552/NDS first switch on ......

My used 552 non dr was serviced after I bought it and it took months to hit its sweet spot - no don't a 552 /NDS is a found sound combo.

Enjoy 

Gary

Congratulations on your new boxes, I am possibly considering an NDS , so very interested in your conclusions, please keep us updated

Enjoy your NDS/552DR, Richieroo.  Even though the 552DR might already have fully burned-in, it will take a few days to properly warn up and settle down.  When I tried a demo model at home my dealer advised me it would take 5 days and right on que the performance took a step up after 5 days.

I suspected this - thanks for confirming my suspicion we feed back

Congrats!  Apologies for crashing the thread but I have just secured a used NDS via a trusted dealer and I cannot resist joining in . Should get in a couple of weeks

i only have a lowly 52 (well lowly compared to 552 anyway) but think it should be rather excellent. Have been aiming at getting NDS for about six years so far - have had nd5xs for three-four years which was a bit of a step down from cds2

Not sure it's possible to get more excited but do please let me know how the sound comes on for you 

Richieroo posted:

The big day came for me yesterday .... the mighty 272 has departed and after a couple of hours rebuilding and fighting with burndies .... my system awoke (only after allot of head scratching .... the NDS had been set to phono. .doh!). Well.... bit of shock .... (bare in mind the NDS and 552dr are pre owned) the sound from cold appears very detailed and clinical ...... voices sound really good and cymbals shimmer nicely ... some depth apparant. I have just let the system play away now on shuffle .... I will be giving it a really good listen tomorrow..... I assume it will take about a week for things to settle down...

I'll be interested to hear how it fares in relation to the 'humble' 272...

G

With my 1st brief listen .... it appears the NDS in combination has more detail .... as you would expect ... especially at mid to top. If things settle down as I hope ... the treble should sound amazing with a deep open husband.. ... time will tell. Will keep you posted.

Bloody samsung! auto text sorry for the hilarious....texty

The bigger proportion of the difference is the pre amp. The 552 is miles better than anything below it. It's more than just an upgrade. 

Richieroo posted:

Bloody samsung! auto text sorry for the hilarious....texty

Phew. I was just about to cancel the NDS!

I hope so .... I am digging out my old linn sondek/ittok/OC7 looking forward to hearing my old vinyl again.....

Richieroo posted:

I hope so .... I am digging out my old linn sondek/ittok/OC7 looking forward to hearing my old vinyl again.....

You are in for a very nice surprise there is a synergy with Classic amps and analogue sources, I expect it will be a close call NDS/552  v  LP12/552 but what a beautiful time you will have comparing the 2!

I remember from years gone by the Linn would thrash my CD player.....

Had first real listen .... system been on 1.5 days ... sound has opened out, brightness gone detail is impressive - sounds very musical with good rhythmic drive ....infact I meant to spend 30 mins to have a quick listen ....before work....an hour later I had to peel myself away.  Currently performance exceeds 272/555ps combo but i think there is even more to come ... in terms of value and performance though the 272 is fantastic...

Richieroo posted:

Had first real listen .... system been on 1.5 days ... sound has opened out, brightness gone detail is impressive - sounds very musical with good rhythmic drive ....infact I meant to spend 30 mins to have a quick listen ....before work....an hour later I had to peel myself away.  Currently performance exceeds 272/555ps combo but i think there is even more to come ... in terms of value and performance though the 272 is fantastic...

just curious how much it exceeds a N272/555DR/300DR/SL full loom

All I can tell you is my setup was 272/555ps (non dr)  - this performed very well ..... changing to the NDS/552 has made a significant difference. However, in context bang for buck the 272 is staggeringly good ... I would imagine the 555dr would improve it again. My system now seems to have a fair bit more inner detail -- soundstage is wider and deeper, high frequencies are more delicate, the ability to maintain rhythmic pace is superior in complex music - base appears to have more punch and mid range has a lovely completeness. Now..... this sounds from my description that the 272 is really lacking - it is not - what the 272 does is covers its tracks very well - it is coherent, punchy with good detail retrieval. I found the 272 really benefited from a good support. It is early days yet - I suspect the NDS/552 has allot more to give in the days to come.....I will update you all.

Hi Richieroo, next step is to have your 555 DR'd or buy a 555DR and use non-DR555 for the digital side. The 555DR is a big step up for the NDS! Happy for you to have acquired an NDS!

Richieroo posted:

.... I found the 272 really benefited from a good support. It is early days yet - I suspect the NDS/552 has allot more to give in the days to come.....I will update you all.

I have my 272 on an Atacama plinth with four compliant sorbothane feet. I have had it for years and tried it under various components; CDS3, HDX, NDX, to no great effect. In fact it was mostly detremental...however, under the 272 it really works well. Performance is lovely and fluid, moreso than without.

G

That's what I found ..... I think naim are aware of the sensitivity hence the nds having a sub chassis..... 

Incidentally had another session this evening sound has improved again .... more detail and depth ..... impressed.....

Five days to a week sounds about right. Congratulations and best wishes with it. Before too long you will have forgotten about the HiFi and just be listening to the music. Your new music collection awaits you. It's better than you could have imagined.

I listened to an old favorite last night natural mystic Bob Marley .. I was astounded at the beep base guitar notes and chords were so clear.... there is allot of detail in that base line I have never heard the track like this...it really brought the track alive..... delighted...

Well things have improved more .... but here is the strangest thing in the middle of the week it got on the face of it brighter.... however, with a further careful listen what seems to be happening is there is just allot more information coming through ... there are now rhythmic cymbal elements shining through which were never present on the 272 .... will keep you posted.. .

Well I've just taken delivery of an NDS and 555 DR, to go with my Supernait 2 (want to keep to 3 boxes!), so expect similar experiences to RICHIEROO. I've had the system warming up today and looking forward to great sounds to come! 

You should be delighted....the NDS digs out allot of tuneful detail ..... with the 555dr it should be awesome.

Richieroo posted:

You should be delighted....the NDS digs out allot of tuneful detail ..... with the 555dr it should be awesome.

And with two 555's it's extra-awesome

(well you need to have something on your wishlist for Christmas, eh?)