Hi everyone
This is the first time I am asking a question on this forum. I want some advice.
Something about the system I have.
It’s a Roksan TMS3 turntable with SME 5 tone arm and a dynavector xx2 11 cartridge.
NAIM 552 Preamp non DR/NAIM NAP 300DR power amp.
Speaker cables are tellurium Q black diamond to NAIM SBL speakers.
Also have Tom Evans the groove phono stage.
It’s only a turntable that I possess.
The question that I have is
Is the NAP500DR an appropriate upgrade
How much would one offer for a second hand NAP 500DR about two years old.
Thanks for your replies
Strphen
Based on my experience of a friend’s system that is somewhat similar to yours but Kudos 808s as opposed to SBLs I’d say the 500 would give you more of everything.
As to what to pay a 2 year old model would be DR spec so at the higher end I would suggest.
At only 2 years old, I’d expect to pay a little more than 50% of current msrp. I’d love to get it for 50% but probably would expect 60-65%. It’s what a willing seller will sell it for; I’d def start at 50% if I had to make the first offer. And shipping is more than a few percent of the final price perhaps, so there’s room to talk about who pays for shipping.
Also depends on if it’s a dealer or private seller; expect to pay a dealer a little more. Especially if they are offering a warranty of their own (although in some countries the mfg’s warranty will still apply).
I bought my dealer’s ex demo pre 500 DR some ? 10 years ago. Perfect with all the bits. As new. Been DRd since about 4 years ago. I went from 2 x 135s.
If you really want it the earlier the better. From the cash and audio satisfaction viewpoint.
Repeating myself from previous posts, but its a musical and non hi-fi upgrade in the best possible way.
Yeah I bought an early 2003 model for just under 5k it was perfect … then dr’d it in 2017… an amazing amp…it still sounded amazing unserviced after around 15 years…
A 552 pre coupled to a DR’d 500 is about as good as it gets in the real world. I’ve seen non DR’d 500’s sell for between £5k-£7k depending on age and condition. If you then add the new charges for servicing and DR’ing of around £5k it’ll take you to the limit of what you should expect to pay. However, if it’s a factory DR’d amp from new I would expect to pay a small premium.
I’ve just purchased a Nap500 along with a Nac552 both mint, factory DR’d and complete with original boxes, leads and one remote (not the narcom which had unfortunately been previously sold). I did however get a Naim double Fraim thrown in for the price. See sales image (it’s still in the boxes), which includes a couple of additional items that were not purchased (cd player, 2 x power supplies).
Thank you all for your replies. Decided against the NAP500DR for now. Think I will upgrade the 552 to DR spec first as it seems the more affordable route! The 300DR is very good so I shall relish what I have at the moment. I wish to thank you all for taking the trouble to reply.
