Add a 200DR or 250DR to my SN2?

Bart,

You might be better thinking about adding a HC to the SN?

Regards,

Lindsay

I have a hicap dr on my SN2 and wouldn't be happy to go without it - I feel it makes a good amp great.  However, I am also, at some point in the future, planning on adding a 250dr and using the SN2 as a pre until such a time as a 282 or its replacement can be sourced.  If you have a friendly dealer you could try both and see which you prefer at their relative cost points.

According to Barts profile, he has already one.

Ardbeg10y posted:

According to Barts profile, he has already one.

I do - HiCap DR.

Similarly to you, I am thinking of adding an amp to my SN1 as an interim step. The 250DR is probably the one I'll go for. If I had a SN2 as you do, I'd certainly not consider the 200DR (not likely to be significant?) and would think that even the 250DR might not be much of an upgrade. Save for a 300?

Sorry can't read profiles on my phone.  In which case I would go for the 282 first using just the power stage of the Sn2. 

Having owned a 200 (non DR), 250.2 and a 250DR, I can tell you the 250DR is considerably superior IMHO. But I make this assessment with these amps partnered with a 282 and more recently with a 252 (plus SupercapDR). I have no ownership experience of the SN2 so I can't be sure you will be able to fully appreciate the benefit of the 250DR using the pre amp section of the SN2. There is only one way to find out and you know what advice comes next so I won't bother....(assuming you have a dealer where you can borrow the power amps).

If you were planning to eventually swap out the SN2 for a 282 or 252 then I would strongly recommend going for a 250DR now. As you already have a HicapDR then making the move to a 282 would make a lot of sense.

I have just read your profile and as you have such a wonderful source, then actually Strat's advice above makes more sense in going for a 282 first followed definitely by the 250DR assuming funds permit. Of course it may be down to which comes up first if you are considering second hand purchases. Either way your NDS is begging for a 282/250DR (or above) combo.

Let us know how you get on.

There was a similar thread to this not so long ago. The 250 DR on a SN1 or 2 sounds fantastic. It's a brilliant amp. While it may not be ideal to use the SN purely as a pre, it will be fine, and sound fantastic untill you part ex it for a pre amp in the not too distant future. Of course if you get the chance to demo a pre amp and 250DR connected to your SN2 you can decide which you would prefer first. 

Just a word of warning......don't demo preamp and 250 together as you may not send them back!! 

Bart - definitely 250 DR! Given your brilliant source, you will be upgrading to 282 at some stage - you already have a high cap.

What a glorious future Bart's sytem has (contrary to his wallet)!

Why not add a SuperCap first so that you are ready for that 252 which is going to be there?

I always thought Bart's system sounded rather nice in his profile - storming front end with a very capable integrated and some fine speakers to finish it off.

Seems a shame to head off on the upgrade path with such a well sorted system 

Finkfan posted:

There was a similar thread to this not so long ago. The 250 DR on a SN1 or 2 sounds fantastic. It's a brilliant amp. While it may not be ideal to use the SN purely as a pre, it will be fine, and sound fantastic untill you part ex it for a pre amp in the not too distant future. Of course if you get the chance to demo a pre amp and 250DR connected to your SN2 you can decide which you would prefer first. 

Just a word of warning......don't demo preamp and 250 together as you may not send them back!! 

Agree with Finkfan and Adam, I've heard firsthand the 250dr on the back of a SN and HC, you will not be disappointed.... 

I have a Supernait 2 with HiCap DR, and I'm thinking about adding a 250DR, as stage one of a future upgrade to 282 with 250DR.  I heard the latter combination at my dealer's, and it sounded superb, but a pity about the cost.  The 250DR sounds a mouth-watering prospect, and there have been a number of favourable comments elsewhere on this forum.  Bart: if you do go this route, I very much look forward to hearing your comments.

james n posted:

I always thought Bart's system sounded rather nice in his profile - storming front end with a very capable integrated and some fine speakers to finish it off.

