Buying NAC 252 now or wait?

buy it now, it's really one of the best amplifiers money can buy.

First of all the NAC252 already got the update with the Supercap2  became Supercap DR.

classics like NAC 252 don't really need to get refreshed.

I would bet good money there will not be any update for many, many more years to come, and maybe there won't be any update ever.

If you read steve sells interview on tom tom audio website, when asked about the future he talks about digital sources, but as far as amplifiers go, I think Naim have made them really very good now, especially after statement,.

The trickle down from statement was the DR regulation for Supercap, and DR for NAP 300DR and the new transistors for the 300DR.

so buy it....

That’s really an impossible question, as nobody knows when and if the 252 will be changed. The only thing I would say is that for very little more than a new 252/Supercap, you can pick up a used 552. 

I think that the only real change might be to the volume control.   And of course as HH says there is always a used 552

Why buy new and pay £6600 when you could buy a second hand one for less than £3000 and sell it for a similar amount should a new model arrive, you could use the money saved towards the price of the supercap.

Karl

You must make your own mind up regarding all of the valid posts above. What I will say is that I have used 252/300 since 2003 and it is a definite sweet spot in the Naim range IMHO. My pre was serviced this year and I may DR the 300 next year, but I love the balance of this amp as it is to be honest.

Personally I would get one and settle down for a long and happy relationship.

Stu

Thank you all for your replies.

A used 552 could have been a nice option, but finding a good opportunity not too far from Lausanne isn’t easy.

I’ll follow Analog and Stuart’s advice. I’ll buy a new 252 and stay there. The 252/300DR combo is indeed a sweet spot.

My source is the nDAC/555PS-DR. So, the next step will probably be the next evolution of the NDS. But for the moment, I’ll enjoy music.  

Tom - enjoy

I have had my 252 now for around 7 years, from new.  Its awesome. 

There is nothing that needs refreshing on it, it a simple, honest pre amp. 

The power output for the phono stage is a nice touch, and is now back in fashion, lol.

TomSer posted:

Thank you all for your replies.

A used 552 could have been a nice option, but finding a good opportunity not too far from Lausanne isn’t easy.

I’ll follow Analog and Stuart’s advice. I’ll buy a new 252 and stay there. The 252/300DR combo is indeed a sweet spot.

My source is the nDAC/555PS-DR. So, the next step will probably be the next evolution of the NDS. But for the moment, I’ll enjoy music.  

Purchased my 252 early last year after a demo between the 282 and 252.I had much the same thoughts as yourself regarding the shelf life of the classic range but I’m glad I went ahead,upgraded the 250dr to a 300dr a few months ago the system is sounding superb.I hope you enjoy the 252 as much as I do.

it's a very nice place to be in the Naim line-up, and an one of 3 end game Naim amplifiers (the other 2 being 552/500 and the statement)

I love my 282/250 but would rather have a 252/300

If you want it now, buy it now. The 300 is not only superb value for money, it's superb, period.

Even it it was replaced tomorrow it will still sound superb. And it's worth bearing in mind that Naim amps don't stop evolving post launch. 

If your doubts are coming more from a direction of, it's good but it could maybe be a bit better, then don't do it. 

Why confine yourself to a short distance from Lausanne? Given the possible savings, I would happily drive a day each way for a good deal on a high-end Naim box. 

I for one can wholeheartedly recommend the 252/300 DR having taken the plunge recently myself. Mighty fine.

I forbade myself to demo the 552 but I heard one at the Munich show and recently at a forum member’s place together with the 500 DR. Truly awesome.

Whatever you do, the good news is you can’t go wrong because you have a stonking source. Question is just whether you are going to get upgraditis again.

Buying 252/300 DR new was out of my budget.  Had it been viable I would have been sorely tempted to follow HH’s advice.

I don’t want to put the cat amongst the pigeons down in Lausanne but, given the size of the investment, would it not be prudent to compare 252 vs 552 first?

A replacement for the 252 will be announced next year so I would wait if I were you.

jonnaim posted:

A replacement for the 252 will be announced next year so I would wait if I were you.

[citation needed]   

jonnaim posted:

A replacement for the 252 will be announced next year so I would wait if I were you.

How do you know?

The Supercap DR really does bring the most out of the 252. The whole new v used is interesting (savings v risk) maybe a good approach could be to ring round a few dealers to see if any ex demo stock about - a nice balance of saving cash with peace of mind buying from a trusted source. 

For sure 252 dr / 300 dr is a great combo.

Gary

Maybe a 500 classic series streamer and new pre-amp amp in 2017 is on my Xmas list for 2018.

not everyone wants, likes or is able to buy second hand..... unless there is a dealer with ex-demo stock nearby. And a ex-dem 252/552 is quite a rare commodity especially once outside UK.

And I don't see why any replacement of the classic range of preamps would make any sense. rumours have always been rampant on the forum, nothing new, nothing new at all.

the 52 and the 252 are very well established Naim products, based on the Supercap DR, which I can't see changing as it is a very established and known product.

If you like the 252, by all means get it... I am sure you will find it a major improvement. Also remember the SuperCap is a key part of the 252 and that was seriously updated a few years ago which transformed the 252... and that DR power supply change improved all the NACs including the 552 and 282 as well. 

When I went around the factory I was told the 252 is a popular model, and at the time a 272 and 252 were being made on the bench

jonnaim posted:

A replacement for the 252 will be announced next year so I would wait if I were you.

Is that all you know? Any more information?

Again, thanks all for your messages and advises.

As I said, buying “trusted-used” NAC 552 could be a nice option. But… I don’t see how this could be possible for me. Buying used online isn’t an option, for me.

William, I’m not sure that comparing 252 to 552 would help. It is very likely that a new 552 may have more to offer comparing to a new 252. And comparing a new 252 to an “old” 552 is almost impossible around here.

Simon, Gary, thank you for your comments.

I do like the 252 presentation. It suits quite nicely the music I listen to. I especially enjoy baroque, classical, romantic periods. Voices, chamber music or cello/violin/piano solos.For example this interpretation from Liszt “Transcendentals” by Daniil Trifonov is simply amazing. The captation is brilliant. This is exactly what I like, being able to enjoy such good recordings. I guess the 252/SC-DR/300DR will do a nice job.

Regarding Jonnaim post… well I think he likes to through cats among pigeons  ;-)

TomSer posted:

 

I do like the 252 presentation. It suits quite nicely the music I listen to. I especially enjoy baroque, classical, romantic periods. Voices, chamber music or cello/violin/piano solos.For example this interpretation from Liszt “Transcendentals” by Daniil Trifonov is simply amazing. The captation is brilliant. This is exactly what I like, being able to enjoy such good recordings. I guess the 252/SC-DR/300DR will do a nice job

In that case go ahead and enjoy. Personally I don’t like the 252 but I agree it will be very good with the style of music you enjoy. 

The classic series in made for analogue sources and obviously for a time when most people had at least 2 sources, often more. When you have decided to leave out radio and vinyl, and only uses one source, the  252 is in a way overkill for that. Naim pmost likely can see this user base, basically the people who are using a 272 but want to move a step up in Sq, will need a 372 pre-dac-streamer using the new streaming platform, but this is not an upgrade to the classic series.

Claus   

Good point. 

I wish they would bring out something that exceeded a 552/NDS/PS555/PS555 in two boxes. Preferably with a full range volume control. Look at what Linn can get into a couple of boxes.