552 obsession or stupidity

I wonder how many have the 552 my guess is not many. but it seems its a major discussion point.   the only time ive demoed it was at a show.  and never seen it at dealer on permanant demo .naims new direction is the new range which seems a well thought out future.  

It maybe more than you think. In the group I hang around with there are three 552's, one 52, one 82 and two Statements.

I suppose the other consideration here is whether Naim intend to release a new more 'affordable' amplifier based on Statement technology.  You have to wonder whether the 552 and 500's days are numbered.  CD555 is already history.  This comment will be probably be deleted by the moderators who don't like new product speculation..

I should imagine that 552/500 sales considerably outnumber Statement?

Whereas the CD555 was withdrawn simply because of the dwindling requirement for CDPs.

audio1946 posted:

I wonder how many have the 552 my guess is not many. but it seems its a major discussion point.   the only time I've demoed, it was at a show.  and never seen it at dealer on permanant demo .naims new direction is the new range which seems a well thought out future.  

Geko posted:

"It maybe more than you think. In the group I hang around with there are three 552's, one 52, one 82 and two Statements."

Just curious Geko, if I'm correct, your group consist of 7. 

Excluding the Two Statement Owners, that narrows your group to five.

Of the five members of your group, how many are younger than fifty years of age?

Allante93!

PS. You keep good Company!

Your group includes a couple who belong to the 1% Club!!!

Baby Boomers, we love Marque Separates! 

Bryce Curdy posted:

I suppose the other consideration here is whether Naim intend to release a new more 'affordable' amplifier based on Statement technology.  You have to wonder whether the 552 and 500's days are numbered.  CD555 is already history.  This comment will be probably be deleted by the moderators who don't like new product speculation..

Others with direct experience are more qualified to comment than I, but as a non-owner of any, but a reader of much on this forum appears to me that the 552 has a definite place in Naim hierarchy, so whilst possibly one might expect the Statement to reduce in price over tomeand reduce the financial gap between it and the 552, the only likely successor to 552 would be relatively minor in significance of difference. 

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to inprove the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

zoot posted:

After living with my 552 for a few weeks and additionally installing a newly serviced supercap it's on a new level and is pure enjoyment didn't really get it for a long while , money can't replace have much fun I'm having-

 

Worst Case Scenario, you are having a Visceral moment.

Even if, that was the case, it's important to note:

One's money may be long, but life is short!

Enjoy the Moment!

Allante93!

PS. My personal quote!

Innocent Bystander posted:

Bryce Curdy posted:

I suppose the other consideration here is whether Naim intend to release a new more 'affordable' amplifier based on Statement technology.  You have to wonder whether the 552 and 500's days are numbered.  CD555 is already history.  This comment will be probably be deleted by the moderators who don't like new product speculation..

Others with direct experience are more qualified to comment than I, but as a non-owner of any, but ........

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to improve the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

Naim introduced its Reference CDP in 2007, the following year, Linn ceased its Reference CDP. 

If I'm correct, Linn no longer manufactures an analog pre-amp, whilst Naim's 272 is headlining Audiobarns upcoming event!

As it relates to flawed media, I think it's more of a sign of the times, and Bean Counters!

Otherwise, why manufacture any CDP!

JMHO!

Allante93!

PS. I recall a young man, who rather enjoys his flawed media:

CD555>S1>Active Ovators!

BTW, my Cdx2 is sounding fantastic!

Cdx2>282>Passive Tri-amped Briks!

Enjoy Your Music, Albeit Linn, Krell, Arcam, Primare, Chord, NAD, or even Naim!

Innocent Bystander posted

 

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to inprove the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

Flawed medium my backside.  Millions of people worldwide continue to enjoy their music CD. Simple.to use, reliable, no soft/firmware issues.....

I can't recall this very moment, but another young man, has suggested a new Paradigm!

Para phrasing, Of Course:

No longer are we restricted to The Analog TT, and The Digital CD.

The Analog TT, The Digital CDP, and Digital Streaming, depending on Music & Mode!

Allante93!

PS. BTW 

The Analog Pre-Amp is a nice hub to navigate all three formats, if one has the means.

I'm from the camp 2 out 3!

That's personal choice:

CD555

NDS

LP 12

Just saying!

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Innocent Bystander posted

 

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to inprove the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

Flawed medium my backside.  Millions of people worldwide continue to enjoy their music CD. Simple.to use, reliable, no soft/firmware issues.....

the major advantage of the cd is the relative low cost and good value box sets of favourite artists  .speak to dealers and they hardly sell cdp players of £1000 anymore   downloads are far to expensive too.

the are many cd players ( cd player + dac maybe ) still coming to the market, OK is not as used to be but we are talking a specific section of the market which Naim is a player.  Uniti Star proves that..... 

audio1946 posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Innocent Bystander posted

 

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to inprove the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

Flawed medium my backside.  Millions of people worldwide continue to enjoy their music CD. Simple.to use, reliable, no soft/firmware issues.....

the major advantage of the cd is the relative low cost and good value box sets of favourite artists  .speak to dealers and they hardly sell cdp players of £1000 anymore   downloads are far to expensive too.

Indeed - outstanding value even if you purchase merely to rip them.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

audio1946 posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted: 

Flawed medium my backside.  Millions of people worldwide continue to enjoy their music CD. Simple.to use, reliable, no soft/firmware issues.....

the major advantage of the cd is the relative low cost and good value box sets of favourite artists  .speak to dealers and they hardly sell cdp players of £1000 anymore   downloads are far to expensive too.

