Naim NAC-N 272 Streaming Preamplifier

I know it's subjective, and only listening will tell, but with respect to it's placement in the classic range, is the 272 meant to better a 202 and NDX? Of is it kind of in between, so better than a 202 but not as good as 282 as pre but with streaming capabilities thrown in?

Well Naim say that the 'starting point' power amp to partner the 272 is a 250 and that a 300 is also a suitable partner.  That would imply pre-amp performance at 282 level at least.

To honest I wouldn't partner any Naim digital source below NDS/555 with a 300.

Clever naming as a "272" and not a "292" ! 

If the 272 sounds as good or better than a NDX/282 then it will be extremely attractive in terms of both box count and £ savings.

Up until now a typical mid-range system would have looked something like:

NDX/XPS/Hi-Line/282/NAPSC/HiCAP/250  i.e. 6 boxes + Fraim base and 4 levels at a cost of £19,024

Whereas a new system look like this :

272/XPS/250 + Fraim Base and 2 levels at a cost of £11,929

Quite a saving if the sound quality really is the same

E&OE

Actually they say "Paired with a NAP 200, NAP 250 or even a NAP 300 power amplifier, the 272 is an ideal choice for those seeking the convenience of a single box streaming"

I for one am interested in this product. To my mind, paired with a 250.2, it's an alternative to SN2/NDX and I am interested in reducing my box-count.

BUT - can anyone tell from looking at the back panel and the specs whether I can bypass the internal DAC with my Hugo? It certainly seems to have a digital SPDIF out, so presumably it can be made to operate just like my ND5XS into Hugo into 282...

[Sound quality is a separate matter, and I'm not going to debate that here, thanks.]

Yes, but on the Suggested System link they say :

"A Naim Retailer will recommend the right system for you, however you may choose to partner the NAC-N 272 with the following as a start: Naim NAP 250

Ever so slightly confusing then, they need to edit one or the other perhaps

To be frank, given the price differential I highlighted above and the (Naim) one-box approach I would be surprised if the SQ is as good as that of the separates-based system.

If i understand you correctly Nick, you want to use the Hugo as the DAC, fed by the S/PDIF output on the 272 and then use the 272 as the pre-amp at the same time, then no that wouldn't work. 

Depends on the compromises you wish to make - reduced box count, cabling, setup issues, servicing costs against a bit more of an improvment (maybe) in SQ from the separates. Could be a very close call. 

Well it's not going to out-perform a 282 as that's over £4k, and this comes in at £3k. A 202 is £2k, so is this 'just' a 202 with added streaming/DAC capability?

Yes, you're right.  The reduction in materials costs involved going from 6 boxes down to three + removing the redundancy of power supplies etc. must be very significant so maybe Naim can engineer a similar level of SQ for a much lower cost.

I would position the N-272 as a combination of a NAC-202 and a ND5XS 

HH had a nice premonition about two years ago:  https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...87#25360285720443287

I'll be auditioning one - the form factor is excellent and if sq stacks up then working towards e.g. XPS / 272 / 250 is a realistic propostiion for me aesthetically and financially in a way that the pre-existing range is not. I'll only be tempted if there is also a decent usable volume range though, the lack of which I find highly irritating in my SN.

Ok I'd have to sell the NDX but at least I've lived with naim streaming long enough to know it works well for me - I have no interest in lossless streaming services which seems to be a be a deal breaker for some.     

At 'bare' level this seems likely but otherwise will depend very much on what ps are used - at face value a big advantage of the 272 is that a ps upgrade should benefit both streamer and preamp.  

Look on the bright side - the black box is still in fashion!

Seems to be basically a SU without the power amp stage.  Hopefully with step improvements in all the areas/functionalities that are retained, given its only 200 quid cheaper......

However that sounds a good proposition to me.  If one is take a purist, or at least semi-purist, view on hi-fi (separates), the one piece you'd always want to break out separately is the heavy-lifting power amp, and keep all the soft & gentle electronics elsewhere -  even together if necessary, as Naim have done here.

To address the concern over upgrade-ability down the path (eg additional internet streamer services), I'm not sure that the inclusion of a pre-amp or DAC etc adversely affects that, per se.  What would certainly make it easier would be having a built in hardware capability that in no way limits this, and having firmware that auto upgrades from the internet as many other manufacturers are able to provide.....

Oh, and well done for getting DSD compatibility in there at last.

Well Naim state that it has optical isolation, which is what the NDS uses. So I suspect the sound quality will be higher than that of the NAC 202. After all technology has moved on since the 202 was released. And the fact that you can use a 555PS DR says it all in terms what what kind of sound quality can be attained from this unit.

I wouldn't be surprised if it can out perform a bare NDX / Supernait 2 setup. 

Interesting reference to optical isolation and the NDS.  In respect of the information source, has Naim released the specs or some other offical communucation?

Andrew Everards and the now removed 'Hifi Gear' web page, makes reference to the S1 Pre (which to me is interesting as development of the Statement beagn 10 years before its release in 2014) and hence my question about the comparison of the design of the volume control of 272 with that of the DAC V1 and Super Uniti. 

Also, is it that unusual for Naim products to have floating circuit boards?

Jude

I think this is good:

- It's black with green bits so our kit is still the current look (and I love that look). It makes it even stranger that the app doesn't do black-green.

- It seems to use the mini-USB update method so Naim haven't abandoned the architecture of the existing kit (I don't mind the update with mini-USB - the old RS232 was a nightmare though).

- Existing owners get DSD, which is great in itself and shows we are still being looked after.

I won't buy one, but I'm glad it exists for the above reasons.

Where can I get DSD files from, by the way?

Keith

They said the same thing about the SU volume control (derived from the S1) so likely as not it will be the same. That's no bad thing, as the SU volume control is superb.

I can vouch that the V1 volume control is fabulous.  I guess this bodes well for folk who are interested in the 272.  I intend to have a play at Bristol.

Jude

https://www.naimaudio.com/product/nac-n-272

Up on their website

That's packed !