2 birds with one stone aka to pre-amp or not to pre-amp

Posted by: Harry the Hornet on 19 January 2016

Following my last post, asking about the relative merits of the different Naim pre-amps and what they each bring to the party I'm now at the point where I'm going to make the leap and upgrade. Or very nearly....

Before I do so, I've let my mind wander to a curve ball, which I wonder if anyone else has considered (even though I realise I'm posting this on a Naim forum!). Whilst I am firmly of the vinyl persuasion I have been thinking that I may make use of a streamer when I need a little background music and as such have been wondering if a Linn Akurate DSM instead of a 282 or 252 might make an interesting proposition and kill two birds with one stone.

I think partnered with my 200 or possibly a 250 in the not to distant future, the Naim pre-amps are likely to gel better but was keen to get opinions before I head into my friendly dealer.

Thanks in advance.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by Felix H

You mean the current Linn Akurate DSM? Isn't that the one with no analog preamp, i.e. the analog input goes to an ADC and preamplification happens in digital domain? I've heard vinyl played through these and I'm sorry I just can't understand why Linn are doing this. I kinda liked the previous Akurate line.

Last time I checked, only one of the Linn DSM boxes had a real analog preamp - the Klimax. The number of analog inputs was one.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

What's your system?

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by hungryhalibut

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:
What's your system?

Wouldn't life be so much easier if people put details of their systems in their profiles?

Anyway, the 272 would seem to fit the bill - the same level as a 282 more or less, with a streamer and Internet radio thrown in and for less money too. Note that it cannot power a Naim phono stage, which may or may not be an issue.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by Harry the Hornet

Sorry Gianluigi, I thought I had done that..... will do!

Fully upgraded LP12 (Keel, Radikal, Urika, Ekos, Kandid) into a 202 with HiCap Dr, 202 and feeding Monitor Audio speakers

I was hoping for at least the same performance as a 282 if I'm going to upgrade, and looking at the previous posts on the 272 it is positioned just below, so not an answer. I'm thinking that it's back to plan A and listen to the 282 & 252 and then get my order in.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by bicela

Dear Harry, don't read about 272, listen at it and then judge!

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by ChrisSU

Out of curiosity, I wonder if a PSU upgrade to the 272 (XPS or whatever) improves the preamp section, or does it only power the streamer/DAC? To my ears, a 272/XPS sounded good, but not quite up to the 282. (I should point out here that I didn't have chance to listen to these with my LP12, so these comparisons were made with digital sources.)

My gut feeling is that 282 or 252 is the way to go here, but as Bicela says.....don't read, listen!

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by hungryhalibut

The psu powers the whole 272- its mains lead is removed.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by hungryhalibut

Harry the Hornet posted:
Sorry Gianluigi, I thought I had done that..... will do!
Fully upgraded LP12 (Keel, Radikal, Urika, Ekos, Kandid) into a 202 with HiCap Dr, 202 and feeding Monitor Audio speakers
I was hoping for at least the same performance as a 282 if I'm going to upgrade, and looking at the previous posts on the 272 it is positioned just below, so not an answer. I'm thinking that it's back to plan A and listen to the 282 & 252 and then get my order in.

With that front end, I'd be looking at a used 552.

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by ChrisSU

Hungryhalibut posted:
The psu powers the whole 272- its mains lead is removed.

Oh yes, obvious now I think about it! So one could reasonably expect a 272 with PSU to have a better chance of doing justice to a very nice turntable than a bare 272...

Posted on: 19 January 2016 by The Strat (Fender)

As has been said only one way to sort this. Find a dealer with an LP12 close to your spec and get a demo of the various 272/250 combinations and 282/250.

Good luck.