NAP 250DR/XPS vs 300DR

Fazakas Tamas posted:

Thanks very much all the replies!
I have the SN2 and I'm looking for the right upgrade path which would be the following:

1: 250DR
2: trade up SN2 to 272
3: XPS

How does it look, what do you guys think?

That is exactly the system I am building. 250DR/272 is just a kick ass system. The XPS I have not had a chance to listen to with the 272.. The 272 is great on it's own. If I were in your shoes I would start off with the 2 box 272/250DR try that for a few months then try and demo an XPS and see if it really kicks it up much of a notch. I have heard it is "not insignificant" but it would be useful to determine what that means for you and whether it is worth another 6 grand. Also if it does really wind up being the cherry on top, you will appreciate it more as you will have a baseline to compare to. 

DUPREE posted:

Fazakas Tamas posted:

Thanks very much all the replies!
I have the SN2 and I'm looking for the right upgrade path which would be the following:

1: 250DR
2: trade up SN2 to 272
3: XPS

How does it look, what do you guys think?

That is exactly the system I am building. 250DR/272 is just a kick ass system. The XPS I have not had a chance to listen to with the 272.. The 272 is great on it's own. If I were in your shoes I would start off with the 2 box 272/250DR try that for a few months then try and demo an XPS and see if it really kicks it up much of a notch. I have heard it is "not insignificant" but it would be useful to determine what that means for you and whether it is worth another 6 grand. Also if it does really wind up being the cherry on top, you will appreciate it more as you will have a baseline to compare to. 

I'm assuming that the 'six grand' refers to the Dollar price; the XPS is 3,700 of our British Pounds. 

Has anyone ever tried the 272 with a 555PS or compared its difference to the XPS?

I have a 272/300 and would be interested to know. There's a bit of me that says get the 555 because (by my reasoning) Naim have had such success with the 272 they're likely to consider a reference streaming pre, and that would most likely use a 555 and I'd already have one 

Someone definitely has, and felt that the difference was well worth the extra, but I don't recall who. If I was in your shoes and a 300, I'd probably go for the 555 in order to get the most from the 272, and thereby maintain system balance. That said, would a SL din to XLR close the gap if used with the XPS? It certainly makes a big difference with the XPS, but I've not heard the 272 with the 555. 

A few months ago we heard a 272/555/300 with Sopra 2s - excellent    

Many thanks for the help, I've learned a lot again from you guys!  I can see two options based on the inputs I've been given:

Option A: Cheaper but decent option with upgrade possibility: SN2/NDX and an optional XPS
Option B: Better value for money, kick ass, less upgrade possibility: 272/250 DR and an optional XPS

It seems the 2nd setup is the winner on paper but to make a final decision became much easier as I only have to A/B test the 272/250 vs SN2/NDX and no more many to many options.

Happy listening!

Hungryhalibut posted:

Someone definitely has, and felt that the difference was well worth the extra, but I don't recall who. If I was in your shoes and a 300, I'd probably go for the 555 in order to get the most from the 272, and thereby maintain system balance. That said, would a SL din to XLR close the gap if used with the XPS? It certainly makes a big difference with the XPS, but I've not heard the 272 with the 555. 

So a 272/555 with SL might sound ok then?  I doubt I'll make it that far. For me it's a choice between a XPS-DR/SL or 555(DR).

In that case, I'd take the former. That's the great thing about the 272, you only need three cables to get the full loom - or four if you have a swanky 300. 

I suppose a 272/555/500DR should be on the shortlist as well.   Just curious like!!

Now you're being silly. 

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I suppose a 272/555/500DR should be on the shortlist as well.   Just curious like!!

Is the 272 that good? I mean fits well to those big boys? 

I changed from an xps2 to a 555ps when I had a CDS3 and the improvement was dramatic. The CDS3 only uses one of the 555's sockets, just like a 272 does, so I'd expect a significant improvement there too. If you look inside a 555ps you'll see that it has a much bigger transformer, as well as other gubbins being different. All that said, the XPSDR is a very happy match for the 272. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Now you're being silly. 

Mischievous certainly - but why not?