Nac 552 or 252?

This is quite interesting and does show that a better pre-amp can reveal more from a great source. So, in that sense, the 552 could be said to be a “bottle neck” in a 500 series system, though that term is not particularly helpful. It’s more a case that the 500 system is balanced, but the 555 can reveal more through an even better pre-amp.

I’ve been very impressed with how much more the 552 delivers from my NDX2/555 PS over the 252. In that sense, it could be said that the 252 was a “bottle neck”, but it was an excellent set up. Maybe the NDX2 is now a “bottle neck” with the 552/300 DRs, but it is better with the 552 over the 252, so all is good. In some ways it’s baffling, as that NDX2 has delivered more all the way from bare with a SN2 to with a 555 PS and 552 DR. So, I can see that the ND555 might be better than the 552.

1 Like

Could a NAP S1 be used without a NAC S1?

1 Like

Something will always be the weakest link. It may be the 552 in a 500 system. Replacing it with S1 then leaves the source or power amp. Replacing one then leaves the other and before you know it, the S1 is the weakest link…welcome to the rabbit hole of discontent, frustration and bankruptcy!

7 Likes

“So, I can see that the ND555 might be better than the 552.”

Honeyball had come to the same conclusion in Colloms’ review of the ND555.

1 Like

This is quite important I think, I listen at times to some recordings that are deliberately LoFi, the sound is sometimes recorded on boomboxes to make it sound even worse, this is a particular genre I enjoy and the 552 retains all of that super low budget LoFi recording quality BUT it makes it sound musical and addictive and beguiling. The 552 surrounds me with the pain, anger, emotion thats in these recordings and NEVER once do I turn off because something sounds ‘bad’. Previous to the 552 I would often find myself turning off albums as they sounded poor and not what I was expecting from a system I had spent so much money on. If you enjoy music rather than HiFi buy a 552.

There are plenty of posts on this forum from people who claim to have bettered Naim, but have they? I hear a lot of ‘on great recordings the xxx sounds sublime, magical, but on poor recordings it really shows up the limitations of the recorded material’ or similar. Thats not a product I would personally want. I want to play my music collection without a thought for the hardware. I firstly buy and enjoy music. If you want to impress yourself and friends thats different but if your life revolves around the NEED to listen to music (Not HiFi) really consider a 552.

7 Likes

I was the same… the 552 excelled at certain recordings, but others just did not gel… it’s forwardness got in the way. The 252 was more of a leveller. Perhaps didn’t hit the peaks on certain recordings as with the 552, but was far more accommodating and enjoyable with many different mastering styles, especially contemporary mixing and mastering styles.
I repeat an earlier comment I have made a few times on the forum, the 552 was more fussy on sources, where as the 252 squeezed the enjoyment out of a wider gamut of sources…all in my own experience of course.
The other thing I should say I found the 552 was a breeze to setup, and not that fussy on positioning, where as the 252 took a little patience and was strictly top shelf full fat Fraim. I guess that is part of what you are paying for with the 552.

4 Likes

Ferrari LaFerrari or Pagani Huayra?

This is your opinion and it’s far from a consensus - repeating it ad nauseam doesn’t turn it into a truth.

5 Likes

The 222 was utterly convincing driving the NAP S1s at last month’s audio show here in Montreal:

6 Likes

Suggesting that a Naim suggested system CDS3 + 252 + 300 + SL2 sounds unmusical and just HiFi because of the 252 is nonsense. Not getting personal but how long did you give this before moving up the Naim ladder. Yes adding a 552 is better but at quite some cost. I happen to think this is a nicely balanced result as long as all other attention to detail and setup are respected

3 Likes

You misunderstand. I was not saying one is hifi and the other music. I was simply saying that the 552 better enabled me to see past the recording to the music within. Given the extra cost I’d rather hope that would be the case, but so often it’s not.

3 Likes

?

I was simply saying that the 552 better enabled me to see past the recording to the music within.

Yes I think we can agree on this point but not the colourful descriptions that you have written. It goes one step further than a statement that product X+1 makes product X sound broken

1 Like

@Simon-in-Suffolk when I bought my 552 (new one) the dealer wanted to listen to it first before they brought it to my house to ensure it was as it should be. They said they had had a few that were not quite right after shipping and returned maybe 1/10. Ok this may have been a fussy dealer but my experience of the 552 as a music maker has been very good. I have listened to a 252 and enjoyed what it did, again my dealer had a ritual for setting a 252 up, lots of unplugging and plugging etc! For me the 552 gave me the parts I liked best about the 282 and 252.

Our music tastes are all different and I think a lot of what we like in amplification can come down to our specific tastes, not just genre but our taste in presentation. For me I crave an energy to the music, drive and impact. I want the shivers and to feel the music inside me. Things like clarity and soundstage matter far less as I listen loud, too loud really but I want the music to energise me.

2 Likes

Turd combo is more truth than not. Or dull as dishwater, take your pick.

