552 scary investment

You could sell that 555PS and 272 and get the Dave but ... I have a feeling that Naim are working on ND555.

CD555 is not made anymore, so there has to be a replacement for that at some point?

Richieroo posted:

Obviously .... I will only be using 272 in the interim for a while.... I am hoping that there will be a good improvement - as I should be bypassing the 272 preamp and volume control (chip ladder) ..... I will either go the NDS route or sell both 555ps and 272 and get a Dave.... 

I would audition that. I can't see why this would be an improvement. You can't improve anything that is no there on the source. The best the 552 can do is pass through exactly the output of the 272 without interference - that is all a analog preamp can do. I guess the proof would be in the pudding and you should see what your ears tell you - but if it ain't in the signal from the source you are not going to make it up later in the chain..

I hear what you are saying .... the 272 is only an interim measure....i think it depends how the signal has been routed in the 272....if the fixed outs bypass the 272 preamp stage and chip ladder....it might make a quite a difference..... we will see....

not sure I can agree with that.

That's like saying NDX into 202 will sound the same as NDX into 552.

272 as a source, is sending a signal before volume control to the 552 if that is used.

272 as a source and preamp is going through it's internal volume control.

Not quite the same.

The 272 has a proper analogue control, not a chip ladder. 

I see no reason why a 272 into a 552 wouldn't sound better than a 272 by itself. If it didn't, no preamp upgrade would make any difference. 

When I was considering pre amps Naim themselves did indicate that a 252 would be an upgrade for a Superuniti using the SU as the source. They even made up a bespoke cable so I could try it but I leapfrogged that step by buying a used NDS. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

The 272 has a proper analogue control, not a chip ladder. 

It has a resistor ladder type volume doesn't it?

Hungryhalibut posted:

The 272 has a proper analogue control, not a chip ladder. 

I see no reason why a 272 into a 552 wouldn't sound better than a 272 by itself. If it didn't, no preamp upgrade would make any difference. 

Naim's claim is that the 272's volume control was based on their engineering work on the Statement, I don't know why this would be a weak link. It wouldn't make a difference because the source is not going to improve and the source is integrated in the Preamp. Going to an external device is just increasing the signal path and the chance of singnal loss., if anything it should sound worse. Isn't it a hierarchy, if you had a NDS into a 202 or 272 the NDS I would always want to hear to have evidence; but I would strongly suspect that you would get audible improvements because you started at the source.

But the preamp side of the 272 is nowhere near as good as a 552. The clue is in the price. 

HH you are right....when I re read the blurb it's a digitally controlled analogue vol .... control. 

Eloise posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

The 272 has a proper analogue control, not a chip ladder. 

It has a resistor ladder type volume doesn't it?

It has a digitally controlled analogue volume control. Not a resistor ladder. 

I  had the same dilemma a year ago (should I move from 282 to 552), while I could manage the cost, I was a bit bite for me to chew on and I had no way to demo one before taking the plunge, I ended up trading in my system for a 552DR/300DR and I am surprised how better the music sounds, it is an amazing Pre, like [@mention:12970396060785205] mentioned here in the thread, you keep discovering joy in the music with the 552, it just sounds so right. I never regretted a dime spent on it.

Go for it. 

The 3 box wonder:

XPSDR/>272>250DR

Nice System, with the 272 acting as the controlling Hub, with digital input.

Many on the forum have taken the above System and added Chords Hugo.

Now I'm new into the world of Streaming, but if one wanted to improve on the pre-amp section of the 272:

282>252>552>S1

Now the OP has plans for an NDS down the road, and already has Naim's top PS and Amp!

Naim Audio Control, NAC.

Can the 272 Control the NAP 500DR?

I don't know, but something isn't flowing.

272>555PSDR>500DR

Just curious, is it worth considering off-loading the 272:

552>NDX>Ndac>555PS>500DR????

Furthermore, is it possible to run Chords Hugo, directly into that beautiful NAP 500DR?

Just on the side line, picking up Information!

Thanks in Advance!

Allante93!

552>NDX>Ndac>555PS>500DR????

If a stepping stone to replacing NDX/DAC with NDS this seems logical. As an end point, a 252/300 will do fine with an X level source. Of course the 552/500 or 552/300 will sound better, but without a maxed out source you won't get the full value.

But it's your money and your life.

Hi Alantee ... the 272 with a good psu like 555 is very good ..... when i chaned 250dr for Nap500 (non dr then) it totally wiped the floor with the 250dr ..... so 272 did show the differences...... obviously I have gone down this route ..... as it was my ultimate ambition to change 272. Low level detail was better .... and all other areas.... so the 272 must be good.

