preamp udates

At this level of cost you need a dealer visit.

As an interim measure I’m sure it will work just fine. How long you have to wait for a preamp upgrade, though, is anyone’s guess. 

ChrisSU posted:

As an interim measure I’m sure it will work just fine. How long you have to wait for a preamp upgrade, though, is anyone’s guess. 

It might be a long wait...

A posh new volume control will make a 252 or 552 slightly slicker but I suspect would do nothing for SQ. All the advances (and more) in the new digital platform from the new Uniti line have been incorporated into the new ND555, NDX2 and ND5XS2. So I suspect there would only be cost, with no SQ gain, by modifying (rather than upgrading) the Classic and 552 pre amps. The real developments have been in the digital realm but pre amps are conveyors of the good old analogue signal. The only real advance here has been in the introduction of DR technology in power supplies.

So, my bet is that pre amps and their power supplies will remain untouched until there is a real advance on analogue technology. Unlikely to be significant or soon, as Naim have been wringing the best performance here for the last three decades.

I would be delighted to be told differently by those with superior technical knowledge.

nigelb posted:

A posh new volume control will make a 252 or 552 slightly slicker.............

...........just like that.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

nigelb posted:

A posh new volume control will make a 252 or 552 slightly slicker.............

...........just like that.

Look....nothing up my sleeves.....

This has been discussed before, probably many times. One thing though about incorporating a Statement style volume control on a 552 or 252 preamp would limit it to top shelf placement only. 

Clive B posted:

This has been discussed before, probably many times. One thing though about incorporating a Statement style volume control on a 552 or 252 preamp would limit it to top shelf placement only. 

If a posh volume knob was added to the 252 and 552 it would be in the same position as currently, on the front fascia, as it is on the N272. But I can't see it happening.

They might do an update similar to the DR amp side with the pre amps. That new volume attenuater could be called NURSE: Naims Ultimate Resolution Statement Effector.

TOBYJUG posted:

They might do an update similar to the dr amp side with the pre amps. 

Hasn't that been done though in all the power supplies to the Classic and 552 pre amps?

nigelb posted:

TOBYJUG posted:

They might do an update similar to the dr amp side with the pre amps. 

Hasn't that been done though in all the power supplies to the Classic and 552 pre amps?

Indeed, the preamps were the first to get DR power supplies. 

Not a fan of the "posh knobs" here.  Sounds like a an insult, doesn't it?  "Get out of my way ya posh knob!"

But in terms of practicality they suck: you cannot see the volume level seated across the room.  And as pointed out previously to work conveniently they have to be on the top shelf.  Which for us vinyl fans ain't happening.

Fine maybe on a 3 foot tall Statement pre, but not on a Classic sized component.  I don't like the one on my Muso, even, would much prefer an old style knob on the front.  Oh, well, definitely a first world problem.

I think the point about the volume control is that the new ones on the Unitis are easy to use and precise. Unlike the old preamp Alps pots, which might sound great, but in some systems, are not great to use. Nothing to do with the large physical size of the knob and it’s location on the box. 

ChrisSU posted:

I think the point about the volume control is that the new ones on the Unitis are easy to use and precise. Unlike the old preamp Alps pots, which might sound great, but in some systems, are not great to use. Nothing to do with the large physical size of the knob and it’s location on the box. 

I don't want to poke the beehive but my point exactly is that unless the device is on the top shelf the new control is NOT easy to use OR precise.  Depending on the spacing on a lower shelf it may in fact be impossible to use.  What is great design on a 3+ foot tall Statement pre is only reasonable on the Muso (mine is on the far side of a kitchen table so wide I can't look down on it without severe contortion) and in my view entirely ill conceived on a device designed for shelf or rack mounting.  It's just bad design.  But...  "Ooooo, shiny!"

As Chrissu said, the location and size of the knob have nothing to do with the technology to attenuate the volume level. The Statement and 272 use resistor ladder under DSP control to change volume. The device under the knob is just an encoder.

Manu posted:

As Chrissu said, the location and size of the knob have nothing to do with the technology to attenuate the volume level. The Statement and 272 use resistor ladder under DSP control to change volume. The device under the knob is just an encoder.

Indeed, and nobody is suggesting that Naim would be so daft as to put it on top of a separate preamp where you couldn't reach it. When people talk about good and bad volume controls, they are generally referring to the actual pot, resistor ladder, digital control or whatever, not just the shiny round knob, which you could put anywhere, and make any size you want, for aesthetic reasons. Personally, I would happily have no physical volume knob at all, as I would rather use the app for control.

Agreed; the app or the remote is what I use 99% of the time.

A full range volume control would not go amiss. Or at least something approaching it. Given the excellent range and precise control now offered by a QB volume pot, the limited usable range of the volume pot on my 552 (and the 252 before it, and every other amp I've had since my A&R A60) is frankly stupid. 

If it's a toss up between sound quality and convenience, it's no contest. But Naim are good at this inch by inch R&D stuff and I wouldn't be surprised to see this continue to filter up the pre range as soon as the SQ box is ticked. I hope that if it can be made to sound good enough for a 552 (which is to say, sound like nothing at all), it will be retrofittable. 

To the original question, using the 272preamp section bare after removing the 555ps might lose you nearly as much as you gain from adding the nd555 over the 272 streamer section with 555ps.  I wouldnt take a £13k hit on a hunch that there may be a volume control update unless a demo proved conclusive. 272/555ps seems an excellent option which I'd keep and revisit if and when a preamp update comes.

New (3 series ?) pre-amps have been expected (and waited upon) for years now. At this point,it looks like new technologies are going to be primarily in the digital domain. Since most of us are resigned to compromises in room placement of components,speakers and furniture, the best solution will (probably?) be some sort of easy to use and actually useful (and unobtrusive) digital sound correction. I don't expect much more progress in analog. Don't forget how very quickly digital has improved in a relatively short term. I'd be surprised if new or improved  pre-amps are coming soon. And for now, my (new) 282 is keeping me happy happy

At a recent ND555 demo, Jason from Naim commented on the Naim view on digital correction for room problems. He basically said if the door or something else in the room is the causing sound problems.....change the door or change the room acoustically. If you change the signal to overcome the problem.......the potential sound quality of the system suffers. That’s a Naim “Roy” view, perhaps it will change, I hope not.