NAC 552

most likely I will end up having to purchase new as always

So what is the price of a new unit in the US

so Bristish pay 19775£ which includes 20%VAT which I wouldnt be subject to and if were able to purchase would cost me 15820£... here in the state the unit is $34995usd which is 27360£... so we get screwed 

So would it pay to buy a used uk unit. get it converted to 115 v and fly it to the US

impy posted:

So would it pay to buy a used uk unit. get it converted to 115 v and fly it to the US

no...but it does pay to know the right people  .... but I did purchase my Super Lumina DIN-XLR cables from a UK dealer since it was miles cheaper than from the USA

greekspec2 posted:

so Bristish pay 19775£ which includes 20%VAT which I wouldnt be subject to and if were able to purchase would cost me 15820£... here in the state the unit is $34995usd which is 27360£... so we get screwed 

Ouch. But does that not make the one you're looking at better value than it might seem? If it's in very good condition which it should be then why not investigate further? 

Can you not go and see it and hear it? 

Naim's one that I demoed was a 2008 model with a dr power supply with an odd serial number I couldn't work out. It's probably had quite a history but sounded superb, my month old one is nowhere near as good (yet). The one you're looking at is probably sounding as good as it's going to.

I second what Darke Bear has said. The digital improvement with the 552 was amazing, Greater than the analogue. The 552 was the single biggest improvement I have experienced. The 552 Dr upgrade less so, but still worthwhile. I am now looking go for the statement pre.

rich...y man!  i am jealous. if i could buy a statement... i am glad for you!

I am writing here to be o  the record one day greekspec2 will end up with statement amp as Well! 

Emre posted:

I am writing here to be o  the record one day greekspec2 will end up with statement amp as Well! 

hahaha never that's to me if you gone mad

greekspec2 posted:

after DR & re-cap I was looking at over 12000£ not worth it for a 2007

My view is don't be too concerned by the age. If aesthetically it's in a good condition, then a service and DR upgrade will have it running as if new... that is one of the strong appeals of Naim, and why used prices hold well of course...

BTW I find the 552 comes into its own with analogue sources like a well setup LP12.. really quite exceptional. With various digital sources I have found the gap with a good version of a 252DR less significant. I can only assume there must be some build variations between these components, because my sample of a very recent 252 DR is not night and day with my dealer's 552DR hence I passed on a used offer that came my way as I no longer use vinyl... but as we say it pays to listen and make your own mind rather than rely on labels.

I have heard more poor sounding 552 based setups than I have 252, but to be fair I have heard less 252 setups than 552.. but don't get me wrong a well setup on tune 552DR based system can sound superb to my ears ... but as I have discovered not automatically so. There was also one system running a new 252DR on Fraim into 300DR fed by NDS/555PS feeding some rather large Twenty series PMC speakers, and I was convinced I was listening to a 552 as I thought it sounded so incredible in that setup, I was genuinely surprised when I was told afterwards it was a 252 ..Another system I was listening to LP12, can't remember phono pre, into 552DR into 500 amp feeding Kudos Titans .. and it sounded out of this world, we swapped over to a NDS/2x555PS and still good but the magic of the 552 had to my ears been diluted..    other experiences along this vein prompted me to listen and keep more an open mind.

Simon

Simon has it right. I re-capped my old one and compared it to my new Dealer loan one I had borrowed while it was away on return and it sounded as good if not a bit better than that new one. Naim service brings the unit back up to the latest 'as new' spec and in fact usually better than it was new, as the replacement device technology tends to evolve and improve with smaller and better Capacitors and Naim also improve their understanding of their own equipment build and you tend to also get a few little (and sometimes not so little) upgrades thrown-in.

DB.

A 2007 552 won't need touching for five years or so. Based on what I heard in demos before I owned a pre DR 552 I would buy without hesitation. But I am always reluctant to advise others based on my ears and opinions.

greekspec2 posted:

after DR & re-cap I was looking at over 12000£ not worth it for a 2007

I saw one recently on sale  in Germany, 1 year old for 18.000 euro, for the record RP in Italy is 32k if this  can console you

Regards

Roberto

rsch posted:

greekspec2 posted:

after DR & re-cap I was looking at over 12000£ not worth it for a 2007

I saw one recently on sale  in Germany, 1 year old for 18.000 euro, for the record RP in Italy is 32k if this  can console you

Regards

Roberto

I year old at. 18k Euros equal about £15.5k sounds like a good price to me. But 32k Euros is taking the biscuit...

I'd like a Nac 552 to match my Nap 300DR

Just a question about the  Naim price list in the UK:

Is there any discount applied to these prices like in Italy ? 

Let's just say that it pays to have a good relationship with one's dealer. 

I figure at this point any seperate pre-amp regardless of model should give me that edge....the crap thing is no dealers have any and I. email another dealer and said they only have a N272 on a 500DR which is weird because thats the secound dealer in my area with that not to mention he said no home demos

I would not make that assumption, and certainly not about the 282. 

Why not just enjoy what you've got? Either stick with the 272 or get an NDS/552 - there really is no point piddling about with intermediates. 

If I was doing it all again I would aim for the least number of jumps in the biggest steps.  Or at least, I like to think I would. Hindsight is only available when it's too late.

The journey can be fun. Although looking back on it, at considerable cost.  In mitigation, at most steps in the life long upgrade path I have made a number of "final" purchases. But if you live long enough and stay interested, what used to be the dream system that you could never justify, let alone afford, may one day be within reach. Life can go the other way too.

Discounts are at dealer's discretion. As Nigel says above it depends on your relationship. The trade-in is also important (if applicable). Anything is worth a conversation.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I would not make that assumption, and certainly not about the 282. 

Why not just enjoy what you've got? Either stick with the 272 or get an NDS/552 - there really is no point piddling about with intermediates. 

the NDS is a done deal I'm in limbo now of a pre-amp and like I said it comes down to a 252/SupercapDR or 552DR after a home demo

If the end game is a 552, your best bet is to stay as cheap as possible. Since you have a 300DR, 282/SCDR probably  a safer bet. SC can be used with a SuperLine later.

Or even a Nac72/HiCap if you want to do it really cheap - and get an idea of what Naim is really all about.

not sure why you would tell me to go cheap