552 First Impressions

I bought the R-Com very disappointing…
Seems to freeze alot which means you have to dig out the Allen key… And munches batteries…
Not impressed for the money!

That sounds faulty, I would ask to have it replaced under guarantee

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Well you would have thought that but I had the Flash remote years ago and it pretty much did the same….

I’ve got an old plastic one and it’s pretty much bulletproof…

That’s how I remember 250DR vs 300DR too.

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I was a big fan of the Flash remote, which offered direct track-number access, something which has gone out of fashion with streaming.
The Zigbee (with ND555) is the first remote since then which I prefer to Flash. No number pad, but that doesn’t matter anymore. Big advantage is that it doesn’t rely on ‘line of sight’.
Zigbee shares with Flash the potential to be a significant weapon if you’re attacked after nodding off during a long listening session……

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This does make me wonder what step a SN3 user should aspire to? Whatever presentation the SN3 does I personally like it. 282 or 252. 552 is for my next lifetime(famous last words)

Interesting question. I went from SN3 to 282 and was very pleased indeed…but loud it was approaching uncomfortable (with 250DR). 252 was…richer, not as in your face but still able to, er, ‘rock out’ when required without feeling strained ( with 300DR). I loved the 282, but I think the 252 is more liveable with for a long term relationship…mine still surprises me every day. I even get up earlier some days just to play a tune or two before work (quietly!)

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Nice description and good to know. The 250DR is just perfect for the easy to drive Tablette 10 Sigs. As a matter of fact, I think they would sound equally great driven by a NAP200 fronted by the 552. Anyway, I guess anything would sound great with the 552.

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Indeed with Naim the NAC tends to be the heart of the system, and brings everything along with it.

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I know how it works if you spend too much time around here. :smiley: How are you finding it anyway?

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See 122 above RackKit…

G

Quick update, Narcom delivered R Com to be put a way to rest sleeping bag at the ready ?

I am so impressed with the 552 a stunning upgrade in my system.

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As a nDac owner: what do you mean please?

I preferred the NDAC over the NDS in terms of sound… I found the NDAC a more laid back, organic and characterful sounding DAC, where as the NDS, although not particularly forward in nature, was cleaner and tighter and more resolving… yet those characteristics didn’t endear me to it…
So yes the NDAC might not have been as transparent, but I preferred its sound for most genres. It was orchestral and choral music I felt where the NDS to my ears very much surpassed the NDAC.

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Thanks for your answer, have not heard the NDS but seems the nDac is the right choice for my taste of music (more Soul, Jazz, less Orchestral or Choral)

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I did, a black one with circular buttons, some black some white. I didn’t much care for it and it’s still in the box, but I just fished it out, and it doesn’t seem so bad. I might give it another shot.

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Really? Perhaps you’d explain the functionality you have found as I find it pretty redundant.

Interestingly I went from a 272 to a 552…omg…the 272 is fairly laid back…when l put together the 552 it at first grabbed me by the throat…the hi-line cable for me was evil…I immediately had to go and source a superlumina interconnect…that helped hugely…and after allot of playing around I got the balance pretty good. The 552 is not bright…but it let’s so much information through at higher frequencies it sort of assaults your senses until you adjust this and get get used to it… I have never regretted changing to it, its fantastic…

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Strange, I never found the Hiline evil or bright. In fact I move to a Hiline from a Chord Sig which I did find a tad aggressive.

In-fairness…it has to be viewed in the context of my system…for me it was like Chris Eubank on a bad day… I don’t know why…my dealer tested it on his system…a 252/300 and it sounded great…my NDS 552/500 combo did not work well with it…as soon as I put the SL in everything fell into place…for me my thoughts were…the 552 is upfront and the highline shines a light on the top end…for me the two together…was way too much…

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