Don’t forget to post the photos, Popeye.
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Yes thats right.
The pre does sound great that built in to the DCS dacs, the problem is the volume pot, fine if you can keep it at 0.0 db, but thats not practical obviously, and the more you go away from that, the sound does start to get affected, as i believe it loses bit rates, or something like that.
You can lucky adjust the output level to 4 preset values, that will help you keep as close to that magic 0.0, but its not a great way to do it. Plus most agree that they sound best at the 6 volt output, that then means you are going to be miles away from the magic 0.0, and so will lose some sound quality, now its not massive, but i can tell the difference, like others can, but some are fine without a pre.
I feel once you hear the difference, it would be hard to go back, and its a real shame that the volume has this effect.
The real magic is volume at 0.0 db and output at 6 volts, then it really sings to its max, and this means pre amp really, unless you have a room the size off a football pitch, or an amp with 1 watt output.
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Dark bear - thanks for sharing
Which preamp and system were you running prior to your 552?
Thanks for the reply, but it doesn’t really answer my question.
Looking at some pre amps that are just a very basic, looking at the parts used, but very high quality, no power needed, just a volume and switchgear, these in reviews seem to be very neutral and add nothing or take away anthing, surely this sort off design has got to be the way? As the more complicated, the more electronics that get put in the way can only add or colour?
This is more what i was thinking, and is it just that the S1 takes less away or colours less? Or does it add a sound that is more appealing? This i don’t think would be what it does.
Just seen a Statement pre and power amp on an auction site. Yours for 100k.
Wondering whether I should invest in a lottery ticket and grab a bargain 
You want to discuss theoretic, which is fine, but you also mentioned not having heard one - to which I answered that this is rather important.
No point having a nice theory that in practice does not sound any good. I’ve auditioned and experimented over the years with ‘passive’ Pre type configurations - they all fail on portrayal of ‘detail-in-context’ (linearity) of the presented sound and lack of any real mastery of dynamic range and very poor bass energy (do not handle low-level current on signal 0v line).
From a technical perspective they have no constant low-impedance wide-band outputs, no wide-band high impedance inputs, no signal ‘earth’ (0v ref) isolation between inputs when switched (S1 does that) - in short they will not drive cables to the power Amp with any easy neutrality - that is in-part some of what I hear wrong also. A good low-noise linear gain stage with good ladder-volume control also helps rather a lot - total independence to volume setting while retaining linearity.
For sure they can be carefully-matched with some items to give an excellent performance in their own right - but personally I find they suck at what I like to have done well. You pay and choose what works for you I suppose.
DB.
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I’ve had many over the decades. I was running an old Exposure Pre before the 552, as until the 552 I had some issues with top-end clarity on some early Naim Pre with digital sources - before that I had a NAC12S for my Vinyl days.
DB.
Thanks that is more like i wanted, i see that it actually works very differently to the 552, or even the rest off the range.
Would like to hear one, and maybe one day i will get that pleasure
Cheers dunc
@Darkebear slightly off topic but do you have a system pic or is there anywhere on the forum a pic of your system? Would love to see other Statement owners setups. 
This is from a few years ago - the stack of Power Supplies is now different in that I’ve moved more space (Med level) between the two bass 500 supplies in Fraim behind the S1 and moved the BMR supply closer to the Supercap for snaxo atop that stack - Amps at far-end stack.
Last Xmas RH S800.
…I’ll try to get some current pics posted when I can.
DB.
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Great thread guys. Lovely to read everyone’s thoughts.
My wife seems to have deleted my dealers number on my phone 
Keep em coming.
I have spoken with both Peter & DB in the last few days…and they’re not helping very much…I can but dream!
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Dusty, the great things about dreams is that they can actually come true if we allow them to. You and I both know, what the outcome is going to be with this! LALALA … yes, but long term resistance will fade once you’ve been here for a listen. 
Best Peter
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A few thoughts just about 3 weeks in;
As the S1 is increasingly opening up and the wow-moments keep occurring, it has made me realise just how important the Preamp is in a system. Through 35 years+ with Naim I have learned and heard how system balance must always be of highest priority. Tbh. contemplating getting the S1 into my system did cause myself to worry, how everything else would cope. I know my room is now very good, but…
I will now claim that the pre RULES a system and to me is the be-all and end-all within. It is exposing the front end capabilities to the point, where I’m hearing things, which I haven’t heard or paid attention to as such before.
The 500 DR is effortlessly amplifying the signal from the S1 with grace and coherence and with the fuller and extended bandwidth.
Again also no wavering from the Facts, which simply sound like a speaker design 3 times their physical size. The bass I’m hearing is let’s just say mightily impressive and in fact unbelievable at times.
At 62 we can still learn and experience things, which we didn’t think possible and how cool is that!? 
ATB Peter
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Smart women know what is going to happen.
If that happens … Dusty’s resolve is… dust! 
DB.
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Glad you’re enjoying your system Peter! 
It is also interesting to know how good the NAP 500DR.
I recall some forum members commenting about the 500 DR as being “just a more powerful amp”.
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I found in the old pre-DR days that even then the 500 was a bit better than 552.
Then the DR update improved both 552 a good amount - but the 500DR was IMO transformed into a far better Amp.
So the ‘gap’ in possible performance increased; the 552DR still a very capable partner for the 500DR, but the latter capable of even more, given a chance.
The S1 Pre shows that the 500DR can do a lot more - any demo clearly shows this and it can be a bit of a surprise.
Compound that, in my case, with 3x 500DR Active and it made even more difference I think.
DB.
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Hi DB, there is no doubt about that! Enjoy Peter
Thank you Thomas, and looking to your own future there is no doubt in my mind, that it will make your Magicos sing their little hearts out in their new ‘ Golden ratio room’. All you need to plan for is how to situate the S1 
Best Peter
I couldn’t agree more Peter. I’ve built my humble system along that philosophy and to me it plays music wonderfully. I really enjoy this thread BTW your ethusiasm is highly contagious.
Claude
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