272/250DR, one year on

I've had my 272 since about May 2015, also with XPSDR (which was on my nDac). I'm still hoping to go 555PS at some point. Any reason apart from cost you did SL cables before trying PS?

I don't want a 555PS, because the XPS is the 272's natural partner. Once the basic boxes were in place I thought I'd max it out with leads. Having the 555 would make me feel like I'm striving to go to something better, which I'm not. The 272, XPS and 250 just works, like they are made for each other. Which I guess they are. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I don't want a 555PS, because the XPS is the 272's natural partner. Once the basic boxes were in place I thought I'd max it out with leads. Having the 555 would make me feel like I'm striving to go to something better, which I'm not. The 272, XPS and 250 just works, like they are made for each other. Which I guess they are. 

Makes sense to me, after all is said and done, it really is about the end-game. 

Furthermore, who would know better than yourself, down-sizing from 552, 300, and Fraim.

One must sacrifice to become an aficionados of fine gear!

Enjoy your Music, The Why!

Allante93!

HH wrote "I've never tried Justin Bieber. That would be stooping too low."

What do you mean ?    

HH, I agree about the XPS being the natural partner to 272, but I'm still curious what a 555 will do (good or bad) so I will ultimately have to try it myself to see. Thanks for reply.

More seriously HH, good to know that your system satisfies you. I have a couple of friends who've heard and enjoyed my system and are since threatening to buy themselves a proper HiFi, but are not obsessive enough to spend the crazy amounts that I have. They'll listen for themselves of course, but if i can guide them towards a 272/250DR as the point at which real fulfilment can be had at less than totally bonkers prices then that's useful info...

HH, I have the Dowland Consort's earlier recording of exactly the same pieces - an absolutely wonderful assortment of beautiful themes and textures, and mostly delightfully depressing!

Do you think that some of more creative of the current darkwave genre can claim Dowland as one of their spiritual roots (for instance I know that Summer Bowman studied early music and she has recorded Dowland's "Can She Forgive My Wrongs")?

The title of this thread caught my eye... 'one year on'.  I'm always interested to read what HH has to say, especially as he is one who has successfully downsized from  what's considered to be a one-way high-end upgrade (NAP300 etc).  The time will probably come when I have to grapple with a box-reduction dilema, around the time I have to move to a smaller place.  Hopefully a while off yet, but it's good to hear this can be accomplished successfully.

The reason I replied was actually that SuperLumia din to XLR lead(s) were mentioned earlier and I wanted to throw my twopence worth of experience into the pot:

I spent a few weeks with a pair of S/L cables and a pair of Sarum Super Array trying to convince myself that the S/L were the ones to keep.  I was connecting NAC552 to NAP500.  Try as I may, the S/L sounded so much flatter than the S/A cables;  so much so that my dealer was pondering whether this was a bad batch of S/L cable that had found its way into the final product.  Turns out it wasn't, this was how the S/L should sound. 

If you're sitting there thinking 'blasphemer, what does he know', then that's a perfectly logical reaction, after all S/L in most situations brings life and sparkle to your music, and the suggetion that a S/L cable pair could be described as 'flat' just doesn't make sense.  But if you are contemplating connecting a pre to power amp with a S/L cable(s) then I respectfully suggest you also listen to what the Super Array equivalent cable is capable of.  It may surprise you as much as it did me.

By way of mitigation, if such is required, I do use S/L to my speakers (B&W802s) and from my LP12 to 552, but between NDS and 552 I've replaced S/L with S/A.

(One is left wondering what the new Chord Music cable is capable of, but at £4k a go one will remain wondering, and this thread is not about cables)

Roger

I didn't try the SL din lead against anything else; it was supplied on a sale or return basis and as I liked what it did, it never got returned. Other wires may be better, but I'm happy with mine. Anyway, as I've said before, Chord cables look uncomfortably like Ascaris lumbricoides, and those things give me the willies. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

... Ascaris lumbricoides, and those things give me the willies. 

+1     (and I din't even have to look it up!)

Hungryhalibut posted:

 Anyway, as I've said before, Chord cables look uncomfortably like Ascaris lumbricoides, and those things give me the willies. 

Nigel,

Did you also find any resemblance to the Mugilidae? Something more savory when properly prepared than encountered in a hifi system.

I don't think HH's system is a mullet!
(and they don't occupy the same deep water habitat as the halibut).

For culinary purposes, I prefer Mullus sp. 

Its been an enjoyable read with your 272/250 experiences HH,  & I'll own up that if I was starting over, 272/250 would more than likely be my choice.    A question:  outside the 272/250, what one additional item has given you the most SQ gain.

Mike, general question or specific for HH?

Mike-B posted:

Its been an enjoyable read with your 272/250 experiences HH,  & I'll own up that if I was starting over, 272/250 would more than likely be my choice.    A question:  outside the 272/250, what one additional item has given you the most SQ gain.

