Another 552 owner

Congratulations Simon, you know I could have saved you a bundle of Cash!

If you only would have held on to that 282, until a sweet heart of a deal came through, for a 552!

Well it's only Money, you cant take it with you!

Ok, give us the 252/552 Spill!

====================================

That’s three of us buying 552s from unearned income. Me and CM from inherited money and now Simon from a bitcoin windfall. I wonder if anyone buys one with hard earned cash? To me the money was unexpected and somehow didn’t feel real so was easy to spend, there were also a few reminders of mortality over the last few years which helped nudge the decision. I can’t say I have any regrets about spending it on a 552 though.

Hi Yeti, well I look at it as speculative investment income which I did have to work quite hard (trade between Cryptos) to make it grow sufficiently in the time.. it became quite stressful once I set myself the goal and am glad that is now over    . However I use such speculative investments only  for discretionary spend.. yes if I kept it invested it will probably be worth 10x that in a years time by just leaving it alone, but also could also be worth nothing such is the nature of highly volatile investments. I feel I am best extracting amounts out each year so one is not stung for CGT... however what is the point if you can’t enjoy it (and in my case help my family too)  and its not every day you get the opportunity to buy a new 552 which  makes it all the more enjoyable when you can ... glad you are enjoying your 552 too.

Congratulations Simon lovely piece of kit for Christmas I am sure it will bring you much musical joy.

Hi Allante, oh boy for me there was a huge step between 282 and 252... possibly more so than there has been so far between 252 and 552 ... but my 552 is still running in... it would have missed out so much not having had my 252 over the last recent years.... it’s a cracking NAC... but each step up the ladder gives you something else to enjoy in your music...   of course it helps having a helpful dealer when trading up your Naim as well. Interestingly as you go up the ladder used prices seem to hold better, as there are less items in circulation but a healthy demand.... so a fairly recent used 252DR appears to command a good used price.

What about your affection for your CDX2. How is that sounding now with the new pre ?

yeti42 posted:

That’s three of us buying 552s from unearned income. Me and CM from inherited money and now Simon from a bitcoin windfall. I wonder if anyone buys one with hard earned cash? To me the money was unexpected and somehow didn’t feel real so was easy to spend, there were also a few reminders of mortality over the last few years which helped nudge the decision. I can’t say I have any regrets about spending it on a 552 though.

I bought mine, admittedly an ex-dem model, with earned income. I do not 'do' investments.

I see a 300DR on the horizon...

Enjoy your 552 Simon 

Nick from Suffolk posted:

yeti42 posted:

That’s three of us buying 552s from unearned income. Me and CM from inherited money and now Simon from a bitcoin windfall. I wonder if anyone buys one with hard earned cash? To me the money was unexpected and somehow didn’t feel real so was easy to spend, there were also a few reminders of mortality over the last few years which helped nudge the decision. I can’t say I have any regrets about spending it on a 552 though.

I bought mine, admittedly an ex-dem model, with earned income. I do not 'do' investments.

Yes, same here. But I find, once I've decided on something expensive, I no longer have qualms. Having been with a good friend as he entered hospital for the last time, clutching just his sponge bag and a book, I'm a great believer in spending on what you enjoy, whilst you can.

A very sobering moment, I can imagine. I had better go and exercise my flexible friend.

tonym posted:

Yes, same here. But I find, once I've decided on something expensive, I no longer have qualms. Having been with a good friend as he entered hospital for the last time, clutching just his sponge bag and a book, I'm a great believer in spending on what you enjoy, whilst you can.

Indeed Tony - once you set your mind on a goal it removes any qualms you may have... i guess as for most it takes varying amounts of time to reach a goal - if you did have second thoughts you have plenty of time to change your mind... but then as I said earlier - if you can.. why not  enjoy it whilst you can? 

TOBYJUG posted:

What about your affection for your CDX2. How is that sounding now with the new pre ?

it has never sounded better - just been enjoying some Bob Dylan - and his voice sounds more full and less forced than I seem to have remembered. I was also listening to some Deadmau5 and my ATC cones were really pumping. The deep bass performance difference between the 252 and 552 is really very noticable.

