Nap500

I may have to sell a kidney :thinking:

My 300 opened up my speakers. My 500 opened up my room

Without a doubt the 300 to 500 was a bigger upgrade than 252 to 552DR.

My system my ears :person_shrugging:

Yes, my bank manager agrees!

I’ll stay with my 300DR and never hear a 500.

Just to please her.

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Glad to hear you are up and running and enjoying the 500 in your system. The 500 is undoubtedly a mega upgrade however, as others have mentioned above, having the 552 in place is a huge enabler for the 500 to bring its power to the party.

Looks like PB was right again!!

Peter

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Genius and hilarious.

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Where’s he gone. Passed out from euphoria?

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Still listening and I’m in awe. I’ve done a fair few upgrades over the last few years and the 500 blows them all away, even the 552DR. Maybe it’s because the others were already in place I don’t know…

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I really should go to bed. But I can’t :joy:

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I think so, that is how to build a great system I feel.

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I think you’re right! As you upgrade you allow more of the 552’s and/or your source and speakers goodness to come through too. Having said that I had a 500 when they were first released and remember how it felt like a new world even with a 52 preamp and CDS2.
Enjoy!

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One of the biggest upgrade for me was dedicated mains/spur. Would say it was at least equal to servicing the 552/500.

Apologies if I came over a little over-exuberant yesterday! I’m still feeling a little stunned by what I heard. I think I was only hearing half of what my source, pre and speakers had to offer before.

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I’ve only just caught up with the thread, but I’m really pleased you’re enjoying your new amplifier. I like how you describe it as enlarging the room!

I wouldn’t rush to change the speakers. The T606 really is a gem in the Titan range, punching well above its weight. Although they’re very room and position tolerant, you might find just moving them a couple of inches further away from the wall or adjusting the toe-in improves things. I recall when my new Titans were installed earlier this year, the toe-in was adjusted by a small margin and the whole soundstage suddenly clicked into place.

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If the 500 performs as I’ve heard it, from switch-on the soundscape is detailed, obviously ‘fast’ and separation will be far better. It’s very ear-catching.

After a few days, bass will come on-stream and it’s only then that (obviously informed) judgements can be framed, as the bass can make it sound like the detailing has regressed a tad – which is not really the case (unless you have a listening environment which doesn’t react well to bass). Most Naim amps behave like this to my ears, and as you go up the ladder, the tighter the bass gets which, ironically, can help with some problematic environments.

The 606s should be a very good match.

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Clive makes a good point on speaker repositioning. This is something that’s quite important when changing amps. When I used my 135’s while my 500 was away I had to push my DBL’s back about 2cm. The amp was away for a while and I’d forgotten I’d done this. When it came back It sounded very off even allowing for burn-in. It was only when I did a quick check that I noticed the old pencil lines on the floor. Pulling the DBL’s forward those 2cm was a revelation and everything snapped back into focus.

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Stu. What music have you been listening to. A 500 system of course is amazing when setup well. My only references were trips to hear systems from two forum friends and it is great when all attention to detail is taken care of.
One particular piece was the Mahler symphony no. 2 with Otto Klemperer. Simply amazing

Symphonic music is a good way to evaluate HiFi equipment.

The electronics are put to the test and so are the speakers.

If the electronics or speakers are not up to the task, it can can get a bit messy.

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Agreed Thomas. The one I mention is a particularly well captured performance. I come back to it now and again. Then again I hope to spend my 500 series upgrade money on trips to performances at some of Europe’s great venues. I read once you are fond of the Victoria hall in Geneva. I went once to a Beethoven Hammerklavier recital by Grigory Sokolov, which I also went to in Nancy and Frankfurt Alte Oper. I will get back into concert going mode again soon I hope….
Best wishes
Mark

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A quick scan through my favourites and I see Kings of Leon, Radiohead, The Cure, Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Elbow. So a lot of rock. But also techno, jungle techno (showing my age and my mis-spent youth :grin:).

I listen to Radio Paradise when I want to hear something new, and also Classic FM but in all honesty I never know who or what I’m listening to! I will most certainly give the symphonies you and Thomas mention a listen :+1:

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