Partnering amplifier for NAC 552

Franz K posted:

 

 

Edouard,

Thats great, hope you are fine, still enjoying music replay through naim and your beloved Sonus Amati.  So do I actually after some times of less interest I found my way back and enjoy it more so than ever. Even faced with some signs of presbysaccusis it has never sounded that good before, possibly due to DR and LP12 Upgrades.

Amicalement F

I think, we have been in the same boat! I can't seat alone listening to music religiously for hours anymore...

But the main system sound as good as ever, and I never felt like I should change anything, no need for DR or Super Lumina, the system sounds fantastic as it is, and I am still amazed like on the first day the Amati came in 

...it's been passed 10 years!!!

Cheers, Edouard

Edouard posted:

I have never been a fan of Naim speakers, hence I can't say which amp I prefer with them.

How ever I listened many time to Chris Bell 552/500/DBL in Seattle

I have listened to the 552/500/NBL as well, in UK

But you know I'm a Sonus faber fan

I listened only classical music and jazz...

As they say each to its own. What matters is to be happy with our own choices

Cheers, Edouard

 

 

 

Absolutely, I know its been ten years or even more and time sure flies but certain passions keep going..;-)).  Another old time naimie just recently visited me, Uwe Supper you may remember him too.

Anyway, if you ever plan to come to Vienna let me know.

Cheers, Franz

Edouard posted:

Bonjour Peter and Franz,

Peter : It makes sense that depending on the speakers to drive, the choice of amp can vary.

Even though I prefer the 300 over the 500, I did enjoyed very much listening to Geoff Phillips's 500 with his Totem Mani 2 and later with his Kharma 

BTW I'm still in contact with Geoff!

As you can see in my profile, I'm still an admirer and owner of Sonus faber speakers! As a matter of fact I have 3 pairs of Sonus faber!

Amicalement, Edouard

 

Goodness me, the mention of Geoff/ Totem Mani/ Kharma brings me back in time!!  Not sure if it would be Geoff or PolarBear most deserving of the gong for going the extra mile/ kilometre in search of finding the speaker which worked best in their system - that would be a close call!!  Congratulations on resisting any temptation to let any new cables across your threshold - be warned, you might just be amazed what the new offerings can bring to your music!  Same with DR, but who knows, in a few years it may be time for a trip to Salisbury for some of your boxes when servicing will be about due....

Peter

Franz K posted:

Absolutely, I know its been ten years or even more and time sure flies but certain passions keep going..;-)).  Another old time naimie just recently visited me, Uwe Supper you may remember him too.

Anyway, if you ever plan to come to Vienna let me know.

Cheers, Franz

Thanks for the invitation Franz! I have been to Vienna twice, 2012 and 2013, when spending some time in Bratislava,

That's too bad I didn't think I had a friend there!

Maybe next time!

F.

Edouard posted:

I have never been a fan of Naim speakers, hence I can't say which amp I prefer with them.

How ever I listened many time to Chris Bell 552/500/DBL in Seattle

I have listened to the 552/500/NBL as well, in UK

But you know I'm a Sonus faber fan

I listened only classical music and jazz...

As they say each to its own. What matters is to be happy with our own choices

Cheers, Edouard

 

 

 

Edouard, I'm in market for speaker and thinking of adding NAP500DR,  could you share what current Sonus Faber's you've heard with your set up. I was impressed by your feeling that in your configuration 500 would swamp the 300's refinements. I'n past Dark Bear has portrayed a sympathy/partnering between 552 & 500, but your suggesting that was not what you've found. I've also heard Sonus Faber while working well with Naim really requires tubes, your outcome is obviously different, can you suggest why?          

cnewyork,

Maybe you can have a look at this link, which is a thread that has been on a few years back, it could give you some answers to your questions :

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...h-the-goddess?page=1

I never listened to the SF Amati with a 500, but there is no question that it would sound great as well.

Hence the best way is to listen for yourself in your system and make your choice.

Regards,

Edouard

Richard Dane posted:

I can vouch that the NAC552 works nicely with a NAP110, NAP160, CB NAP250 , as well as the current NAP250DR. Oh, and a NAP500 works brilliantly too. However, for passive 'Briks I would suggest a pair of NAP135s if a NAP500 is still out of reach.  

