So, I’ve just taken the leap to upgrade my 282 and 250 DR.
Source during the demo was my Klimax DSM and I tried into a 552 /500DR and then direct into the 500.
Fascinating listen, both blew me away but in the end I went the direct route. I felt apart from the oodles of power, space etc the difference was for me at least the 552 felt like a very grown up sound, and for me possibly a natural upgrade from a 252, whereas as I love the pace of the 282 I found without the pre amp gave me more of the attack and retained the strengths.
Interested in others experiences and which way do you go ?
I’ve no experience of the Linn Streamer/pres but I know some have chosen to go without a Naim pre.
With regard to the 282/252/552 I have previously described the 282 as visceral, the 252 as mature but neither exclusively so, but the 552 does both plus a whole lot more!
welcome back. Fwiw I run via 552 for several reasons: I had one already, I use an analogue lp12 phono amp and I have never been fully convinced listening to digital pre-amp (though to be fair I have never actively a-b compared 552 v direct into 500 and I listened via Linn amps). If I didn’t already have 552 I would definitely a-b. With the 552 I don’t worry about it and just enjoy the music. There is something magical about 552/500 and it has survived all source and speaker upgrades over the years. Today, is it worth putting down the extra for 552, not sure.
thanks both, I hadn’t actually gone anywhere, just been lurking in the background. I really did consider long and hard whether to go with the 552 based on all the good things I’d heard and it was a fascinating a-b listen. I’ve already spent some of the money saved on a Superline as I’m convinced my LP12/Kandid will shine even more brightly with a top spec phono stage
There’s a Linn white paper, from around the time they dropped analogue preamps, comparing the DSM digital approach to going through one of their own preamps. (Still findable online with a bit of searching.) No spoilers, but the former wins! However it’s a measurement-based comparison and no Naim is involved, so ultimately it has to come down to personal choice with one’s own gear and room. Some reviewers do discuss putting an analogue pre in the chain, but I don’t think there’s a consensus.
There is no right or wrong answer here.
Some will like with and others with out, it depends a lot on the gear being used as well, as not all gear likes it and some very much do.
But in my experience naim amp’s are happy to run directly without a pre amp if matched correctly
I was interested that when I heard ATC’s truly fabulous EL50 active speakers on demo with dCS front end, ATC put their own SCA2 preamp in the chain rather than running them directly from the streamer.
In my experience, and in my room, with Linn streamers it is vital to have the room and speaker position modelled in Space Optimisation (‘SO’), along with the speaker make and model correctly identified. Unless this is done the DSM genuinely isn’t performing to its optimum. Despite their obligations not all Linn dealers are good at doing this - which may be why some people are disappointed by their Linn demos with Naim amps.
I recently upgraded my Selekt Edition with the Dual Organik DAC & Lineout modules (poor man’s Klimax DSM/3 as per @PeakMan ) and going direct into my NC250 I no longer hear/feel the need for a pre-amp. There is good rhythm & timing (exemplified by live recordings) as well as great instrument separation and soundstage. This is both with my original S+S stand mount speakers (very ‘direct’, almost monitor-like) and with the excellent (smoother top-end) Linn 150 floorstanders which I have here on home demo.
Hi Dan, short answer yes. But, they both sounded really great as you would expect, and it was just a different presentation of the music - as I mentioned in my original post.
Many will prefer the ‘Naim’ sound of the 552/500, at that was jaw dropping, feet tapping good, whereas I felt I still got that but with a little more attack. I do have to say, the not insignificant investment in the Klimax can now pay off just as little as I’ve ‘saved’ a chunk of change from not needing the separate pre-amp.
What I didn’t hear was my LP12 through the DSM, and as I still play 75% of my music on vinyl, but can’t believe I won’t love that too - especially as I’m upgrading to a Superline at the same time.
I’m surprised you’re not going for a Urika II and use Exakt link and Radikal 2 or 3 with LP12. Superline…are you suing a Hicap or Supercap to power it.
With the DSM Klimax and Radikal and Urika II you really are making the best use of the Linn gear.
that really is a good shout and I hadn’t thought of that. Sadly both my Radikal and Urika are both V1 so it’d be a more expensive route and having just bought a 500…!! I’ll keep an eye out on Linn upgrade offer windows though, so this could be a temporary step. It’ll be an HiCap powering it. When does this upgrading lark ever end..
I just upgraded by lp12 - radical 1 was upgraded to Radikal 2 via the kit they sell (my dealer fitted it) and the Karousel - well worth it for just under £3k ( the rad 2 upgrade was c£1800)
As much as I like the look of the machined casing on the Radikal it’s expensive and as it sits out of my eyeline I decided to save the cash and stick to the original casing with the rad 2 upgrade kit.