300DR on demo

Posted by: MDS on 21 November 2015

So having been impressed at hearing what a 300DR could do driving some Sopra 2s at Infidelity recently, I arranged a home demo and the 300DR was installed last Thursday evening so I could try it over the weekend. The dealer also brought a pair of SL XLRs as I have a single SL XLR on my 250 and there’s no way I would now depart from a full SL loom. 

 

I resisted a serious listen until it had had a proper chance to warm up but from Friday onwards I’ve been running through lots of familiar CDs so as to assess it.

 

I had expected more oomph.  And indeed my Focal Electras needed repositioning as the 300DR allows them to go down even deeper but rather than more oomph I would say the 300DR is re-producing bass lines in a very much more articulate way.  However the 300DR is doing a great deal more than ‘merely’ improving the bass.  There’s lots more detail across the whole frequency range;  heavy, complex stuff is reproduced in a more relaxed way and has made me realise that my 250.2 could tend to some ‘thickness’ when pressed. But the other characteristic that I hadn’t really bargained for is the size of the soundstage which has just exploded in all three dimensions.  On my earlier thread about listening to Sopra 2s at Infidelity , I think it was Steve J who suggested that when trying to 300 I might find my speakers had grown by a couple of feet. I now know what he means!   

 

I know the 300DR is more than twice the price of the 250 but it feels a very big step up in quality and sophistication.

 

Mike

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Chris Dolan

Have fun Mike - I'm sure they would work well with a 252 

 

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by Chris Dolan:

Have fun Mike - I'm sure they would work well with a 252 

 

Thank you, Chris. And I know you really meant 552.

Mike 

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Christopher_M

I wish much pleasure with all this, Mike, but can't help thinking a CDS3 would make all these various amplifier experiments redundant.

 

Chris_M

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Harry

I spent years chasing the bass but it took a 300 to show me that quantity can be a mixed blessing whereas quality is essential. I’d never heard music portrayed like that before.  Along with staging, spaciousness, delicacy and all that. And the 300DR is in a higher league still? Must be one hell of an amp and a very good pointer for what the 500 fraternity is in for. I wish you big fun with it.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by LarsDK
Mds, i had very much the same experience going from 250.2 to 300dr. In addition to the bass you describe, to me its a musically much more coherent experience - the band really plays together vs 250.2 in addition to thickness could also emphasize a few of the band members but putting others in background. Really loves what the 300dr does, br Lars
Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Chris Dolan
Originally Posted by MDS:
And I know you really meant 552.

Yes - that too - it's a combination that I'm very much looking forward to trying 

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by IanG

MDS, I had the same experience going from a non DR 300 to a DR 300.

 

It truly is a wonderful upgrade.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Bert Schurink

The more and the more I am looking forward to an encounter with the 500DR after reading all this good encounters with the 250 and 300

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by Fokkelman
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

The more and the more I am looking forward to an encounter with the 500DR after reading all this good encounters with the 250 and 300

Me too, but it will cost a large sum of money to upgrade.

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by analogmusic

the DR upgrade is very significant, even more to my ears than the DR upgrade to preamps.

 

It really brings out the best in the source and preamp (whereas previously, it was the other way around) by dramatically lowering the noise floor (30 times in the internal PSU noise floor for NAP250DR, compared to original NAP 250, this is not small, and very audible) and by having better transistors. which are even faster to my ears than the previous ones.


I think this is why Naim now say the 272 can be used with 250DR and 300 DR, previously it has been said that the 250.2 needed a 282/SC as a minimum to show what it was really capable of.

 

Start saving, owners of NAP 500. Delay buying that car, going on holiday, or eating out in expensive restaurants 

 

 

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by Harry

I've heard it's going to be about £4K. Is that in the right ball park?

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by analogmusic

from the audio-t website 

 

NAP 500 DR upgrade 4200 GBP

NAP 500 DR upgrade and servicing 4900 GBP.

 

NAP 300 DR upgrade 1495/-GBP

NAP 300 DR upgrade and servicing 1850/- GBP

 

time to save, budget, cut down on expenses, and look forward to the DR upgrades on your NAP 500

 

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by tonym

Yes, I think £4 and a bit K for the upgrade, £5.2K if you're goining for the full shooting match with overhaul.

 

Despite my initial resistance, after a long chat with a certain well-known audio engineer the other day I've decided to bite the bullet & get all three of my 500s DR'd and given their age it makes sense to have them overhauled at the same time.

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by analogmusic

Per Audio-t

 

The DR upgrades will begin from 1st Feb 2016 but need to be booked in starting now. This will ensure you get in early in the queue as we anticiapte there will be considerable demand.