And I can vouch it works nicely with a NAP250.2 as well.

northpole posted 

Goodness me, the mention of Geoff/ Totem Mani/ Kharma brings me back in time!!  Not sure if it would be Geoff or PolarBear most deserving of the gong for going the extra mile/ kilometre in search of finding the speaker which worked best in their system - that would be a close call!!  Congratulations on resisting any temptation to let any new cables across your threshold - be warned, you might just be amazed what the new offerings can bring to your music!  Same with DR, but who knows, in a few years it may be time for a trip to Salisbury for some of your boxes when servicing will be about due....

Peter

Yes Peter, it brings back to the good old time with lots of memories! The forum offered private messaging then, which helped to make friends and to meet! It's really too bad we can't communicate privately anymore!

As for my main system, the music it delivers in my room is out of this world, hence I have been perfectly happy 

I must admit though that the new Uniti range is quite interesting.

Amicalement, Edouard

I would be careful before jumping to a NAP300 ...... I was very close to doing this ......... but i managed to buy an immaculate but elderly 2002 Nap500 .... at a very reasonable price. even in such an elderly condition ..... it performed brilliantly and sounded epic. Of course later I did get it DR upgraded ...... but that is always an option later. These amps are around for around 5 to 6k or even less.... and I think they are well worth it.

Super Lumina has disrupted my normal advice. A friend is having his 500 upgraded and has a loaner NAP200DR feeding Kudos Titan's via Super Lumina speaker cable. Rest of the system is NDS+555PSx2 + Chord Music interconnects.  The NAP200DR sounds miles better than his non-DR 500.  The newer amps in combo with the SL speaker cable makes a sound I thought was not possible.  While the 500DR is spectacular (I own one) I would suggest a more modest amp (250DR) in combo with SL cable + 552 preamp will make magic.   

Richieroo posted:

I would be careful before jumping to a NAP300 ...... I was very close to doing this ......... but i managed to buy an immaculate but elderly 2002 Nap500 .... at a very reasonable price. even in such an elderly condition ..... it performed brilliantly and sounded epic. Of course later I did get it DR upgraded ...... but that is always an option later. These amps are around for around 5 to 6k or even less.... and I think they are well worth it.

Chris Bell posted:

Super Lumina has disrupted my normal advice. A friend is having his 500 upgraded and has a loaner NAP200DR feeding Kudos Titan's via Super Lumina speaker cable. Rest of the system is NDS+555PSx2 + Chord Music interconnects.  The NAP200DR sounds miles better than his non-DR 500.  The newer amps in combo with the SL speaker cable makes a sound I thought was not possible.  While the 500DR is spectacular (I own one) I would suggest a more modest amp (250DR) in combo with SL cable + 552 preamp will make magic.   

Richieroo, I take your response that under all circumstances NAP500  will always excel musically over other components.  Richieroo, would NAP500 improve all, or almost all setups?  

 Chris, you suggest the Super Lumina  speaker cable may be the defining component,  if your were to choose would you always make SL your priority purchase when owning NAC552?  Thinking  about SL why do feel SL has central role when considered alongside 500?

Chris Bell posted:

Super Lumina has disrupted my normal advice. A friend is having his 500 upgraded and has a loaner NAP200DR feeding Kudos Titan's via Super Lumina speaker cable. Rest of the system is NDS+555PSx2 + Chord Music interconnects.  The NAP200DR sounds miles better than his non-DR 500.  The newer amps in combo with the SL speaker cable makes a sound I thought was not possible.  While the 500DR is spectacular (I own one) I would suggest a more modest amp (250DR) in combo with SL cable + 552 preamp will make magic.   

Are you saying that without SL 552L250DR doesn't work.

Well.... the Nap500 is not  cure all it is just a fine amp ... and the Nac552 will work fine into other amps...it is a tremendous pre amp. However the 552 was designed and voiced with the 500 in mind and effectively it is almost like one amp. I purchased an old Nap500 and spent allot of time comparing it with a Nap250dr. There was totally no contest the old 500 blew the 250dr away.... it was apparent from even very low volume...it sounded more open .... delicate with a really beautiful upper mid finesse. Then if you turned up the volume wow ... you were suddenly made aware how the whole sound stage was held....no matter how complex the music. Also the bass etc was excellent .... a touch warm in comparison to the 250dr but not unpleasant. As I say this is just my personal finding ...... and view.

