If my memory serves me right, I like the NAP 350s better than my old non-DR NAP 500 in terms of SQ, the NAP 500 looks just a small bit more impressive
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FWIW, the increase in subtlety, space, detail and all that when going from 82/282 to 52/252 was to our ears far bigger than the change from just adding another Hicap. I would argue that it is more noticeable than the jump from 52/252 to 552, though the 552 is very clearly better.
Iâd also say that I for one never got one with the original 300 - I planned to replace my old olive 250 with a pair of 135s until I actually heard a 300DR with my 52.
I now have 552/300DR. I might one day get a serviced 500DR instead, but I am not sure I will hear much difference without also moving house. More important, it (with a Superline) is good enough that I will probably have the same boxes in a decade.
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The difference is Big,the 552/500 are made for each other,doesnât matter what size of the room.
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I moved from 282/HC/250DR to Luxman 509z and I am very happy. The 509z is now fully run in and it is a fantastic amp. Completely different league in terms of detail, space, imaging etc. Love it. Steve Huff recently reviewed his favourite integrated amps. 509z came 3rd, T+A 2nd (costs 10 K more than the Luxman) and 1st was a Devialet.
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With this guy, each month there is a best of best component. Actually his favourite is Modright 225i.
Not saying that your Luxman isnât very good. But Steve Huff, no no no.
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I was looking for something that more matched my current taste in music but still musical. Didnt like the NC-series.I had to try a few times over the last years with different boxes but I have now finally âdowngradedâ the 252/SCDR/135s. My choice was the Holo Serene/KTE class A preamp plus two (physically) tiny GaN-amps, Starkrimson 25 Premium. I have always hated class D but these ones were diff - someone explained to me GaN-transistors run at much higher switching frequencies (1.1GHz in this case) so the evil stuff goes away over the top. And I could tune them with âopamp-rollingâ and my pref was a pair of discrete class A input buffers.
I also replaced the Audirvana Coreplayer for Linux for Minimserver/SongKong which sound more transparent, fun and alive (with the JPLAY iOS controller).
I like his reviews because he says âpure magicâ all the time.
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I moved from a 252DR/300DR setup to the Vitus SIAâ025 Mk II. I loved my Naim gear, but I needed to cut down on the number of boxes. Straight out of the box the Vitus sounded a bit dull and underwhelming, but after being powered on for about an hour it really opened up and started sounding incredible. I canât say how it compares to the 500 series, but for me it was a clear and significant upgrade over my previous setup.
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I think NAP500, donât know what an ND500 is
Martin
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And the classic " as good as some costing three times the price".
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The vitus sia025 and sia030 are very lovely sounding ampâs and quite different to the normal vitus ampâs.
I found the sia025 very nice and certainly gave the 500 range a good run when i had one on demo, certain things i liked more with the 500 and certain things the sia025 did better. So can certainly see why you like it more over the ampâs you had.
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Cough.
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I love our Naim 552/500. There is only one thing that I have heard that I really like other than the Naim (and itâs different) is Audio Research Ref 6/Ref 150 (or 75). It has all the rhythm but even more body and density. Fabulous, different to Naim but as good.
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I agree that the reason to move off high end Naim kit would be if you wanted âdifferentâ. I havenât heard anything âbetterâ within Naimâs distinctive sonic pallet.
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I agree I went from one Rel Subwoofer to two identical subs using the Rel high level inputs and they just seem to blend in with my Focal Arias. They donât disappear they blend in nicely and keep up the PRAT.