Combining NAC 272 with Chord Hugo?

The Hugo will sound different. How are you going to drive it though ? i take it you are using listening to music on the 272 via your network and NAS so you'll need to think about how to get your music files to the Hugo. Unfortunately you can't just bypass the internal DAC in the 272, i.e. feed the digital out from the 272 to Hugo and then take the Hugo analogue output back into the 272. 

Thanks James.

Indeed, I am listening to music via my network and NAS. 

The naive/newbie in me thought in such a configuration, I could just bypass the 272 DAC. From what you're saying there's no simple solution to achieve this...? (assuming there would be a value in doing so)

Manu, welcome, whether there is a sound quality enhancement or not between the Naim design and implementation of the Analog Devices DSP and TI DAC converters of the 272 or the Chord Electronics design and implementation of the  Xilinx DSP and custom DAC of the Hugo will be entirely subjective. I suspect if you prefer the sound of the Hugo then you will be better off with a Naim Classic series preamp such as the 282 or 252 which can interface at a sufficient performance level  between the Hugo and the Naim poweramp to provide you the benefits of what the Hugo can do with your audio... the 272 is a slightly cut down preamp with DAC and streamer integrated  so not designed for looping out and back to a separate DAC., it's designed to be used as an all-in-one.

To make an off board Dac work you would need to switch to the input to which the Dac is connected. That means the upnp input won't work. That's why you can't do it. 

I'd just stick with what you have and be happy with it. It's worth noting that one forum member recently switched from an NDX and Hugo to a 272 and is very happy with it. 

Manu68 posted:

From what you're saying there's no simple solution to achieve this...? (assuming there would be a value in doing so)

Hi Manu - Yes that's what i'm saying. If you auditioned a Hugo and liked what it did then Simons advice above suggesting a different pre-amp would make a lot of sense. You'd still of course need a Network player to drive the digital input of the Hugo. 

Manu, welcome to the Forum. For the past six months I've been listening to a 272/250DR running a Chord Hugo 1 with great results. My current set-up: Mac Mini (running headless with Audirvana Plus) > Tellurium Black Diamond USB > Chord Hugo > Tellurium Black Diamond RCA/RCA > N272 Analogue input. The music sounds more open, 'live' and engaging compared the on board DAC. There is the inevitable redundancy going down this route. I tend to alternate between the 272 (which is also excellent) and Hugo. Other members have connected Chord dacs directly to their Naim power amps.

this is an amazing forum, thanks a lot guys, really appreciated

@R-Lane, when you talk about redundancy, you mean because essentially you have two DACs in the system?

I guess reading from the above, the option to "just" upgrade my XPS to 555 is the one way to go and...enjoy

If using the Hugo as in R-Lane's setup, you are taking a fitital feed from the mac. So you are not using the 272 streamer or DAC - just the preamp part. 

I'm wondering about the rest of the system, including speakers. I've maximised the abilities of my 272/250 with speaker leads and the din to XLR, Ethernet cables, switch, stand and mains, which together make a really big difference. And that's with 'just' and XPS. May be something to think about?

Yes – redundancy from bypassing the on board DAC. Also, it's not the most elegant solution when viewing on the rack. I tried the Hugo mainly out of curiosity having read posts on the forum. I've got a TP XPS powering the 272 but the 555 would be a big step up if you want to go down that route. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I'd just stick with what you have and be happy with it. It's worth noting that one forum member recently switched from an NDX and Hugo to a 272 and is very happy with it. 

Indeed,  and with a little addition that bears a name I cannot mention it's bloomin' first class.

Very happy is an understatement. Naim really have done a great job with the 272.

G

Get a nice pair of hedphones and use hugo as a map/dac fed by 272

thanks G, will follow your advice, and what is the add-on-you-cannot-mention?

[@mention:4804681823084713] I've done all these upgrades except din to XLR? what is this?

Manu68 posted:

[@mention:4804681823084713] I've done all these upgrades except din to XLR? what is this?

It's the cable which connects the 272 to the 250.

thank you Dave. And what is a good upgrade to do for this cable? not aware of this one :/

I have the 272/250dr,and i also still have a Hugo from my SN2 days,i plan on getting a core,once the bugs are worked out, and then i will have the option of feeding the 272 directly(digital in) or feeding the Hugo(digital in) then from the Hugo to the analog in of the 272.This way you still have the internet radio stations,which i love,and stream from the core.At that time i will be able to compare which of the two methods i prefer,and if it turns out that directly into the 272 from the core is better,the Hugo still makes one very good portable headphone amp/dac.

@noquarter - thanks, looking forward to hearing more about the test!

Manu68 posted:

thank you Dave. And what is a good upgrade to do for this cable? not aware of this one :/

No probs.  There are a number of options, depending on budget (and, of course, whether you personally find them to be an upgrade in your room, system etc.).  

At the comparatively cheaper end, there are things like the Witch Hat Hatpin 4x, at about £120.  I tried one, and I thought it was better than the stock cable, so I kept it.

HH's post above reflects his use of a Super Lumina cable, Naim's own high end cable.  That's about £1600.  If you're in the market for that sort of thing, it's a sensible place to start auditioning at least, being Naim's design.  

Past that, I've no doubt there are some fantastically expensive options available (high end Chord maybe?), but as I've no intention of spending £3k or whatever on them, I've little idea about them.  Plus it'd become tricky to justify a cable costing as much as the equipment it's connecting, but it takes all sorts.

cool, many thanks Dave, much appreciate the thorough answer

I would definitely recommend the Witch Hat cable DIN/XLR from your 250. I also found it a considerable upgrade over the stock cable.

Naim's SL speaker cable is mighty fine (and mighty expensive).

[PS - I hadn't realised HH had upgraded from his Witch Hat DIN/XLR to SL - when did that happen, and with what effect, HH?]

@nick - thanks a lot for your input

nickpeacock posted:

I would definitely recommend the Witch Hat cable DIN/XLR from your 250. I also found it a considerable upgrade over the stock cable.

Naim's SL speaker cable is mighty fine (and mighty expensive).

[PS - I hadn't realised HH had upgraded from his Witch Hat DIN/XLR to SL - when did that happen, and with what effect, HH?]

I got in over a year ago now. Fantastic upgrade on the Witch Hat, worth every penny. 

What about 272/300 setup will it be worth the double pennies?

I am currently using witch hats

Not much to upgrade left with my 272 

Only you can be the judge of that. We all have different views on what constitutes value. 

2 xlr/din will be similar price to 272, I could not bare my self to pay that much for cabling until now, maybe with 372

Hungryhalibut posted:

nickpeacock posted:

I would definitely recommend the Witch Hat cable DIN/XLR from your 250. I also found it a considerable upgrade over the stock cable.

Naim's SL speaker cable is mighty fine (and mighty expensive).

[PS - I hadn't realised HH had upgraded from his Witch Hat DIN/XLR to SL - when did that happen, and with what effect, HH?]

I got in over a year ago now. Fantastic upgrade on the Witch Hat, worth every penny. 

Interesting!

If I were to upgrade anything now I think it would be from HiLine (from Hugo to 252) to SL, although reduced scope for buying RCA - DIN version in resale market. I guess DIN/xlr after that.