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by analogmusic
Hi , what did the audio engineer say? was it more related to servicing or the DR upgrade
 
Originally Posted by tonym:

Yes, I think £4 and a bit K for the upgrade, £5.2K if you're goining for the full shooting match with overhaul.

 

Despite my initial resistance, after a long chat with a certain well-known audio engineer the other day I've decided to bite the bullet & get all three of my 500s DR'd and given their age it makes sense to have them overhauled at the same time.

 

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by tonym:

I've decided to bite the bullet & get all three of my 500s DR'd and given their age it makes sense to have them overhauled at the same time.

Ouch! Still, you only live once. We're going for the DR upgrade on spec. Only the one 500 though and under four years old. The budget option!

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by tonym
Originally Posted by analogmusic:
Hi , what did the audio engineer say? was it more related to servicing or the DR upgrade
 
Originally Posted by tonym:

Yes, I think £4 and a bit K for the upgrade, £5.2K if you're goining for the full shooting match with overhaul.

 

Despite my initial resistance, after a long chat with a certain well-known audio engineer the other day I've decided to bite the bullet & get all three of my 500s DR'd and given their age it makes sense to have them overhauled at the same time.

 

The DR upgrade. It ain't just transistors!

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by tonym
Originally Posted by analogmusic:

from the audio-t website 

 

NAP 500 DR upgrade 4200 GBP

NAP 500 DR upgrade and servicing 4900 GBP.

 

NAP 300 DR upgrade 1495/-GBP

NAP 300 DR upgrade and servicing 1850/- GBP

 

time to save, budget, cut down on expenses, and look forward to the DR upgrades on your NAP 500

 

Ah! Cheaper than I thought! I must rush and tell SWMBO!

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by analogmusic:

Per Audio-t

 

The DR upgrades will begin from 1st Feb 2016 but need to be booked in starting now. This will ensure you get in early in the queue as we anticiapte there will be considerable demand.

Well I have already booked a place in the queue for my 250.2 to be upgraded to DR but listening to the 300DR again today I don't think I'll be needing that booking. 

Mike

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by Steve J
Originally Posted by tonym:
Originally Posted by analogmusic:

from the audio-t website 

 

NAP 500 DR upgrade 4200 GBP

NAP 500 DR upgrade and servicing 4900 GBP.

 

NAP 300 DR upgrade 1495/-GBP

NAP 300 DR upgrade and servicing 1850/- GBP

 

time to save, budget, cut down on expenses, and look forward to the DR upgrades on your NAP 500

 

Ah! Cheaper than I thought! I must rush and tell SWMBO!

As they say at Tesco's 'every little helps', especially with your triple active system Tony. 

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by MDS

Well during today’s listening I’ve tried quite a variety of material from Mary Black, Genesis, Eagles, We Are The Fallen, to Royal Blood.  Nothing seems to fluster the 300DR. It takes everything in its stride and presents the detail and melody with ease. Power and grace. Impressive.

 

Mike 

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by ChrisH

It sounds like you will pull the trigger then Mike .

Something nice to look forward to, do you think you may get it for Christmas?

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by ChrisH:

It sounds like you will pull the trigger then Mike .

Something nice to look forward to, do you think you may get it for Christmas?

I'm telling myself to be patient and to make the final decision when I've heard my 250.2 plugged back into the system, Chris.  But unless that event produces something very unexpected, I'm expecting to place an order.  I've asked my dealer to let me know what the leads times are for both 300DR and twin SL XLRs as it would be nice to know that, if I ordered next week, my 'reward' would arrive in time for Xmas.

 

Mike    

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by ChrisH
Originally Posted by MDS:
Originally Posted by ChrisH:

It sounds like you will pull the trigger then Mike .

Something nice to look forward to, do you think you may get it for Christmas?

I'm telling myself to be patient and to make the final decision when I've heard my 250.2 plugged back into the system, Chris.  But unless that event produces something very unexpected, I'm expecting to place an order.  I've asked my dealer to let me know what the leads times are for both 300DR and twin SL XLRs as it would be nice to know that, if I ordered next week, my 'reward' would arrive in time for Xmas.

 

Mike    

Will be interesting to hear your findings after replacing the 250.2.

But if all goes well, delivery by Xmas will be great for you, you trialled these bits and bobs just in time!

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by ken c
Originally Posted by MDS:
 I've asked my dealer to let me know what the leads times are for both 300DR and twin SL XLRs as it would be nice to know that, if I ordered next week, my 'reward' would arrive in time for Xmas.

 

Mike    

this would be nice outcome Mike

 

enjoy

ken