1 Like

That sounds sensible. My 552 was ex demo from the dealer - and so it was known to be good.
But my dealer did not listen to it in my room - and so there is the possibility that something could have broken in transit and removal of transport bolts to move it from 10/10 to 9/10 - unlikely but possible

Enough faffing around, lets resolve the 252 vs 552 question once and for all with artificial intelligence ! I asked Poe (based on GPT architecture):

Me: Compare and contrast the Naim 252 preamplifier and the Naim 552, using the following criteria: 1/ Immediate engagement with the music. 2/ Depth of the musical experience. 3/ Listening ease. 4/ Ability to maintain interest at low volume. 5/ Ability to play at high volume effortlessly. 6/ Realistic representation of music’s scale.

Poe: The Naim 252 and Naim 552 preamplifiers are both high-end audio components from Naim Audio, known for their exceptional sound quality and performance. Here’s a comparison of the two preamplifiers based on the criteria you provided:

1. Immediate engagement with the music: Both the Naim 252 and Naim 552 preamplifiers are known for their ability to engage the listener immediately with the music. They both have a fast and dynamic presentation, which makes the music sound lively and exciting.

2. Depth of the musical experience: The Naim 552 preamplifier is considered to have a deeper and more immersive musical experience compared to the Naim 252. The 552 has a more refined and detailed sound, which allows the listener to hear more of the nuances in the music.

3. Listening ease: Both preamplifiers are designed for easy listening, with a smooth and effortless sound that doesn’t fatigue the listener. However, the Naim 252 is considered to be slightly more forgiving of poor quality recordings, making it a more forgiving preamplifier for everyday listening.

4. Ability to maintain interest at low volume: The Naim 252 is considered to be better at maintaining interest at low volume compared to the Naim 552. The 252 has a more forward soundthat makes it easier to hear the details of the music at low volume levels.

5. Ability to play at high volume effortlessly: The Naim 552 is considered to be the better preamplifier for playing music at high volume levels. Its power supply is more robust, allowing it to deliver more power to the amplifier, resulting in a more effortless and dynamic sound.

6. Realistic representation of music’s scale: Both preamplifiers are designed to provide a realistic representation of the scale of the music. However, the Naim 552 is considered to be better at reproducing the scale and dynamics of larger musical performances, such as orchestral music.

Overall, the Naim 552 preamplifier is considered to be the superior preamplifier in terms of sound quality and performance. It provides a deeper and more immersive musical experience, and its power supply allows it to effortlessly deliver high-quality sound at high volume levels. However, the Naim 252 is still an excellent preamplifier that provides a dynamic and engaging sound, making it a great choice for everyday listening.

Me: But how can the Naim 252 have a more forward sound and yet be considered more forgiving of poor recordings?

Poe: Good catch! It’s true that a more forward sound can sometimes highlight flaws in low-quality recordings, making them sound more harsh and unpleasant. However, what I meant to say is that the Naim 252 preamplifier is more forgiving of poorly recorded music than the Naim 552, in the sense that it can make them sound more enjoyable and engaging despite their flaws.

The Naim 252 preamplifier has a slightly warmer and more upfront sound compared to the Naim 552, which can make less-than-perfect recordings sound more engaging and musical. The 252’s fast and dynamic presentation can also help mask some of the flaws in poorly recorded music, making it more enjoyable to listen to.

In contrast, the Naim 552 preamplifier has a more neutral and transparent sound that can reveal more of the flaws in poorly recorded music, making it sound less enjoyable to listen to.

So, while a more forward sound can sometimes highlight flaws in low-quality recordings, the Naim 252 preamplifier is still considered more forgiving of poor recordings than the Naim 552, thanks to its warm and engaging presentation.

Me: Do you use information from Naim Audio’s online forum or other forums?

Poe: As an AI language model, I am trained on a large corpus of text data that includes a variety of sources, including online forums, product reviews, technical specifications, and other publicly available information. This means that I may have encountered information from Naim Audio’s online forum or other forums during my training. However, I do not specifically rely on information from any particular source, and my responses are generated based on my overall understanding of the topic at hand and the specific criteria provided for the comparison. It’s important to note that information found on online forums may not always be reliable or accurate, so it’s important to verify any information obtained from these sources.

So there you have it. Not a bad start, but with more training this could be BIG. We could call it … PratGPT.

13 Likes

In more ways than one :wink:

Good summaries - nothing artificial in those

2 Likes

Surprising that it did not spit out turd combo then, or maybe it treats such responses with the contempt that they deserve

And yes a pretty fair summary of the amps

3 Likes

I think Nigel was slightly tongue in cheek and using poetic license to get his opinion of the differences across.

You might need to lighten up from your role as Knight of the Naim realm protecting the honour of the 252.

.sjb

3 Likes

Why? - I quite enjoy it - it kind of matches some of the 552 Crusaders. At the end of the day its all tongue in cheek and a bit of fun… just like supporting your particular football team

4 Likes