Seems a shame to head off on the upgrade path with such a well sorted system 

This of course is very true. 

james n posted:

I always thought Bart's system sounded rather nice in his profile - storming front end with a very capable integrated and some fine speakers to finish it off.

Seems a shame to head off on the upgrade path with such a well sorted system 

Agreed but, although the SN2 is a fine integrated amp,  the NDS/555 certainly has more to give than the SN2 is able to let through.

I recently added a 250DR to my bare SN2, and there was a very significant improvement to the sound that even my wife noticed and positively commented. 

I thought about adding a 282 instead of the 250DR, but ultimately opted for the power amp upgrade as it allows for more flexibility - I'm current comparing the 272, Auralic Altair and Hugo TT as potential fronts to the 250DR. 

Having compared an SN2 with a 200/202, the latter is better to my ears . . . but only just, and 'different' may be the word, rather than 'better'. Money no object I'd get the separates, but if you already have the SN2 I'm not sure a 200 will offer enough upgrade to be worth it. 250DR seems like more of a step up, but I haven't heard that. 

Thanks for all the comments.  Yes, I do think that this system IS rather well-sorted.  Which of course gives me pause, and has already totally deterred me from going down the pre/power upgrade road.

I highly highly doubt that there is a 282 or 252 in my future.  The obvious wait/step for me would be some currently-vaporware version of the next up-the-ladder in the N172/272 series.  If such would equal or better my NDS as a source, it would be of interest, despite a significant hit on my bank account (and the need to sell off the SN2 and the NDS).  Such a pre/streamer would of course need a power amp . . . 

(We live in a somewhat small home now, and while the future is unknown I suspect that we'll for the future continue live in small spaces and not have a BIG listening room that supports BIG speakers and high-current amplification.)

That being the case Bart I would focus on the front end of your system because if you're not courting bigger speakers there is less demand on the power amp.  Have you heard what a top end pre could do?   

I also would advise a demo of a 282 or 252 your NDS deserves it.

Bart - I've recently stated a similar thinking process - I already have a pretty decent front end (NDX FM/DAB > nDAC + 555PS) which goes into a Hi-Capped SN2. How can I improve on that, without adding even more boxes in my living room?

My dealer has just confirmed a test version of N272 + NAP300DR will be heading my way in mid-January (it's currently on-loan to another Naimee). The reason for that one is that FM / DAB module is an absolute pre-requisite for Mrs Z.

The thinking is along the lines: simplify the setup, less boxes. Question: can I get the same performance from the streaming part of the N272? I will of course power it during the tests with my resident 555PS.

I hope to be able to post some results in the 2nd half of January.

Adam

Adam,

Many ways to achieve the end result and whilst I'm not a source first advocate if you're starting from a NDS that's going to be frightfully difficult to replicate.  

As a CDS3 user I'm sure that if could invest enough I could happily host a 552.  Now recognising box count is important for many it begs the question what a 372 or even 572 would offer but neither seemingly imminent.  

Regards,

Lindsay 

That's what I'm afraid of Lindsay  (if only we had such 'fears' our lives would be much easier )

I've just realised that financially I could probably buy a new 282 + NAP 250DR for the same outlay as N272 + NAP300DR (minus the trade ins for my current boxes).

Well... I will play with the N272 and see how it fares against my NDX + nDAC + 555PS.

Hi Bart , I added a 250DR to my SN2 and its fantastic ! I'm not at all worried about what I don't have in the Pre department and my future wish list is the same as yours ......72?? I got mine brand new on sale or return and the only time I've moved it is to install the Witch hat DIN-XLR cable . A very viable upgrade given your direction . 

I used NAP200 non-DR in my SN2. It did change sound slightly. My SN2 sounded more like a normal amp with NAP200 and voice not as strong as with a bare SN2. For my speakers and room and taste I preferred SN2 with NAP200 (and with HiCapDR). It is more a matter of taste.