Upgrade path advice

Consider a nice pre-owned 552 : )

Yes indeed, a used 552. For speakers that work by the wall, some SBLs for £800 or SL2s around £2,000 will do the job nicely. 

Not sure if you can find a 552 for <=£5k, but if you can fine.

Otherwise a S.Cap + infinite/sealed box speakers for close to wall siting.

This type of speaker is not as common as ported speakers. Have a look at the ATC range.

Smash the budget for a 552 

252 would be an improvement, but you'd need a SuperCap too.
So... I will join the chorus: go for 552 - it already comes with its own PS

There is a 552 somewhere for sale (non dr) for 9k. It's a lot but a 252/supercap would be more than 10k new.

Thanks for the interesting and helpful suggestions so far. A used 552? Sounds like a nice Christmas present for myself! But what sort of price are we looking at? But then I'd have no money (for a while) for speakers. Also, much as I like them, Shahinian Super Elfs would not 'match' well with system based around NDS/300/552.

I will also look at ATC range of speakers, as suggested, but I was also contemplating PMC (Fact 8) or Kudos, although have not had a serious listen to any.

You'll always be advised to go 552 on here.

If you go to a dealer and ask for ex-demo stock trading in your 282 and hicap you might be pleasantly surprised.

The other option is to sell them yourself and pick up a s/h 552. The fishy place is your friend.

Speakers are so room dependent and if you had a 552 in your system you could spend a while making sure you bad ones that suited your room.

SJB

I would also take a listen to the new Dynaudio contour c20 or c30,all reviews are very positive so far.

AndrewG posted:

...Shahinian Super Elfs would not 'match' well with system based around NDS/300/552.

Why do say that? My dealer says Shahinians tend to make digital sources 'listenable'.

C.

I'm happy to stick with Isoblue, but I suspect your system might be happier on full Fraim. Nothing against the suggestions above, but just another option to consider.

Consider a pre-owned 552 or go for the 252. You have the surrounding system which owes a better pre-amp to really come to it's fullest potential.

good luck and fun, upgrading and exploring is always a lot of fun...

theres nothing wrong with your excellent speakers and a 552 will show them off to their best. before my sonus faber i ran a 552/300 with IBL MK2.

regards

The 552 would be favourite even with super elfs but even used its a budget buster.

5k will be mostly swallowed up by a supercap which could be the first step to a 252 but that needs an audition as it's not just a better 282 by all accounts.

A set of full fat fraim (don't bother with lite at your level) would swallow a good portion of your 5k and might even be worth it but I'm not that familiar with isoblue.

If a 552 is a possibility, even in a year or two, aim for that. It will make the best of everything else, including the elfs.

What would you do with a supercap if you eventually get a 552? Mine powers a superline but you'd have to sell it on.

I went 282/hi/250 then a supercap and a few years later a 552, which I'd never expected to afford.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I was budgeting about £5k for speakers plus an additional amount for new 252, or other preamp. Maybe I should look for replacement preamp first and then look for speakers later on. Being old, and rather old fashioned, I am wary of buying secondhand except from a dealer. To afford a used 552 I'd be looking at one several years old and perhaps with more than one owner. I would be rather wary of spending £10k on a used 552, as I would buying a used car with several owners and Unknown history. 

Time to get auditioning Try a supercap against a hicap on the 282 and then a 252. There must be a dealer nearby who can lend you a supercap and 252 even if he has to borrow one from Jason at HQ. Don't hear a 552 if it's not an option.

A new pair of Proac D30R's could be had for around 5 grand (assuming we are talking GBP here). I had a pair in a room of similar dimensions to yours, used with similar gear and they were sublime. Bottom ported, so they work quite well in smaller spaces.

AndrewG posted:

Thanks for all the replies so far. I was budgeting about £5k for speakers plus an additional amount for new 252, or other preamp. Maybe I should look for replacement preamp first and then look for speakers later on. Being old, and rather old fashioned, I am wary of buying secondhand except from a dealer. To afford a used 552 I'd be looking at one several years old and perhaps with more than one owner. I would be rather wary of spending £10k on a used 552, as I would buying a used car with several owners and Unknown history. 

It's not like a car though, is it? It's not been driven about, maybe well, maybe not. It's just sat on a rack passing electrical signals, and is almost impossible to damage internally. Just call Naim with the serial number to check any history and that it's not stolen and it will be fine. 552s come up quite often. I bought one second hand and it was perfect. I then sold it and it was still perfect. Both trades were done with large bundles of used twenties. 

Pretty much echo what others have said in terms of a 552 and will happily share my 552 purchase experience if it helps put your mind at rest.  My dealer mentioned he would be rotating his demo 552 (DR) earlier this year and I asked him to give me a price including p/ex for my  252/Supercap.  I have been the very happy owner of said 552 since May and it cost me less than the 10k suggested here; as an ex-dem unit it came with the balance of the Naim warranty and was mint because my dealer looks after his kit.

It also made a far bigger difference to the system (NDS, 2x555DR, 300DR) than any change of speaker would have!

The 252 divides opinion though I liked what it did; having said that, the 552 is in a wholly different league and if you think it might be on the cards at some point, I would skip the 252 and go for it if you possibly can.

Cheers,

Ian

Many thanks for all the suggestions, advice and reassurance about buying used.  I will perhaps start making a large stash of used notes for a 552! I do have good local dealers so will be able to arrange trial of various items before making any decisions re power supply/preamp. Changing speakers is more difficult and should probably wait until I've sorted out the electronics. I do like my Shahinians a great deal, but still have a feeling that I could do better, albeit perhaps not without spending a lot of money.

I expected that Fraim would be suggested by forum members as I am well aware how well it is regarded here. However Isoblue works well for me and scores in terms of appearance, size and price over Fraim. Also it's rather difficult to compare the sonic benefits of Fraim v Isoblue v other supports recommended on here. I read Wenger2015's lengthy post on this a few months ago, so am aware what a painful process it can be. I will probably stick with what I have for now.