RCA or XLR into DIN?

I imagine you'd use the phono, as the 250 doesn't have a balanced input, as you'll see if you look at its product page on the Naim website. The 250 has a three pin XLR input. The 250 does seem an awful lot of power amp to hang off the Auralic though and I wonder if a 272 would be a better idea than the Auralic, which doesn't have a preamp, simply a digital volume control. 

David, I don't know how well the Auralic will mate with your Naim NAP250DR - Naim power amps are really designed to partner Naim pre-amps - however, the Naim amp is single ended (in spite of using a Cannon XLR input socket) so you should use the single ended RC outputs.  You will need a custom interconnect.  The Chord Cable Company should be able to provide something suitable here.

I would exercise some caution before committing to this combination.  If your dealer has tried this out and feels it works well, OK, but otherwise consider something like a NAC-N272 as a likely more suitable partner for the NAP250DR.

Ah, Nigel beat me to it.  But good to see a degree of consensus on this.

thanks for all the feedback

I did demo the 272, and to my ears, the Auralic edges it slightly when it comes to transparency and detail, but things were very close, and to someone who likes a warmer presentation may prefer the 272 instead. 

For the RCA - Din cable - would it be the 4 pin or 5 pin Din connector end that i should get?

thanks

David

Elevensheep posted:

thanks for all the feedback

I did demo the 272, and to my ears, the Auralic edges it slightly when it comes to transparency and detail, but things were very close, and to someone who likes a warmer presentation may prefer the 272 instead. 

For the RCA - Din cable - would it be the 4 pin or 5 pin Din connector end that i should get?

thanks

 

David

It's 2 RCA - 1 XLR you require. Chord made me a Signature Tuned Aray version for the Hugo TT direct to NAP 250DR.

G

GraemeH posted:

Elevensheep posted:

thanks for all the feedback

I did demo the 272, and to my ears, the Auralic edges it slightly when it comes to transparency and detail, but things were very close, and to someone who likes a warmer presentation may prefer the 272 instead. 

For the RCA - Din cable - would it be the 4 pin or 5 pin Din connector end that i should get?

thanks

 

David

It's 2 RCA - 1 XLR you require. Chord made me a Signature Tuned Aray version for the Hugo TT direct to NAP 250DR.

G

got it

thanks!

Exactly as both Richard and I said yesterday. 

I'm interested that the Auralic edges the 272 on transparency and detail. How about for musical enjoyment? If it manages that too it must be very good indeed. 

Flashback cables

If possible Get the 272 on homeloan when getting the 250

Make sure to have rights of returns on Auralic

Hungryhalibut posted:

Exactly as both Richard and I said yesterday. 

I'm interested that the Auralic edges the 272 on transparency and detail. How about for musical enjoyment? If it manages that too it must be very good indeed. 

I wasn't able to demo the 272 for a long period of time, so couldn't really comment on longer term music enjoyment vs the Auralic. Although i did find the 272 immensely enjoyable during the short time I listened to it. Other than the slightly warmer presentation, the other thing counted against the 272 was the price - almost double that of the Auralic Altair. 

Been listening to the Auralic Altair for the last couple of days (RCA directly into my SN2) and it has been a very enjoyable experience. The previous source I had was mac min - Chord Hugo, and I'd say the Altair is at least on par in terms SQ to my ears.