NAP200 v 250DR

Different animal altogether. More refined, bass seems to go lower, sounds fuller and is more controlled (NAP 200DR vs NAP250DR).

You will have a classic system! Highly recommended.

Totally agree with Adam. Superb amp. 

Finkfan posted:

Totally agree with Adam. Superb amp. 

Great minds, great Adams think alike 

Adam Zielinski posted:

Finkfan posted:

Totally agree with Adam. Superb amp. 

Great minds, great Adams think alike 

Completely agree with the two Adams, (although unfortunately my name is Glyn) .

You will not be disappointed, you get more of everything in abundance,  it really is that good.

wenger2015 posted:

although unfortunately my name is Glyn .

 

That's OK - it's never too late... 

I've always liked the name Adam, so I've  decided to change my name by deed poll, so as not to be quite the same I have decided on 'dam'....

Did exactly the same swap - 200 for a 250 DR. Absolutely no regrets.

May I suggest you have a listen if you can. If you can't, just do it!

BTW my name is Nigel!

Nigel is a shit name, but the 250DR is very fine.

The 250DR will reveal to you how nice is your N272+XPSDR.  If you can afford it, do it.

Charlie

Ooh, someone's not so happy with their parents' choice of name!

Well at least we agree on the 250 DR.

Happy Christmas one and all.

Proud to be a Nigel after multiple visits to Nigels Annonymous. HH, I have their number if you need it any time.

The 250 is a regulated amp, unlike the 200. You will hear a more consistent performance across the speaker impedance curve with the 250.. so expect a more detailed, fuller and more subtly dynamic sound from the 250, which on the whole is what you get.. certainly I did.

Simon

I doubt it's down to the regulation.

The 200 is hamstrung by the inferior main resevoir capacitors, those dinkly little PCB mounted things. The capacitors used in the 250 are far superior.

I run a pair of mono 110's, no regulation but high quality capacitors, just like the 250, with a sonic profile that matches your description ofa 250.

have a listen to one and decide for yourself. I preferred the 200 personally. 

I enjoyed a 272/200 combo for quite some time. Made the jump to the 250 DR and it was well worth it in every respect. More bass, more midrange, more dynamics, more Naim!. Absolutely worth the dough.

I would also note that combining the 200 with my unitiqute was amazing. The ProAc Anniversary Tablette's really came to life.

250DR  bass goes lower, and midrange is more clear. High's are more refined also.

200 is a nice amp (I have both), but clearly and audibly 250 DR is the better one.

I have not compared the 200 vs 250Dr directly. However, I once had a superuniti, and added a used 200 to it following an acute casen up upgraditis. Whilst the 200 did improve things, the difference was subtle, and in retrospect I could have lived with the bare Superuniti. 

Recently I added a 250Dr to my SN2, the improvement was very substantial and transformative to my ears. 

Now the power amp section of the SN2 is quite bit better than the one in the Superuniti. So putting the above in context, i'd imagine 250Dr should be substantially better than 200 as well. 

Fatcat, intrigued why you think it's not down to the regulation, that tends to be a big plus with power amps. Lesser poweramps are not regulated and the performance can be compromised. Reservoir capacitors are the simplest most basic form of regulation but are relatively quite crude if used on their own. An active regulator will provide a lower impedance powe source which means the amp performance can be more consistent across its impedance load without relying so much on negative feedback.

clearly there are many ways to skin a rabbit, but I believe that is Naim's preferred method.. and in a way to my mind goes a little bit towards some of the benefits that a true active system can provide.

Simon

What everyone else has said.  

Regards,

Lindsay

currently using a 200, which I have had for 10 years, had a great demo day with a well known dealer in liecester  - the 250DR is in a different class - agree with all comments lot more detail with 250DR 

Hello, what you are missing is the context, it's all about system matching, you can live easy with 200 and speakers for it (here it's good to have a dealer who knows his job better than business), it's no doubt that 250 is > 200, but also 300>250>200...and so on, depends where you want to stop.

Adi, is of course correct, its about system synergy and balance... there is little benefit in using an amp that outresolves your preamp or sources.. the 200 is great at what does within it's designed performance envelope.. I enjoyed mine with my ATC SCM12s for a few years ( they were cracking speakers... sold them to a friend who I believe is now using them in his new music room /studio)

S

I'd keep a 200 over a 250.2 but the 250DR is a great sonic step forward, no question.

G

Very interesting thread ...since I'm the happy owner of a NAP 200 and looking forward 

a few years ago there was a thread "250.2 a slow amp?" and lot of debate was made about the 200 vs 250.2. not everyone (including me) liked the voicing of 250.2 and many preferred the NAP 300 and Nap 200 voicing, I did listen to 250.2 many times, but while it was better, not enough to make me let go of my Nap 200.

Obviously Naim listened and thanks to the statement project, we now have a 250 DR with even better regulation and new 009 transistors, now  I think there is very little doubt that the 250 DR is a considerably superior amplifier than Nap 200. 

The Strat (Fender) posted:

What everyone else has said.  

Regards,

Lindsay

What everyone not said

Its all down to the speakers in use

(After you have accepted the price diff)