Any 552 Owner ever regretted buying it and why?

Well done Phil !

R.

Filipe posted:

MDS posted:

I think you know, Phil.

I really, really liked my 282/SCDR and it showed it's excellent capability even when I upgraded my 250.2 to 300DR.  But.............the 552DR is in another league.  While I could have happily lived with the 282/SCDR, fortunately I was able to afford a 552DR, and during nearly 2 years of ownership I haven't missed the 282/SCDR once.   

Mike, but did you buy without hearing? Did you abandon your nearby dealer to save 5%? It is not money either.

Phil

No, Phil. I had an in-store demo with a near clone of my system and then a two-week home trial. I then reacclimatised to my system, took my time, and thought carefully about whether the 552DR justified its price tag. I wouldn't have bought blind, even for a discount.

Mike

My biggest regret with NAC552 is that I did not get it sooner. Granted money doesn't grow on trees, it takes time. Here are some considerations for 552 ownership:

• it demands the very best in partnering equipment. 
• It is not going to have an obvious 'signature' like a 252 with SC-DR (which is the only way to listen to a 252)
• The 250DR is a tremendous power amplifier, despite which a 552 needs a minimum of a 300 to extract the virtues of a low noise floor. 500 ideally.
• It needs to be sited correctly. 552ps and other PS away. Hell, keep it isolated, if you can manage it. Use light, rigid racks.
• Snaic5 and Burndy cable to run together. Separated from any other cables. If you're using a PowerLine, suspending the PowerLine off the floor and keeping other mains cables away from 552 PowerLine is essential. 
• When it comes to a network player source, some lucky guys can get good to great results off an NDX or NDac solution. For the rest of us with not-so-good rooms, NDS. 

In all the time I sold the 552, there's just one person I know of who went back to a 282. Granted, it wasn't on my watch.  He plonked it in his system, power supply directly beneath, and felt it uninspiring, underwhelming. A Classic Mistake: if it's the flagship, shouldn't it (automatically) sound better? He's since moved to a 252 SC-DR, which sounds tremendous, and remains pissed at me for not affirming that this is better than a 10 year old 552.

Chag... posted:

I understood that a very few classical music lovers on this forum have preferred the slightly recessed and delicate presentation of the 252 to the more forward and vibrant signature of the 552.   ????

Chag -

You're getting confused with the 282. Until the post immediately above I had never read of anyone on this forum or elsewhere who has preferred a 252 to a 552.

Hi Phil wow you have a great system.....the 552 should be really good in that....... I am not sure about the focal's top end from memory they are a little hot ..... but I think allot will come down to your room and damping etc....... one things for sure they will have a giant kick up the preverbial!!!! I recon you will need a dedicated mains feed to optimise things.

Richieroo posted:

Hi Phil wow you have a great system.....the 552 should be really good in that....... I am not sure about the focal's top end from memory they are a little hot ..... but I think allot will come down to your room and damping etc....... one things for sure they will have a giant kick up the preverbial!!!! I recon you will need a dedicated mains feed to optimise things.

Richieroo, I had the radial put in nearly two years ago, albeit in 4mm2 CY which is shielded with a 4 mm2 earth as well. It went round the outside in conduit. I have extraordinarily low earth potential according to the electrician, so all should be stable. I don’t have any real before and after comparisons as the system was bedding in, I was learning about setup and it has evolved. No complaints now, and compared with the system, pretty cheap if it worked, which it seems to.

I have never felt I had issues with the Focal Sopra 2s. We are carpeted, lots of window’s and doors, bit lopsided and plenty of chairs in an albeit 6x5 m room. They show the effect of any changes immediately rather than having to sort out resonances. They go nicely with black boxes, and older black wall mounted Panasonic Vierra TV. Did not like the big stand mounted Neats soundwise or for looks at the dealer’s or at home. The Focals are sweet and pack a punch as well.

Phil

Having heard this wonderful piece at my dealer, the only reason I can imagine regretting having one is the price if it was a further reach financially than was prudent to get to it.

