Combining NAC 272 with Chord Hugo?

Manu68 posted:

Hi guys,

my first post here, thanks for having me

I am the happy owner of a NAC 272 + NAP 250 DR since early 2016, and I use a Mu-so as a bedroom nice little add-on to my set-up

First upgrade I will do is move up my XPS to a 555 DR. I tested this upgrade at my local dealer yesterday and it is really a big step forward.

But after reading a LOT over here re Hugo and elsewhere on a great forum in my country, I was wondering whether there would be any value to bypass the 272 DAC and instead go through a Chord Hugo TT (or Hugo 2)? I'm not sure whether there would be a SQ enhancement as a result of bypassing the internal DAC of the 272. Your valuable input would be much appreciated

Many thanks!
Manu

Hi Manu,

Like you I'm new to the forum although I've been lurking for a while. Thanks to everyone for having me also.

Having been a happy Naim user for a number of years I was becoming increasingly intrigued by all the positive noise Chord DAC's were getting on the forum.  At the time some 12-months ago, I was very happily enjoying my 272, 250DR and ATC SCM 40's. 

My intrigue led me to borrow a 2Qute which I fed with Roon from my iMac via a good quality optical cable, so effectively using the 272 as a pre-amp. 

To say I was surprised by the increased level of detail, depth, openness and overall enjoyment, is an understatement, and in no way a criticism of the 272. These things are so subjective and all I know is the addition of the 2Qute just ticked all of my boxes.

To cut a long story short, I have ended up trading in the 272, 250DR and ATC's for a Chord Hugo TT + SONORE microRendu, and the active version of the ATC SCM 40's. 

Whilst sad to move away from Naim for my main system and it's familiar green lights (i still have a Mu-so Qb), I'm now enjoying the best sound quality and enjoyment I've experienced at home. The added bonus is my new systems simplicity and the removal of the inevitable Naim PSU upgrade temptation.

I hope my experience helps.

I'm another happy HugoTT->272->250DR user. The DAC redundancy is more a treat than a chore (e.g., iRadio is most easily accessed within the 272). My digital source into HugoTT is mainly the Core, but at the moment I also have a HDX on trial, as a front-end to the Core (nicely accessing music on the Core). I moved from a 282 to 272 since I could not hear a difference in direct A/B comparisons (i.e., the 272 is fine b me as analog preamp).

I did hear a difference (blindly) between Hugo and naim DACs, but admittedly this was before the software update. I really should do this again between 272 and Hugo TT some time...

S.

Thanks @Stefan Vogt and [@mention:69426746570320681].

I assume you both are getting into the analogy input into the preamp of the 272, correct? in this case, are we sure it's still going through the DAC of the 272? sorry if I'm a bit confused, relative newbie here

@Stefan, what was the outcome of the blind test between the Hugo and Naim DACs?

Hi Manu,

When I had the 2Qute and 272, they were connected via the analogue inputs so only using the pre amp and bypassing the DAC

Muttonjef posted:

Manu68 posted:

Hi guys,

my first post here, thanks for having me

I am the happy owner of a NAC 272 + NAP 250 DR since early 2016, and I use a Mu-so as a bedroom nice little add-on to my set-up

First upgrade I will do is move up my XPS to a 555 DR. I tested this upgrade at my local dealer yesterday and it is really a big step forward.

But after reading a LOT over here re Hugo and elsewhere on a great forum in my country, I was wondering whether there would be any value to bypass the 272 DAC and instead go through a Chord Hugo TT (or Hugo 2)? I'm not sure whether there would be a SQ enhancement as a result of bypassing the internal DAC of the 272. Your valuable input would be much appreciated

Many thanks!
Manu

Hi Manu,

Like you I'm new to the forum although I've been lurking for a while. Thanks to everyone for having me also.

Having been a happy Naim user for a number of years I was becoming increasingly intrigued by all the positive noise Chord DAC's were getting on the forum.  At the time some 12-months ago, I was very happily enjoying my 272, 250DR and ATC SCM 40's. 

My intrigue led me to borrow a 2Qute which I fed with Roon from my iMac via a good quality optical cable, so effectively using the 272 as a pre-amp. 

To say I was surprised by the increased level of detail, depth, openness and overall enjoyment, is an understatement, and in no way a criticism of the 272. These things are so subjective and all I know is the addition of the 2Qute just ticked all of my boxes.

To cut a long story short, I have ended up trading in the 272, 250DR and ATC's for a Chord Hugo TT + SONORE microRendu, and the active version of the ATC SCM 40's. 

Whilst sad to move away from Naim for my main system and it's familiar green lights (i still have a Mu-so Qb), I'm now enjoying the best sound quality and enjoyment I've experienced at home. The added bonus is my new systems simplicity and the removal of the inevitable Naim PSU upgrade temptation.

I hope my experience helps.

 

 

 

 

Where is the fun in That! 

We want a 10 year old ndac with 555ps, connected to ndx with another 555ps (just in case) , how can you change the opportunity to buy all that boxes to a simple Hugo? Yes I know you get a world class headphone amp as Well! 

Jokes a side Naim needs to come up with a better value source vs chord, they are looking customers to strange named gadgets

Like our friend mutton, now as a owner of 272/ 555ps/300 combo maybe Dave/micro/melco/actIves Was a better proposition, ugly one for sure.... makes me wonder

Stefan Vogt posted:

I'm another happy HugoTT->272->250DR user. The DAC redundancy is more a treat than a chore (e.g., iRadio is most easily accessed within the 272). My digital source into HugoTT is mainly the Core, but at the moment I also have a HDX on trial, as a front-end to the Core (nicely accessing music on the Core). I moved from a 282 to 272 since I could not hear a difference in direct A/B comparisons (i.e., the 272 is fine b me as analog preamp).

I did hear a difference (blindly) between Hugo and naim DACs, but admittedly this was before the software update. I really should do this again between 272 and Hugo TT some time...

S.

Hi Stefan,are you running the core to the TT using SPDF?This is what I might do,if so,did you compare the core directly into the 272 (digital) versus into the TT first,then into the 272(analog)?Any info on this would be much appreciated,thanks.I don't have the core yet,but do have the 272/250dr/Hugo,which I am not currently using in this setup.

reply to Mane: the outcome of my blind test between the Hugo and Naim DACs: it's my current system (Hugo TT, and using the 272 as analog preamp, plus for iRadio).

reply to NO QUARTER: yes, SPDIF from Core to Hugo TT via naim DC1 cable (but currently primarily my exotic solution: Core->(ethernet)->HDX-> opticalcable-> HugoTT). As I said, I really should do a blind test again between 272 and Hugo TT some time...

BTW: With an external DAC such as Hugo, finding  good analog cable is an additional concern which you don't have when using the DAC in the 272. I ended up with a Chord Signature into the DIN-input of the 272...

@Stefan Vogt thanks for this! are you getting out of the Hugo TT via the XLR output?