If you were asking me, Mike, which you're not, I would answer 'Beaujolais nouveau'.  But I'm sure HH will give you a more technical answer 

Huge posted:

Mike, general question or specific for HH?

HH ...........  but feel free if you have something a bit special.  

rjstaines posted:

If you were asking me, Mike, which you're not, I would answer 'Beaujolais nouveau'.  But I'm sure HH will give you a more technical answer 

I'm sure HH is a very patient halibut, but Beaujolais Nouveau day is 17 Nov this year.      I'm happy with most things red,  but I still have 8 bottles of a very special Simonsig Directors Reserve pinotage,  its the kind of wine that is so good it makes me forget to listen.

Mike-B posted:

Huge posted:

Mike, general question or specific for HH?

HH ...........  but feel free if you have something a bit special.  

Yes, the Mogami interconnect cable!

Worth more than adding an external PSU to the preamp or streamer, and has given even more with each successive upgrade to other components.

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I could save just one thing from the proverbial fire it would be the speakers, because they are totally wonderful and no longer made. But I wouldn't say they were the cornerstone: I don't think in that way, I just put stuff together that works as a whole. 

Laying down, 5:00 am US time. Android phone, Remote 2 App, controlling 3 systems throughout the house, Convenient!

Sold my LP 12, it was more of a status symbol with me, and didn't want to invest 3K in upgrades to bring it up to par. 

Ok, to the point, if I was entering the world of Naim, and a full blown streamer, the 272/250 would be my choice. 

That's the beauty of the 272, it's the 3 box wonder.

272--+XPS--+250DR--+end-game

What's left, If you already have a decent rack, and Hugo. 

And if one is sure, this is his/her end-game, they can experiment with interconnects and Speaker Cable.

Myself, not being a full blown streamer, opted for the Cdx2/282/HCDR/3 x 250.2

End-Game Active Briks.

Allante93!

An interesting read - glad you are still enjoying it. I must admit if i was tempted to come back to the fold, the 272/250 would be a good place to be. This two box (or three with PSU in tow) combo seems a a real sweet spot in the naim range in enjoyment vs sensible box count. 

Allante93 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I could save just one thing from the proverbial fire it would be the speakers, because they are totally wonderful and no longer made. But I wouldn't say they were the cornerstone: I don't think in that way, I just put stuff together that works as a whole. 

Laying down, 5:00 am US time. Android phone, Remote 2 App, controlling 3 systems throughout the house, Convenient!

Sold my LP 12, it was more of a status symbol with me, and didn't want to invest 3K in upgrades to bring it up to par. 

Ok, to the point, if I was entering the world of Naim, and a full blown streamer, the 272/250 would be my choice. 

That's the beauty of the 272, it's the 3 box wonder.

272--+XPS--+250DR--+end-game

What's left, If you already have a decent rack, and Hugo. 

And if one is sure, this is his/her end-game, they can experiment with interconnects and Speaker Cable.

Myself, not being a full blown streamer, opted for the Cdx2/282/HCDR/3 x 250.2

End-Game Active Briks.

Allante93!

Who are you trying to kid? There is no end game (other than self discipline or penury, and even they can be temporary.) Before the 272, the Superuniti was talked of as an endgame, until we started following Naim's suggestion and putting Powerlines and NAPs on them, and the 272 is no different. 

End game…. yes that's a laugh….

gary yeowell posted:

End game…. yes that's a laugh….

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "

ChrisSU posted:

Who are you trying to kid? There is no end game (other than self discipline or penury, and even they can be temporary.) Before the 272, the Superuniti was talked of as an endgame, until we started following Naim's suggestion and putting Powerlines and NAPs on them, and the 272 is no different. 

End game.... that's a laugh, yes at 40 years of age, even at 50. But when one is approaching 70, there is an End game. Not to mention, one's health.

Had an opportunity to listen to Alex, David Wilson's new kid on the block this June.

In December, the esteemed Manu, hosted a Seminar which displayed the Statement and Vivid's 40K GT3s.

Late Baby Boomers and Silent Majority's, keep living. 

Two factors that influence one's end-game, age and Cash.

If one has reached the S1 level with a trinity of 500s, and 60 + years of age, it's safe to say he's at his end game.

Rj has just posted, he realizes an end game, he needs to trade it all in for an Statement, a 272, within the same Fraim as 552/500/....LOL.

But yes, it can be done, but if money was no issue, I agree Statement, Alex, etc...

Personally, I'm Broke!

Family Room: Emotiva dac 1/Primare Pre 30/

Arcam P1 mono Blocks/Vienna Acoustics Baby Grands.

Rec Room: Emotiva UMC 1/Arcam FMJ P3/Klipsch

Easy for me, SCDR & Snaxo 362, I'm Burnt!

Allante93!

I never had a good solid wall for my SL2 so I'm sure I didn't got 100% out of them, had to add an n-Sub. But I do remember that musicality they could do. Naims best speaker ever after DBL?

//Jonas