Supercap DR or 555PS? Which would you upgrade first?

Ask a dealer to demo the options to you.  Views will differ and only you can judge. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Lindsay - that's true but I am just looking for general views. Ultimately, I will have to do a home demo to simulate exact conditions with only the Supercap or 555PS being the only variables. 

555PS. Source first. The Supercap is a step to a 252. But if a 552 comes up, it's no longer needed.

I moved from XPS2 to 555PS  -- a big upgrade. A second 555PS is even better.

Thinking a step ahead again if you do the supercap you will then be looking at a 252  at a later time. Beware of that one, I didn't like it. It all depends on where you want to end up and how much you ultimately want to spend by the time you're done. You need to consider that  

I think I'd be wanting to go for the 555 to get the source complete and leave the 282 as it is for now. In the future maybe skip the 252 altogether and go for a second hand 552. 

555PS (DR if you can) will be the better option. SCDR only if you aim to, as others have said, target a 252 or add Superline at a later stage. The 555PS upgrade to the source is very noticeable even with 282. I had 82 olive SC and when 555PS (non DR) was added to my old CDX2II it was Woooweee!

I had exactly the same dilemma. Then I have upgraded my NDS first by adding a 555PS and it was a very nice improvement to my system. After a while changed HC-DR for SC-DR in my  282/HC-DR/250 amplification and the change was 'much smaller' in my case soundwise. I would not like upgrande to 252 and I feel that - while SCDR is slightly 'better' than HCDR - in this  282 based system HCDR was just right  for me. So imho if you want step over 282,  HCDR/SCDR upgrade makes sense if you stick with 282 long term it does not.

Of course these are my experience others could judge otherwise.

I  agree for the 555PS --that makes the lift sonically when inserted a no brainer

D41

Richard - I can't see your profile from my smart phone.  Do you have more than one source in which case you potentially get greater benefit from the SC.   

Suprised no one has mentioned that you really need 2 555s for the NDS!  But I see your route to the 552 has been worked out!

Good luck!

Lindsay, I just have one source. Err...2 x 555? Let's start with one first.. heh.

I've done both and each was a significant improvement. It really depends on your long term aims. If you intend to upgrade the 282 then supercap would be the way to go. In a straight test the 555dr on the nds would probably win out. I had a 282 with super cap nds and 555 dr and it was superb on active 250s. Upgrade to552 has been remarkable.Your thinking is fine and you will be happy with either upgrade.

LFCJohn posted:

I've done both and each was a significant improvement. It really depends on your long term aims. If you intend to upgrade the 282 then supercap would be the way to go. In a straight test the 555dr on the nds would probably win out. I had a 282 with super cap nds and 555 dr and it was superb on active 250s. Upgrade to552 has been remarkable.Your thinking is fine and you will be happy with either upgrade.

Yes the 552 is amazing but there would be a Supercap to get rid of then. That's why I say go with the 555

I have a 282/HCDR and was curious what SCDR would add to my system. A bit relieved to know that 282/HCDR is quite well balanced. This has been the feedback from quite a few forum members now who tried 282 with HCDR and then SCDR, maybe not the best use of money.

At NDS/XPS2DR level, I guess a NDS/555 is really optimal, and NDS/555 does sound superb to my ears.

Looking at internal pictures of XPS and PS555 tells the story. I would want a PS555 if I had an NDS !

Nobody has mentioned cables though...? I'm not talking about third party cables, but maybe superlumina is an option in this context?

One thing I have experienced with since 2010 with Naim is that source is the place to put money, nobody really regrets that.

Any goodness or improvement in musicality really has to come from the source, all else downstream can only pass the message (damaging it the least) , so to speak, but that message comes from the source.

Why would you choose 282 over 252?

I've owned both and the 252 is far superior.

Regards,

Oh no it's not��

Oh yes it is.

(This could go on a while!)

It's behind you!  (me)          Sorry!

The 252 is more expensive could be a reason for choosing a 282.

I did the demo of various caps and digital ps. CDX2/282/250, speakers were Kudos C2, my own speakers were Thiel CS1.6. The 555ps came home with me but If I'd had the C2s it would have been the SCdr as it gave much better control of the speakers somehow, the Thiels didn't need that so much, in fact when I did get the SCdr later it revealed a resonance in my room in the deep bass, well below what the Thiels were meant to be capable of which I couldn't eliminate until I got the NBLs. As you have Diablo I'd be tempted to say get the SC but that would be an only slightly educated guess based on the idea they may be rather demanding and the XPS isn't bad. Then again what will you do with a SC when its 552 time, I had a superline to use mine on.

about 282 vs 252, after hearing 282 252 and 552, there is only place to go after 282, and that is 552. 

Sorry to those who own 252, you have no idea what you are missing out on 

analogmusic posted:

about 282 vs 252, after hearing 282 252 and 552, there is only place to go after 282, and that is 552. 

Sorry to those who own 252, you have no idea what you are missing out on 

Apologies to the OP but does the 252 offer anything to the 202/HC-DR owner who will one day be looking for their last preamp but knows full well that the NAC552 is out of the question?

C.

analogmusic posted:

about 282 vs 252, after hearing 282 252 and 552, there is only place to go after 282, and that is 552. 

Sorry to those who own 252, you have no idea what you are missing out on 

This is totally correct. 

My only problem with Naim is the 252, from the 282 you're faced with the 252 and in my opinion it's not good enough and I'll bet many people have moved on from Naim because of it. I've been there and I'm currently impatiently waiting on a 552.

if the Supercap is purchased the op's next upgrade bug will be the preamp, it's his destiny

Richard, I and likely many others eagerly await your report upon auditioning those combinations. No one has mentioned the price difference between SC and 555PS, so that might factor in. Either way I doubt you can go wrong. 

Chatlie

I would tend to agree to most, get your 555ps. While you have to realize that the 282 then will be your limiting factor. In conflict with some other opinions I think you need a 252 to make that source really shine........

A supercap alone will raise the 282 to a much more refined level, however it will not reach the 252 level......, other opinions on the forum exist.

I am now suggesting something which I normally don't suggest. Is go at listen to what your endgame might look like. While it might leave you some time frustrated with what you buy right now, you can start to appreciate what a good source can do when matched with the right pre at least.

While the amp also plays a major role. I can understand that people could be very happy with the disbalanced setup I had for some time. Nds-555-552-200......

Have fun in the process....

Richard Choong posted:

Hi all,

Just curious what everyone thinks. Assuming you have a 282 (with Hicap) with a NDS ( with XPS DR), which would you choose to upgrade first? To a Supercap or a 555PS?

Richard, perhaps like a few here I have been in exactly your position. In your setup I would say definitely  555PS. I bought a used SuperCapDR blind to replace my HiCapDR on my 282 and I ended up keeping my HiCap on my 282... I just didn't like what the SuperCapDR did to the 282.. it sounded over egged and tiring after a while.

However the 252 DR (using the SuperCapDR) is a huge step up from my 282 (although other opinions are available) and it has been the setup I have stayed with ever since

I believe this case has little to do with the usual and fun debate of what to upgrade first. It has to do with NDS. I am afraid there is only one way to run the NDS, it is with a 555DR. XP5 or XPS can only be temporary solutions. I have been demonstrated at the time, ND5 vs. ND5/XP5 vs. NDX vs. NDX/XPSDR vs. NDS/XPSDR vs. NDS/555DR. The last gap is counter-intuitively the largest and somewhat contradicts the law of diminishing return. 555DR then it must be. 

Chag -