First day with 552

This sounds familiar. For me the 552 was a crossing over point. Material that hitherto I thought was challenging to listen to, made sense.  I’ve got some rough old stuff which now sounds magical because of the performance as opposed to the subjective sound quality. The only stuff my 552 doesn’t love is brick walled shit. But that stuff sounds fine on the office MuSo.

It’s difficult to know where to begin praising the 552. Maybe I’ll just go and wear it out some more

Ok - starting a saving plan now

I think that says it all Adam and the fact is that a 552 - at least in DR form - is out of reach for me so I'll sit back content in the fullest knowledge that what I have been fortunate enough to attain is in itself way beyond what I thought I would ever achieve.

Regards,

Lindsay

For me the beauty of this hobby (apart from the technical aspect and the music aspect) is that in every iteration of good upgrades, no matter how marginal they are one ends up thoroughly enjoying the result for a long time... I remember the NAC202 with the NAP200 setup I had, it sounded amazing to me (after it replaced my Onkyo receiver as the heart of music in my home), I was grinning every time I played music through it, then added a HiCap and a NAPSC to the mix and was again super impressed with the improvement, followed thereafter by a heftier upgrade to a NAC282/NAP250.DR, then later took the HiCap away and replaced it with a SuperCap.DR, finally SuperLumina speaker cables that bolted everything together nicely... Every step of the way I had a lot of satisfaction and never felt behind in anyway.

Thijazi, interesting journey. I share an almost similar upgrade path, starting with the NAC 202 / NAP 200 but settled with the NAC 282 / Hicap DR / NAP 250 DR. Although the NAC202/NAP200 replaced costlier amps in my system(Audio Research preamp and Plinius Class A power amp), the Naim amps gave me higher levels of listening pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed these amps for a good 5 to 6 years before going up the ladder. I still retain the NAC202 and NAP200 for a second system although I now have NAC282 / NAP250DR in my primary system.

It must be a very huge jump or improvement going from the NAC 282 to the NAC 552. I agree that every step of the upgrade will yield sonic improvements. Small or big they are equally enjoyable.

Enjoy the music.

Adam Zielinski posted:

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.

Some say that the Snaic should actually be spiralled around the Burndy (my dealer included) whereas others say the two cables should just run side by side.

Any thoughts, observations from fellow 252 users, much appreciated.

Sorry to the OP for the diversion, hope you don't mind and congratulations on the 552.

Adam, don't you dare go trialling a 552 and then come on here saying how we all absolutely must get one. I mean it!

I ran mine side by side. I didn't try any other configurations because the 252/300 sounded so good I thought it was best left alone.

ryder. posted:

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 listened to the 252 extensively over two-week periods twice.  I posted my impressions on both occasions. However, in summary, I found on We Are The Fallen, the emotional excitement of the performance had gone, and it t no longer gave me goose pimples; on AC/DC's live recording of Thunderstruck it didn't seem as if Brian and the band had their heart in it. The performance left me cold. On Eagle's live performance of Hotel California from the album Hell Freezes Over, when the kick drum cuts in it was a pale imitation of what I was used to with the 282.  

On your power amp question, I've never heard a 200 so can't advise there.  When I demoed a 250.2 against a 250DR and then a 300DR, while I though the 250DR a nice step up from the 250.2, the jump to the 300DR was a much bigger one. I was listening to Sopra2 speakers and they seemed to grow in size and power when the 300DR was plugged in. So I'd say the 300DR is a big improvement over the 250DR.   

Hope that helps, ryder. 

ryder. posted:

Thijazi, interesting journey. I share an almost similar upgrade path, starting with the NAC 202 / NAP 200 but settled with the NAC 282 / Hicap DR / NAP 250 DR. Although the NAC202/NAP200 replaced costlier amps in my system(Audio Research preamp and Plinius Class A power amp), the Naim amps gave me higher levels of listening pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed these amps for a good 5 to 6 years before going up the ladder. I still retain the NAC202 and NAP200 for a second system although I now have NAC282 / NAP250DR in my primary system.

It must be a very huge jump or improvement going from the NAC 282 to the NAC 552. I agree that every step of the upgrade will yield sonic improvements. Small or big they are equally enjoyable.

Enjoy the music.

Ryder - further to the questions you asked me about the 252 and then the 250DR v 300DR, looking at your post here where you describe your system, I think I'd be inclined to try a SuperCap before thinking about upgrading your 250DR to 300DR. When I demo'ed the 282/250.2 it took me about ten seconds of listening to the SC power the 282 as compared to the HC to decide I had to have a SC. The soundstage just expanded beautifully. In my view the 282 is capable of a wonderful performance when powered by a SC. 

Mike

A month into the upgrade, I can only say WOW, this was not an easy upgrade (cost wise) and one that took a while to wrap my mind around, but the improvement is incredible and keeps getting better, every music I play sounds bigger, richer, fuller, grander with detail I never even knew existed.. This is one amazing preamp... I wonder what it would have sounded like with a NAP500.DR versus the NAP300.DR ... But that is a separate project down the distant future :-)...

For anyone doubting this upgrade, GO FOR IT, it is worth every penny.

Wouldn't disagree with any of that.

Congratulations. The 552 is a tough act to beat and really great value......compared to Statement!!!!

i built my system around my 552. I know many advocate source first but in my book the 552 was the hub/heart beat of my system.

