That’s one of the buttons I mash!
It’s worth persevering. It took me a year to find mine. I suspect a lot of them never make it to the marketplace, but rather get sold by dealers to waiting customers (that was the case for me).
Used 552/500 on eBay at the moment.
Gary
Indeed 250 is fine with my listening room size and speakers. If my room was larger I would certainly consider the 300 and possibly the 500 to drive my consequently larger speakers.
The 552 is strange how it seems to truly maximise the NAP connected to it.
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I’ve just received an email from Naim Audio which says, among other things, that from September DR upgrades will only be performed at the same time as a service.
Also for those in the U.K. it may be worth noting that the prices shown in Sterling are more than the Euro prices, suggesting an inverse exchange rate. If this isn’t a mistake it should be possible to change sterling to Euros and take advantage of the lower prices, thereby benefitting twice.
Good catch Clive, and on a Nap500, its almost £1k cheaper, most odd.
That would save you just enough cash to get your Hicap done - I can’t see there being too many takers for that when you could get a brand new one for £1400.
I think the Euro prices exclude vat
I saw those prices today and felt mildly faint.
Unless it’s crying out for a service, an non DR’d 552 or 500 will sound superb. Yes, the DR upgrade is worth having, but the 552/500 did not sound like rubbish before DR availability, did they?
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After a six week shut down, I powered the rack up yesterday evening. This evening, I quickly sat down for a one track test to make sure all was well with the connectivity and basic performance. As expected, the sound was a bit gritty, with slightly ponderous timing, and a slightly soft and more recessed image than a fully warmed up system. For a 552/500, sounded a off the pace, as would be expected. Three albums later I rose from the Sofa. That says it all about the 552 for me. It’s so musical. Even when cold and settling down, I can’t stop listening.
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A few more days of warming up since I last posted (Day 13 just started).
Quite amazing things seemed to have been happening. It’s just pure music now, and I’m gobsmacked listening to vinyl after a mostly CD ripping day.
These Oboe concertos are sounding so alive. The nearest I came was with the demo Rega Aura phonostage and the 252/300. Still got the Aria. Just shows what the unDRed 552/500 can do.
Phil
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I have had my 552 for what, a couple of months now, though there was a gap of 3-4 weeks while the 300s went away for service and dr-ing. Since they came back I have been mostly working downstairs in front of the main system, way more than I ever did with the 52. Just sounding so lovely …
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The 552 is very fussy regarding warm up…I would think it a very difficult product to demo against other equipment … it needs to settle in. I was amazed when I got mine … it gradually opened up and up…
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Ah sign of the times.
The thing I now notice is how enjoyable the bass is. I don’t know if I am alone, but the 252/300 bass was too hard and loud in relation to the rest of the music. The only explanation i have if it not the 252/300 is that I put the 500 on the bottom shelf to keep it away from the 552.
Phil
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Even though serviced in November 2016 the 552/500 combo continues to get better and better as if going through the normal burn in. Of course, I don’t know how much it was used after it’s service, but just loving the enjoyment this unDRed combo delivers.
Phil
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Great news Phil. Glad the 552 / 500 is enthralling you as much as you hoped. Do keep us updated as it continues to improve.
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The improvement continues. Playing Melody Gardot (My One and Only Thrill, Lonesome Heart and Currency of Man) and Genesis Foxtrot I hear much more body and depth in the music. Mind you I had a bit of a rest during the hot weather when I just wanted to be outside.
The current underwhelmed thread seems to make very quick decisions whereas it seems to me that these systems need to be left to settle for a long time. Yes, you can hear what a 552/500 does quickly, but the reward comes gradually. No one should worry about second hand gear especially from a dealer. In the worse case a service will bring it back to new.
Phil
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The progress continues. Most noticeable is that the piano is sounding sublime. It’s as if the soundstage has improved at the same time so all the subtleties of the musicianship are becoming revealed. Firstly on Saturday night I played Boris Giltburg Rachmaninov Etudes Tableaux
And now the Stephen Bishop Kovacevich Beethoven (top bar) which being a Concerto has full orchestra.
All this with the Innuos Zenith into nDAC.
Must be 3 months since I bought the 552/500. The 500 transformer hum has also reduced over this time and now only has brief periods. If the original owner had the service done and didn’t like the hum then I have been the lucky one. It might also explain why the boxes have got better and better over a relatively long period.
Very Happy.
Phil
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I had the exact same feeling. Everything’s now more balanced. The 500DR series is really amazing. What a pleasure to sit and listen!
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