything. They are blindingly fast to respond to music changes - it would be difficult to find equally good speakers for the money.

As to SuperLumina: they simply disapear in the system.

Hello Mark,

I was at Midland Audio in Belbroughton last week having some work done on the LP12 and took the opportunity to look around and hear a few tunes.

I was listening (for longer than I realised) to some Boenicke W8 speakers and had I not just spent a considerable amount on having my SL2's repaired then I really would have put them on the home trial list.

John is a Naim dealer so will know how they would fit in with your system - he would probably replicate it in the shop except for the Ovators.

Maybe next weeks show will turn up some suggestions.

Ron

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had your system (I sort of did once, with a CDS3, 555PS, 252, 300) I'd save a little harder, bite the bullet, and get a used 552, which is also what I did. Yes, DRing the 300 would make a difference, yes SL leads would be good, and the 252 might be a little better than than 52, though I doubt you'd really notice, but the 552 will transform everything. Goodness knows whether it will give you all that Hifi stuff you mention, but what it will do is give you a level of communication with the music beyond your dreams. 

Good advice here.  

Lovely looking system can't comment on the 400s so in reality the only real upgrade is 552.  Don't demo if you ace no intention of buying!

Great system already. My advice would be a 552. Well worth it.

Regards,

Nick

I would support the 552 axis but what interconnect are you using on the NDS? If HiLine you could try an alternative here - applying source first logic. 

The logic is inescapable. 552

Thanks to all for your feedback, very much appreciated. I never imagined getting as far as I did, so maybe a used 552 should not be discounted. Looks like I need to get saving...

Ron - very interesting indeed, I must pay a visit to MAX soon.

Chris - I am using a hiline on the NDS.

When I upgraded the 300 to DR in my system (52/SCDR at the time) this was a huge change for the better. Getting a 552 (ex-dem) was about the same level of change, perhaps overall a little better, but not as good value. SL speaker cables and PLs all round then added a level of sonic upgrade similar to that which the DR had contributed, but at a higher cost than the DR bit.

The 300 DR bit is, in my view, the best upgrade of the 3, but not easily . And if you are inclined the 552 and SL cables will not disappoint.

I use S400 and with each upgrade they have stayed the course.

With NDX Hugo TT straight to 250DR the system sounds incredibly transparent and the S400 are revealing it all! (In a good way)

G

Mark430 posted:

I am using a hiline on the NDS.

It's worth trying a home dem - longish term ideally - of a Super Lumina interconnect and (my preference on my CDS3 in my system, but others of course differ) a Chord Sarum Super ARAY (or whatever takes your fancy) and see what you think. 

MDS posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had your system (I sort of did once, with a CDS3, 555PS, 252, 300) I'd save a little harder, bite the bullet, and get a used 552, which is also what I did. Yes, DRing the 300 would make a difference, yes SL leads would be good, and the 252 might be a little better than than 52, though I doubt you'd really notice, but the 552 will transform everything. Goodness knows whether it will give you all that Hifi stuff you mention, but what it will do is give you a level of communication with the music beyond your dreams. 

Good advice here.  

+2

I agree that a 552 is perhaps your best option.

Don't know what sale/trade in you'd get for the 52.

If it's beyond your means I'd go for the 300DR (£1495) conversion and Super Lumina speaker cables.

I don't have experience of the S400s, but on the basis of what I've read I suspect that in terms of the desired "outright extension in the bass" a change of speaker may be necessary: regardless of the whether they might be capable of giving more across the board than they do. Whatever improvements better amplification may bring, the speakers will always be limited by their physical capability which at the bass end would seem to be less than some other speakers, though of course it depends on interaction with your room. What effect changing speakers would have in terms of the other improvements sought would depend very much on the speakers chosen. 

Have you been listening to Titan's ?

Maybe a better solution overall, your amp is allready pretty good allthough I would have preferred 135's

552 can allways be added, other cables too, indeed those insane prices shown here, I'd wait untill some shift (back)

Hi Mark 430

Have you thought about a second 555dr on the NDS?

Trev

Mark430 posted:

Hi all, .......

 Recently though, I have started looking for more... Let's say more of everything but in particular, more prat, clarity, more agility and outright extension in the bass. I've done all I can with room treatment and mains....

NDS 555DR / 52 / olive SC / 300 / nac a5 / S400 / power lines/ Isoblue / dedicated mains cu/ room treatment 

Well, I think you've called it !

Your front end, is by no means weak, the 300 may not be as refined as the 300DR, but the bass should still be there.

Perhaps it's time to demo some Speakers within your environment !

Titans ain't Bad, but I think they're running about 20K !

If I recall, there is a Speaker Manufacturer that is familiar with Naim electronics, Focal !

Maybe you can give them a listen.

Allante93!

A few weeks ago attended a speaker demo and started the session with 282/SC and after a while swapped in a 252 - more refined, more resolution - and then having settled in with the Sopra 1s in went the 552 - complete and utter game changer.  A couple of guys that had dropped by to pick up some stuff just hung around. Breathtaking. 

Let's be sensible - no speaker will make the difference that a 552 will make. 

I am not a massive Ovators fan but I have heard the 400s with NDS/555PS into 552/500 and they really did sing. I don't think different speakers would achieve what you would get with a 552. 

Well summarised Allante!

One can spend as much time as one likes summarising what others have said but with no practical experience of one's own, and it adds virtually nothing. It's the experience of those who have, and have had, 552s that is actually useful. 

What we need now is for the OP to try some options.

Hungryhalibut posted:

One can spend as much time as one likes summarising what others have said but with no practical experience of one's own, and it adds virtually nothing.

+1 (although he does add lots of exclamation points !)