The 552.....one happy relationship for many years to come, enjoy!

thijazi posted:

A month into the upgrade, I can only say WOW, this was not an easy upgrade (cost wise) and one that took a while to wrap my mind around, but the improvement is incredible and keeps getting better, every music I play sounds bigger, richer, fuller, grander with detail I never even knew existed.. This is one amazing preamp... I wonder what it would have sounded like with a NAP500.DR versus the NAP300.DR ... But that is a separate project down the distant future :-)...

For anyone doubting this upgrade, GO FOR IT, it is worth every penny.

Stop it I say.......just......just......stop it.

And that goes for all of you with 552s! Coming on here tempting all us with weak wills. You know who you are!

nigelb posted:

thijazi posted:

A month into the upgrade, I can only say WOW, this was not an easy upgrade (cost wise) and one that took a while to wrap my mind around, but the improvement is incredible and keeps getting better, every music I play sounds bigger, richer, fuller, grander with detail I never even knew existed.. This is one amazing preamp... I wonder what it would have sounded like with a NAP500.DR versus the NAP300.DR ... But that is a separate project down the distant future :-)...

For anyone doubting this upgrade, GO FOR IT, it is worth every penny.

Stop it I say.......just......just......stop it.

And that goes for all of you with 552s! Coming on here tempting all us with weak wills. You know who you are!

Well,that's not me then Nigel 

thijazi posted:

A month into the upgrade, I can only say WOW, this was not an easy upgrade (cost wise) and one that took a while to wrap my mind around, but the improvement is incredible and keeps getting better, every music I play sounds bigger, richer, fuller, grander with detail I never even knew existed.. This is one amazing preamp... I wonder what it would have sounded like with a NAP500.DR versus the NAP300.DR ... But that is a separate project down the distant future :-)...

For anyone doubting this upgrade, GO FOR IT, it is worth every penny.

Lalala...lalala...horrible I'm sure it is.... lalala.... lala...not hearing this.

Oh great! I have a 300dr

Which is a superb match to the 552. There's only two other power amps in the world that might beat it in your system. That's a pretty lofty place to be. Not to mention superbly musical.

Nigel and Adam : Not guilty either m'lud. I wasn't there, honest!

Thijazi: Yes, isn't it just!

Dustysox posted:

nigelb posted:

thijazi posted:

A month into the upgrade, I can only say WOW, this was not an easy upgrade (cost wise) and one that took a while to wrap my mind around, but the improvement is incredible and keeps getting better, every music I play sounds bigger, richer, fuller, grander with detail I never even knew existed.. This is one amazing preamp... I wonder what it would have sounded like with a NAP500.DR versus the NAP300.DR ... But that is a separate project down the distant future :-)...

For anyone doubting this upgrade, GO FOR IT, it is worth every penny.

Stop it I say.......just......just......stop it.

And that goes for all of you with 552s! Coming on here tempting all us with weak wills. You know who you are!

Well,that's not me then Nigel 

Don't you go all innocent on me. I am sure I have heard you on here bang on about the wonderful 552 and how you have built your system around it. Well that is all very well for you guys. What about us? No more teasing and tempting. Enough is enough. I mean it!

kevin J Carden posted:

---

Nigel and Adam : Not guilty either m'lud. I wasn't there, honest!

Thijazi: Yes, isn't it just!

 

And as for you Kevin. I know you have got a 552 as well. I think thee doth protest too much. You know you are guilty of tempting us to spend too much on wretched pre amps. Don't deny it!

Drewy posted:

Oh great! I have a 300dr

Harry posted:

Which is a superb match to the 552. There's only two other power amps in the world that might beat it in your system. That's a pretty lofty place to be. Not to mention superbly musical.

I know which is why I might end up going down this route. You buy amps like these and they stay with you for many years which Is more unlikely with source components. 

I wonder if any future possible upgrade within my affordability matrix will make this much of a difference for me, I sincerely doubt the DAC upgrade would make a substantial bump (I tried the Mojo and the Hugo and was not blown away compared to the DAC-V1), the nDAC seems to me a step down rather than a step up (despite the price tag saying otherwise) and also not sure that the delta between the 300 amp and the 500 series provides such a large improvement as was the case with the move from the 282 to the 552 preamp....

Would be cool to try the totalDAC in my setup but that is asking for too much ;-)

I went a similar route.... 282 to 552dr with 300dr. The SL din to XLR is a significant upgrade, especially if you already have the SL speaker and interconnect cables.

Regards,

Nick

thijazi posted:

I wonder if any future possible upgrade within my affordability matrix will make this much of a difference for me, I sincerely doubt the DAC upgrade would make a substantial bump (I tried the Mojo and the Hugo and was not blown away compared to the DAC-V1), the nDAC seems to me a step down rather than a step up (despite the price tag saying otherwise) and also not sure that the delta between the 300 amp and the 500 series provides such a large improvement as was the case with the move from the 282 to the 552 preamp....

Would be cool to try the totalDAC in my setup but that is asking for too much ;-)

A maxed-out nDAC works for me, thijazi. I'm regularly impressed at what the 552DR/300DR shows that source is capable of producing. Also like Elkman70 says, the full SL loom shouldn't be ignored. 

Nope, that is something I plan to do soon, all my testing took place with the 282 in place (and with the NAP250), so now that both the 552.dr and the 300.dr are setup I will test the Hugo once more.... I will research to see if anyone has experience with the PS Audio DAC, I like their upgradeability.... Once again, I wish Naim where more clear about roadmap, would love to stick around to the new gen DAC (if any) from Naim.