NAP500 off for upgrade!

You're in for a treat Steve. I reckon it's the biggest 500 series DR upgrade, and arguably the best v.f.m. because one effectively gets back a brand new amplifier - a NAP750?

I was very happy with the sound of my upgraded 500 fresh outta the box and could clearly hear that I had a different beast on my hands. Maybe initially a bit soft-focus, but the lurking potential was clearly evident. Expect it to get better and better for up to six months.

John.

What John said... and I enjoyed double the effect ...

enjoy

ken

Thanks guys - I'm looking forward to it.  I just have to keep my anticipation in check.  And hope that the time period doesn't extend even further!

Cheers

Steve

I'm in the same boat as you, with my entire 500 system back in Naim since the beginning of the month. I'll let you know how long it takes to get back to the dealer. I'll still have a wait after that since we'll then have to see when he has a window to bring it back down to me, since I'm effectively immobilised by work at the moment - as is he....

Hmm upgrading really from a Total then, so it will be awesome ????

I think my 500DR is about 3 months old now and it's still getting better. I personally think that the move from a 52 to a 552 wasn't quite as big as the 500 to 500DR. Utterly transformational. I don't think I've had an off day since it was installed. It sounded great from switch on and just keeps getting better. A real treat.

Sounds like I'm in for a treat.  I had wondered whether changing the 52 for a 552 would be worth doing, but I really couldn't afford that and the 500DR upgrade.  I have had the 52 sorted, though by an occult headpiece using some amphibian boards, which seems to have been successful.  I'm expecting that the DR upgrade will make a noticeable difference - not that I'm unhappy with what I have, TBH.  But you get that certain itch...

Hi Steve,

It's indeed a very noticeable improvement

Please let us know your impressions once you got it back.

Regards

Roberto

I was told 2 weeks, it came back in 10 days.

Ooh - so there is hope that it might not be as long as a month?  That would be excellent.

Cheers

Steve

rsch posted:

 

Please let us know your impressions once you got it back.

 

I certainly will.

Obsydian posted:

Hmm upgrading really from a Total then, so it will be awesome ????

Damn auto correct, should have read, Hmm upgrading really from a ROTEL, so it will be awesome ????

It should certainly be a bit of an improvement over that.  Though I must admit I was surprised that the Rotel didn't suck as much as I expected it to.

Steve

What are the current UK prices for:

552 recap and DR

500 DR

Thanks

Gregg

Just to confirm that my 500 has now also come back to the dealer after just over two weeks.

On the pricing I was quoted:

552/PS552 service+upgrade £2490
500/PS500 service+upgrade £4900

How's it sounding?

It's at the dealer, but it will take him another two weeks to get it down here and I can't make it up there to bring it down. The 2nd's the day....

Ah - a painful wait, then.

Cheers

Steve

Agonising! :-)

It's back at Gulliford's - pick it up tomorrow.  So that's the weekend sorted, then.  Probably won't sleep well tonight...

Installed last night - I reckon it's a bit better than the Rotel.  

Hard to compare with how it was pre-upgrade, given the time in between, and having used the Rotel in the meantime, so my impressions should be taken with a pinch of salt.  So far, it seems to have somewhat lower and clearer bass and clearer treble.  Of course, it was excellent before, but I think there is just more clarity now.  There are some sounds I notice more now on some tracks than I remember noticing before.  I tried Private Investigation (Dire Straits) to listen out for the breaking bottle.  Didn't really hear much difference there, but I did find Knopfler's monologue at the beginning easier to hear for most of it. On other tracks (by, for example, Uakti, Danheim, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Daft Punk, Biosphere, Dave Brubeck amongst others) it seemed more open somehow - it's very difficult to describe.  Not night-and-day (I didn't expect it to be - it would have had to have been severely broken before, I think, for that sort of change), but certainly different, and an improvement from the previous high to a new higher level.  

More listening later today. One of the (many) tracks I want to hear is Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us by Alison Krauss on Raising Sand.  That is a good recording (as well as a good song) with very intimate-sounding vocal.

You probably need a better source/pre now

Regards

Roberto

I’ve had my gear back for around a week now and the differences are very significant, but it’s impossible to know exactly what’s bringing what to the party, having the 555, 552 and 500 all done at the same time, including of course the firmware updates to the 555. 

I've always found Naim upgrades to be an improvement (ND555?) on the basis that they wouldn't do it if there was no gain. Even if I bought blind which I have, never felt short changed. However not all upgrades are equal. This is one of their best. If the amp is getting on a bit (10 years or so) then the service pack is worthwhile.

From memory the 500 power amp dates back to roundabout 2000. My guess is they could have brought out a complete new amp after all that time, but went down the upgrade route to the benefit of existing owners. Its VFM.

We would all like a Statement if funds and space would allow. I think it gets pretty close for a much reduced financial outlay. When Hi-Fi News reviewed the 500DR they said it was no poor relation to its bigger brother. Also said in the same review the 250DR was equally valid at its price point. The law of diminishing returns perhaps?

Douglas.

rsch posted:

You probably need a better source/pre now

Regards

Roberto

Possibly - I have the NAC52, serviced, which should be pretty good.  Not sure what upgrade I can afford.  TBH it sounds so good at the moment that I shall remain happy for a while.