First day with 552

Congratulations, Tareq

I followed a similar journey, though I had already replaced my 250.2 with a 300DR.   Having tried and rejected the 252 twice, I agonised hard and long about the step to the 552.  I put off even listening to it. An the even, after a two-week home demo, I continued to worry about whether I could could justify the substantial investment but eventually took the plunge on the basis that 'you only live once'.  

Mine sounded excellent from the off and I found the run-in period fairly even and modest (I had no bad sounding days) and then just as I thought it was properly run in there was a sudden and very nice leap at the end, around 12 weeks, when the 552 really came on-song.  

Enjoy.

Mike 

Wow, 12 weeks! I thought it would take it 2-3 weeks tops to be properly run in... It sounds so good cold and on day 1, I am glad this will get better even if slightly....

My dealer said it would take about 5 days to properly warm up and about 12 weeks to properly run in.  I found he was right on both counts. After 5 days the very detailed but somewhat clinical presentation changed to very detailed and rich.  The effect of the run-in period I find hard to put into words. If this makes any sense, I'd say the change is one of impressive Hi-Fi into impressive music.

So if you think the 552 sound good now you've got , you've got a a real treat in-store.  

Mike

If anyone ever needs someone to run their 552 in for them just bring it over!

MDS posted:

Congratulations, Tareq

I followed a similar journey, though I had already replaced my 250.2 with a 300DR.   Having tried and rejected the 252 twice, I agonised hard and long about the step to the 552.  I put off even listening to it. An the even, after a two-week home demo, I continued to worry about whether I could could justify the substantial investment but eventually took the plunge on the basis that 'you only live once'.  

Mine sounded excellent from the off and I found the run-in period fairly even and modest (I had no bad sounding days) and then just as I thought it was properly run in there was a sudden and very nice leap at the end, around 12 weeks, when the 552 really came on-song.  

Enjoy.

Mike 

 

The NAC 252 did not cut it for you on the NAP 300DR?

The 552 is leaps and bounds better than a 252, as it should be for the difference in cost.

I had a 252 for a while. The switch to 552 , with the same 250.2, was and still is the biggest upgrade I  have heard from a single box swap. Fantastic pre !

ATB,

Mark

varyat posted:

The 552 is leaps and bounds better than a 252, as it should be for the difference in cost.

I had a 252 for a while. The switch to 552 , with the same 250.2, was and still is the biggest upgrade I  have heard from a single box swap. Fantastic pre !

ATB,

Mark

 

understand by chance you think your amp played a role into the sound...instead of say you had a 300DR/500DR

Well, my 552 must be eight years old, and it's still not run in yet!

(OK, might have made that up).

I certainly wouldn't regard the V1 DAC as an "entry level source" Taraq. It's a fine DAC in it's own way, preferred by one or two forumites to a Hugo. Glad to learn you're already enjoying your 552, it's a purchase you'll never regret.

Very well done THIJAZI! I may not be very far behind you. Now, don't wait too long before taking another plunge to NDS/555DR..

Chag -

tonym posted:

Well, my 552 must be eight years old, and it's still not run in yet!

(OK, might have made that up).

I certainly wouldn't regard the V1 DAC as an "entry level source" Taraq. It's a fine DAC in it's own way, preferred by one or two forumites to a Hugo. Glad to learn you're already enjoying your 552, it's a purchase you'll never regret.

Sorry, spelt your name wrong Tareq.

greekspec2 posted:

MDS posted:

Congratulations, Tareq

I followed a similar journey, though I had already replaced my 250.2 with a 300DR.   Having tried and rejected the 252 twice, I agonised hard and long about the step to the 552.  I put off even listening to it. An the even, after a two-week home demo, I continued to worry about whether I could could justify the substantial investment but eventually took the plunge on the basis that 'you only live once'.  

Mine sounded excellent from the off and I found the run-in period fairly even and modest (I had no bad sounding days) and then just as I thought it was properly run in there was a sudden and very nice leap at the end, around 12 weeks, when the 552 really came on-song.  

Enjoy.

Mike 

 

The NAC 252 did not cut it for you on the NAP 300DR?

 

Never tried the 252 with the 300DR, greekspec2.  I twice had a 252 on a 2-week home trial to try against my 282/SC/250.2. Although I found the 252 more detailed and subtle than my 282, on rock music it seemed to suck the excitement from the music so twice I rejected the 252 and stuck with my 282.  A number of contributors on here suggested I try the 552 but I wussed out.  Late last autumn I tried the 300DR and 250DR against my 250.2 and was hugely impressed by the 300DR.  I very much enjoyed my 282/SCDR/300DR combination and then early this year I finally gave in and demo'ed a 552DR.  It's not just another step up from the 252 (and 282), it's a whole staircase.

Mike  

Congratulations, you will be up for a nice journey with some running in bumps. With regards to your concern on the quality of the source. The 552 will make any source sound at it's best. So just enjoy what you have, in due time you can then decide for the right time to upgrade or just be happy with what you have.

greekspec2 posted:

varyat posted:

The 552 is leaps and bounds better than a 252, as it should be for the difference in cost.

