552

Congratulations you will have a lot of enjoyment. And as you have 2ps on the nd555 you definitely should make sure you get a 500to ensure that you can really get the maximum sound of your kit...

Thanks Bert you loving your ND 500 even more as its had some hours to settle down.

tonycurran1 posted:

Thanks Bert you loving your ND 500 even more as its had some hours to settle down.

Should read ND555

tonycurran1 posted:

Thanks Bert you loving your ND 500 even more as its had some hours to settle down.

Yes - while honestly you Leo quickly get used to the new standard. Didn’t find the burn in so far that bumpy. But still expect the sound will further refine and evolve.

Congrats Tony.  The 552 was the all-time best  bit of Naim kit I ever bought.  At the time, I too had a NAP300 but later changed that to a NAP500.

So far, so good... but don't set your sights on the NAP500 too soon.  Like you I was running B&W speakers and had been for years... but all that changed...

It changed when I heard ATC active speakers (SCM 100 ASL).  Not to be too flippant about it, out went the B&W's and  the NAP500 and in came the ATC active speakers. I emphasise active because, IMHO, the passive versions weren't as good as the B&W's (both with the NAP500).  However, what those guys (& girls?) at ATC do with their built-in amplification is nothing short of amazing.

So, as I say, before rushing out to buy your NAP500, treat yourself to a listen to these ATC 100's  (or 150's).  They may not be for you, but I'd be surprised if they didn't get on your (very) short list.  And, just as your 552 came in at a very reasonable price, chopping in your B&W803's plus your NAP300 will shave a hefty lump off the £16,700 price of the ATC's.

rjstaines posted:

It changed when I heard ATC active speakers (SCM 100 ASL).  Not to be too flippant about it, out went the B&W's and  the NAP500 and in came the ATC active speakers. I emphasise active because, IMHO, the passive versions weren't as good as the B&W's (both with the NAP500).  However, what those guys (& girls?) at ATC do with their built-in amplification is nothing short of amazing.

So, as I say, before rushing out to buy your NAP500, treat yourself to a listen to these ATC 100's  (or 150's).  They may not be for you, but I'd be surprised if they didn't get on your (very) short list.  And, just as your 552 came in at a very reasonable price, chopping in your B&W803's plus your NAP300 will shave a hefty lump off the £16,700 price of the ATC's.

Never even considered active speakers.  Next year was planning on upgrading to  555 from nds and to 500dr from 300dr.  Maybe I will consider the ATC’s.  Just upgraded to 552, worth every cent  

Congratulations. Enjoy your new addition. For future thought do consider a SuperLumina interconnect and maybe full Fraim before an amp shuffle. Cheers

Congratulations....that 552 will take about a month to start to really settle in .... and about 3 months for full performance. Your system will be epic. You just need a nap500 to finish it off...ha ha....It never ends....then an S1 etc. That's enough of that you have a marvellous system sit back and enjoy!!!!

Tony - nice move - I am jealous and inspired in equal measure! For me a full 500/555/552 set up is too big a jump in one go from the 272/250DR but, RJS' experience may be the key.

RJS - At this stage, do you feel that your ATC active set up optimises the capabilities of the 552? If you started again tomorrow, would you still opt for the 552 as your pre-amp?

Tony - sounds like you have a very helpful and supportive dealer there - can you give any hints on their location? Thanks

Naim are all about the preamp

I've been lucky enough to hear a set containing a NAC552 a couple of times. Enjoy yours.

Shropshire Hills posted:

Tony - sounds like you have a very helpful and supportive dealer there - can you give any hints on their location? Thanks

Yes Adam or Roger at Nintronics Welwyn Garden City herts

they have a Naim evening coming up I will post the details when I get them.

Many thanks and enjoy your NAC552 - it should be a wonderful sound and especially with the ND555

Hi thanks for all your replies

I am not going to buy a 500 amp

i feel with the ND555 the 552 is sorting out the signal from it and the 300DR is not struggling to push in through to the B&W 803

i know the 500 would change the sound for the better maybe a different tone and give better control of the speakers but then so would the statement 

i am going to sit back and enjoy the system over the next 6 months or so and then maybe consider replacing my 6 tier fraim lite for the fraim I must admit I struggled to work out the price of the fraim to hold 8 black boxes

if any member can work that out for me that would be great.

tonycurran1 posted:

Hi thanks for all your replies

I am not going to buy a 500 amp

i feel with the ND555 the 552 is sorting out the signal from it and the 300DR is not struggling to push in through to the B&W 803

i know the 500 would change the sound for the better maybe a different tone and give better control of the speakers but then so would the statement 

i am going to sit back and enjoy the system over the next 6 months or so and then maybe consider replacing my 6 tier fraim lite for the fraim I must admit I struggled to work out the price of the fraim to hold 8 black boxes

if any member can work that out for me that would be great.

You would be better off with two stacks, brain on left, brawn on right. So you need two base units and six shelves. You can work out the price from that. It just depends what height shelves you want, standard or medium.

Clive B posted:

tonycurran1 posted:

Hi thanks for all your replies

I am not going to buy a 500 amp

i feel with the ND555 the 552 is sorting out the signal from it and the 300DR is not struggling to push in through to the B&W 803

i know the 500 would change the sound for the better maybe a different tone and give better control of the speakers but then so would the statement 

i am going to sit back and enjoy the system over the next 6 months or so and then maybe consider replacing my 6 tier fraim lite for the fraim I must admit I struggled to work out the price of the fraim to hold 8 black boxes

if any member can work that out for me that would be great.

You would be better off with two stacks, brain on left, brawn on right. So you need two base units and six shelves. You can work out the price from that. It just depends what height shelves you want, standard or medium.

When you purchase the fraim stand be sure and buy the size to fit the 500dr amp you are not going to buy!

Cool! 552 was my favourite Naim black box for years. Just an amazing product! 

//Jonas

My favourite 552 snippet garnered from the forum: When Richard's big NAP was sent in to HQ for something or other, he substituted it with a CB NAP110 between his NAC552 and SL2s. The NAP110 was no disgrace because it was controlled by his top-flight pre

One hell of an amp that little NAP110.  It doesn't have as much heft or authority low down as the bigger amps, but boy is it just so musical!  There were times when I would  think I could be quite happy with just the little NAP110 and maybe the best of my shoe box pre-amps. Of course with a NAC552 its sang its heart out. 

Just seen this thread, I am sure you will enjoy your new 552.. I bought mine 8 months ago and love it. I have my headend on the top shelf of a Fraim and for me it sounds good there... the 552PS is less fussy seemingly. The nice thing with the 552 it seems to make any Naim amp connected truly sing (edit: indeed as Richard has just suggested)... as well as making most sources sound great and interesting. allowing the character of your different sources to come through... have fun... for me the 552 is the NAC for the true enthusiast 

congratulations... I just heard the Chord Signature speaker cables, I'm sorry to say this, but your system needs a Superlumina Speaker cables, it's much better.....

and when the credit card bill is digested, of course the Superlumina DIN DIN is much better than the Hi-line...

Here we go again 

analogmusic posted:

congratulations... I just heard the Chord Signature speaker cables, I'm sorry to say this, but your system needs a Superlumina Speaker cables, it's much better.....

and when the credit card bill is digested, of course the Superlumina DIN DIN is much better than the Hi-line...

I really like the Chord signature reference speaker cable.

552 goes a treat with a 300. And with a twin powered ND555 in front of them you're in for an awful lot of fun. Congratulations.

Just bought 2 DSD music downloads from HD tracks but they don’t show up on my Naim app?