552 recap and DR

You will notice a big difference. Give it a few weeks to run-in as it may sound a bit lean and over-detailed at first, then the bass opens and it will be very nice indeed by week 3-4.

The 272 is very nice to rough it with in meantime.

DB.

My memory may be somewhat eclipsed. I had my 552 dred and serviced about two years ago but the difference was not earth shattering. It may well be that the improvement on the 552 due to dr upgrade would not pass through my back then already aged 500. In contrast the dr upgrade on the 500 last fall made a huge difference. So the noticeable impact of dring a 552 may somewhat depend on the status of the amp used. 

You know the 552 in good nick sounds pretty bloody good. Unless your whole system is dr I wouldn’t....

Everything is DR but the 552.  The 500DR is two years old.   Fingers crossed.

Sounds like a service and DR upgrade is the natural next step then, Skip.  I'm sure it won't disappoint you.

Had both of these done. 552 first and an improvement for sure. The 500 DR is the big one and a major change.  Both take time to settle but really  worth it.

Douglas.

Skip, do report back.  552 DR and CD555 DR are on my list.  Keen to hear what to expect.  I also have 2x 500s to do, but that is a significant investment, so will need to wait until they need a service too.

Back next week I hope.  272 is very nice but all my inputs are analog, so I have played the 555 only.  It does sound very good.

272 is old Tech now enjoy it....

i always Think that best way to asses an equipment is when  you downgrade Ruther than up.....

so any opinios on 552?

My 552 was DR from new, but my 500 is pre-DR, so my dealer is arranging to get a 500DR for me to listen to before I make the decision. The trouble is that I can't really justify both ND555 and DRing my 500. Whilst I use the NDS more than the LP12, a power amp upgrade would benefit everything (including the tuner, which I use a lot) whereas the ND555 would only benefit the digital source.

A first world conundrum.

I Dr' ed my  2012 500 last month. Definetely the best money i have spent. The difference is astonising. It's better in every area. You won't regret it.

Regards

Roberto

For me, 553DR and CD555DR must be about £2000 compared to £8000 for 2x500DR. And I would be without a system for the 500s, where as not with the other two. So I am really hoping to hear that the 552DR is very worth while!

Gavin

dring the 552 is worthwhile, definitely. Eventually you probably want all your amps dred as well. I found the dr upgrade more substantial though with my then passive 500 than with the 552. my only non dr unit at the moment is the 555psu. 

So the 552 is back with recap and DR.   I am playing the LP's I missed with the 272 and it sounds truly outstanding right out of the box.  Will keep you posted as it settles.

I know this sounds trite, but spending more in the Naim World always improves the sound. Judging whether it is worth the money is a personal decision. 

For me, I will make at least one more leap before I go, which will be ND555..........

It has been playing for 24 hours and sounding great.

As I understand it, between a new 552DR and a recap and DR of my old unit,  now back on its Fraim shelf, there is essentially no diference now, between my recapped and DR'ed 552 unit and a new one.  There have been no design or parts changes since it was created.   As I understand it, whatever little "tweaks" that have been added were also implemented by the Naim tech people at APS in my DR/Recap.  

I am not sure yet about the warranty but the new 552 is a nice uptick from the 272 on the inputs I value, CD and phono;  and my wife is just as happy with the streaming capability, native on the 272, and implemented on the 552 with an Airport Express and Nordost Heimdall 2 iKable with made to order mini to DIN connections.  She can stream her Pandora and Spotify and Sirius/XM apps from her phone and she is just as happy as she was with the bluetooth on the 272.

You may be right about the ND555, but I am not there yet.   I think my next project will be the "full loom", once my bank account settles.

Hi Skip,

Are you able to articulate the sonic changes on the 552 with/without the DR?  Is it a night v day difference (eg. 300 to 500) or a smaller increment (eg. Adding a high line)?

Reading this thread with much interest.

Gavin

I did a recap and a DR.  My unit is 2006 vintage.   I could not separate the two because they were done simultaneously.  

I heard the difference right out of the box.   It is premature to judge because the Superline-Supercap had been off for a month.  Everything appears to be positive.   The CD555 is just that much more vivid from top to bottom.  The multiple analog inputs leave the bare 272 and its single DIN in the shade.     Big compliments to Michel at APS (thanks for the prepaid UPS labels!) , and to Dale at Serious HiFi for helping me make this happen, walking me through the process, and providing the 272 loaner.

My wife is just as happy with the Airport Express via Nordost Heimdall 2 iKable into the 552 as she was with the iPhone streaming on the 272.    We are not really set up for big league streaming but we have not missed it, and I am nervous about the "help desk" calls with my business travel, so the Airport is easy to unplug and replug.

I would liken the upgrade to adding a Fraim to a multi-box system; much bigger than a Hi-Line.  The more boxes, the more benefit.   And much cheaper than a Fraim if you have more than five boxes.  

It really is a move from a great preamp to a newest version of the same great preamp.   I really appreciate the upgrade path within the same Naim family of products; I don't have that much time for audiophilia nervosa box changes, and Naim makes it as smooth and effective as it can possibly be.  

Everything sounds noticeably better.  To me, it is well worth the cost to know that you have the equivalent of a new 552.   I would love to hear a Statement someday, but that is clearly out of reach.

If you want to discuss further, do not hesitate to contact me offline.  My contact info is in my profile, on Central Time US.

Skip