I am considering getting a used SN:30xxxx 2011 (recapped in 2018) 552 PS DR vs. SN:45xxxx 2019 552/PS DR (cost 30% more)
My concern is whether the recapped one would give me worse/very different sound vs. the original sound, given that the capacitors used in 2018 is a different brand vs. original ?
Now, one would argue that the SN:45xxxxx would use the same brand of capacitors anyways. So there’s no difference.
I guess my question is for the owners of 552 with SN:30xxxx or similar manufacturing years that if they feel recapped units are not as good as the original or there’s not much noticeable differences?
The service department at naim have the most qualified experience on the planet to the job. I’m sure they would have used the very best parts available that maintained the closest sound signature to the original, or to make it even better.
All kit is signed off/approved by R&D; if a capacitor is no longer available, they figure out a suitable replacement and roll that out into the “bom”. The service dept don’t use what they feel is appropriate, they use the approved parts. The exact same kits are what Darran uses at Class A.
I don’t recall when the 552 became the 552DR, but if it was after 2011 the most important thing is to check that the recap was in fact a full DR upgrade. Other than that, the older serviced one should be the same as the later one. You can check with Naim what work was done if you want reassurance.
The important thing is to be happy and confident with your purchase. If you’d be happier with the later one, and can afford the extra, then that’s the one to go for.
No disputes on approved parts, procedures, and Naim’s professionalism. The question is whether different brands of capacitors change the nature of the 552 sound intrinsically…
DR was officially introduced in 2012 which is why I assumed that this example was made as non-DR. I believe a DR sticker was added to the back of the box when it was upgraded.
If you want to know for sure, contact Naim service dept. and give them the serial number. They will be able to tell you its full history.
Remember that on the 552, you could just get the dr upgrade done on the power supply and not have the head unit even touched.
At service, you would have to send both in, and both are counted as individuals and not together. So basically, the dr upgrade only covered the power supply. You had to also book the head unit in for service.
So it is best to check with naim if both got sorted at the same time.
Naim will do a pretty good service when they DR the power supply. They’ll usually replace everything that has a shortish life span - if you can call 15 years shortish and then do a thorough soak test for a day or so. When it comes back it should be hard to tell it from new. I had a dealers new 555DR just before mine came back from service/DR’ing and I couldn’t tell them apart.
It is an interesting question, my guess is that a different brand of capacitors will not change the intrinsic nature of the preamp but may bring a different sound signature, extremely subtle if discernible at all. I wouldn’t worry about it, you may even prefer it depending on system synergy. I’d also disregard the advice from the brand worshipers to just double down on faith, not too enlightening.