My local dealer has just concluded the deal on the 555DR PS with me. Bye bye XPSDR. The 555 is amazing and should evolve over the next year. Really unveils the backings to modern music in the sense that you wonder what has hit you on some CDs like Madonna’s Ray of Light. With classical the uplift was not so evident, but better bass etc.

Just got a 252 to try after a 2 months delay because another customer had a problem with his. Now I know why it is better for classical than the 282. Listening to Khung Wha Chung’s Mendelssohn Violin concerto is much more exciting. It’s beauty is very evident, and not in your face. There is extra depth in the violin, everything is just more musical. Keep you posted. 

The 552 will be demoed after the Bristol Show which my dealership organises. Really looking forward to the demo. I believe the other dealer has to allow me to cancel my order especially as he has not ordered for me. Therefore I hope I have not taken a risk.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, including Viking for setup and dressing tips. I certainly give the SuperCap DR lots of space. The 555 seems ok above the 300DR PS. I am limited by the length of the DIN to XLR without changes to the racks. Read his tips.

Phil

Vik posted:

My biggest regret with NAC552 is that I did not get it sooner. Granted money doesn't grow on trees, it takes time. Here are some considerations for 552 ownership:

• it demands the very best in partnering equipment. 
• It is not going to have an obvious 'signature' like a 252 with SC-DR (which is the only way to listen to a 252)
• The 250DR is a tremendous power amplifier, despite which a 552 needs a minimum of a 300 to extract the virtues of a low noise floor. 500 ideally.
• It needs to be sited correctly. 552ps and other PS away. Hell, keep it isolated, if you can manage it. Use light, rigid racks.
• Snaic5 and Burndy cable to run together. Separated from any other cables. If you're using a PowerLine, suspending the PowerLine off the floor and keeping other mains cables away from 552 PowerLine is essential. 
• When it comes to a network player source, some lucky guys can get good to great results off an NDX or NDac solution. For the rest of us with not-so-good rooms, NDS. 

 

In all the time I sold the 552, there's just one person I know of who went back to a 282. Granted, it wasn't on my watch.  He plonked it in his system, power supply directly beneath, and felt it uninspiring, underwhelming. A Classic Mistake: if it's the flagship, shouldn't it (automatically) sound better? He's since moved to a 252 SC-DR, which sounds tremendous, and remains pissed at me for not affirming that this is better than a 10 year old 552.

 

Vik, Thanks for the tips. I don’t have Fraim, but could put an isolation plinth in. I was told by the new dealer that the spring suspension of the 552 means isolation is not as important. He said it might help the 552 DR PS. I’d need longer legs for my HiFi Racks shelf. Any thoughts? Is this better for all Power Supplies?

I have a 300DR. 

Phil

Filipe posted:

Richieroo posted:

Hi Phil you have a great system at the front particularly the RP10 ...the 552  is very revealing so it will make the most of it for sure. The presentation should be not too dissimilar to the 282 ..... remind me what is your power amp and speaker combo...?

Hi Richieroo

I have 300DR into Focal Sopra 2. I would like to see some harshness on some CDs (Madonna’s Ray of Light) improve, but maybe is just dance music! On many there is plenty of timbre.

Phil

Filipe, I have read on Forum that Focal Sopra 2 was designed with NAP300 in mind. was that a factor in your decision to buy the FS2 and how does it integrate or advance the Naim sound?    

cnewyork posted:

Filipe posted:

Richieroo posted:

Hi Phil you have a great system at the front particularly the RP10 ...the 552  is very revealing so it will make the most of it for sure. The presentation should be not too dissimilar to the 282 ..... remind me what is your power amp and speaker combo...?

Hi Richieroo

I have 300DR into Focal Sopra 2. I would like to see some harshness on some CDs (Madonna’s Ray of Light) improve, but maybe is just dance music! On many there is plenty of timbre.

Phil

Filipe, I have read on Forum that Focal Sopra 2 was designed with NAP300 in mind. was that a factor in your decision to buy the FS2 and how does it integrate or advance the Naim sound?    

I’ve given some impressions of the Focal Sopra2s to Richieroo on this thread today. Being in the same ownership they are voiced for Naim. I suppose the 300DR I have is a good match. I am very happy.