Richieroo posted:

Hi Allantee ... the 272 with a good psu like 555 is very good ..... when i chaned 250dr for Nap500 (non dr then) it totally wiped the floor with the 250dr ..... so 272 did show the differences...... obviously I have gone down this route ..... as it was my ultimate ambition to change 272. Low level detail was better .... and all other areas.... so the 272 must be good.

Hi Rich, as you say, there is no substitute for hands on experience. 

So the 272 must be good, can't wait to see what YOUR 552 will bring to the party, perhaps excellence! 

Nice Thread.

Enjoy your Music, the Why!

Allante93! 

I've removed some posts that breached forum rules.  Please note that if you see a NAC552 at a too-good-to-be-true price on certain sites online, it is most likely too good to be true and may very well be fraudulent and a trap to persuade you to part with a lot of money for nothing.  Caveat emptor.

Caveat emptor  ..... good spot.  The sellers location is different to the others from that dealer and that table. .   always pay by PayPal never deal outside. 

I bought a 250DR last year, that did arrive, but was subsequently flagged as stolen.   PayPal and ebay quickly dealt with the problem..... stolen goods returned to rightful owner and I got my money back.

Anyway back on topic.

Harry posted:

552>NDX>Ndac>555PS>500DR????

If a stepping stone to replacing NDX/DAC with NDS this seems logical. As an end point, a 252/300 will do fine with an X level source. Of course the 552/500 or 552/300 will sound better, but without a maxed out source you won't get the full value.

But it's your money and your life.

 

RICHARD DANE ADMINISTRATOR
1/18/16 10:10 AM

MDFdude posted:

 so nDAC = NDS DAC section ?

Yes, and no...  

much is shared, such as the selected Burr Brown PCM1704K DAC chips, 40bit Sharc processor etc.. and both have a fully discrete analogue output stage.  The NDS goes further with no internal PSU and the mass loaded suspended boards.  

RICHARD DANE ADMINISTRATOR

A simple way to look at it is this; there's power (NAP = Naim Audio Power) and then there's control (NAC = Naim Audio Control). And power is useless without control... 

Richard Dane posted:

I've removed some posts that breached forum rules.  Please note that if you see a NAC552 at a too-good-to-be-true price on certain sites online, it is most likely too good to be true and may very well be fraudulent and a trap to persuade you to part with a lot of money for nothing.  Caveat emptor.

Mr Richard Dane, is it Possible to run A Hugo directly to a NAP 500DR.

I recall a thread, Why do I need A Pre-Amp!

Just wanted to get your thoughts on the Subject!

I think, the consensus was the pre amp on the Hugo couldn't be by passed, and not even the best pre amp made, would improve the SQ!

What's your take?

Allante93!

Allante, if you want my thoughts, then to be quite frank, I would never even contemplate running a Naim power amp without a suitable partnering pre-amp - why think you'll be happy using just half an amp?  The NAP500 was designed to be fed a signal from a Naim pre-amp.  

If you want to feed a power amp directly then you should look at one that has been designed that way - i.e. to partner a passive pre-amp or a source with some kind of attenuation control, like the Hugo.

To give you an idea... of the result I heard a Chord Dave into a Nap300...... direct. It did not sound right .... flat but pleasant. My 272 into a 250dr was far superior...

Richard Dane posted:

Allante, if you want my thoughts, then to be quite frank, I would never even contemplate running a Naim power amp without a suitable partnering pre-amp - why think you'll be happy using just half an amp?  The NAP500 was designed to be fed a signal from a Naim pre-amp.  

If you want to feed a power amp directly then you should look at one that has been designed that way - i.e. to partner a passive pre-amp or a source with some kind of attenuation control, like the Hugo.

Thanks Richard!

The first paragraph is easy, the 552 was designed to control the 500.

Now, if one chooses, or wants to feed a power amp directly, the NAP 500DR was not designed for that application!

So in the context of Naim, Frankly, you wouldn't advise feeding the NAP 500DR, with an attenuation source, like the Hugo?

I think, I got!

Thanks Richard!

The Learning Curve!

I know it's not that simple.

Allante93!

Allante93 posted:

The 3 box wonder:

XPSDR/>272>250DR

Nice System, with the 272 acting as the controlling Hub, with digital input.

Many on the forum have taken the above System and added Chords Hugo.

Now I'm new into the world of Streaming, but if one wanted to improve on the pre-amp section of the 272:

282>252>552>S1

Now the OP has plans for an NDS down the road, and already has Naim's top PS and Amp!

Naim Audio Control, NAC.

Can the 272 Control the NAP 500DR?

I don't know, but something isn't flowing.

272>555PSDR>500DR

Just curious, is it worth considering off-loading the 272:

552>NDX>Ndac>555PS>500DR????

Furthermore, is it possible to run Chords Hugo, directly into that beautiful NAP 500DR?

Just on the side line, picking up Information!

Thanks in Advance!

Allante93!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re the fourth sentence. Nobody has done that, because you can't.