2 quick questions on Nac 552

StuSaff posted:

Good evening.

2 quick questions, which i would appreciate some comments on.

1) would you pair a nac 552 with nap 250.2 in vinyl only setup 

Ans.: Yes. I had a 552/250.2 with a vinyl source, though probably not the equal of yours.

2) just how good is the 552? What sort of sound characteristics does it have

Ans.: Deeper, wider soundstage than the 282 I had (good as it was). Greater definition/clarity as you would expect given the cost.

many thanks

Stuart  

 

 

The 552 isn't like HiFi. It doesn't really sound of anything but transparent realism. 

A 300 lets a 552 off the leash and a 500 allows it to truly do its magic. 250 isn't good enough IMO, but you have to start somewhere. I find the 250 too coloured and unfocused to take seriously and I would worry about a 552 letting all that sludge through. But if you like what the 250 does a 552 will let come all the way through and give 100%.

Harry posted:

The 552 isn't like HiFi. It doesn't really sound of anything but transparent realism. 

A 300 lets a 552 off the leash and a 500 allows it to truly do its magic. 250 isn't good enough IMO, but you have to start somewhere. I find the 250 too coloured and unfocused to take seriously and I would worry about a 552 letting all that sludge through. But if you like what the 250 does a 552 will let come all the way through and give 100%.

Unless I'm mistaken the source sends signal to the 552 and then the signal is sent to the 250 and then on to the loudspeakers. Ergo any "sludge" would come from the source component, not from the 250. Source first and all that. So I would surmise that a 250 and 552 would work just fine as long as the speakers don't need a lot of power.  Not that a 300 or 500 wouldn't be better. 

Maybe im wrong? I use only Olive naim so what do I know? David 

StuSaff posted:

Good evening.

2 quick questions, which i would appreciate some comments on.

1) would you pair a nac 552 with nap 250.2 in vinyl only setup 

2) just how good is the 552? What sort of sound characteristics does it have

many thanks

Stuart  

 

 

Here's two quick answers to your two quick questions Stuart:

1)  Absolutely YES.   Pair a 552 with just about any amp and you'll hear the amp at its best.

2) It's jaw-droppingly good... really;  this was my reaction first time I played mine.  And sound characteristic? ...none.  It lets your source through as close to unaltered as you can get.

If you have the opportunity to aquire one of these, grab it with both hands, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I ran my 552 DR with a 250-2 for a year before succumbing to the temptation of a well used 500. There were no glaring flaws revealed in the 250 and I've never regretted the move from 282 to 552. The character of the 282 is highlighted when you compare the two. The 552 gives you much more nuanced dynamics, tone and particularly timing. The 282 is a bit kraut rock in comparison.

So long as the NAP250.2 is in peak health then using it on a 552 is just fine and dandy.  My own 250.2 went rapidly off-form after 8 years and sounded a bit cloudy and leaden.  A full service at the factory brought it back to life again. And Indeed, I have run a 552 with everything from a pair of 10w monoblocs, through the sweet and sassy little NAP110, right up to a NAP500.  At no time was the NAC552 anything other than a great sounding pre-amp.  

davidf posted:

Harry posted:

The 552 isn't like HiFi. It doesn't really sound of anything but transparent realism. 

A 300 lets a 552 off the leash and a 500 allows it to truly do its magic. 250 isn't good enough IMO, but you have to start somewhere. I find the 250 too coloured and unfocused to take seriously and I would worry about a 552 letting all that sludge through. But if you like what the 250 does a 552 will let come all the way through and give 100%.

Unless I'm mistaken the source sends signal to the 552 and then the signal is sent to the 250 and then on to the loudspeakers. Ergo any "sludge" would come from the source component, not from the 250. Source first and all that. So I would surmise that a 250 and 552 would work just fine as long as the speakers don't need a lot of power.  Not that a 300 or 500 wouldn't be better. 

Maybe im wrong? I use only Olive naim so what do I know? David 

Yeah. I should have taken more care with the phrasing.

Let's say that I would be worried that a 552 would be diminished by all the sludge a 250 is capable of mixing into the presentation.

Thanks all, that's very helpful. The NAC 552 does seem (from reading through many posts) to be held in very high esteem, looks like an "life time amp" !

Yes. A few S1 owners aside.