552 scary investment

I'm running the same front end, 272 + 555PS but going into the lessor NAP300DR. And been thinking of a 552 as well.  Great minds think a like :-)

So do let me know how it works out for you. . . 

Try it and you will know what you have missed so far...

Permit me to help impale you upon the horns of indecision.

The 552 is a real class act, a very clear step up from a 52, let alone a 252 or a 272 (with any Naim power supply).  Waste no time and buy it now as it's a classic that will always hold its value and its sound quality.

On the other hand ...

Naim undertook the Statement project to develop new amplifier technologies that will trickle down to the rest of the range.  Naim is/has also just launched the new Uniti range with a software platform which will trickle up the range (several 5 series pre-amps have just been discontinued).  It's just a matter of time before Naim launches new classic & 500 series pre-amps that are derived from the Statement hardware & Uniti software.  So hold off, as the value of used 552 pre-amps will fall at that point.  

There, does this help?

Apologies from an evil FT 

erm I don't think the classic Naim preamps will be redundant and there will always be more takers for 552 than available

every single second hand 552 on the market has been sold within days, well, those who heard the 552 know it is very special 

If it's a push to afford it and you are as happy with the 272 as you say you are, why on earth are you considering a 552? Will it make you happy? Is it Forum bragging rights you are after? Only buy it if you can afford it. 

oh and hi-fi is not an investment.

It can only be viewed as an "investment" if it stops you from spending money on even more expensive things like sports cars or Yachts.

About 3 years ago I was on the brink of buying a 552 but held back, changed to different amps and have managed to move to a high(er) level of satisfaction with my audio system.  Even put some pennies in my pocket.  For me i don't regret not stretching to the 552. 

If you can genuinely afford it, then buy it. I can't see any point waiting until they may drop in price at some stage; whilst you're waiting you're losing out on a great listening experience. Life's too short, do these things while you can.

I agree with Tony above. But i would check your motivation as per HH's comments... obviously you can enjoy recorded music with components significantly less capable and expensive than the 552... and of course purchasing a 552 is not an investment - it is purchasing a luxury.

I agree with what others have said. You won't regret buying it providing you really can recover from the hit quickly enough. 

I bought a brand new one a couple of months ago and my finances are recovering well with no lasting damage. Whatever Naim bring out in the future this will always be a fantastic product and a true classic.

analogmusic posted:

oh and hi-fi is not an investment.

It can only be viewed as an "investment" if it stops you from spending money on even more expensive things like sports cars or Yachts.

So it could be an "investment ".

I always think it is, even if it loses money. The return you get is musical enjoyment. 

You can never get that from money stuck in a bank! 

I moved from a 282/SCDR (into 300DR) to a 552DR about a year ago.  I had an in-store demo and then a lengthy home demo.  The 552DR was clearly better, and miles better than the 252 that I had tried twice previously, but I still took a few weeks after the demo 552 went back to properly think-through whether the cost was worth the improvement before placing the order.  

While I wouldn't say that the first listen of the 552 had the 'jaw-dropping' impact on me that some on here have said it had on them, what I would say is over a year later I am still regularly experiencing the moments when I hear stuff from familiar albums that I haven't heard before.  The 552DR just seems to keep giving and I've never regretting getting it.  

Given the cost you really need to try it in your own system before committing but I suspect it will seduce you. 

Since we are back on the 'investment' topic again ...

1.5 years ago I entered the hifi world because I bought an house which was too big to be managed by my Technics 23 watt amp.

Life having 4 kids is too busy to visits concerts so I bought a SuperNait. Not a single regret.

I've been listening mainly to Symphonies over the last 1.5 years, since for the first time in my life all the dynamics which a Symphony orchestra can do, can be in my room. True music and dynamics.

For some unknown reason, my daughter (8) wanted to play an instrument. We asked: 'which instrument?' she replied 'French horn'.

My son started Trombone and is studying about an hour per day to be able to play the Star Wars 'Imperial March'.

I think that without my purchase of a SuperNait, my kids would not have had this kick-start in music,

SuperNait is a different category than 552, but I would drop my last penny in hifi if it makes my kids studying more.

So, hifi can be a good investment (and I ignore that my GBP 250 Nait 5 is also very enjoyable).

I really enjoy my system .... when I started with 272 and a 250dr .... I thought how could it be any better...it's great....then I bought a sh 555ps omg what a huge upgrade wow enjoyment factor was great fantastic... Then got a sh 500.... a night and day improvement over 250dr......  If the 552 synergises in the way people say I will be absolutly over the moon. Bragging rights egh don't get it..... I just enjoy the music .... always have...

