First test of 552

Welcome to the forum, Manni.

If you search the forum for "552" you'll find a few threads in which other forum members have given their impressions. As far as I can remember the only complaint anyone has had against it has been the price!

Last week I briefly heard a 552/500/SL2, sourced by my LP12/Lingo/Ekos turntable - with a Rega Super Elys cartridge, which I currently have on trial.

Since I was not familiar with any of the Naim components I cannot give an opinion on the 552 in isolation but what I can say is that the system was remarkable in its ability to get the best out of the source. As far as I'm concerned, the days when the best systems threw a tantrum if not provided with the very best sources are long gone. The Naim set-up told the truth, good and bad, about the source without exaggerating its failings.

JD

Manni

Can you provide more info of the review?

quote:

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...the system was remarkable in its ability to get the best out of the source. As far as I'm concerned, the days when the best systems threw a tantrum if not provided with the very best sources are long gone.

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But Jeremy, this system was fronted by your LP12 -- you were therefore using a source which is among the very best. The turntable is surely the "source" here, since it is the primary transducer (mans power to rotary motion) -- cartridges are always secondary.

I'm sure it would have thrown a musical wobbly if you'd fed it with a Project, or something, even with the same cartridge. Glad it was good, anyway.

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)

I had some weeks ago a home demo with the Nac552, which were tested with Stereoplay. The result was overwhelming. The chain consisted LP12, Armag. Aro, Prefix, Ortofon status - Nac552, Nap500, SL2.

The current supply is very good with 10 qmm. The hifi rooms is square meter large 31. The acoustics are not bad.

First I could determine, which a separate Supercap for the Prefix leads to a clear degradation. Therefore the Prefix was attached directly to the NAC552.

High tones were shown with its correct tone qualities. Which can dissolve a Nac52 in this regard with a cello, the Nac552 makes with a triangle. With end one triangle constantly changes the tone. - never heard with the Nac52.
If an instrument stops, sound needs some time to stop in a hall. With the Nac552 hears one this. One gets so a good impression of the size of the hall.


One hears the quietest tones themselves if other instruments at the same time loud play.

With the Nac552 hears one each individual instrument - however otherwise absolutely nothing. These instruments sound correct. With the Nac552 is closer one with a life concert than with hifi. Which one with the Nac552 hears is music!

For two weeks has I my own Nac552. It put back only the half way from 52 to 552. Patience is announced.

And the SL2: they are better than my modified SBLs. I like the SL2s more than DBLs for chambermusic and jazz.

Ulrich

Hello Simon,

It is about 35 years ago, when i learnt english, so it is not easy for me to translate the german text of the review. But i will try a conclusion.

They heard the 552 with RCA-connections and a variety of poweramps. They did not mention,which source or speaker they used!The Naim 552 was compared with a Burmester 808 Mk5,Stereoplay's reference preamp, until now.

The sound of the 552 was described to be dramatically musical, best to be heard with voices (they heard Eva Cassidy).They also loved the extreme dynamics, the deep and powerfull bass and the ability of 3-D imaging. Only the highest treble was performed a little bit better by the Burmester.
As a conlusion, they wrote that the 552 is clearly the best preamp,they had ever heard and therefore the new reference-preamp of 'Stereoplay'.

I hope, this helps a little bit. In my opinion, the 552 would be even better, if they use DIN-connections for the source and a NAP500 as a poweramp.

Best wishes
Manfred Müllers

There is a website, but I can't find anything on it except for a picture of the front cover (Sept 02 edition).

John

Thanks for your summary Manni - Strange that stereoplay did not list the partnering kit used for the evaluation.

I think a couple of the uk mags will be running reviews next month.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark Ellis-Jones:
I'm sure it would have thrown a musical wobbly if you'd fed it with a Project, or something, even with the same cartridge. Glad it was good, anyway.

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Maybe.

I think my judgement was influenced by the fact that my own system (102/90/Kans) does seem to be throwing a musical wobbly as a result of introducing the Super Elys. So far, the Super Elys sounds far less expressive than my previous K9, and lacks tonal colour at mid to low frequencies [although the latter was not bothersome via the 552-based system].

However, I have only listened to 10 records, so far, which means the Super Elys is far from run in. Previous experience suggests that running in and changes to my system set-up could improve things enough for me to want to keep it.

Luckily, my dealer says I can use the Super Elys as much as I like over the next few days because it will be his demonstrator if I don't want it. Consequently, I'm going to give it the best chance I can to impress me.