Richieroo posted:

Well.... the Nap500 is not  cure all it is just a fine amp ... and the Nac552 will work fine into other amps...it is a tremendous pre amp. However the 552 was designed and voiced with the 500 in mind and effectively it is almost like one amp. I purchased an old Nap500 and spent allot of time comparing it with a Nap250dr. There was totally no contest the old 500 blew the 250dr away.... it was apparent from even very low volume...it sounded more open .... delicate with a really beautiful upper mid finesse. Then if you turned up the volume wow ... you were suddenly made aware how the whole sound stage was held....no matter how complex the music. Also the bass etc was excellent .... a touch warm in comparison to the 250dr but not unpleasant. As I say this is just my personal finding ...... and view.

Richard Dane posted:

I can vouch that the NAC552 works nicely with a NAP110, NAP160, CB NAP250 , as well as the current NAP250DR. Oh, and a NAP500 works brilliantly too. However, for passive 'Briks I would suggest a pair of NAP135s if a NAP500 is still out of reach.  

Richard, regarding Richieroo's comment above can you confirm if "552 was designed and voiced with the 500 in mind and effectively it is almost like one amp?" I understand that this does not diminish 552's versatility. 

Richard, Is Richieroo's opinion still relevant when Naim is no longer making speakers intended in good measure for their 500 range?     

Cnewyork, I'm not sure about any "voicing" (I sometimes see this term but I'm not really sure what is mean by it), but certainly the NAP500 was one of the power amps that was used during NAC552 development (along with other Naim amps). Obviously it had to work at its best when partnered with the NAP500 as both represented the pinnacle of Naim pre/power at the time.

As for your second question, I'm not entirely certain what you're asking.  Can you clarify for me?

Darke Bear posted:

Khan posted:

hi guys,

what would be a more suitable amplifier for a NAC 552. NAP 300 or a 135s? I understand a 500 would be ideal but that is currently well out of my budget  

Speakers will most likely be linn Isobarik. 

Umar

I've used Briks powered by Naim amps for decades until a few years back and they work well with any Naim power amp of 250 and up, but you do hear clearly the different character of each amp.

The 135 mono-blocks have their own unique and engaging sound and sound very different from the 300 and 300DR.

The 300DR will win an all respects IMO, but between the non-DR 300 and 135 they each have their strengths and either will work well musically, but have very different character.

The later Naim amps reveal more detail and have better HF response IMO, possibly due to the better output power transistors available and gradual improvements as you would expect. But the 135 has its own dedicated power supply and transformer for each channel so has some 'boogie' advantages from how I hear it over the non-DR 300. The 300DR is better I think due to the better DR regulation design.

In short all work fine musically with the 552 and Briks.

DB.

Passive Bi amped Briks with 200 & 250, the regulated 250 shut down when driving the bass & mids.

Switched amps and the non regulated 200, did not shut down when driving the bass & mids.

A little less headroom, but not that noticeable!

But Passive Tri Amped Briks are a delight, next upgrade, Active Briks!

Cdx2>282

HCDR>282

HCDR> 3 x 250.2> Briks

I would imagine the 552, would bring more to the party!

But the 282 isn't missing a beat!

Enjoy your Music!

Allante93!

 Chris, you suggest the Super Lumina  speaker cable may be the defining component,  if your were to choose would you always make SL your priority purchase when owning NAC552?  Thinking  about SL why do feel SL has central role when considered alongside 500?

 

Super Lumina speaker cable carries so much more resolution than Naca5.   I've listened to it in multiple systems (big and small) and it had an enormous benefit to the sound.  All Naim owners should consider a demo of Super Lumina in their systems.  I've  carried the "source-first" flag for decades, but SL has disrupted that thinking for me.  

Does the 'more metres of cable' rule apply to Super Limina as well? Currently the NAC A5 I have are over 8 metres each. I was told this is ideal for Naim Power amps.

Richard its great to hear from you. I think I might just start with the CB 250 into Briks for now. Eventually when funds allow I can add the 135s.

Unless of course my purchase of the Briks is stifled by my love for smaller standmounts.

I am working with bedroom space after all.