Which non-Naim Dac are you using?

Zachris posted:

Hugo TT and Nap250 DR seems to be A fascinating combo, quite expensive though.

There are some second hand 250's (non DR) around. How would TT sound with these?

Would it beat Hugo plus SN2 which is my current setup? I use my SN2's pre amp due to its handy and family friendly volume control.

 

Moving from an NDX SN2 (+ various add-ons including Hugo & 2Qute) to NDX 282/SCAP/nDac/XPS/250.2 to NDX/TT/250DR I can definately say I should have missed out the middle stage. The TT direct through 250DR mainlines the music direct to the brain.

All imho of course.

G

Elevensheep (David) on my standard Hugo, there is no line out level memory.. however  I leave it powered on, and it has a battery to act like a UPS if there is a power cut etc... and I then feed into my Naim NAC, a 252DR

Zachris posted:

Hugo TT and Nap250 DR seems to be A fascinating combo, quite expensive though.

There are some second hand 250's (non DR) around. How would TT sound with these?

Would it beat Hugo plus SN2 which is my current setup? I use my SN2's pre amp due to its handy and family friendly volume control.

 

The cost has to be considered in conjunction with quality, and some people may feel the improvement over Hugo isn't worth the extra (which also depends on rest of system). However if you only have digital sources and so don't need to have a preamp, TT  suddenly seems very reasonably priced.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Elevensheep (David) on my standard Hugo, there is no line out level memory.. however  I leave it powered on, and it has a battery to act like a UPS if there is a power cut etc... and I then feed into my Naim NAC, a 252DR

The Hugo manual says  that when you switch to line level the default is light blue (I don't know if that is what others call turquoise), and by implication will come back on again at that same level if switched off - so, unless the manual is wrong, if that is the desired setting and you don't adjust it then you can switch off and on again without having to reset anything. 

No Turquoise is greeny/blue and is definitely not the default line level output colour... you should, for best SQ with Naim NACs in my experience,  turn the Hugo level control to Turquoise (the control adjusts it colour depending on setting) and adjust to suit from there... easier to do than describe.

I like the concept of greedy blue! I know that light blue isn't turquiose, but simply wondered if what others call turquoise Chord may have called light blue - not something I had looked at when I had Hugo.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Elevensheep (David) on my standard Hugo, there is no line out level memory.. however  I leave it powered on, and it has a battery to act like a UPS if there is a power cut etc... and I then feed into my Naim NAC, a 252DR

Simon,

Have you tried connecting the Hugo directly into your power amp and bypass the 252? 

I have read from multiple sources (e.g. Graemeh's comments above) that connecting direct may in fact improve sound quality - although none had as fine of a preamp as your 252.

What I find intriguing and financing beneficial is the Hugo's ability to eliminate the need for a separate preamp with potential improvement in audio quality.

Anyway, I ordered a TT today and will report back on my findings. I will be using a XLR/ RCA flashback cable  connecting the two. 

Elevensheep posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Elevensheep (David) on my standard Hugo, there is no line out level memory.. however  I leave it powered on, and it has a battery to act like a UPS if there is a power cut etc... and I then feed into my Naim NAC, a 252DR

Simon,

Have you tried connecting the Hugo directly into your power amp and bypass the 252? 

I have read from multiple sources (e.g. Graemeh's comments above) that connecting direct may in fact improve sound quality - although none had as fine of a preamp as your 252.

What I find intriguing and financing beneficial is the Hugo's ability to eliminate the need for a separate preamp with potential improvement in audio quality.

Anyway, I ordered a TT today and will report back on my findings. I will be using a XLR/ RCA flashback cable  connecting the two. 

 

Just to be super clear...I'm not saying the TT sans pre 'improves sound quality'. I simply have no need of a pre when the NDX provides all my library, Tidal & iRadio from a single source - and that the TT direct to a 250DR with Chord Sig TA cabling sounds very very good.

Many years with a CDS3/555PS 252/300 as my 'reference' in terms of quality - if that helps.

G

Aries-AES-Metrum Hex

Elevensheep posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Elevensheep (David) on my standard Hugo, there is no line out level memory.. however  I leave it powered on, and it has a battery to act like a UPS if there is a power cut etc... and I then feed into my Naim NAC, a 252DR

Simon,

Have you tried connecting the Hugo directly into your power amp and bypass the 252? 

I have read from multiple sources (e.g. Graemeh's comments above) that connecting direct may in fact improve sound quality - although none had as fine of a preamp as your 252.

What I find intriguing and financing beneficial is the Hugo's ability to eliminate the need for a separate preamp with potential improvement in audio quality.

Anyway, I ordered a TT today and will report back on my findings. I will be using a XLR/ RCA flashback cable  connecting the two. 

 

I have not tried directly, but have via the AV/fixed gain settings on the NAC, and all I can say I prefer going via the NAC proper. .. I am told the TT into a 250 works well however. 

I use my NAC with various sources, so not using a NAC is a non starter for me.

Simon

You are bang on the money, Wilko. Now try and find Devore Fidelity 0/93 speakers.

Meridian Explorer

Made in Canada Moon HD280 into my nait 5 at my office.  It retails here for roughly half of what a Dac V1 does.  The remote is compatible with Naim.  I rather enjoy it.

T+A DAC8 DSD