Naim NAC 52

Pev posted:

I went from 82/SC to 52/SC and was underwhelmed - it was better in some ways but not that much. I was much more impressed with going from 250 to 135s. Maybe mine wasn't to top spec although it had been serviced.

My experience of going from 282/SCDR to 252/SCDR is that the latter is very fussy about setup. I had to upgrade my racks to use Naim isolation glass, cups and balls. I also had to get the boxes well separated with longer legs and took the opportunity to get the 300DR Burndies off the floor and likewise the DIN XLR without relying on pipe insulation. 

The 282 sounded much better as well. The 252/SCDR is actually quite awesome ???? when given the opportunity to perform. I’m sure 52 can be also. I found even more excitement in the 252 than the 282. It reveals more.

Phil

I have done the 82/Hi vs 82/Super vs 52 comparison maybe 20 times in different systems. The 52 is much, much, MUCH better than the 82, regardless of what is powering the 82. Speakers used were as diverse as Sonus Faber Extremas, passive Tukans, active Tukans, DBLs. 

I found there was a much bigger improvement going from the 82 to 52 than there was from a 102 to the 82. 

The 82-52 change for me was also more significant than the 52 to the 552-which I also did. 

It is years ago since I moved through the 82 --> 82+S/C --> 82 +(2xS/C) --> 82 + S/C

--> 52 + S/C

However, the move to the 52 + S/C was the most significant improvement and by a fair old margin.

The improvement was across all inputs - vinyl, CD, Aux, Tuner etc

Make sure the 52 is a late model, or budget for modifications and a service in addition to the purchase price.

A no-brainer IMHO.

Hi

From my experience moving from 32.5/hIcap both recently serviced at Class A and fitted with all the latest revision NAIM Cards feeding active SBLs (NAC A5) via CB NAP250s all serviced recently, the move to 52/SC was mind blowing. The 52 has  POTS7 and revision 3 on the main 521 board.

I couldn't go back I would be missing out on too much soul and life in my music. The 52 just removed a thin veil of mist over everything. Don't get me wrong I was more than happy with my 32.5; it gave me an amazing listening experience. It's just that you don't miss what you've never had!

Move to a 52? A no brainer IMHO.

Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc.

Should arrive Friday and I will see how it compares pre-service to the 82 (recently serviced). Then the plan is to get it serviced and see how much better it sounds after that. If it is the improvement some have described will move the 82 on. Otherwise will just re-sell it.

Will report in due course.

tiggers55 posted:

...Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc....

Very nice, a late one.

Richard Dane posted:

tiggers55 posted:

...Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc....

Very nice, a late one.

Yes and thanks for the link to the revision history, it was very useful.

tiggers55 posted:

Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc.

Should arrive Friday and I will see how it compares pre-service to the 82 (recently serviced). Then the plan is to get it serviced and see how much better it sounds after that. If it is the improvement some have described will move the 82 on. Otherwise will just re-sell it.

Will report in due course.

I suspect your mild scepticism is based on a handful of lukewarm appraisals of the 52 in response to your question. Everybody hears things differently but I would predict that out of the box the 52 will sound better than the 82 in all respects but particularly in terms of musicality.  If it does need a service the sound will be very significantly better than an 82 with which ever  power source you care to chose. Enjoy.

Ron Toolsie posted:

I have done the 82/Hi vs 82/Super vs 52 comparison maybe 20 times in different systems. The 52 is much, much, MUCH better than the 82, regardless of what is powering the 82. Speakers used were as diverse as Sonus Faber Extremas, passive Tukans, active Tukans, DBLs. 

I found there was a much bigger improvement going from the 82 to 52 than there was from a 102 to the 82. 

The 82-52 change for me was also more significant than the 52 to the 552-which I also did. 

Your comments re the 52 to 552 are interesting.  Ive avoided listening to a 552 for years in case I decided it was indispensable

Good luck with your 52. I’ve had several Naim pre-amps, including 282 and 252. The 52 with my now serviced 135s are where I am sticking. No plans to change despite the rollercoaster ride the 135s gave me post service. Now everything has settled down and the 52/135s are making wonderful music again.

Peter

Pedro posted:

Good luck with your 52. I’ve had several Naim pre-amps, including 282 and 252. The 52 with my now serviced 135s are where I am sticking. No plans to change despite the rollercoaster ride the 135s gave me post service. Now everything has settled down and the 52/135s are making wonderful music again.

Peter

Love the Olive sound so hopefully this will be more of the same only better. It's feeding active 135s that I just recently had serviced and have now settled down nicely.

For what it's worth I am not really sceptical of the 52 upgrade per se, but always listen with my own ears before deciding on any piece of equipment so why should this be any different?

SCap followed by 52 is definitely on my watch list....but then I suppose the spare 102, 82, NAXO & one of the HCs will have to go .

OTOH,  SWMBO will be pleased to see reduction in “box count”

tiggers55 posted:

Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc.

Should arrive Friday and I will see how it compares pre-service to the 82 (recently serviced). Then the plan is to get it serviced and see how much better it sounds after that. If it is the improvement some have described will move the 82 on. Otherwise will just re-sell it.

Will report in due course.

Was that one of the 52s currently/recently on that well known auction site?

