282 > 252> 552

I found the DR made a substantial change to 252 / Supercap so would encourage members to be specific when sharing  their experiences I.e. DR or not

Having done that naim pre  journey I found the dr 252 / Supercap to be very good and I could have easily stoped there.

regards

Gary

Macro dynamics? maybe, microdynamics? forget it. Compared to a 552dr the 282/SCdr glosses over subtle variations in pace too. The SC will come in very handy for a superline later though. I’ve not heard the 252.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

But assuming the 552 is out of reach so is 282/SC more akin to a 552 when it comes to dynamics?

Lindsay

I'd say, yes, Lindsay.

As you know, I tried the 252 twice and at length but ultimately what extra it delivered in detail over the 282/SC was for me offset by the loss of the 282's boogie, especially on rock music.  The 552DR goes well beyond what the 252 added in extra detail but it also provides bags of boogie. But, if I hadn't been able to afford the 552DR, I would have continued to very much enjoy the 282/SCDR, which I think offers great VFM.

Mike 

Reads like you might be hankering, Strat

Nothing wrong with the occasional hanker. 

MDS posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

But assuming the 552 is out of reach so is 282/SC more akin to a 552 when it comes to dynamics?

Lindsay

I'd say, yes, Lindsay.

As you know, I tried the 252 twice and at length but ultimately what extra it delivered in detail over the 282/SC was for me offset by the loss of the 282's boogie, especially on rock music.  The 552DR goes well beyond what the 252 added in extra detail but it also provides bags of boogie. But, if I hadn't been able to afford the 552DR, I would have continued to very much enjoy the 282/SCDR, which I think offers great VFM.

Mike 

 

I totally agree with Mike. I went from 282/scdr to 552dr.

I did try the 252/scdr but it wasn’t for me. The 282/scdr and 552/dr seem to be from the same stable whereas the 252 seems to be from a different stable, to these ears.

Thanks guys. 

fathings cat posted:

I found the DR made a substantial change to 252 / Supercap so would encourage members to be specific when sharing  their experiences I.e. DR or not

Having done that naim pre  journey I found the dr 252 / Supercap to be very good and I could have easily stoped there.

I agree and I have found  there are quite a lot of similarities with the 252DR and the 552DR... The 252 is hugely musical, whilst the 552 adds to this musicality with startling clarity and realism to the recording in a way the 252 only hints at.

I found the 282 a great a preamp... and is the first of the Naim greats, and is quite forward and vibrant ... but for me it falls quite a bit short of the 252 in terms of that emotional musicality.

The 252 DR is also easier to match than the 552DR, with the latter ruthlessly exposing deficiencies.... with electronics as well as recordings...

Interesting observations, I have been thinking about upgrading my HCdr for a SCdr, but at the same time wondering if it was a good match for the 282?

Same old song and dance, not to be importunate towards the 282!

SCDR is s great match for the 282 and takes it to another level musically, there is another addition witch (sic) makes it even better. But coming back to the original question, the 552 sounds nothing like the 282 or 252 as music is so much more natural and realistic.

I've also found that the 552 is more forgiving of poorer recordings as it just extracts more information without over emphasising any particular element.

Jonn posted:

SCDR is s great match for the 282 and takes it to another level musically, there is another addition witch (sic) makes it even better. But coming back to the original question, the 552 sounds nothing like the 282 or 252 as music is so much more natural and realistic.

I've also found that the 552 is more forgiving of poorer recordings as it just extracts more information without over emphasising any particular element.

@ John, what does (sic) stand for?

And it will be an improvement over the SCDR!

Sic erat scriptum. Thus was it written. 

Ok, I am one of those that didn’t like what my SCDR did to my 282... for me it tipped the 282 into being just a little too forward for my tastes and too unforgiving... I found a single HiCapDR the sweetspot for the 282... The HiCapDR is a huge step up from the older HiCap on that NAC

Although the 552 is also unforgiving of poor recordings it renders them in a generally enjoyable way despite drawing attention to the issues... 

The 252DR is probably the most forgiving of the three NACs.. but at a cost of lost insight and realism compared to the 552DR.

I would say the 252 is closer to the 552 in terms of musical enjoyment compared to the 282 and the 252 in my experience.

