NAP300 V NAP250DR

Define outperform?

If it's a really good price on the 300 why not buy and have it DR'd later?

Regards,

Lindsay

My thoughts exactly!! ........... but I was interested if anybody had auditioned and had an opinion.

I heard the 250dr then a 300 non dr at the Bristol show this year. In the demo room with the Sopra 2s to my ears the 300 was definitely better. Much more 3 dimensional. Cleaner, clearer more powerful presentation. Separating the power supply from the amp made a big difference to my ears. If I had the cash I too would be very tempted my a non dr 300 although you may have to factor in the cost of a service. 

Cheers Finky....just the sort of feedback I wanted....

I think the issue here is not that the 300 (DR or non DR) is a "better" amp than the 250 DR or otherwise - it is.   But whereas the previous 250 was something of the curate's egg the 250DR seems by common consent not to have the foibles of it's predecessor and is therefore clearly a "better" amp than the 200  which previously was always a point of debate.

Best regards,

Lindsay

Finkfan posted:

I heard the 250dr then a 300 non dr at the Bristol show this year. In the demo room with the Sopra 2s to my ears the 300 was definitely better. Much more 3 dimensional. Cleaner, clearer more powerful presentation. Separating the power supply from the amp made a big difference to my ears. If I had the cash I too would be very tempted my a non dr 300 although you may have to factor in the cost of a service. 

+1 I came to the same conclusion when I had a demo at a dealers last year and clearly with the 300DR the improvement becomes greater.

Richieroo posted:

Hi all -  would the orginal non DR  NAP300 outperform the NAP250DR? I am considering purchasing a 300 .... at a very tempting price ...... any views???

Yes it'll wipe the floor with it.

Not sure how much the DR would bring but 2 boxes > 1 box most of the time. The higher box count the merrier.

I'd get the 300 at the tempting price (and bargain in the DR upgrade when it needs a service). I'm sure the 250DR is fantastic but that doesn't take away the fact the 300 is still a class act (although a PIA with those Burndy cables)

I recently upgraded my 250 for a DR - i could choose the 300 classic way, but fo some personnal taste, even if the 300 makes better, i've never been a fan of its presentation and kept the way of the 250 DR. The DR amplifiers have them personnal signature that i prefer. On the other hand, even if i don't like the 300, the 300 DR is a fantastic beast !! A friend of mine upgraded and i had chance to listen to it for long session and i have to say that it is really really fantastic. A must have if founds admit, nedless to say ?

Finkfan posted:

I heard the 250dr then a 300 non dr at the Bristol show this year. In the demo room with the Sopra 2s to my ears the 300 was definitely better. Much more 3 dimensional. Cleaner, clearer more powerful presentation. Separating the power supply from the amp made a big difference to my ears. If I had the cash I too would be very tempted my a non dr 300 although you may have to factor in the cost of a service. 

I had the 250DR on my Sopra 2's for 6 months then upgraded it for a 300DR and Sopra 3's

Hi all thanks for the replys very helpful...the reason for me asking....currently my 250dr sounds fantastic ..... a big improvement to over the 250.2 which I had before...and also liked. If I change to the 300 non dr. .. I will have to live with it for quite a while until funds permit the upgrade/service. So I was hoping even the non dr 300 would still sound great against the 250 dr. ...or even better. The unit  I am considering is a 2011 unit so it is not too old. It seems from received feedback that the old 300 is still more than a match for the current 250dr ..... I think I will go ahead...

So what is the consensus on 250DR vs a pair of 135s?

250DR<135<300DR is the most concise summary that I can offer.

Best regards, FT

Richie - if I were you looking at your profile I think I would look to put an XPSDR on your 272 before changing the 250DR.

nap90 posted:

So what is the consensus on 250DR vs a pair of 135s?

Foot tapper posted:

"250DR<135<300DR is the most concise summary that I can offer."

Sounsfaber posted:

"think if you mix any of them you upset the gene pool....

Even though my 135's are 88 CB's in olive clothing. Just had to have those HF transformers."

250.2/250DR/135s/300/300DR

For the most part, there's a consensus of the above ranking.

Of Course, it's personal taste, but which would be the Outlier???

Just JOKING, don't wake J.N !

But on a serious note, according to the (Source/Pre/Amp/Speaker) listening chain, perhaps the 135s can get a pass in this new Dred Black Box Era.

Obviously, an Dred 500 series is a perfect match.

Likewise, an 552DR/300DR

Out of curiosity, anyone loaded a pair of 135s, to an Dred 552 ?

Allante93!

I have heard both but not back to back. The 300 has, for me, a poise and musical believability that a 250DR doesn't get close to because it isn't supposed to. They go about doing things in different ways. Trust your ears. And if you can't get ears on then flip a coin. There's no way anyone else's ears can decide for you. 

Allante93 posted:

... Out of curiosity, anyone loaded a pair of 135s, to an Dred 552 ?

Allante93!

Yes and a lovely, dynamic, musical combination it is too.

Hi the Strat ..... sorry did not upgrade my profile apologies - yes I upgraded to a 555ps - my god fantastic...your analysis was and is correct...!!!!

I should think about a 555DR for my CDS3.  

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I should think about a 555DR for my CDS3.  

I have gone through that thought process and decided I would rather get a Chord SSA interconnect 

Chris Dolan posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I should think about a 555DR for my CDS3.  

I have gone through that thought process and decided I would rather get a Chord SSA interconnect 

I haven't gone through that thought process but decided I would stick with the XPS and lavender interconnect on mine.

C.

I heard N272, XPS-DR, NAP300DR into PMC Twenty 26s with Chord wires at my dealers'. The scale was immense even in a modest sized room. I realise though you are not asking about the DR variant of the NAP300 but some of the elements are yours.

Chris