Back in February I started a thread 'WHAT'S MY NEXT MOVE FROM A 52/500 SET UP?' to ask if there were any worthwhile changes advisable to improve my system. I think I knew at the time that the only truly substantial answer was to change 52 for a 552, but at just under £20k new and with me now semi-retired, I didn't think it was likely to be a financially viable option.
The forums' collective wisdom ( I thank/blame you all !) informed me that 552's could occasionally be found for less and I have today been able (not to mention fortunate enough) to find an ex-dem one at a still high, but just about doable price.
52/SC has gone, wafted by a thousand grateful kisses for its excellent 17years of service and on to a new owner to cherish. Musicless for a weekend, but I pick the 552 up on Tuesday. Can't wait...
thanks and curses to you all! Kevin
Posted on: 15 October 2016 by kevin J Carden
Thanks HH.
i decided against shims as I'd be spending a lot of time and effort to level it on the current support and then it would be wrong if I ever subsequently moved it to a flat surface... better to keep it perfectly true and make sure it rests on something that's also true.
I'm also curious to see if the shelf,ball,cup arrangement gets me part of the Fraim effect and positively affects the sound.
Posted on: 15 October 2016 by hungryhalibut
When I had a CDS2 and Isoblue shelving, I bought a Fraim glass and balls and it made a significant difference. The 552 is a very sensitive piece of equipment and I'm pretty sure you will get a good performance lift, good as the Hutter is. If it were me, I'd get the pukka set of glass and balls from your dealer. And don't forget the get the glass the right way up, and to polish your balls.
Posted on: 15 October 2016 by Chris Dolan
Yes it is 10mm and toughened saftey glass with 45% chamfered edges.
I took a piece of proper Fraim glass along with me to show them what I wanted and they measured it up - the dimensions were not quite the same as what I was expecting from information gleaned.
Also my glass matched the supplier's "grey" not their "bronze" toughened glass.
Posted on: 15 October 2016 by kevin J Carden
2 x Fraim Glass, bearings, cups and locators ordered from TomTom now.
Meanwhile, a small coil of offcut guitar string under one corner of each unit seems to have temporarily steadied the ships. A piece of a D string for 552 and A string for NDS !
