Used NAC 552

[mij29]

Hi JimDog,

The shelves have the the shortest (100mm) black quadraspire legs between them, and the base shelf (supporting the 552) has the shorter legs with the spikes on that just clears the 300 head unit… All quite close together…

[anon77199223]

Hi mij29
Are they are Q4 EVO glass shelves?
Jim

[mij29]

No, just 10mm toughened glass I had made up for the purpose…

[Steve57]

Forgive me for asking what is probably a very very stupid question and one which I am sure I know the answer to. I would however feel terrible if you were experiencing anything less than absolute joy from the 552 and I had not asked. I assume, as alluded to by Richard, that the transit bolts have been fully removed? It’s difficult to tell from the pictures. I’d hate it if it were something so simple.

That’s some very nice cabinetry by the way!

[anon77199223]

@mij29

No, just 10mm toughened glass I had made up for the purpose…

Are you going to use the same racks when you set them up again?

Glass shelves are known to sometimes sound a bit ‘splashy’.

I use 10mm toughened glass vibration isolation shelves as per this thread:

Vibration Isolation / Support for Glass

I can’t accommodate a Brain / Brawn stack arrangement so the system has to cope with the vibrational harmonics of the transformers transmitted from lower on the rack. So, how to mechanically isolate the ‘Brain’ components. First: rule out solutions based on damping, such as sorbathane. Second: rule out spring systems as; 1, they’re more difficult to design and build; 2 some of the boxed have vary asymmetric weight distributions. So, think about using the properties of systems based on dissim…

[anon77199223]

Burndy dressing thread:

Silly Questions

As FR says above, getting the Burndy dressing right is critical. Check the Burndy for how it’s dressed and whether it’s nicely “relaxed”. It’s easy to get wrong and the sound then gets hardened at the top end and lacks air and “breath”. Take each connector of the cable in each hand with the cable looped between in front of you. gently twist the connectors with a wrist movement while gently swinging the cable. You may wish to do this alone, as you may get some odd looks… Also check to see that…

Burndy lesson learned! Shake it to wake it!

Rebuilt the Fraim following putting up new TT shelf…got up nice and early to tidy up, put on Bruckner then Emmylou for company, then B.A.D. and it all seems a bit bright and basslight. Gulp. Surely the SVT shelf can’t be that bad? Tried a couple songs that I know will give me a fair rattle in the chest and… I remembered someone posted the same problem after setting up their 252: check the Burndy and relax it. I did, gave it a nice gentle shake or six, rearranged the coiling S…

[mij29]

@Steve57

I assume, as alluded to by Richard, that the transit bolts have been fully removed? It’s difficult to tell from the pictures. I’d hate it if it were something so simple.

That’s some very nice cabinetry by the way!

Hi Steve, yes, the transit bolts are safely stored and were removed prior to installation. The cabinets were built from MDF to store books etc; their use for Naim support was definitely and afterthought!

@anon77199223

Are you going to use the same racks when you set them up again?

Not necessarily, I have loads of old cherry quadraspire that I can use to try the impact of dedicated support on a brawn / brains arrangement, so the glass will be set aside. Thanks very much for the isolation suggestions!

[anon77199223]

@mij29

cherry quadraspire that I can use to try the impact of dedicated support on a brawn / brains arrangement, so the glass will be set aside. Thanks very much for the isolation suggestions!

All of that should make a big difference to SQ.

The 552 will enjoy the view from a top shelf.

[PhilP]

Oh God… what did I just get myself back into…? ha

Where’s that blue tooth speaker - can’t seem to find it.

[ElMarko]

Inside a cabinet with a CD player above it doesn’t seem the best way to go for SQ.

[RackKit]

@PhilP

@anon77199223

Also, return to stock cabling as a way to get a base measure of SQ.

This is sound advice I would not trifle with particularly in a Naim near-reference level gig.

I hope your stock cables are run-in for at least 4 to 6 months of regular play before comparisons are done and conclusions made with other makes.

4-6 months to run cables in? Really?

This kind of talk is laughable. IMO and experience of course.

[RackKit]

@mij29

Hi PhilP,

Huge thanks for all your great observations and ideas for finding a solution. Also, thank you to Richard - I guess you would all happily fall off your chairs at the proximity of the 552 head unit to its neighbours - a 555 powered CDX2 above, and the 300 head unit just below… They are on a DIY glass rack using 100mm Quadraspire spacer legs so pretty close… The layout suited the room, but thanks to your collective help and advice, this afternoon’s efforts will be to pull all six boxes out and create temporary brain / brawn two x three stacks to the right of the current situation. I’ll do my very best with the dressing and see what it all sounds like…

Once again, huge thanks one and all; I have no local dealer having moved to the area after buying my original 282 based system in Leicestershire and so your guidance is invaluable…

I think we have the answer as to why the 552 is sounding off.

Surprised nobody else has spotted it.

Sorry @mij29 - just a bit of fun.

Hope you get it all sorted. It’s huge investment so you need to happy with it all.

Cheers, Rack.

[PhilP]

@RackKit

This kind of talk is laughable.

.

[RackKit]

4-6 years. Minimum.

[Suedkiez]

They start to burn out shortly after this

[Mike_S]

Can you get the Naim power supplies on the lower right side of the cabinet and then move the three stacked ones (top left) to the three bottom left shelves with the 552 on the top of the bottom shelves? I’d start with that and see if there is an improvement.

Good luck.

[NigelB]

@mij29

Not necessarily, I have loads of old cherry quadraspire that I can use to try the impact of dedicated support on a brawn / brains arrangement, so the glass will be set aside. Thanks very much for the isolation suggestions!

I think the OP is going to pull all the kit out of the corner cabinet and try dedicated brawn/brains stacks (using Quadrapire Cherry wood racks) in free space. If I have understood this correctly, this is definitely the way to go and will allow proper cable dressing, and Burndies to be hanging free and clear of walls and other cables.

This should make a significant difference, because, as you go up the Naim heirachy (particularly going from 282 to 552), the more attention you need to give to set up.

[Steve]

In my experience 552 has to be at the top of the stack if you want optimum sound quality.

@Richard.Dane are you suggesting the burndy maybe better if not tightened to the point it clicks into place? The burndys are sort of in or out but here is space to back off the burndy to before the click I guess. You can’t tighten past the click unless you have Hands with a vice like grip I guess.

[Richard.Dane]

No I’m not. The connector should be done up all the way. I’m referring to the strain relief. This should not be either overly tight or overly loose.

[PhilP]

I can’t explain it, Richard how happy I am to see you here… ha ha

@Richard.Dane

This should not be either overly tight or overly loose.

I already feel in trouble…

Not clear on what’s “overly loose”, Sir.

“Overly tight” to mean the Burndy is not stretched out till it’s too tight between head unit and PS and therefore there’s no strain over the length of the lead? - kindly correct me if wrong.

The Burndy connector head usually just snaps and clicks in once it is anchored into place.

Am sorry not clear what you meant.

The Burndy lead wire as I understand it is left to “hang loose” in free space.