@Igel would you say that a 52 was better match for 500 than a 282 or 252 though?
I prefer a Nac 82/Supercap to a Nac 52,for me the 552 has a closer sound to the Nac 82/Supercap than the Nac 52(which I think is too laidback)
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Of course, but like cheaper option, It could be fine, if i were the op, i’ d wait for a preowned 552, even not DR like definitive solution
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I’m very much with rsch on this one. Have patience and hold out for a good deal on a 552.
Ask yourself this - how many people have purchased a 500 power amp and not matched it with a 552, sooner or later? Please don’t answer this!! But really, I think were you to purchase a 52, a clock would start ticking, counting down to the moment when you feel compelled to get a 552 into your system for comparison purposes. I wonder what the chance would be for the 552 to then leave your system if you were to run the comparison.
The 52 is a legendary pre-amp, but I don’t recall reading folks posting on here that they prefer it to the 552 which was designed specifically to offer an improved performance to its predecessor the 52. Personally, irrespective of service history, I’m not sure I could square the circle of buying a 52 given the likely age of the basic unit and power supply. But I am risk averse!
Peter
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The ideal is 552DR with 500DR.
My experience was the 52 worked well with the 500DR and ahould work well with non DR.
Obviously, we both have 552DR with 500DR, which says it all, ultimately.
A 52 may be worth a try, depending on OPs budget and whether he is prepared to go the whole way and get 552DR and 500DR.
DR is better.
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I had a 202 for quite a while then went to a 282. For me the 282 doubles down on isolating instruments and then provides the control and power to follow through. With the 202 instruments stayed on a plane and didn’t breakout from the mix nearly as much. It was a more laid back but very easy to listen to preamp. The one time I heard a 252 it struck me as having a bigger soundstage, and had a more delicate, lighter touch than a 282. I’m wondering if this might end up being what you’re looking for.
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See if you can get a Nac72/Hicap/250.
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I owned a 52/500 system which I only upgraded when the 552 was released. I never found the 52 lacking in any respect until the 552 came along and to me it was an enormous step forward. BUT, I had to sell that system due to financial issues and didn’t return to Naim for another 10 years. Then I started again with a Supernait. DR came along and I added a HiCap DR for what I thought was a huge leap forward. Eventually I replaced the Supernait with a 282 and was delighted with what I thought was a very visceral sound. I then got a 552 DR a few years ago, another step forward, but I liked the 282 sound and I thought the 552 really gave me much, much more of its strengths with greater resolution, dynamics and accuracy of timbre etc.
OP wasn’t delighted by the 282, so whilst the 552 is in a higher league technically than the 282 or the 52, I’d definitely give the 52 a good listen first. If it hits all your buttons, take it. For me, a 552 is clearly better but it demonstrates this best on acoustic music and sounds like that’s not OP’s main thing. For sure a 52 won’t let you down, whether it’s better than a 552 for you, possibly?
I tend to audition until I’m delighted, I know an S1 is better than a 552, for example, but I’m delighted with what I have, so I have never heard one and remain delighted with what I have. I hope you will be delighted with whatever you choose.
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Thats an interesting point. If I understand correctly youre drawing a parallel between 202 and 252 as being less analytic and more organic compared to 282? I know that 252 is often described as acquired taste and not for everyone, so maybe that the reason for it being the odd one out and its more like 202 and against the analytical direction of 282 and 552?
budget wise and given import vat etc the difference in price between a late and POTS8 upgraded 52 and a non DR 552 is ca. 25-30% more
I see your point. Im simply very curious how the sound character of olive 52 would compare to 552. I know 52s are legendary and Im not prejudiced toward vintage audio - quite the contrary. For instance I love my Dynavector Karat 23RS cart which in my system beats XV1t in terms of musicality, attack and excitement. But again - I listen to specific music - metal needs a slightly colorized, exaggerated punch in presentation to compensate for not so great production. hence my itch to try olive top preamp
Thanks for an insightful post Jim! Exactly - Im worried that even though the 552 would be THE actual endgame, it might not be forgiving enough on the music i mostly listen to and would have me become a picky audiophile with preference for well produced flashy recordings that 552 ‘endorses’ like I were for ages before Naim, rather than music thirsty listener I finally become with 202/200 and currently 202/500
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I can’t help but feel that as good as the 52 would surely be it would not sustain as the “endgame”, at least with a 500?