JD

My dealer (who can be trusted) is emphatic that the Supercapped prefix eclipses the 552/Prefix (which eclipses the Hicap Prefix). He has discussed this with Roy George at Naim who agrees with him.

I use a 52.

I was invited over to my local dealer for a dem of the first production 552, brought by Paul Darwin.

The thing was fresh from production and 'cold'.

The 52 sounded incredibly inferior by comparison. It lacked bandwidth, clarity and pace, in spades.

One of my friends ordered a 552 there and then!

I'm just pig-sick; I can't afford a 552/500. A truly wonderful amplifier.

I really didn't need to read that.

Guys whose opinions you trust are few and far between here these days.

Drat drat and double bloody drat......

Bang goes having no mortgage...

Ah well it's only money (aint it funny when you want it you aint got it)

P

Don't beleave your dealer. A Supercapped prefix is much inferior to the 552/prefix. I would never sold my SCap if you are right.

Ulrich

Ulrich:

Thanks for posting your findings, Ulrich. Will you also replace your modified active SBLs with SL2s? Did you hear the SL2s active as well?

Paul

Ulrich/Bosh

Can you comment any more on the supercap Vs 552PS
for a prefix? what specific things does the 552PS do better in your opinion Ulrich? Are the differences in content or presentation?

I have tried the hicap to supercap upgrade on a prefix and it adds more control, detail and weight, is the 552ps more of the same?

Paul B and Simon
I will buy the SL2 in November. I will cancel on the modifications to my Sbl - my dealer will they accept only in original version. I hear the SL2s not active. I think that with the current Scap-Snaxo4 hardly improvements it is possible in relation to the passive version of the SL2.

"Can you comment any more on the supercap Vs 552PS for a prefix?"

Would you speak with a life concert of control, detail and weigh? - surely not, it is the difference between hifi and music.
The noise is additional smaller. One has the impression that the artists play directly before one.
Ulrich

quote:

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Originally posted by JeremyD:
So far, the Super Elys sounds far less expressive than my previous K9, and lacks tonal colour at mid to low frequencies [although the latter was not bothersome via the 552-based system].

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Is your 102 using the same phono boards used with the 552? They can take ages to warm up! If the 552 wasw using newer ones which were warm, that would account for quite a lot.

If you end up not liking the Super Elys, try a DV10X4 (unless you have already!).

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)

Ok Ulrich

In what ways do you consider the 552ps with a prefix more musical than a sc?

Mark Ellis-Jones: Is your 102 using the same phono boards used with the 552? They can take ages to warm up! If the 552 was using newer ones which were warm, that would account for quite a lot.

The turntable was connected to the 552 via a Stageline, which presumably is better than the inboard ones in my 102. Also [shocking confession] I have taken to switching off my amp at night! I left it on for several weeks last year, and was pleasantly surprised to find, after switching it off during a thunderstorm, that this ex demonstrator had not been fully burnt in!

If you end up not liking the Super Elys, try a DV10X4 (unless you have already!).


Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, the one I used for two years with my previous Ittok/32.5 proved to be one of my biggest hi-fi mistakes, so even though my dealer thinks I might change my mind about it given my current Ekos/102 I'm simply not prepared to take the risk.

I don't want to take over this thread, so I'm going to start a new one with a query on what to do...

JD

Hi,

here is what they said else:

Naim changed the power supply to split rails minus12-0-plus12Volts instead of 0-plus24Volts. Then they revised the layout and the component choice. Some transistors are thermally coupled, and the coupling looks similiar to that inside a NAIT5. At last there are big suspended brass plates under the main board and the relay switching board to eliminate the effects of vibrations.
The blokes doing the test wrote they tried the transport bolts tightened (the suspended brass plates cannot move then) and found the sound better after they loosened the bolts again.
They tested with CD only according to the preamp description. The frequency response showed that it went down from 40k like all the other Naim stuff, but it didn't went down in the bass as steep as usual. So I guess there are less capacitors in the signal path than with earlier Naim preamps.

regards,
Hartmut from Munich

My English is unfortunately not well enough, in order to describe music. Can you describe life music?
The Nac52 with Scap/prefix is outstanding. The Nac552 is however another class. With Scap/prefix and Nac552 one is again clearly closer to the Nac52. However the noise prevents, which one notices quietest tones.

Ulrich

Hello Simon!

I am not sure, whether there will be more rewiews, because stereoplay wrote, their rewiew would be a " world-exclusive-test ". Maybe Naim can tell us!

For me, it is better not to hear the 552, because at the moment i can't afford it.( I am very pleased with my 52.)

Best wishes

Manfred Müllers