NAP 500 to NAP 500DR?

My 500 DR upgrade is now about 6 months in, and it has improved over all that time. You won’t lose anything, and you will gain a great deal. It is neither brighter nor thinner, but rather more músical. It will drag you deeper into listening! It further reduces the (already low) noise floor, making it possible to enjoy great music at moderate volume, if circumstances demand, while ready to rock when the opportunity arises. 

I believe it is a very good value for money upgrade (in Naim currency) .

I did the change from 500 to 500DR. The DR is a more rounded performer in that it resolves smoothly and cleanly details that were by comparison only hinted at by the non-DR 500. The Bass is deeper and better controlled with better phase-definition of transients of drum-hits - the big drums especially have a power they did not have before. Mid-band is is more open and easy-detailed and smoother - as if the non-DR was a bit coarse by comparison - only by comparison I mean. HF end is smoother and more extended and again far cleaner and more resolving of detail.

Technically I think I'm hearing a wider inherent frequency response and open-loop gain with greater linearity before feedback, which the new output transistors should give and subjectively do. There is also a noticeably lower noise-floor subjectively on playing music in that you can more intimately access the details very easily - an effortless rendering of the music which I always considered the non-DR 500 to have but the DR far exceeds it.

The DR is better everywhere - once you allow the three weeks of initial run-in shenanigans. It continues to improve noticeably for the next 18 months to my hearing, but you get most of it within the first nine months.

500DR is a real achievement IMO - I'd be amazed if you missed your old non-DR 500 once you make the change.
An even more musical amplifier - it is 'nice' in a fluid musical way that suits the Naim sonic signature since the Reference Range emerged...and it works very nicely with the S1 Pre.

DB.

Darke Bear posted:

I did the change from 500 to 500DR. The DR is a more rounded performer in that it resolves smoothly and cleanly details that were by comparison only hinted at by the non-DR 500. The Bass is deeper and better controlled with better phase-definition of transients of drum-hits - the big drums especially have a power they did not have before. Mid-band is is more open and easy-detailed and smoother - as if the non-DR was a bit coarse by comparison - only by comparison I mean. HF end is smoother and more extended and again far cleaner and more resolving of detail.

Technically I think I'm hearing a wider inherent frequency response and open-loop gain with greater linearity before feedback, which the new output transistors should give and subjectively do. There is also a noticeably lower noise-floor subjectively on playing music in that you can more intimately access the details very easily - an effortless rendering of the music which I always considered the non-DR 500 to have but the DR far exceeds it.

The DR is better everywhere - once you allow the three weeks of initial run-in shenanigans. It continues to improve noticeably for the next 18 months to my hearing, but you get most of it within the first nine months.

500DR is a real achievement IMO - I'd be amazed if you missed your old non-DR 500 once you make the change.
An even more musical amplifier - it is 'nice' in a fluid musical way that suits the Naim sonic signature since the Reference Range emerged...and it works very nicely with the S1 Pre.

DB.

Thanks DB.

What is your opinion regarding the darkness/brightness issue?

BP. 

I don't find my 500DR dark or bright at all. It's a wonderful amp with fine resolution and great bass power.  Best part of the DR upgrade is you get an entirely new amp for less than 1/3 the price of new.  The 500 was revolutionary 15 years ago when it debuted... it beat out my active six pack.  But time marches on and the DR version is exceptional, especially when partnered with Super Lumina speaker cable.    

I would not characterise the 500 DR as 'brighter' but as a smoother and more articulate rendered than the non-DR 500 - but I also consider the non-DR 500 to be a more refined and detailed Amp than the non-DR 300, which I'd previously owned, liked and upgraded from in time.

The 500DR is a quieter and more revealing device of the low-level acoustics on a recording too - it also goes louder in a more controlled way.

The HF is more revealing so there is more present - so 'brighter' could be used, but it is not actually bright but just presenting new information at the correct level. I personally hate a bright-sounding system and could not abide living with one and if I have to choose a direction it is slightly towards dull or preferably neutral.

For example, the S1 Pre is very neutral and makes the 552 sound 'bright' by comparison, but that is only because the S1 has far more bass extension and weight and has a similar HF signature to the 500DR, which is why they seem to work well together, which I suspect is not accidental. But the 552 Pre in comparison to other Preamps has plenty of good quality bass extension and wallop, as do all Naim Preamps in the range from entry-level and on-up, so it is all relative descriptions being given. Probably the 552DR works better with the 500DR as a system.

DB.

Not sure what my comments will add but the 500DR is SO MUCH better then 500! It’s like a NAP 600 if you ask me. In what areas? ALL! Total no-brainer! 

//Jonas

Thanks all.

BP.