Quick up date from the guy that kicked off this discussion (which has been very helpful for me – thank you). Spent 2 hours today at Billy Vee in Lewisham. Time very well spent. Going back next week, stay tuned, but I am back to focussing on NAIM. Paul, is a very patient individual, very good listener. Treated me as an individual and not a sales opportunity (or at least didn’t make me feel that way).
I think I better understand my original issue with the NC 300’s demo a couple of weeks ago. Leaving aside the dealer vibe from the original test drive, it was probably my ear (20 years of the OC 200, 202, NDX, HiCap, Pro Ac D38’s) which got me accustomed to a certain sound and presented the opportunity to up-sell me into a different bracket with the Soulution/Wadax combo.
Paul patiently helped me work through what I was hearing and what I liked and what I was concerned about. Plenty of different music tried and other things considered, but eventually, it was as simple as connecting a separate power supply to the NSS333. That made a very discernible difference for me. Thank you @Sinewave for suggesting Billy Vee – I knew about them, but hadn’t been before. Definitely worth the visit, both for the knowledge gained, and the Saturday afternoon walk back to Lewisham Station.
Delighted that Billy Vee has helped you to find the right path, it is many many years since I last visited and I’ve made that walk along Lee High Road a good few times.
Look forward to finding out what the next step is.
I bought my first system from Billy Vee in 1980. Well almost a system - I got the Sansui amp from Tottenham Court Rd. Yes but the rest was a Thorens TD160 with SME IIIs arm and Ortofon VMS20E. Boy did
I spend long time choosing that cartridge!! Great that the arm was fully detachable. Consultant ( I won’t call him a salesman cos he wasn’t) was so patient - and we did agree that at my price point it was the right choice. Mission 710 speakers. I remember looking at the LP12’s in the shop - they were lovely. Way beyond my means at that time. I loved the buying experience and the system. Even my wife (we were newly married) enjoyed herself!!
OK, journey now concluded. Spent a significant amount of time at Billy Vee today. The time spent last week with Paul restored my confidence that sticking with naim was potentially right for me so the focus today was NC300’s or take the step to 500’s. Paul suggested using the Bowers & Wilkins 803’s for the speaker to do the comparison between the 300’s and 500’s (we started with something else initially). Wow, when we went to the BW speakers, I finally heard (and felt) what I was hoping for. What a difference between what I heard at the first demo of 300’s at the dealer who shall not be named. At that point, I recommitted back to naim and the focus shifted to deciding between 300’s and 500’s. Lot’s of back and forth, and I won’t detail the deliberations, but in the end (and it was a tough decision because the NC300’s sounded darn good) I ended up purchasing the 500’s (in part because I felt I would eventually have wanted to graduate from 300’s to 500’s anyways). So this is what I went with…A demo NAP500DR from 2020 and new NAC552 and ND555 (with the corresponding power supply) plus a a Uniti Core. Naim has a promotion at the moment on cabling so am using theirs for now. Am going to defer my decision on speakers for a few months. Want to research the Sonus Faber, B&W and ProAc K series options, as well as others that may pair well with the 500’s and my ears.
So decision made. Thank you for all that provided thoughts, opinions and shared experiences. It was very helpful.
Glad it worked out for you - Paul is such a good person to deal with. When I bought my 222/250 last year he said to me “The way the 250 works Chris is like this - it says to the speakers ‘You start when I tell you to start and stop when I tell you to stop’ “. 
. Straight talking and no hifi bollox
BTW - he uses a 222/300/250 at home
Congratulations mate! Welcome to 500 series….plays music like nothing else for me
Thank you Chris. Yes, he mentioned his home config. It’s interesting how Paul’s system is anchored around naim and Ian’s is Linn. They are not deep in brands, but for me, it was good to have the different perspectives (although my focus was very much naim which was my bias).
Thank you @Damien0. Really looking forward to breaking them in, and starting my next 20+ year journey with naim.
Amusing marketing I’d say.
Mange tout, Rodney
Wow, doesn’t come much better than that!
Mix of white and green?
Hi @Sinewave, yes. Thought of requesting the new units to be done with green, but decided I should “own the mix” that results from the demo NAP500DR, plus the Uniti Core only comes in white so I was always going to have at least one white light.
Well done Peter, I am glad you found what you wanted. With such a purchase it’s worth going the extra mile to get what you really want.
Kind regards
PB
Thank you @Polarbear. Yes, “the extra mile”, or in my case the last stop on the Docklands Light Railway.
Nice one, Peter. Wow, thats some jump over your classic 202/200 setup! You won’t regret the 500DR, its rather special 
Congratulations, that will be one stunning set-up once it has settled in to its new surroundings.
My guess is that the grin on your face once the 500’s arrive will make the Cheshire Cat seem miserable.
Enjoy.
Not sure what to say, except I think the dealer was trying to steer you away . I have to ask was this a new dealer for you?
I would expect the new set up to be "warmed up " and to have decent interconnects and power lines
It sounds “odd” and a trip to your old dealer sounds good.
I have to ask the question in twenty years time will the Naim have the same trade in as the dealer’s preferred route ?
I had a 200/202/ Hi Cap, dinky little box and stage line and I did well when I downsized them
If I may make one comment about your existing system , why not have it serviced and replace the CD player with a Marantz ?
Hi @Ian2001, re: the current system, am going to get it serviced and pass it on to my oldest son. Keep it in the family.
Yes, @Oxfordian, am excited, but enjoying the last few weeks of the current system. It has served me very well, across 3 countries/2 continents. For those in the UK, enjoy the sunshine, its been a while 