Richieroo,

On a more serious note, if you can genuinely afford a 552 without placing strain on your finances, then it is a wonderful enabler of great music, so enjoy.

Best regards, FT

Richie, my tuppence worth as someone who lived for over a decade with an 'unbalanced' amplification system of 52/500 before buying an ex-dem 552 last September I'd say that given that your current system is even more severely unbalanced than mine was, it makes a lot of sense to be considering a 552 if you can stretch to it. There are only 2 preamps that can do justice to a 500DR. The lesser of them is the 552...

if you shop around and are prepared to wait a while you should be able to find an ex-dem, dealer warrantied recentish production 552 DR for a good chunk less than list price.

My experience was that the musical uplift made it a very worthwhile purchase for me. Now, with my 500 newly serviced and DR'd back in the rack I have to say that the Musical connection is phenomenal. It's a natural move for you if you can. 

Richieroo posted:

Hi I have been enjoying my 272 with 555ps into my Nap500dr..... I now have a chance of getting a 2 year old 552dr .... it will be a real push for me to afford.... my plans are to eventually replace the 272 with an nds... But in the meanwhile use the 272 into the 552 until funds permit an nds.....

I have read all the threads on the 552 .... nobody seems to regret it.... I am still struggling internally  with the concept of a pre amp at this value..... the 272 with the 555 is that good.... ulp.... I think I need some reassurance.....

I'd suggest you hold fire for the moment.  Your question volunteers that buying a 552 would be a real push.  Well, not wishing to be a doomster, we're poised on the edge of Brexit and no-one can tell you honestly what happens to the economy next.  Hi-fi is great but I would get zero enjoyment out of it if I was required to place my financial position at risk.  The 552 has been around for many years.  They are virtually indestructible, requiring servicing every 10 - 15 years.  There will always be a 552 available.  No need to rush.  Enjoy what you have.  Save up for your next upgrade if you feel so inclined and maintain the economic level of karma you are content with.  The music will sound better!

Peter

Ardbeg10y posted:

Since we are back on the 'investment' topic again ...

1.5 years ago I entered the hifi world because I bought an house which was too big to be managed by my Technics 23 watt amp.

Life having 4 kids is too busy to visits concerts so I bought a SuperNait. Not a single regret.

I've been listening mainly to Symphonies over the last 1.5 years, since for the first time in my life all the dynamics which a Symphony orchestra can do, can be in my room. True music and dynamics.

For some unknown reason, my daughter (8) wanted to play an instrument. We asked: 'which instrument?' she replied 'French horn'.

My son started Trombone and is studying about an hour per day to be able to play the Star Wars 'Imperial March'.

I think that without my purchase of a SuperNait, my kids would not have had this kick-start in music,

SuperNait is a different category than 552, but I would drop my last penny in hifi if it makes my kids studying more.

So, hifi can be a good investment (and I ignore that my GBP 250 Nait 5 is also very enjoyable).

+1 

Beautiful music is powerful, and even more so if reproduced beautifully. It can leave a huge impact, especially on young lives. Exposure to music should be a critical part of growing up. So last year, despite big regular expenditure items (mortagage and nursery fees...) we bought a piano for my wife to expose our son to "making music at home". And we bought a Naim starter kit with PMC speakers to fill up the house with even more music than before. I grew up in a house without music, and as a child had no interest whatsoever in playing an instruments, and this still makes me sad...

The 552 is very special and only bettered by the Statement S1 Pre, which makes it look like a bargain!

I was once in the same position many years ago when looking at the 552 which then cost £12k and thinking I could never afford such an expense. I had a brainstorm and asked my Dealer to obtain one for me to try on home demo, as at that time my Dealer only went as high as the 252 in-stock an I was his first customer to want to try it. He duly obtained one from Naim and in the meantime loaned me the 252 to try first. I had been using an AV2 as a Pre into an Active system with 250 and 135 Power Amps driving Isobariks at that time and wanted to know if the Pre really made that big a difference before considering the outlay.

the 252 Pre was a considerable upgrade on the AV2 Pre capabilities - the latter was always nice but the 252 showed real guts and presence by comparison. But the 552 blew it away in terms of absolute clarity and confident presentation - nothing tripped it up and the response from deep bass to extreme top-end and amazing timing rendition was in a different league to the 252 and it was an easy decision in the context of my then system.

The same thing happened many years later with the comparison of S1 to 552, but the price was a lot more, making the 552 seem a real bargain. I had many years of superb music with the 552 and it took something costing a lot more to better it for me to change it out. But it makes to point that the Pre plays such an important role - if I'd not heard it myself then I would not have purchased it.

