NAP250DR - Sky HD box.

Posted by: DanT87 on 07 March 2017

apolgies in advance if this is a crazy question..

currently my sky hd box sits on top of the 250dr on top of two inch or so high plinths I made from some dense black foam in a desperate attempt to keep it away from the 250dr

sound quality wise....is the sky hd box getting in the way? 

Reason I ask is because I unplugged it today and listenined and can't work out if I heard a difference if I'm honest

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by james n

I'd try and keep it away - it also vibrates due to the internal disk which isn't good to feed into the 250 chassis. I keep my TiVo box on a separate rack to stop this. 

If you don't find any difference then maybe just leave it where it is...

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by DanT87

Good advice thanks, didn't realise about the vibration if I'm honest. 

Not sure what's worse, at the moment I am faced with the choice of sky hd box on top of NAP250DR or DAC V1 on top of NAP250DR. 

Thoughts? 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by james n

Neither is ideal Dan but you might want to try the DAC V1 on top of the 250, but offset to the left (as you look from the front) so it's not sat over the transformer in the 250. Worth experimenting to see if any of those combos work better for you. 

James

 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by DanT87

Argh, feared you'd say that! Either way, now it's in my head I have an issue. 

Need to get myself a proper HiFi rack. 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by james n

It's the best way to make the most of your kit. No need to go OTT with racks but giving the kit room to breathe, with a bit of space between to prevent interaction between the various items  will pay dividends. It will also allow good cable dressing which will also help 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by hungryhalibut

When you think about it, a 250DR alone costs nearly £4,000. Spending say £1,000 on a rack will get the best out of it. For a start, you could even pick up a used four shelf Quadraspire Q4 for under £100. 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by DanT87

Thanks I will take a look at this suggestion too.

love the 250, constantly eyeing up pre amps, not sure the V1 is up to the job?

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by Adam Zielinski

Power amps use their chassis, especially the top, to cool. So putting a foam on it will make it difficult.

DAC V-1 with NAP 250 DR? You can always try it... Natural partners for 250 are NAC 282 or NAC 252 and from the streeming pre-amps N272.

 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by DanT87

Adam, it's just 2 small strips of foam about 2cm in width 2cm high and 4cm deep. But I do understand what your saying. 

Posted on: 07 March 2017 by Adam Zielinski

Another thing that is important, is what the NAP 250 sits on A decent rack / support system will show the amp's true potential.

Posted on: 08 March 2017 by Ravenswood10

I'd keep the Sky box well away - especially that swich mode power supply.

Posted on: 08 March 2017 by DanT87

Is the sky box really damaging the audio? 

Right now it's gotta stay that way, I have now made it so that I have 4 pads of dense foam, absorbant but not squidgy so keeps its shape well. Each pad sits in each corner of the sky box under it and elevates it 2 inches off the top of the 250dr. 

Realise that all sounds abit ridiculous but for now that's as good as I can make it!