I got my 552 (replacing a 52) before the nd555 (replacing NDS) and 500 (replacing 300) and never felt that the 552 unbalanced things.
Had the dem 552 in my house for a couple of weeks and didn’t let it go back 
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There are no ‘buts’ for me. I am completely happy with my (admittedly very expensive) system. My 552 is 20 years old next year, and it still puts a smile on my face every night.
If I won the lottery I would probably audition a Statement System, but I’m not hankering after anything. Mission accomplished!
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You are absolutely correct. I auditioned a 552 the past 4 days to potentially replace 272/555 into 300DR and yes it was better, but it wasn’t until I turned up the volume that I said WOW.
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The 300 is an outstanding amp in many ways. Had it for almost 2 years with my 552 and ND555 until a good deal on a 500 came along. Is the 500 better? Yes in many ways as has been described exhaustively. Are there aspects of the 300 sound signature I still miss 1 year later? Also yes.
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I’m running my 552DR with a NDX2 and XPSDR (along with a non-DR 300), and it’s sounding fantastic. I had a 252 before this, which I really liked, but the separation and air between the instruments, and the additional detail in the 552 is really breathtaking
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DAC used in both setups?
Same here. I’ll also add that I use a Bluesound NODE as my second string source - no outboard DAC - and it can sound amazingly good. It’s shocking to think that it’s one twentieth the cost of my LP12 / SuperLine / SuperCap combo. I’m sure the Qutest would be an excellent addition.
As to the question of balance, though my system sounds very good, I often wonder what a better power amp would bring to the table, and if I’m wasting much of the potential of my 552 with my “lowly” 250DR. Having said that, when I think of my 30+ year hi-fi journey, I suspect that I suffer from terminal upgraditis.
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Tommy,
Can you hear me?! 
Not after last night. 
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300 DR owner here, telling myself this is good enough and no need to upgrade to 500 DR 
Which aspects of the 300 would it be that you miss?
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I knew someone was going to ask that question.
I do have trouble describing audio characteristics but it seems that the same system with the 300 I found that my listening sessions were longer overall. Maybe too much detail with 500? It did accentuate a low frequency mode in my room that I think I rectified with speaker placement adjustment.
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So no need to change - thanks for giving me peace of mind 
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top favourite
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Night and day! sorry…
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I don’t get that line of thinking. It’s all they had to use (publicly) at the time; they recognised they needed something much better and so introduced exactly that with CD555.
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No one snapped up the ridiculously cheap 552 for sale from a certain main dealer that’s ex demo but un-used for over half price!?
Is that a DR?
Cheap if it is.
But now some say the 552 is not enough good for Nd555/ twin ps. On Hificritic per example.
It is!