DR' ed 500

Congratulations, no doubt as it settles in it will keep on improving, keep us posted 

I don't know if I'm coming to listen to it.... Every time I visit you and listen to your 500 system I feel a perverse urge to spend a lot of money on better equipment, for days.

M.

Nice pictures - you are increasing my appetite for the upgrade....

Excellent! I like the fact that you get new rear panels with a proper DR logo and not just a stuck on badge - that's a nice touch. Does the 500PS also get the DR treatment?

Incidentally I called in to see my Naim dealer at the weekend to try to arrange a couple of auditions, one of which is 500DR vs. 500nonDR. I want to hear the comparison before I commit to the upgrade. It would be nice to have that audition at the same time as the demonstratin of the ND555, so that I can decide where to prioritise my investment, but I don't think that's going to be possible. The advantage of the DR upgrade is of course that all sources would benefit.

Enjoy the new amplifier.

Max_B posted:

I don't know if I'm coming to listen to it.... Every time I visit you and listen to your 500 system I feel a perverse urge to spend a lot of money on better equipment, for days.

M.

' Morning Max,

You're welcome, you can eventually stick with the basement system 1 with Sats which is really huge fun as well.

R.

Clive B posted:

Excellent! I like the fact that you get new rear panels with a proper DR logo and not just a stuck on badge - that's a nice touch. Does the 500PS also get the DR treatment?

Incidentally I called in to see my Naim dealer at the weekend to try to arrange a couple of auditions, one of which is 500DR vs. 500nonDR. I want to hear the comparison before I commit to the upgrade. It would be nice to have that audition at the same time as the demonstratin of the ND555, so that I can decide where to prioritise my investment, but I don't think that's going to be possible. The advantage of the DR upgrade is of course that all sources would benefit.

Enjoy the new amplifier.

Hi Clive,

The DR label on the rear panel is actually a sticker as is the one on my 552 which was probably one of the very first built at the factory using existing old panel, on the contrary its origina packagel  sports the DR nomenclature.

The 500 psu as well is rebuilt with DR regulaturs, while the head unit has now   "Statement like" power devices.

Another brief listening session yesterday night confirmed my first impression of a more "flowing" less edgy presentation along with better control on bass.

Regards

Roberto

I'm about 3-4 weeks in with my DR'd 500 and it still continues to improve. I can't get over the clarity and realism it brings over the stock 500. It is simply amazing! I was playing and old Bob Dylan album the other night on my LP12 and it had everyone in the house spellbound.

Thanks Roberto. Nice pics.

Good to hear some common-sense 'it sounded great/better fresh outta the box' (as my DR'd 500 did). But .................... there is much more to come.

I reckon it's without doubt, the big kicker from Naim's DR-upgrade stable. You have many happy hours of listening ahead.

John.

rsch posted:

Clive B posted:

Excellent! I like the fact that you get new rear panels with a proper DR logo and not just a stuck on badge - that's a nice touch. Does the 500PS also get the DR treatment?

Incidentally I called in to see my Naim dealer at the weekend to try to arrange a couple of auditions, one of which is 500DR vs. 500nonDR. I want to hear the comparison before I commit to the upgrade. It would be nice to have that audition at the same time as the demonstratin of the ND555, so that I can decide where to prioritise my investment, but I don't think that's going to be possible. The advantage of the DR upgrade is of course that all sources would benefit.

Enjoy the new amplifier.

Hi Clive,

The DR label on the rear panel is actually a sticker as is the one on my 552 which was probably one of the very first built at the factory using existing old panel, on the contrary its origina packagel  sports the DR nomenclature.

The 500 psu as well is rebuilt with DR regulaturs, while the head unit has now   "Statement like" power devices.

Another brief listening session yesterday night confirmed my first impression of a more "flowing" less edgy presentation along with better control on bass.

Regards

Roberto

I thought the DR upgrade is done only on the head unit and not on the PS. Do correct me if I’m wrong.

It is indeed just the head unit that’s DR’d. Though the service to the PS includes a new thermal block mount as well as the new caps, fan control wire assembly, a few screws (and logo!).

Nick Lees posted:

It is indeed just the head unit that’s DR’d. Though the service to the PS includes a new thermal block mount as well as the new caps, fan control wire assembly, a few screws (and logo!).

Hi Nick,

Hopefully my dealer will clarify if I'm sufficiently impressed to go ahead with the upgrade, but do you mean it's mandatory to have a service performed at the same time as the DR if the PS updates are required too? My amp and PS were serviced just 18 months ago.

I think you' ll be fine with the DR upgrade alone.

Regards

T

Roberto

rsch posted:

I think you' ll be fine with the DR upgrade alone.

Regards

T

Roberto

Thanks, Roberto.

Clive B posted:

Nick Lees posted:

It is indeed just the head unit that’s DR’d. Though the service to the PS includes a new thermal block mount as well as the new caps, fan control wire assembly, a few screws (and logo!).

Hi Nick,

Hopefully my dealer will clarify if I'm sufficiently impressed to go ahead with the upgrade, but do you mean it's mandatory to have a service performed at the same time as the DR if the PS updates are required too? My amp and PS were serviced just 18 months ago.

I originally sent the 500 back because of a fault, then decided to send the 552 back as well for servicing, then went for the full service and DR for both (and I ended up with three new Burndies).

So I think you can just do the DR. 

The expense was ouchsome, but my goodness the results are wonderful (and in the interim the NDX has gone to 4.6).

Luckily my 552 is already DR from new.

It’s curious that in the case of the 552 it’s the power supply that gets the DR treatment, yet in the case of the 500, the power supply does not, only the head unit. 

Clive - I seem to recall reading something about the 500 PS being manufactured with first generation 'Discrete Regulation' technology from the start; and that's why. Other contributors might be able to confirm/expand?

John.

Indeed, a few years ago the 500 went back home and I asked if it could be DR’d and they said it already was (this was before the amp bit could be).