Having road plan for a new 500 series above new 300 series doesn’t mean it is yet finished in development - meanwhile there may be stock, including model-specific parts, to shift, so keep selling until parts used up of people stop buying.
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I had a 252 + supercap Now I have a bare 332 and it’s not “ slightly better “ it’s significantly better.I’ve never heard a 500 system so I can’t comment on 332 vs 552 in terms of sound quality. I only want to point out that,here in Italy, the retail price of a 332 + NPX 300 is 17.400€ while a 552 costs 33.750€
Worth it? Really don’t know but for me it’s hard to believe.
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Silly money… but probably close to a new 332/300 if purchased used (easier in the UK)
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Different here in Italy. Very hard to find used 500 series.
Outside uk 500 series is hard to get.
But if so, the price could be even better than new 332/300.
There is a lot of focus on prices being too high in this thread. Thinking about this…is this really true? 30+ years ago my 72/hicap was about usd $3k. Inflation in the US doubles prices every 20 years or so (rule of thumb reasonably accurate). So after 30 years i would expect 3k to be about 9k. The price of the 202 is 9k AND it includes a streamer. Hmmm. True if you add the npx thats another 9k but let’s understand that it is higher specified than a hicap. So yes probably more expensive but certainly not crazy so when inflation is taken into account and when you consider the streamer built in. Similarly the olive 250 30 years ago was 3k. So maybe 9k now with adjustment for inflation. Well, the price tag is 9k. Exactly the same price when you adjust for inflation. I have not listened to the NC yet but it sure looks great and people seem to think it sounds amazing. There is no issue in my view re pricing…the prices are more or less the same.
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Um… 222…?
The 202 is definitely an OC pre amp… 
You could edit your post.
Ah yes thank you IanRobertM i meant 222.
I would also add that Naim has carefully built up the Uniti line at a lower price point and they also seem to be fine products that offer a good amount of Naim sound and quality. Price/performance possibilities in the current product line are better than ever.
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Moving to new classic series a bit of a revelation - well I suppose one really ought to expect that as, assuming most everyone who did do undertook a reasonable (home) audition first, they made the subsequent choice to move to NC based on what they’d heard?
For my own part, listening to the 200/300 series was enough to persuade me to change and from what I’ve read here, the 300 series even more so.
For, and perhaps in spite of, all the issues discussed within the forum, Naim still appears capable of delivering reference class hifi at all its chosen price points, thereafter it’s up to the listener to decide whether or not to purchase. It appears to be a decision that few carry on to regret.
ATB, J
I think the issue is spending full price on a 500 DR system. In UK there are used bargains around. Overall I spent 38% of full price on used 500DR kit. In other areas of the world you can’t get a used 500DR series system.
The 555PSDR holds it’s value the best in the UK. I paid £4250 and £4000 for my two. Former is 2022, later 2016. £8500 new in 500 finish. Got full 500DR system including ND555, 2 x 555PSDR, 552DR and 500DR for £33k. New price, no discount £87500.
For me, I paid going rate on everything used apart from 500DR which I picked up on auction for £6k.
Getting full 500DR system for price I paid is cheaper than full 300NC system if going for 332, 333, 2 x 300NPX and 2x 350. I reckon with dealer discount could probably get this lot for £33k.
So full used 500DR system probably costs same as new full 300NC system.
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Looking forward to this technology and design reaching the 500 series and hearing it. Will be interesting if it does.
On my last factory tour JG went through the various combination from NC (with various PS combos) to a 500 system and finally to the Statement. I thought it was very easy to pick out the incremental increases in performance.
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They didn’t play the 500DR system in our tour. It was avoided for some reason!
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I don’t think a new 500 series will be hear anytime soon. This is information gleaned from factory visit. The statement technology was passed to 500DR series.
When statement 2 is done the technology will be passed down from there. I don’t think that 300NC is being passed upstream. I think statement has been passed downstream. 500DR above NC300 and NC200 system. 300 and 200 are a refresh and use different cables and power supplies. Technology is not all new!
It’s more like continued updates rather than anything majorly new from what I can tell.
I hope this makes sense.
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Got it thanks. That makes sense. In the meanwhile I will continue to just enjoy my 552/500 system which brings so much pleasure 
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Indeed you have same system as me apart from your Linn Klimax DS3 and different speakers of course!
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I so pleased that the new classic 300 series is performing better than the old 500 kit . So it should ,20 years of tech improvements . If Naim could not do this then as others have said the firm would be in trouble. Naims long term sustainability is looking great with these quality jumps . A few respected owners who have moved from 500 to NC 300 systems and respected dealers confirm this . The new 500 series ,when it arrives will reach new heights ,un heard before of that I am sure .
500 series gear is as good as it always was , you just can’t hold back tech improvements.
The 300 series is and a new 500 series will be fantastic , let’s hope a lower tier in the range can be brought to the market to give that more cost effective step into the marque.
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Is it? I must have missed that.
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There is some new technology in the NC300 compared to 500. Not 100% sure what it is, but I can make a good guess.
If you look at the NC300 there are about half a dozen black cables coming from the streaming board to burndy socket.
If you look at the NC300 power supply there are about half a dozen black cables coming from the burndy socket to a PCB adjacent to the power inlet.
I suspect this is to provide numerous grounding points for the streaming board.
The 555ps doesn’t have these grounding points. However, the 555ps does have better capacitors. 
EDIT.
Or I could be 100% wrong. 
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To my eyes it looks like those black cables connect to the required SMPS for different power saving modes.
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