My reading of the issue here is that something is causing the ND555 suspension to rattle/vibrate. The question is then – what is it? Either a bouncy floor, or suboptimal fraim, or mechanically unstable resting position of the ND555 – or all of the above. You have mentioned you floor is solid and that the fraim is tight, which leaves the ND555 itself. But what I am puzzled about is, even if the ND555 suspension is somehow compromised, I cannot right now figure why it clunks when you walk around your listening room?? I also find it hard to figure out why the dealer would miss such an obvious odd behaviour when he tested it.
But I guess all this may be moot if you are getting a different ND555 to test with anyhow. So I guess this will be an important next step.
Why not have the dealer send a replacement unit? Seems like this would be the best way to determine if the original ND555 was defective. I went through three NAP500’s before I got one that sounded good. Naim electronics are not perfect but for the asking price satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Your dealer and Naim will make this right… you just have to ask!
Stefan, you get a lot of questions… but have you tried mono from from just one loudspeaker? The same sound problem with just one loudspeaker or is it with both working?
This is most concerning to me. I cannot be the customer doing the quality-control, can it?
I am on month two of my new nap 500dr…it sounds good, but in some areas not yet quite where my well run in nap 300dr was. So I could wonder if my one is ok?
I had a non working brand new 552dr - which was of course replaced. A friend of mine got a non working 500 back after service and dr-ing - had to go back to naim. Asking which Superline version (E or standard - gain) would fit an Lyra Etna cart, Naim customer-service told me: I can change this with plugs on the back…
To be honest, it is difficult for me to trust Naim anymore. If you pay the prices asked you should have the peace of mind as well that you get a best working piece of equipment.
The 500 and 500DR take a while to run-in fully. It should be good after a month but still nowhere near what it is capable of and will run-in and further improve over several months a lot more so comparing one with two months on it against a well run-in 300DR is not fair IMO because the latter should sound smoother and easier in areas - but later the 500DR will do that too and go farther IMO.
Mine continued to improve for at least 9 months but I was content with them after 3 months. My previous non-DR 500 set (I run three Active) were truly awful in the first month to the extent I though they were wrong - but it all came good and I find Active just accentuates good and bad of such things more.
I know it will get better - sounding better with time - as did my 300dr over the months/years.
And I know I have a wonderful hifi setup that brings me lots of hours of musical pleasure. But still in the last months I witnessed several things which makes me wonder what happened to quality-control…
My NAP500 story goes back nearly 15 years when the amp first debuted. The factory new unit never settled-in after months of use. The dealer swapped out for their demo and it also did not sound good. Finally the importer sent me his personal 500 as it was the “best one” he had heard. He was right, it was magic (replaced six-pack of 135s on my NBLs). I’ve owned that amp ever since and last year it went through DR upgrade performed by Chris West at AV Options (along with my 552).
It all worked out well for Naim… that NAP500 was responsible for a half dozen sales over the years. I would bring it to prospective buyers homes for demo and even lent it to my dealer a few times (once it powered active IBLs!)
The take-away is that when you spend large dollars for hi-fi you should be 100% satisfied. The dealer/importer/Naim all want you to be happy. Happy customers buy more and tell their friends to buy Naim. It all works out. Be the squeaky wheel… just be cool about it.
Hi Ken, it is important to know that the first clunk was from putting my phone on the ND555. When I than walked around the room it is the rattleing that I guess is not ok.
Regarding that it not came up when tested: It is not really obvious espacially if the floor is more solid than mine.
Regardless of that I did and will again mention the rattleing to my dealer and Musicline.
Thanks Stefan
Hi Peder, II’m so tempted to just do it, but then I realise that It would makes things even more difficult when discussing with Naim and I might lose the warranty. So don’t foster my temptation
Hi Chris, unfortunately my dealer just don’t have another ND555. Hi has a lot of Naim gear up to a NDX2 and maybe even an 202/200. So I have to work this out with my dealer and Musicline (distributor).
Hi Gunnar, thanks for the tip, will try Tonight. Cool even aver 200 replies new ideas comming up.
Thanks guys again for your feedback.
Regarding the quality variances, It worries me a little bit hearing your stories, but It also helps me to believe that my unit could have such a problem and it is not just me. In the end it is important how this things are being handled and here I believe in NAIM.
Stefan
The rattling sounds very much like mine did. Mine was mounted on Fraim, through Naim Chips on a solid wood floor on concrete. (My LP12 is on top of the same Fraim stack and doesn’t jump at all even when jumping up and down!) I could just tap the glass shelf on which the ND555 was mounted and it would rattle. It sounded too high a frequency for it to be the brass sub-chassis. I mentioned this on the old forum and I phoned HQ who suggested they should get it back to have a look at it.
Rattling sounds wrong – as in, it should not rattle. I’ve had an NDS and 2 ND555s (due to a different issue; the loss of output on one channel from the DIN output) and none have ever rattled. Whether that has any effect on SQ…no idea.