from 4 to 6 boxes

It might help to understand where are you trying to get to ?

james n posted:

It might help to understand where are you trying to get to ?

252/ Supercap DR

282/ Supercap DR

I'd be looking at an NDS at that level and then sort out your pre-amp. 

NDS, then sell off the N272 when you're ready to buy the new preamp.

Hi Greekspec,

Given your excellent starting point with the 272/555PS, I'm not sure that you will be wowed by the introduction of an NDX.  As others are indicating, the next logical step would be the NDS/555PS as your next Naim streaming source (...other makes are available etc. ...)

You have hit something of an optimised sweet spot where you are, so do talk this one through with your dealer before taking the next step.  Whatever you do will cost a fair bit and it is easy to move from your balanced system to one which is better in some respects yet strangely less satisfying overall.

Hope this helps, FT

In my humble opinion, unless you are going to an NDS and a 552 I really wouldn't change a thing. The NDX and 282 is more of a sideways move and I'd say pretty pointless. 

I agree with you since Ive demoed a NDS/555PS/552/500 and N272/555/500 back to back and the dealer said it sounded like a NDX/282 with the 555PS but different on the N272 but I personally was not wowed over crazy by the NDS/555/552/500 and felt the N272/555/500 was damn close....damn I wish Naim would offer a N372

Many of us have been quite far 'up' the ladder (me 252/300 CDS3/555PS and much inbetween).

I'm now using the 272/PS & 250DR and, frankly, it is very very good and easily holds its own as a musical communicator amongst the company you are considering.

G

without getting into a bitch fest when my 300DR sells I would like to get a 500DR would any of you disagree with that? I fell my Sopra 3 can benefit from more power and from what I've read the 500DR has it's own signature  over the rest of the lineup

It's not what I would do. I'd swap the 272 for an NDS and get a 552. That with a 300 is always going to beat a 272/500. Source first is still relevant, even though not everyone seems to agree. I have owned a 552/300 with CDS3 and 555PS so know exactly what it's like. 

Wot HH says, definitely.

very few dealers in California so demo's can be a pain I've bought so far off instinct and not yet dissapointed

Hungryhalibut posted:

It's not what I would do. I'd swap the 272 for an NDS and get a 552. That with a 300 is always going to beat a 272/500. Source first is still relevant, even though not everyone seems to agree. I have owned a 552/300 with CDS3 and 555PS so know exactly what it's like. 

HH have you owned a NAP 500 before in any of your systems?

No. I prefer the sound of the 300 and have never heard a 500 system sound as good as one with a 300. 500 owners would not, of course, agree, but to me the 300 is the best Naim amp, Statement excepted of course. Adding a 552 will make the system sound much bigger and more dynamic - far more than a 500 would. 

When I had the 552/300 I used a Cherry pair of SL2s. When I downsized the system I sold the lot and used various speakers in the interim. Then, when I got the 272 system I happened upon the maple pair of SL2s that I have now. So the 272/250 and CDS3/552/300 systems are a direct comparison, as the speakers are constant. The bigger system is of course better but the issue is whether it's £20,000+ better. Your 272 system is better than mine of course as it has the 555 and the 300, so the jump to the 552 would be less. The 272 certainly punches above its weight. 

You need to be careful to know exactly what you are chasing, and whether you really need to chase it. As I've had a bigger system I no longer want one, nor could I afford it even if I wanted it. All I'm saying is that you will get more from an NDS and 552 than a 500. And if your dealer says different, they are wrong. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

No. I prefer the sound of the 300 and have never heard a 500 system sound as good as one with a 300. 500 owners would not, of course, agree, but to me the 300 is the best Naim amp, Statement excepted of course. Adding a 552 will make the system sound much bigger and more dynamic - far more than a 500 would. 

When I had the 552/300 I used a Cherry pair of SL2s. When I downsized the system I sold the lot and used various speakers in the interim. Then, when I got the 272 system I happened upon the maple pair of SL2s that I have now. So the 272/250 and CDS3/552/300 systems are a direct comparison, as the speakers are constant. The bigger system is of course better but the issue is whether it's £20,000+ better. Your 272 system is better than mine of course as it has the 555 and the 300, so the jump to the 552 would be less. The 272 certainly punches above its weight. 

You need to be careful to know exactly what you are chasing, and whether you really need to chase it. As I've had a bigger system I no longer want one, nor could I afford it even if I wanted it. All I'm saying is that you will get more from an NDS and 552 than a 500. And if your dealer says different, they are wrong. 

humble words.....would I be able to get by say 6-10 months with a N272/300DR/555DR/NDS till I get a 552?

or is this as good as it gets pretty much and chill?

I'm all about streaming as my source 

greekspec2 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

No. I prefer the sound of the 300 and have never heard a 500 system sound as good as one with a 300. 500 owners would not, of course, agree, but to me the 300 is the best Naim amp, Statement excepted of course. Adding a 552 will make the system sound much bigger and more dynamic - far more than a 500 would. 

