2nd 555 psu or 52-135 olive system ? Help please

Posted by: rsch on 01 January 2017

Here we with New Year itch to scratch.

A coouple of days ago i found a '13 555psu DR for quite a keen price and i' d already formally agreed the purchase with the dealer.

However, Yesterday our fellow member Massimo B. and i, payed a visit to my very first Linn/Naim dealer. The main reason to go there was for Massimo to take a look at some pre owned loudspeakers.

Once there, our friendly dealer Mr. Sergio Pozzi ( I met him for the first time in Oct. ' 83 when i purchased my a Rega Planar 3 at the tender age of 19) demoed us a pair of TAD leviathan reference speakers, quite impressive especially with vinyl source. At some point our conversation led toward a 52/Supercap/135s olive combo he just received like part exchange. Its asking price is exacly the same as the 555. Later, Massimo and i thought that would be such a shame for me or him to miss such opportunity.

At this stage today i made a few considerations. The 555psu would be the icing on the cake for my 555CD, but the 52/135 would raise the bar by quite a margin in my second system, where at a later stage i' d like to increase the use of vinyl source Damn ! he also has a top spec LP12 combo for sale too, not latest generation but it's like mint condition and iconic slotted plinth) oh! i was forgetting, next Tuesday i have to collect a CB 250 to join 42.5/HC

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by Richard Dane

A nice NAC52, Supercap and 135s setup at a good price is hard to resist.

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by ianrobertm

The problem lies here - '....a '13 555psu DR for quite a keen price and i' d already formally agreed the purchase with the dealer'.

Same or different Dealer - to the 52/SC/135's.....?

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by bluedog

The 52/SC/135's is a formidable combination - particularly downstream from a high spec LP12. In idle moments I think about demoing a 552/300 system for comparison; but then I put on a record and lose the urge to do so. All of my Naim units have been serviced and refurbed in the last 5 years - you may want to check the position with those you're considering and take that in to account in the price comparison with the PS.

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by jon h

52 52PS 135s is better than supercap, because it has twice the capacitors (according to naim service, cos it costs more to service than a supercap, and they recommended not going SC route anyway on it if I didnt need an SC in the future). But you dont get the flexibility of using it as a supercap. But it wouldnt DR, so...

Love my 52/52ps/6x135s.

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by rsch

Richard Dane posted:
A nice NAC52, Supercap and 135s setup at a good price is hard to resist.

Hi Richard, indeed !

[@mention:1566878604014594] , No, different dealers.

555 dealer is the same who sold me the 500 and this psu was indeed partnering my present 555 CD i part exchanged this year, plus is the same vintage of the other 555 psu i purchased from new in 2013. So for my OCD i'd end with a 555 head and psu's of the of the same vintage.

The other dealer is one of the very first Linn/Naim dealers appointed here in northern Italy. It is also the distributor for Spectral and various hi end marques. Btw that olive boxes not to mention the LP12 are soo tempting.

Hi ALBA, no i didn't i 'm aware that not everyone like this but the majority seems to prefer it.

@j JON,

Really ? i thought it was the opposite.

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by Christopher_M

Hi Roberto, When are you (and Max?) going back to the dealers to hear LP12, 52, SC, 135s?!

Best, C.

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by rsch

Hi Chris, Happy New Year,

I don 't know yet .

He played, a couple of high resolution files through a strange Swiss preamp/streamer, MBL amp into TAD loudspeakers. This left me pretty cold. Then he played a vinyl with LP12 and another pretty expensive turntable, suddendly the music seemed much more alive so. In my opinion the LP12 showed a very Naim-like sound quality while the other one was more natural perhaps.

Btwi' d be better to stay well clear from certain hi fi dealers

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 01 January 2017 by Christopher_M

Ha! Thanks Roberto, and a Happy New Year to you as well.

Best,

Chris