Yes - and … three clicks later I found a 500 (non dr)… for a good price. But… noooooo
Stacking Fraim again… no 
2 Likes
My 500 is in its box replaced with a 250DR 
Joking aside the 500 is a fabulous amp the perfect partner for the 552 but in the end opted for one Fraim stack.
In a few years Im hoping to retire and move to the coast… the 500 may return in a bigger, dedicated listening room.
2 Likes
Yep totally agree…that reminds me must check my numbers!
2 Likes
Nope my journey is complete 
After about a week with the Nait 1 in my main system it’s moved to the second system.
While it was is my main system where the 500 series sits, I noticed that the timing on the little Nait was stupid good. It has no right to do what it does.
Obviously the little Nait 1 has a captive power lead with a standard Bussmann fuse. I somehow felt there is something to investigate here. So I ordered some silver plated Bussmann 13A fuses to replace my AMR Gold ones.
Right away I noticed the outgoing AMR has more warmth and richness to the midrange. I can’t help but also think it sounds larger, louder and more detailed. The Bussmann sounds darker and less warm/rich in comparison BUT after 24 hours of playback, it is the one I would recommend for any Naim system…
…and yes it’s that PRAT again. The silver plated Bussmann being inferior in what most peoples hifi criteria demands is the more enjoyable fuse. I’m beginning to form a conclusion here (if one ever could in this hobby), that perhaps the most important factor in sound reproduction is timing.
I have mentioned AMR gold fuses many times in the past so I think this information is vital here.
3 Likes
It’s your resident goof here reporting another interesting anecdote.
Remember when I said I meticulously took care with the setup when I swapped the 500DR in for the NAP 135s for the final time. This included stripping the whole system to its bare bones including gathering the speaker cables together to clean.
Well one thing I did without realising is, I swapped the direction of the NAC A5 speaker cables.
It was brought to my attention after I checked a photo I had posted showing that the directional arrow was actually pointing towards the amp.
Now I have never previously put this to the test but after I corrected this and settled in for a listening session about 24 hours later, I’m gobsmacked.
There is so much more harmonic information that was previously missing. Now there is more texture and ease to the sound. The music is more melodious and sweeter. The previous orientation (wrong direction) sounds thinner and noisier in comparison.
I had always imagined that the difference would be very subtle but this is shocking. How can direction of a wire be so influential?! And why is there direction to a wire?! Boggles the mind.
4 Likes
This truly is a strange hobby we have. Even after 40 years of owning a good hifi system I’m still discovering little tricks and tweaks that seem to add layers of subtlety to what I already thought was very good music reproduction.
I recently moved a trailing plug I use for all non-Naim equipment by about six inches only to find that this opened up the sound a couple of more notches. Most bizarre!
It makes me wonder how many of us actually manage to pull the full potential from our very expensive hifi systems? The trouble is I’ve come to realise that the real magic is in those last few percent! If you don’t go looking for them you may never know what is possible from recorded music.
5 Likes
What is a trailing plug?
1 Like
A power strip or extension lead. I think it may have been picking up some stray RF and moving it has just cleaned things up slightly. Like another level of noise has been removed.
1 Like
At the risk of boring members out, I just HAVE to report an update.
As suspected I didn’t think the previous user had run the NAP 500DR in. I’m hearing yet another major uplift in sound. I just put on an album and said out loud F”””k Off!!! This leap is as big as the one I experienced in a previous post but the end result is a sound that I actually cannot believe. I have reached audio Nirvana. I rushed to write this so please excuse my enthusiasm. Wow. Just f”””ing wow!
8 Likes
The soundstage has spread out. I’m immersed in the music. It’s as if im in the middle of a live performance. Insane. There is amazing control of every nuance of every instrument in a very engaging and captivating way. There is a solidity to the sound. I’m sure my DAC is playing a major part here. The amplification is delivering exactly what the DAC is decoding. I can’t stop smiling.
2 Likes
Nice to hear - that’s how it should be… will keep my eyes 500 times open for an offer 
1 Like
I cannot give this thing enough praise. I feel like I’m high on psychedelics right now. If there is ONE other upgrade you do make it be this. Once run and fully warmed up it will knock you out!
2 Likes
When there is a lot hesitation at the beginning - at the end all is better than good
1 Like
Agreed. I wasn’t even expecting another uplift. I was already super happy with the sound. I have super lumina speaker cables to test but the system is sounding so damn good I don’t want to switch it off in fear I’ll lose this sound.
Sorry to say, I found the Super Lumina gave a big uplift over the Kudos KS-1 I was using. The DIN - XLR’s gave a nice uplift too. Which SL cables have you got to try ?
1 Like
That’s probably the six month uplift I mentioned a while back.
Possibly just coincidence but my system is sounding pretty staggering at the moment. Similar traits to how you describe yours. I have a sound stage that’s about 30 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Instruments have their own individual space and are locked there even if you move off axis. Guitar rifts just sound magical, they just explode on to stage. Bass in so deep and propulsive you can feel it in your chest but because it’s so good it’s also seems to add weight and realism to the midrange. The delicacy of interplay and the micro dynamics are truly superb! It ain’t hifi it’s pure music! Love it!
6 Likes
Wow if that’s the case I’ll enjoy this sound for a couple of days and then I’ll plug in the Super Lumina speaker cables.
You describe it all so well. Yes I can absolutely hear all of that.
This amp is amazing.
It’s great when you get them day’s when everything in you’re life is just fine and everything just is better.
Hope they continue