Allante,

Which/Witch Hat who make an XLR cable some forum members believe improves upon naim’s stock XLR.

252 =zzzzzzzzzzz however I do love the bass it provides but that’s about it for me.

wenger2015 posted:

Interesting observations, I have been thinking about upgrading my HCdr for a SCdr, but at the same time wondering if it was a good match for the 282?

Very much so.

MDS posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Interesting observations, I have been thinking about upgrading my HCdr for a SCdr, but at the same time wondering if it was a good match for the 282?

Very much so.

May well be worth a call to my friendly dealer.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Sic erat scriptum. Thus was it written. 

Thx. HH

That's what I love about the Forum, not only is it entertaining, but educational.

Allante93!

Both outputs of the 282 need to be connected for superior sound quality. 282+HCDR is good but it's not the best. 

sjbabbey posted:

Allante,

Which/Witch Hat who make an XLR cable some forum members believe improves upon naim’s stock XLR.

 

 

Thx.

My question exposed my ignorance!

You guys are Brilliant!

Allante93!

PS. He who knows, and shares what he knows is wise. Heed Him

I am not qualified to answer your entire question Lindsay as I have never owned a 552 but have owned 282 with HiCap (non DR and SuperCapDR) and 252 with the same SuperCapDR.

Moving to the SuperCapDR from a rather elderly HiCap on my 282 was a significant leap forward but I suspect my weary HiCap was in need of some TLC. As I had designs on a 252, I thought it expedient to go to a SuperCapDR rather than a (temporary) move to a HiCapDR on my 282. I would however wager that the optimum PS for the 282 is indeed a HiCapDR.

Anyway I liked what the SuperCapDR did for my 282 and never did I feel it was overblowing or exaggerating things. The 282 felt more in command of the music with the SuperCapRDR powering it. The SuperCapDR was of course the natural partner (other than a SuperCap non DR) for the 252.

The 282 was a big leap from my previous 202 but I really felt the 252 was my fist taste of subtle, insightful, realistic music-making. Although it was a step to the side in terms of excitement, the 252 was a leap forward in the emotional attachment to music. You do need to be prepared to listen actively to the 252 to appreciate its allure, but it is well worth the effort. It is a little more relaxing listen than the 282 but it is also a more engaging listen and hence, weirdly, a more exciting listen IMHO.

In my rather long and possibly verbose review of my findings of the 282 vs the 252 on here a couple of years ago, I concluded that the 282 was an exciting and visceral experience. The 252 is a more mature, subtle and engaging experience. The 282 an excitable puppy, eager to please, the 252 a grown up and seductive, and I am struggling for an animal analogy here so I will go with, minx.

So in answer to some of your questions Lindsay, if you plan to stick with a 282 I would go with a HiCapDR but have a listen to a SuperCapDR to see if it does it for you. If you plan to move on in future, then go straight to a SuperCapDR as (IMHO) it is great with a 282 and is essential for a 252.

Of course if funds permit, listen to a 552DR and if you become smitten, leapfrog as much of the pre amp and PS paraphernalia lower down the range and save yourself some cash. I have tried that argument with the wife and just got a scary stare. Back to listening to my wonderful 252 then!

Allante93 posted:

PS. He who knows, and shares what he knows is wise. Heed Him

and he who doesn't know but still shares is........... ?

.sjb

Sloop John B posted:

Allante93 posted:

PS. He who knows, and shares what he knows is Wise. Heed Him

and he who doesn't know but still shares is........... ?

Morecambe. Feed him. 

It's strange how the 252 seems to divide opinion - as has been said it before, it appears that one person's subtlety is another's boring. I went from 282 + HiCap DR, to 282 + SuperCap DR, to 252 + same Supercap and I heard improvements at each step (although I may have also changed speakers at some point in that progression). When I plugged in the 252 I thought the change for the better was instantaneous and obvious. I have not heard the 552 so I have no idea if there is some way in which the 282 has the same character.

I don't know what the purpose of your question might be Lindsay, but our systems overlap to some extent and I have a 252 and live nearby so if that is part of your enquiry, get in touch. I'll post contact info on your wall.

Clive