552 obsession or stupidity

It's more of a seduction, no blowing involved.

After three years with a 52 I'm still trying to come to terms with a 552 after three months ownership.

Just be aware that the 552 demands the best source possible before it starts to weave its magic. It will make a fair source sound good but it will make a truly good source sound wonderful.

zoot posted:

After 22 years my 52/Chris West works perfectly why am I obsessed with the addition of the 552/552ps What I've got for power are tri- amped 250s nbl's , LP12 ,cd2,nd.....what I'd like to know is .....will it blow me away ?

Linn lp12 arkIva,troika ,Valhalla, cd2,nds

Can I assume this is an active system? If not, do not pass go, head straight to your dealers & get a suitable SNAXO with power supply.

yes 552 will blow you away. It always does.

I think when it comes to 552, it is a question of re-arranging life priorities until you can afford it.

If one loves music enough to delay buying a new car, going on holidays, or whatever, one should just buy it and enjoy it.

As with most expensive items, it's all about affordability.  Will the 552 blow you away?   The only occasion I have had opportunity to hear the 552, at a  Hi-fi show, it was considerably underwhelming,  I came away thinking it's not worth it, but it may well be a different experience if in ones own room? 

The 552 has a special way of presenting the details and phasing of music such that the entire musical picture presents itself as tonally lifelike with the presence of a live performance. It's so special that you will be shocked coming up from even a 252. 

It's one of the few flabergasting moments in life once you've heard one....

The 552 is unbelievably good. Any source will sound brilliant. It's a massive upgrade over the 52.

good listening 

wenger2015 posted:

As with most expensive items, it's all about affordability.  Will the 552 blow you away?   The only occasion I have had opportunity to hear the 552, at a  Hi-fi show, it was considerably underwhelming,  I came away thinking it's not worth it, but it may well be a different experience if in ones own room? 

I dare you to try one. Make sure it's a well used example though. Its taken mine five months to get as good as Naim's own well used one I borrowed. 

Drewy posted:

wenger2015 posted:

As with most expensive items, it's all about affordability.  Will the 552 blow you away?   The only occasion I have had opportunity to hear the 552, at a  Hi-fi show, it was considerably underwhelming,  I came away thinking it's not worth it, but it may well be a different experience if in ones own room? 

I dare you to try one. Make sure it's a well used example though. Its taken mine five months to get as good as Naim's own well used one I borrowed. 

My motto is don't try unless you can buy......so maybe best left.

That said I had always considered the 250dr to be my endgame, and when the unexpected opportunity came along for a New 300dr at a ridiculously good price, I decided to go for it....so never say never

Go on. You know you want to. 

I went from a 52/S'Cap to a 552 just over a year ago. The initial trial period was a tad underwhelming, until my (helpful) dealer suggested I re-look at (re-hear) power, interconnect and speaker cables; I had focused on Nordost cables, which were a big improvement over the entry level Naim stuff. However, things had changed with a 300 instead of the 135s I had had.

With decent Naim power and speaker cables the 552 wiped the floor with the 52 and there was no turning back, for me. Fortunately the Nordost cables sold for a reasonable amount, almsot defraying the cost of the Naim PowerLines and SL speaker cables.

But heed the wise words of TonyM.

Nick from Suffolk posted:

I went from a 52/S'Cap to a 552 just over a year ago. The initial trial period was a tad underwhelming, until my (helpful) dealer suggested I re-look at (re-hear) power, interconnect and speaker cables; I had focused on Nordost cables, which were a big improvement over the entry level Naim stuff. However, things had changed with a 300 instead of the 135s I had had.

With decent Naim power and speaker cables the 552 wiped the floor with the 52 and there was no turning back, for me. Fortunately the Nordost cables sold for a reasonable amount, almsot defraying the cost of the Naim PowerLines and SL speaker cables.

But heed the wise words of TonyM.

Did you buy a new 552? If so, how long did you let it run in for before upgrading cables? With mine being only 4-5 months old and getting better all the time, I choose to stick with my standard cabling until everything is properly settled down. 

There are only two reasons to not get the 552:

1. You are not prepared to spent the amount of money for the level of pleasure

2. You are prepared to even spent more and get the statement pre-amp or even the full statement.

I think Bert has nailed the issue there. 

money doesn't grow on trees,questioning bang for the buck although rather a subjective and individual issue nonetheless the question remains, what does it take if your looking for a visceral experience when listening . I am not discussing content. Trust me it's tough to wade through rhetoric when you can only trust your ears.

I didn't expect to ever buy a 552 but I am so so glad that I did - you should try it at home 

In response to Drewy, I bought my dealer's run-in demonstration unit.

Can you all pleeaasee stop all this talk of how wonderful the wretched 552 is. You are all just feeding my upgraditis. I have a particularly virulent form of the disease that is incurable. I also have a marriage to hold onto.

So, please spare a thought.

In answer to the question, stupidity. Yes, almost definitely stupidity. Yes, I am sure that is right. Isn't it?

nigelb posted:

Can you all pleeaasee stop all this talk of how wonderful the wretched 552 is. You are all just feeding my upgraditis. I have a particularly virulent form of the disease that is incurable. I also have a marriage to hold onto.

So, please spare a thought.

In answer to the question, stupidity. Yes, almost definitely stupidity. Yes, I am sure that is right. Isn't it?

OK, its a pile o'shite & your missus will run off wiv another bloke if you get one

nose starts growing...

NFG posted:

nigelb posted:

Can you all pleeaasee stop all this talk of how wonderful the wretched 552 is. You are all just feeding my upgraditis. I have a particularly virulent form of the disease that is incurable. I also have a marriage to hold onto.

So, please spare a thought.

In answer to the question, stupidity. Yes, almost definitely stupidity. Yes, I am sure that is right. Isn't it?

OK, its a pile o'shite & your missus will run off wiv another bloke if you get one

nose starts growing...

Thank you. You have put my mind at rest. I can now listen to my basic 252 in peace.

If you see a Rolls Royce go by, you don't have to have it. I've had a 552 and it's jolly good, but it won't change your life, and the setup I've got now isn't that much worse. 

Just to be clear, all my comments are tongue-in-cheek. I'm am sure I will struggle through life without a 552 and remain happily married. Yes, I am sure of that.

Anyway, you have to jump two levels to really make a difference so forget it until your lotto numbers/premium bond number comes up & get a Statement.

Meanwhile enjoy what you have, perhaps get your 252 serviced if it needs one.

It's not something to be bought on credit, that is stupidity and obsession. A 282 would have done fine except for an unexpected legacy that I didn't want to spend on just living. I've no regrets about turning half of it into a 552.