Upgrade Supernait: NAC N-272 or NDX ?

If you purchased a 272 would you eventually get a 250dr to go with it? If not the NDX is the natural partner for the Supernait.

Absolutely. It would make no sense to use a 272 with a Supernait. You should try the two options of NDX/Supernait and 272/250.

Why "upgrade" at all, if you are happy?

Adding an NDx gives you iPad control of the SN1, plus FM, if you opt for it.  If these benefits do not matter to you, then it is down to the differences you can hear, and whether those differences matter to you.

It is an interesting idea, using a NAC-N272 into a SN1.  If you go that route, please let us know your findings.  Lots of possibilities to test there, and you may be the first to document them!  Doing so would not be crazy, IMHO, especially if it is a waypoint toward trading the SN1 for a NAP.

Good luck.

Nick

Pcd posted:

If you purchased a 272 would you eventually get a 250dr to go with it? If not the NDX is the natural partner for the Supernait.

Well my investment cycle per piece of equipment is usually in the range of 4 - 5 years, so: Yes, from today's point of view it would be a 250dr, but only in 4 - 5 years. Nevertheless, in the meantime it would render by my HiCap useless, as I understand it would not be used in the "SuperNait - only Power Amplifier" scenario. Also I could not reuse the HiCap with the 272 ... .

HC would be very nice with a HeadLine, if you wanted one.

NDX is a natural partner for a SuperNait.

I would keep the SN, replacing it effectively is very costly (and the result may not please you); its pre section is not far from a 282's. It is one of those units that's better to have than not (take my word, I've had two).

As for streamers, my advice is to look for a used HDX - yes, I know it is not a streamer.

M

A Supernait's preamp section is VERY far from a 282.

As others have said, the natural partner is the NDX. However, I wonder what it is you are streaming. If it's your CDs, then the source is the server. A UnitiServe provides a better rip as well as better service to your streaming client. It's effectively the source. Have you considered that?

Frank.

Far from me to want to start a discussion about something I am clearly not directly informed enough, but I simply quoted something I have read at least four or five times in articles and reviews – last time it was a post from Richard Dane, who apparently confirmed the 'rumour' – where they stated that a SN's preamp section is derived from the 282's.

But I assume that you, Frank, have a better knowledge than I. Anyway, I just said 'not far'; and my experience with two Supernaits, and a close comparison between a 202 (that I have had twice, and that was my last Naim preamp) and a 282 indirectly showed me that the SN surely sounds less dissimilar to a 282 than a 202.

That said, how much is a UnitiServe different from an HDX, apart from the fact that I have extensively tried both and that to my ears (now disqualified, I know... )the latter is vastly superior to the former ? Just to understand why exactly my suggestion was apparently wrong..

Best

Max

Frank Abela posted:

A Supernait's preamp section is VERY far from a 282.

As others have said, the natural partner is the NDX. However, I wonder what it is you are streaming. If it's your CDs, then the source is the server. A UnitiServe provides a better rip as well as better service to your streaming client. It's effectively the source. Have you considered that?

Frank.

I simply don't buy this. It's what my dealer said three years ago when bought my Serve. Yet MinimServer running on a Synology sounds better to me, and dbpoweramp uses the same accuracy databases as the Naim rippers. The Serve is convenient of course, but as to being a better ripper and providing a better service, that's just marketing puff. 

Max, "derived" yes, "the same", no.  In fact, the Supernait's pre section is almost entirely made up of surface mount components whereas the NAC282 is made up of the traditional through hole types.  When used for analog circuitry SMT doesn't sound quite as good as through-hole equivalents (SMT performance advantage over through-hole is in digital circuit) however, there wasn't enough room to make a good enough pre section with through-hole components - SMT takes up a much smaller space, so for a powerful Integrated amp where space is at a premium it made sense to use it. 

The proof is in the listening; the Supernait pre-amp section is good - very good, however the NAC282 is clearly superior in just about every way.

I don't even rate Supernait's pre section close to a NAC202, it's not that good.

Richard,

thanks for the explanation, but I obviously never wrote the same, and have never thought it was. I always thought, and wrote, derived from or, in this case, not far from. I have had two Supernaits, two 202/200s and have listened to 282/250 a number of times, including an extensive comparison between the 202 and the 282. I still maintain that the SN's preamp section is more similar in presentation to a 282 than to a 202, let alone a 112 or a 122, that I also happen to know. But I do not want to be attributed something I don't think and say: having sold my gear doesn't make me less informed and experienced than I was. If I thought that a SN's preamp section was the same of a 282 I'd be stupid, and self critical as I am, I haven't reached that point yet.

This is not a direct reply to you, but also a general one. As for Antonio's opinion, each to his own I suppose. But I usually try to speak of what I know, and after ten years and about 80% of the Naim catalogue owned, including some reruns, and some reruns of reruns, and reruns of reruns of reruns, I value my experience as at least meaningful.

Best to all,

M.

Max, when I refer to those calling them '"the same" I'm not referring to yourself, so apologies if it looked that way. What I wanted to clarify was to make the distinction that just because the pre section of the Supernait is similar to that of the NAC282 in basic arrangement, it is rather different in execution and in overall performance. 

Yes, I thought as much.  As I wrote, mine was more or less an unaddressed barking.. Summer makes me even more grumpy than usual (but not sillier).

Best,

Max