When I had the 552/300 I used a Cherry pair of SL2s. When I downsized the system I sold the lot and used various speakers in the interim. Then, when I got the 272 system I happened upon the maple pair of SL2s that I have now. So the 272/250 and CDS3/552/300 systems are a direct comparison, as the speakers are constant. The bigger system is of course better but the issue is whether it's £20,000+ better. Your 272 system is better than mine of course as it has the 555 and the 300, so the jump to the 552 would be less. The 272 certainly punches above its weight. 

You need to be careful to know exactly what you are chasing, and whether you really need to chase it. As I've had a bigger system I no longer want one, nor could I afford it even if I wanted it. All I'm saying is that you will get more from an NDS and 552 than a 500. And if your dealer says different, they are wrong. 

humble words.....would I be able to get by say 6-10 months with a N272/300DR/555DR/NDS till I get a 552?

or is this as good as it gets pretty much and chill?

I'm all about streaming as my source 

You have a wonderful system , I'd enjoy it as it is for now , you never know whats around the corner as there's bound to be a trickle up of the new streaming platform etc .

Buy statement pre power greekspec2, i am fallowing your progress, you will get there in a year or two so sell the car and end the upgrades, till something new comes along!

my ideal system would be adding 552 and a chord dave/melco-innous to my 300dr 

i will try it with a hugo2

greekspec2 posted:

james n posted:

It might help to understand where are you trying to get to ?

252/ Supercap DR

282/ Supercap DR

Have you heard the 252? If that's what your plan is I strongly recommend you listen to one at home before you go much further. It might throw a spanner in the works as it did with me.

greekspec2 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

No. I prefer the sound of the 300 and have never heard a 500 system sound as good as one with a 300. 500 owners would not, of course, agree, but to me the 300 is the best Naim amp, Statement excepted of course. Adding a 552 will make the system sound much bigger and more dynamic - far more than a 500 would. 

When I had the 552/300 I used a Cherry pair of SL2s. When I downsized the system I sold the lot and used various speakers in the interim. Then, when I got the 272 system I happened upon the maple pair of SL2s that I have now. So the 272/250 and CDS3/552/300 systems are a direct comparison, as the speakers are constant. The bigger system is of course better but the issue is whether it's £20,000+ better. Your 272 system is better than mine of course as it has the 555 and the 300, so the jump to the 552 would be less. The 272 certainly punches above its weight. 

You need to be careful to know exactly what you are chasing, and whether you really need to chase it. As I've had a bigger system I no longer want one, nor could I afford it even if I wanted it. All I'm saying is that you will get more from an NDS and 552 than a 500. And if your dealer says different, they are wrong. 

humble words.....would I be able to get by say 6-10 months with a N272/300DR/555DR/NDS till I get a 552?

or is this as good as it gets pretty much and chill?

I'm all about streaming as my source 

Yes I reckon you'd be able to live with it. I did the same but with a SU. At least the 272 is very saleable.

"would I be able to get by say 6-10 months with a N272/300DR/555DR/NDS till I get a 552?"

Try putting the 552DR on the 272. It'll sound mighty good - and you can sell the NDS off.

GraemeH posted:

Many of us have been quite far 'up' the ladder (me 252/300 CDS3/555PS and much inbetween).

I'm now using the 272/PS & 250DR and, frankly, it is very very good and easily holds its own as a musical communicator amongst the company you are considering.

G

Exactly, most of what Naim do acts as a great musical communicator... the more you spend the more immersive and intense your listening sessions can become if you so wish...  also sometimes less can be more.. I thoroughly enjoyed the Nait 5Si, the 172 was surprisingly impressive  and the new Uniti products sound superb... albeit the prototype Nova I heard led by quite a distance over the others in the range.

Drewy posted:

greekspec2 posted:

james n posted:

It might help to understand where are you trying to get to ?

252/ Supercap DR

282/ Supercap DR

Have you heard the 252? If that's what your plan is I strongly recommend you listen to one at home before you go much further. It might throw a spanner in the works as it did with me.

 

I have not

Emre posted:

Buy statement pre power greekspec2, i am fallowing your progress, you will get there in a year or two so sell the car and end the upgrades, till something new comes along!

my ideal system would be adding 552 and a chord dave/melco-innous to my 300dr 

i will try it with a hugo2

haha I will never buy that...I sold a set of wheels to fund the 555PP-DR when purchased

Foot tapper posted:

Hi Greekspec,

Given your excellent starting point with the 272/555PS, I'm not sure that you will be wowed by the introduction of an NDX.  As others are indicating, the next logical step would be the NDS/555PS as your next Naim streaming source (...other makes are available etc. ...)

You have hit something of an optimised sweet spot where you are, so do talk this one through with your dealer before taking the next step.  Whatever you do will cost a fair bit and it is easy to move from your balanced system to one which is better in some respects yet strangely less satisfying overall.

Hope this helps, FT

that makes sense

hi Greespec2,

Naim separate streamers are great. In your case either NDX or NDS would be great.

As would 282 or possibly 252,as pure preamps.

In any case a massive upgrade from where you are.