Now I have a 252 on demo I can see that some might prefer a different speaker according to preamp choice to deal with differing presentations of modern and classical. It seems better to just get an appropriate balance in other ways. Then there is you room and ears. My older ears like the Sopra 2s and I seem to hear the 282 as good for modern but not so good for classical, and the 252 the other way round on initial impressions.

I can’t imagine the 552 coming unstuck with FS2s if the 282 sounds good for modern but not so good for classical and the 252 the other way round. The FS2s seem to present what they are given so don’t blame them for the sound. 

Phil

I've heard the Sopra 2s with 250.2, 250DR and 300DR.  They were very good on the first two and leapt into another league when driven by the 300DR.

Phil you are in for a real treat ....... once the 552 is fully settled in......by the way do not use highline between 552 and source sl is fantastic 

MDS posted:

I've heard the Sopra 2s with 250.2, 250DR and 300DR.  They were very good on the first two and leapt into another league when driven by the 300DR.

Been living with them with a 300DR for the last 9 months and can agree 100%

I agree. At that level the system deserves an SL interconnect.

MDS posted:

I agree. At that level the system deserves an SL interconnect.

Got the full SL loom already, so very ready for the rest.

Phil

Filipe posted:

MDS posted:

I agree. At that level the system deserves an SL interconnect.

Got the full SL loom already, so very ready for the rest.

Phil

Excellent. You're going to throughly enjoy yourself, Phil. 

I have heard that the NAP 300 was used to voice the Sopra-3. Not sure about the Sopra-2 but may not make a difference

jsaudio posted:

I have heard that the NAP 300 was used to voice the Sopra-3. Not sure about the Sopra-2 but may not make a difference

I use the 300DR to drive the Scala Utopia V2s and have also heard that it was one of the amps used during their development and listening tests. It certainly works like a dream in my room 

At home, my 552 DR is running with NDS, 555PS, NAP 300, Superlumina full loom and 3 Powerlines. My speakers are Sonus Faber Cremona M.  My NAS is also optimized to reduce the background noise at a minimum lewel (NAS fanless, linear power supply, audiophile LAN cables). The system sounds incredible but there is still a tiny exaggeration on high frequencies difficult to reduce. This is audible only with classical music on some recordings. I have taken into account all the advises in this thread on cable dressing, 552 position on the rack far from Power supplies, ...

In my feedback, 552 is a great preamp but tricky to optimize.

I suspect a problem with speakers or recordings but not sure...

Do you have any recommandations ?

Lionel

Lionel Thank you for your input. I can’t advise on your acoustic issue at high frequencies. I’d guess that the toe on the speakers might have some effect. Members like [@mention:36201736971392588] know how to diagnose and fix acoustic problems.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Did you compare Ovators with Sopra 2 ? i ' d be tempted by the latter at some stage

Regards

Roberto

Continuing the blog on the 252 I’m demoing while I wait for a 552 to demo after the Bristol Show, I’d say that the improvement of classical music the 252 brings is to give more weight to the notes. They bloom a bit more but I’d like to hear a fuller bloom.

Listening to Norah Jones’s Feels Like Home, I’d say that 1 day into the warm up she sounds deeper without the lighter sound full of more character I had with my 282, which I liked. Of course without use it will take a while for this 252 to give its best. 

So those of you who know the 252 and 552 might like to comment on how you heard the former and how the sound changed with the 552. Also why not comment on your recollections of how the sound of each of these developed as they warm up and burn in.

Thanks for your interest and feedback.

Phil

rsch posted:

Hi Phil,

Did you compare Ovators with Sopra 2 ? i ' d be tempted by the latter at some stage

Regards

Roberto

Hi Roberto

No I didn’t because my dealer did not offer Ovators, preferring Focal. 

Phil

I came from Ovator to B&W Diamond to Focal Sopra2. Sopra2 is very detailled, open and airy.  Good bass (maybe litte too much upper end-bass) and very free playing midrange. The speaker is very transparent compared to the other two. I sold Ovator because of the missing highs/open presentation. Very good bass, good midrange but nothing above... I listened to Harbeth as well but this is by far the most overhyped and  boring speaker I ever heard :-)  my 2cents of course....