Nap500 with 552

When I purchased a none DR500 a few months ago the deal with Vicki (my wife) was to buy a new sofa, win win as I’m sat on the new couch, feet up enjoying the 500 setup.

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She is filled with Louis Vuitton and the like. It’s New Zealand no place to use. Best she will get from me is a dutch oven. Lucky girl :woozy_face:
@HiFiman new sofa wow must be a Majon! lucky girl🥰

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Have you thought about new doors and surfaces only? I’ve done the maths and it really is a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen, even if you get someone in to fit the surfaces. I always go for mid range budget appliances which is a big saving also and they always need replacing after about 6-7yrs anyway.

This is relevant in a way as it releases more cash for our hobby :wink:

Yeah I did but it’s all looking a bit worse for wear tbh so decided to start from scratch. I’ve had 15 years out of it bringing up two kids so it hasn’t done too bad…

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You must be a great charmer and she loves you very much, because you’ve got both the amp and get to enjoy the sofa too, while she gets only the sofa​:smile::smile:. Kudos, man​:+1:

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The 500 non DRs come up very rarely and then it will probably need servicing.

A 500DR can be had for £11000 and again will need servicing once 10 years old.

I have done my upgrades for a fair while now. I spent about £10000 on the Focal Sopra 2s, 52 and 3 powerlines.

I am now holding back on anything to do with hifi upgrades.

I am in process of booking my 52, Supercap 2 and XPS2 for servicing with Darran at Class A.

My amplification is very good and should be better after servicing.

I was going to do some LP12 upgrades but I am going to enjoy the system as it is. You can always have more.

And that is something to look forward to one day. But for now am sitting back and enjoying the music!

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In all honesty I’m in the same place. It’s just fun to think about the whats, ifs and maybes. If the 350 really is as special as a recent comment suggests then it might just be in reach after a trade in on my 500. It would have to be really, really special though.

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Not if @Stu299 is selling his to move up to a 500DR or was that two NC350 monos :wink:

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lol see my post above

I did but you never know with you :wink:

Are you actively encouraging @Stu299 to get the 350s? He has just paid a fortune on a new kitchen. :thinking:

Me neither :joy:

No, he’s not that daft. He wants a 500DR.

I just can’t wait for all those 500s to flood the market. I’m doing a spreadsheet right now :joy:

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I am not a betting man but I reckon the 350s will be different in character to a 500DR and should be more powerful. At price point I think they will sit between 300DR and 500DR.

I do think that the new sound signature is quite different and with a full 500 system I think it will still be better than a new 300 system.

There would be outcry otherwise if cheaper system that Naim released was better. Dealers saying the new 200 series is better than a 252, Suoercap DR, 300DR is a matter of debate quite clearly.

With new gear I would let things settle down. Listen to 350s. If the 500DR is better then get that. Get a used one for £10k or £11k. Enjoy it.

And then when new 550 comes out get that after a couple of years.

Let things settle. Give it time and space and then any upgrade will be worth it.

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You reckon thats gonna happen. I don’t.

Hi Dan!

For ages, I expected to swap olive 250 for 135s once I had the 52. I heard a non-DR 300 and that didn’t change my view.

Then I was advised to hear a 300DR with 52/ SC by Grahams. It was clearly better controlled (with no loss of enthusiasm or pace) and better at low volume than my 250 and more neutral and quiet than my recollection of 135s.

I have since heard more than 1 person saying that 52 and 500 (even non-DR) is at least as big a step further toward perfection from 52/300DR as that was above 52/250, though I couldn’t justify the extra cost of a 500.

Given how many reckon that NDX2 plus better DAC is as good as NDX2, I sympathise with your ideas on better streaming - given your kit, it makes sense to get Qobuz in the best form you can.

Good luck!

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Hi Nick,

The NDS is a very good source, no doubt about it. Th latest streaming platform offers more. I am really not sure about adding an extra box and am considering an NDX2 to benefit from Qobuz and Tidal.

Tidal has never worked on my NDS. I don’t have the time or inclination to muck about with setting up some other alternative. The screen has burnt out as well. After 10 years fair enough but a bit of a disppointment.

I was looking at ND5XS2 and using NDS as DAC. But ny system looks really good on racks. Adding an extra box would look crap!

Not doing anything at moment. I use the NDS more than anything. But tonight is a CDS2 night!

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I don’t think a 552dr and 500dr is going to live with the new kit at all.
Its so old, its so noisy and really quite lacking once you start to compare to other kit.
Sorry but that’s how it is, plus the price it is now has really just killed it off completely.

The new kit with all the new tec and at a much lower price will certainly see the end off sales for new 500 kit.
Plus if you was even thinking about a new, x demo 500 kit right now, why would you. The new 300 kit is still going to be cheaper and better. Plus your re sale valve will also take a big hit. You if you want 500 kit will just wait for the new one to come, and maybe in the mean time go with the new 300 kit

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There are alternative streamers that you might be able to fit somewhere behind or so. Or get a used mac mini for small money and run Audirvana + Qobuz with your NDS. Will be a big upgrade in your system.