Indeed - outstanding value even if you purchase merely to rip them.

Agreed!

The Analog TT, The Digital CDP, and Digital Streaming, depending on MUSIC & MOOD!

Allante93!

PS. BTW 

The Analog Pre-Amp is a nice hub to navigate all three formats, if one has the means all three formats/media.

I'm from the camp 2 out 3!

Of Course, that's a personal choice:

*CD555

*NDS

LP 12

Allante93!

PS. Typo mood not mode!

Allante93 posted:

PS. BTW 

The Analog Pre-Amp is a nice hub to navigate all three formats, if one has the means all three formats/media.

Not forgetting the cassette tape or FM radio, of course!

FM rules

The Strat (Fender) posted:

audio1946 posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Innocent Bystander posted

 

CD555 is a different matter, as it was limited by the more flawed CD medium than streaming solutions, so for digital it would seem to make more sense to inprove the streaming products, which might not necessarily even mean substantial elevation to cost.

Flawed medium my backside.  Millions of people worldwide continue to enjoy their music CD. Simple.to use, reliable, no soft/firmware issues.....

the major advantage of the cd is the relative low cost and good value box sets of favourite artists  .speak to dealers and they hardly sell cdp players of £1000 anymore   downloads are far to expensive too.

Indeed - outstanding value even if you purchase merely to rip them.

I said nothing about the value of CD, nor the enjoyability of playing them, both of which indeed mean the CD has a place and I am sure will continue for quite some time to come. For the sake of clarity, in case not so, my reference to being flawed was as a medium played in real time in a CD player, and was relative to streaming from a stored file (though I omitted to specify that I meant streaming from a locally srored file, not online). 

A CD player has to maintain accurate laser/sensor positioning, and there is the possibility of damage to or deposits on the CD causing read errors, and to cope with real life i perfections, CD players incorporate error correction algorithms. As a result they don't necessarily create a bit-perfect copy of the original. Yes, with a perfectly adjusted non-worn mechanism and pristine CD the signal fed to the DAC can be the same as streamed from a file, but the medium does present real risks of degradation compared to streaming, hence my view that it is flawed, 

CD is also limiting with regard to resolution, although that opens the debate regarding whether red book is as good as you can hear/detect, and of course different mastering can create positive and negative differences in perceived sound quality between different resolution versions.

it is purely a guess, and Naim of course may choose to correct this, but it is possible that the withdrawal of the CD555 reflected a combination of low or even fallng sales, and a recognition that streaming offers better potential and so is a better place to focus resources and hopefully generate more future sales, and this was the point of my post following Bryce Curdy's speculation tgat seemed to be based at least in part on withdrawal of the CD555.

(I make no comment on, and have no wish to contemplate, the perfection or otherwise of your backside! )

Innocent Bystander posted:

(I make no comment on, and have no wish to contemplate, the perfection or otherwise of your backside! )

Good!!

But to these ears WAV from a NDS/555 lacks the dynamics of the same track from a CDS3/555. Just my opinion of course.

For the avoidance of any doubt, I do recognise that streaming had a substantial role in the withdrawl of the CD555, but equally I suspect Naim will release amplifiers using the Statement technology but at a less crazy price, and equally that they will release a reference streamer to companion the Statement.  I don't believe the 552 and 500 will be available 5 years from now.

Bryce Curdy posted:

For the avoidance of any doubt, I do recognise that streaming had a substantial role in the withdrawl of the CD555, but equally I suspect Naim will release amplifiers using the Statement technology but at a less crazy price, and equally that they will release a reference streamer to companion the Statement.  I don't believe the 552 and 500 will be available 5 years from now.

Of course statement technology will and is already coming down to the other series. And these totally makes sense. Capatilizing on great technology. However I don't think the amplification will be removed so easily. At it's price point and with the upgrade to dr technology, the 552 and 500 will still have a place for a long time. For people who don't have statement funds but which want extreme quality in reproduction of music.

Wugged Woy posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Complete bollocks. Holidays and meals out enrich one's life extraordinarily. Who wants to sit by themselves listening to music all the time? I'm always saying this, but a 552 won't change one's life. 

Crap   A 552 (in a matched system) is guaranteed to provide great music -so will most certainly "change your life"...............

Ahhh  but so does a NAC72  !   

So does a SN2 !!!!!    

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

(I make no comment on, and have no wish to contemplate, the perfection or otherwise of your backside! )

Good!!

But to these ears WAV from a NDS/555 lacks the dynamics of the same track from a CDS3/555. Just my opinion of course.

And to complement Strat's comparison, I prefer my CD source (CDX2.2/XP5XS/nDAC/555PSDR) to a NDS/555PSDR too, and I've heard the latter a few times in optimal set-ups.

Over the years I've owned and enjoyed four Naim CD players (CD1, CDX2, CDS3, CD555), all were fine at their price point at the time but all had their failings and I can't see myself ever going back to a CD player, the technology is now well and truely redundant both in terms of sound quality and useability.

Sound quality is a matter of opinion. 

As to usability - let me see now.  Put the CD in the drawer and press play or at most select the tracks I want to hear vs hours of ripping and tagging ensuring back ups. Really?

and you can be sure that you can see the correct album cover and read the booklet produced with the CD - not the wrong displayed data which seems to be designed to promote more sales and misses out much important information - nor will it disappear and be subsequently unavailable.