Sounds like the 'WOW' moment is still to come. With my serviced 552 it took months and months (nearly 5 to be exact) before I had that 'WOW' moment. When it really starts to work the subtleties it exposes are truly breathtaking. 

I look forward to it... that’s not to say I am not enjoying those grinning moments now..

Excellent stuff Simon.   Enjoy. 

Simon, over recent times you have on occasion suggested that the 552 was possibly not as great as the huge praise on here would suggest. You have mentioned that you have heard the 552 sound good and not so good depending on the set up. The feeling I got was that you questioned the VFM of the 552 but I will admit that you also gave the impression of having an open mind on the subject.

Assuming my assessment of your previous views of the 552 is about right then clearly something has happened more recently to prompt you to splash out on a new unit. I assume you had a lengthy demo or two that would have moved you towards a purchase from a position of not being convinced previously. It would be interesting to hear about the process you went through that culminated in the purchase from what appeared to be a rather ambivalent view of the 552.

Nigel, I didn’t have a lengthy home demo on this occasion although I felt I was quite familiar with the 552...however my dealer did say if for what ever reason I was not satisfied I could return... he and I have known each other longer than my adult children have been alive and probably knew it was a safe bet...

Now I do think some of the hyperbole spoken about the 552 on this forum is ridiculous .. it’s good, well excellent in fact , but all within reason... and the 252 isn’t a million miles away.. but clearly it is in the next league down understandably so... 

Welcome to the 552 club Simon. Enjoy... you will have many many hours of discovering previously unheard nuances in your music collection.

james n posted:

I see a 300DR on the horizon...

And a NDS.. 

Chag  -

Thanks guys, the NDS was not the best for me... but you never know, there might be a newer version at some point in the future that tempts me.... for me the Hugo is still the one to beat.... audio just simply sounds so enjoyable from the Hugo through the 552. I was listening to one of my recordings last night of Aida and The March of the Hebrew Slaves... and the musical resolution was delightful. The 300DR might be more likely... let’s see how my remaining speculative investments go... it will take a bit of time...

Dave, you are right, that is one of the  enjoyable consequences of a major system change, rediscovering your recordings...

I’m fighting with myself - received a fantastic offer for an ex-demo 552 (still eye-watering expensive ) or 282....
This would slot in place of my SN2 which now runs with a HiCapDR and 250DR...

Tempted...

Hmmm must be tempting....

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Thanks guys, the NDS was not the best for me... but you never know, there might be a newer version at some point in the future that tempts me.... for me the Hugo is still the one to beat.... audio just simply sounds so enjoyable from the Hugo through the 552. I was listening to one of my recordings last night of Aida and The March of the Hebrew Slaves... and the musical resolution was delightful. The 300DR might be more likely... let’s see how my remaining speculative investments go... it will take a bit of time...

Dave, you are right, that is one of the  enjoyable consequences of a major system change, rediscovering your recordings...

Aren’t the Hebrew Slaves in Nabucco? Maybe they are moonlighting in Aida?

Adam

you know the answer to your question, but for reassurance search this forum for anyone that regrets buying a 552

i bought my pre-loved 552DR a month ago replacing a 52/52PS

you will find the following amongst others 

an extra level of detail

a massive level of air and space, your speakers will seem much much bigger and that’s no mean feat to make DBLs seem bigger

Probably the biggest gain is the naturalness, instruments and voices are much more aligned with seeing a live performance 

and lastly involvement, the 52 was the pinnacle of the so called PRAT, you will find a whole new dimension of this with the 552

as the chap I bought the 552 from said as he purchased the S1 “you only get one shot at all of this “

if someone else snaps it up, how much will you regret not buying it

lyndon

lyndon posted:

Adam

you know the answer to your question, but for reassurance search this forum for anyone that regrets buying a 552

 

lyndon

 

I have two friends (members of this forum) who recently ditched or are about to ditch their 552s, opting for simpler set-ups, one of them ending up with US made amplification that the wife likes much better. Of course, that doesn't prove anything but highlights the point that it all comes down to individual choices and taste.