The Pre makes more difference than you would imagine and seems to act as a heart to the HiFi in terms of stability for every other box to work optimally. The demo did it for me - get the best Pre you can afford and you will not regret it.

DB.

i agree at 100%, the pre is the heart of a system and probably the most important component. So if i could afford, i would go for a better pre, but not 552 as for me but dartzeel 18 ns mk2. It is a world class pre with world class phono stage inside, very dynamic, big soundstage and also tube like qualities. 

The problem with 552 is that i would be wondering after of the statement pre, which i will never be able to afford.  The dartzeel would be my limit and will be very probably.

For now i am very satisfied with my nap 300 dr and ear 912, a superb partnership, with a top class phono stage inside. This 912 was an improvement, to my ears, over the nac 252 i have borrowed. Same dynamics and prat, but bigger soundstage, more fluency and softness in high frequencies.

But maybe i will change my mind and take in the future the 552....who knows.

The op started down the slippery slope the day he bought the 500. There's no coming back now. NDS/552 are next. In the order in which they can be procured.

i would recommend the 272/xps/250 as a reasonable system - and call it a day - but that can't happen anymore

Richieroo posted:

Hi I have been enjoying my 272 with 555ps into my Nap500dr..... I now have a chance of getting a 2 year old 552dr .... it will be a real push for me to afford.... my plans are to eventually replace the 272 with an nds... But in the meanwhile use the 272 into the 552 until funds permit an nds.....

I have read all the threads on the 552 .... nobody seems to regret it.... I am still struggling internally  with the concept of a pre amp at this value..... the 272 with the 555 is that good.... ulp.... I think I need some reassurance.....

272/555/500 is good.....

i am sure 552/NDS will be better but bit very diminished returns.... if you can afford without skipping a meal or two, why not...

and when 372 will come out and beats the crap out of 552/NDS, will you cry?    just wait... spend some money on fancy cables, switches or add a bardo brinkmann to your 272...

or  since you started a 500 road.... you are buying a classic at the end.

Ardbeg10y posted:

Since we are back on the 'investment' topic again ...

1.5 years ago I entered the hifi world because I bought an house which was too big to be managed by my Technics 23 watt amp.

Life having 4 kids is too busy to visits concerts so I bought a SuperNait. Not a single regret.

I've been listening mainly to Symphonies over the last 1.5 years, since for the first time in my life all the dynamics which a Symphony orchestra can do, can be in my room. True music and dynamics.

For some unknown reason, my daughter (8) wanted to play an instrument. We asked: 'which instrument?' she replied 'French horn'.

My son started Trombone and is studying about an hour per day to be able to play the Star Wars 'Imperial March'.

I think that without my purchase of a SuperNait, my kids would not have had this kick-start in music,

SuperNait is a different category than 552, but I would drop my last penny in hifi if it makes my kids studying more.

So, hifi can be a good investment (and I ignore that my GBP 250 Nait 5 is also very enjoyable).

my 4 year old is listening star wars music all the time, favourite is imperial march, i was suspecting of a dark side influence but now i see is the case for all kids

my 1 year old holds sopras and dance to every tune  

no need for 552 for them,  but a good stereo and parents enjoying music rather than empty tv shows is not a bad thing.... 

Thanks for the advice and thoughts much appreciated...I have always been into electronic design and the thing technically I like about the 272 is the stepped attenuator .... ( I built one many years ago a Ben Duncan Passion .... which was superb) the 552 seems to have gone back to the alps pot and not only that uses a balance control .... now I don't now how electronically Naim have implemented the alps pots ..... I suspect they have somehow kept the signal path away from the pot...... I also note the Statement now uses a stepped attenuator.....  Anyway in the back of my mind if this purchase comes off and for what ever reason ... it is not for me ... I can always sell on probably at minimal loss.

Emre posted:

Richieroo posted:

Hi I have been enjoying my 272 with 555ps into my Nap500dr..... I now have a chance of getting a 2 year old 552dr .... it will be a real push for me to afford.... my plans are to eventually replace the 272 with an nds... But in the meanwhile use the 272 into the 552 until funds permit an nds.....

I have read all the threads on the 552 .... nobody seems to regret it.... I am still struggling internally  with the concept of a pre amp at this value..... the 272 with the 555 is that good.... ulp.... I think I need some reassurance.....

272/555/500 is good.....

i am sure 552/NDS will be better but bit very diminished returns.... if you can afford without skipping a meal or two, why not...

and when 372 will come out and beats the crap out of 552/NDS, will you cry?    just wait... spend some money on fancy cables, switches or add a bardo brinkmann to your 272...

or  since you started a 500 road.... you are buying a classic at the end.

Emre I'm glad you still have hope for a N372....I lost confidence that I will never get built