Nice!

Suzy Wong posted:

SCap followed by 52 is definitely on my watch list....but then I suppose the spare 102, 82, NAXO & one of the HCs will have to go .

OTOH,  SWMBO will be pleased to see reduction in “box count”

Statement would get you to 3 boxes. That must be worth a try. 

More seriously if you were watching the Olive Supercap that went on the auction site a week ago, sorry, it’s now on my 82. Soon it’ll head down to Sheffield for a service, I’ll keep my Hicap until,then.

The SCap in Yorkshire? Yes, I was keeping a not-too-serious eye on it .

Well grabbed!

Is it replacing two HC? Would be interested in your thoughts.

I’ve already attempted the 3 boxes Statement argument.....the response was fairly succinct - a word of two letters, in fact

Over the years, I have owned an olive Nait 2, Nait 3, NAC 72, NAC 82, and NAC 52. I enjoyed all of them, but I have to agree that the 52 is in a different league compared to it's stablemates. The biggest jump in performance is from a 72/82 level preamp to the 52. It's a "hi-fi gone, and music arrives" kind of thing. Everything is better with the 52, but the caveat is you must have capable sources. At the end of it all, I still have the Nait 2 and the 52/250. These are the keepers for me...

BB 

some interesting views - 82 or 282 with SC seems to be close to a 52 for some people,  but for others not so.

Suzy Wong posted:

The SCap in Yorkshire? Yes, I was keeping a not-too-serious eye on it .

Well grabbed!

Is it replacing two HC? Would be interested in your thoughts.

I’ve already attempted the 3 boxes Statement argument.....the response was fairly succinct - a word of two letters, in fact

I replaced a single Hicap, it was a big step up, better control at the low end, ability to listen with clarity at lower volume levels, overall everything is more “right”.

Suzy Wong posted:

I’ve already attempted the 3 boxes Statement argument.....the response was fairly succinct - a word of two letters, in fact

That made me laugh!

Suzy Wong posted:

tiggers55 posted:

Well, I've just bought one. A 2001 52 with original packaging, remote etc.

Should arrive Friday and I will see how it compares pre-service to the 82 (recently serviced). Then the plan is to get it serviced and see how much better it sounds after that. If it is the improvement some have described will move the 82 on. Otherwise will just re-sell it.

Will report in due course.

Was that one of the 52s currently/recently on that well known auction site?

Nice!

Yes and no, it was on there a few weeks ago and didn't sell, the price then dropped but the seller was marked as away, when I looked at the seller details it was a Naim dealer in Scotland so called them up, had a good chat with them and bought it. It comes with a Supercap, but will just move that on as already have one that has been recently serviced powering the 82.

The Nac 52 just  smokes an 82 and the 282. Make sure you have a good rack to put it on and a hiline is in the mix. I found powerlines to upset the pRat in my olives, so I’ve gone with the original power cables. I’m not a big DR fan so be very careful if you are considering DRing the SC imo.

If it was me I’d keep the 52’s supercap and move the serviced one on. After serviceing the boxes it will take months for it to settle in, like at least 3 and that’s  powered on the whole time! You won’t regret  going down this path. It’s a jaw dropping pre amp combo that just gets better and better. An absolute gem ????

SL2 speakers next stop mate????

OK have done lots of A/B testing between the 82 and 52, (Supercap is missing with Parcelforce so can't do anything with that yet, but going to hang on to my serviced one anyway as it's well on the way to being run in and will be good for years to come). Have to say the 52 is quite a revelation, I'm not good at describing sound with words, but the key difference is the sound is more smooth and relaxed yet at the same time more expansive... it's like the system has more dynamic headroom if that makes sense and is just more effortless in its presentation. Interestingly the least difference is with vinyl (Gyrorbe/RB330/Ania), but the CD2 and the crappy ;-) Macbook/DAC-V1 sound much better through the 52. I am not sure whether to get the 52 serviced, the 82 definitely improved after a service, but this sounds so good already I may just leave it for now. Time to sell the 82

SL2s are indeed the next and last stop I think.... finding a pair is hard work though!

Alba1320 posted:

^ Good to hear that the 52 is to your liking!

From what you say, perhaps it's time to get a 'decent' turntable? (kidding!)

And a CDS would be nice, too. (not kidding!)

Haha re. the turntable. Used to have a fully specced LP12/Ekos/Archiv, but just wasn't using it so sold it... then missed vinyl so bought a design classic in the Gyrodec..... it actually sounds rather good, but was the least improved of my 3 sources with the 52. It is only for playing my old vinyl collection though so will be fine. Now a CDS..... hmmmm. Have wondered about the CD player... should I look to a CDS or something even newer... I know it won't match the olive aesthetics, but have an AV2, V175 and DAC-V1 already in there so that doesn't matter to me too much.

Happy memories, I moved from an Arcam transport with Deltec PDM1 dac to the CDS, the sound was gorgeous by comparison.....but a lot of pennies at the time.

Alba1320 posted:

Talking of the CDS, I notice that Naim still have a picture of the CDSII, when referring to their first CD player (1991 The CDS CD Player) in the 'Our Story' part of their website! 

So do I take it that the CDS is better than the CDSII ... in your opinion of course.