I had a 252 for a while. The switch to 552 , with the same 250.2, was and still is the biggest upgrade I  have heard from a single box swap. Fantastic pre !

ATB,

Mark

 

understand by chance you think your amp played a role into the sound...instead of say you had a 300DR/500DR

What I am saying is that the power amp remained as a constant, same one. Only the pre was changed with all other variables remaining the same. I'm fairly certain that I would have heard the same scale of improvements if using a 300DR/500DR..probably more so .

ATB,

Mark

MDS posted:

Never tried the 252 with the 300DR, greekspec2.  I twice had a 252 on a 2-week home trial to try against my 282/SC/250.2. Although I found the 252 more detailed and subtle than my 282, on rock music it seemed to suck the excitement from the music so twice I rejected the 252 and stuck with my 282.  A number of contributors on here suggested I try the 552 but I wussed out.  Late last autumn I tried the 300DR and 250DR against my 250.2 and was hugely impressed by the 300DR.  I very much enjoyed my 282/SCDR/300DR combination and then early this year I finally gave in and demo'ed a 552DR.  It's not just another step up from the 252 (and 282), it's a whole staircase.

Mike  

Can you describe, in brief, in what ways the NAC 252 sucked the life or excitement from rock music and how these music sound more appealing on the NAC 282? FWIW I listen to a fair bit of rock and find the punch and dynamics of the NAC 282 to be excellent.

Also, how big of an improvement is the NAP 300 DR over the NAP 250 DR when these two amps are matched to the NAC 282? Is the degree of improvement larger than say going from an NAP 200 to the NAP 250 DR? In short, is the difference between the NAP 300 and 250 in their DR guises a big one or rather a small but appreciable one in your system and to your ears?

I'd be interested to read that too from a curiosity point of view, for me my newish 252DR makes rock and heavy blues come alive with emotion, timing and power... my 282 was great, but not at the same level, and just did not get that authentic feel right. Perhaps it's a synergy thing?. I use ATC speakers and CDX2 and Hugo source... A very  trusted musician buddy of mine, who has his own recording studio, agreed with me.. in fact he was bowled over with how The Wall sounded on my  252DR setup..

Agree about run in/warm up on 552DR... to my ears can sound quite clinical but very detailed until fully warmed up... but ultimately once there it does its business .. enjoy.

And for those with the 252 make sure the Burndy and leads are set up right and not strained  .. it can sound quite off when not done so.

Enjoy the 552 Tareq - it is a wonderful piece of kit which has a unique ability of being able to show up subtle differences but also always show things at their best  - highlighting the good without over emphasising the weaker points 

Congrats Tareq!!!

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

And for those with the 252 make sure the Burndy and leads are set up right and not strained  .. it can sound quite off when not done so.

Great reminder! This is the second thing I check after ensuring that all my mains do not cross any other cable within less than one inch.   

Chag -

Now this is a thread I did not want to read, but could not bring myself to ignore.
Congratulations and enjoy the music Tareq!

I was naively hoping / deluding myself that this madness of upgradiatis will stop () and the beast is now awake again.

On the 282 vs 252 debate - moving from 282 to 252 was one of the best upgrades for my ears. 252 seems to have restored the balance to music.

Chag... posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

And for those with the 252 make sure the Burndy and leads are set up right and not strained  .. it can sound quite off when not done so.

Great reminder! This is the second thing I check after ensuring that all my mains do not cross any other cable within less than one inch.   

Chag -

Anothe piece of advice with regards to 252 cable dressing - try running the SNAIC as close to the Burndy as possible. Don't know why but it works.

Absolutely. I believe that this is what Simon and I meant. The only exception of avoiding any cable to be in contact with another cable indeed is with the 252 Burndy and SNAIC. It is well known that the 252 is particularly sensitive and requires both cables to run as close as possible. I coincidentally touched upon this in another thread this morning.  

Chag -

Well it only goes to prove what a little prima donna the 252 really is!!

Congratulations Tareq and best wishes with it. I was convinced the first time I heard a 552 (with a 500) at a Naim event. But I would not have bought it without a home demonstration. I'm glad it paid off for you.

I ran a 552 with a 300 for a year or so and was delighted every time I listened to it. It's very nearly like having all the HiFi taken away and music installed in its place. The "nearly" bit covers the 500 contingency. You don't need one. I didn't need one. I still don't need one. But I have one and it's worth every penny.

I'm sure the 552/300 will keep you happy for as many years as you want them to. If curiosity starts to itch I would look at alternative sources. Never mind USB or uPnP and all than stuff. It's the music that matters. You won't know what your amps are truly capable of until you hear something like an NDS on them.  And it will do USB if you insist on it.

But for now, have fun. 

Very true about the upgradiatis, the gremlins in my head will inevitably start humming the "what would it be like with a 500!".. But for now I am a happy puppy... And it is true, this time when I listen I found myself not looking at the quality of the sound but really feeling the music like never before... Have to admit, I was a huge skeptic that the 552 can make that much of a difference and could not fathom the difference in price but after splashing the hard-earned cash I can say it makes a hell of a difference for sure...