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I have had loads of different naim pre amps over the decades.
My favourite was the 52, i say favourite as it was the one that gave the best sound for cost.
I had a very nice 82 before it and that was nice with all the last updates on it from new.
But i had 2 52’s as the first one was definitely bad and i sent it back.
I eventually got the 552, but i didn’t really feel the big inpovement i was expecting over the 52, especially for the price difference.
I also agree with Dan, the 500dr was the biggest upgrade in sound rather than the 552 over the 52.
But you can only try for yourself or miss the pre amp out completely if you can maybe, lot’s of options these days
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Right! I am sure you would be delighted with a 52/500 combination, I was. I never had a 202, but apparently the Supernait comes close according to many. To me there’s a huge positive difference between the preamps at that level and Naim’s top preamps.
John DeVore, a vinyl lover and speaker manufacturer, loved to pair a top turntable with XS level Naim amps and his beautiful speakers and produce wonderful sounds at shows.
Listen to a 52, but don’t rule out the possibility that for you, in your room with your speakers and tastes, have achieved musical nirvana already.
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The 252 more organic? I think so, but I’d like to compare further.
I owned a NAC 52 as well and thought it had a big, warmish bass presentation. But it had its analytical side too. Just my opinion. Igel’s response above seems about right to me.
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Hi Dunc, I think we were talking on the phone bunch of times, first about the 500, then 282 and recently the 52 from ebay? or maybe it was a different Duncan at Naim HQ, if so - sorry 
I would love to harness most of the 500’s potential, and the 282 sounds too much in your face and lean compared to 202. I would certainly want to hear more detail but keep the wide soundstage, the less refined punch and musicality, so Id wanna make the final leap to 52 or 552 and trying to assess which one would be more on forgiving/engaging/easy listening side
Thats a terrifying vision - having already achieved audio nirvana. I can totally see more improvement or better put - I can imagine improvement which can be deceiving because I envision keeping my current sound and just adding speed, air and detail via upgrade to top preamp. But this could be just wishful thinking, as the current sound is a synergy of imprefections and overcompensations between underproduced music, underrevelaing 202 and a monstrously powerful 500 which pumps it all through very musical and slightly over-agile paper carbon Scanspeaks.
I went from a late NAC52 (I think it was one of the units used as a reference for the NAC552 development) to a NAC252. The latter was a bit smoother and “silkier” but not big step up that was the move to a NAC552. The 552 was a proper leap and when I left Naim and decided I needed to dial the system back a bit, I agonised over whether to let the NAP500 or the NAC552 go. In the end I let the NAP500 go and the 552 I knew was going to be much the more difficult one to lose.
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Sorry but I had just read this from JV himself (thanks for the link :)), he is quite clear about that your suspicion was not the case, I think. I’m judging from the qoutes below.
”Date: September 21, 1999 03:40 PM
Author: julian vereker
….,………
julian
(waiting for 3 500s)
PS No new super pre-amp under development. I suppose just by saying
this will persuade people otherwise, but actually really not!”
”Date: September 22, 1999 05:55 PM
Author: julian vereker
Subject: 52
It is possible that at some stage in the future we may put the 52 into
a case similar to the NAP500PS, no decision has been taken.”
”Date: September 28, 1999 03:26 PM
Author: julian vereker
Subject: sorry
Mark
The ‘information’ is in fact disinformation and the conclusion you
have drawn is not correct.
julian
PS the statement “We’re doing a new pre-amp . . .” is always true - in
as much as we have an ongoing development program across the whole
range.”
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