272 XPS 2 (Non-DR)

Just do the job properly. The XPSDR on the 272 is just great. It's its natural partner. 

My non dr XPS does the job fine on my CDS3.  

ditto.

The 272 sounds very good bare...

Is that from trying it at home? There is a massive difference from adding the XPSDR. I see entirely why a CDS3 is ideal with an XPS. I used to have one and they were made to go together - just like the 272 and the XPSDR. 

wenger2015 posted:

The 272 sounds very good bare...

I completely agree and that's what is behind my query really. I've had experience of the XPS on CDS3 and NDAC and the improvement is undeniable, but the 272 sounds so well balanced bare I can't imagine an XPS 2 improving it!

G

Graeme, I bought a pre-loved XPS2 (non-DR) to partner with my 272 for a good price a couple of months back. It certainly improved things - better separation etc - but it was always my plan to upgrade it to DR spec which I know is the real deal. The 272 was designed with DR power supplies in mind so the XPS DR is its natural partner and I suspect more so than might be the case with other sources like the CDS3 or CDX2.

My XPS is currently at the factory having a full service and DR upgrade and I very much look forward to its return.

If you can pick up a well cared for XPS2 for a sensible price then - financially - doing it in two stages made good sense to me as it saves around £1k verses the cost of a new DR.

Hope that helps.

David

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is that from trying it at home? There is a massive difference from adding the XPSDR. I see entirely why a CDS3 is ideal with an XPS. I used to have one and they were made to go together - just like the 272 and the XPSDR. 

HH - that's an illogical position.  I'm not saying  the XPS DR wouldn't be an improvement over the XPS - of course it would be it on the CDS3, NDX or 272.  My point is that the non dr version is still a very good solution.   

Absolutely right Strat. I can vouch for the fact that the XPS non DR and 272 is a very impressive source. 

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is that from trying it at home? There is a massive difference from adding the XPSDR. I see entirely why a CDS3 is ideal with an XPS. I used to have one and they were made to go together - just like the 272 and the XPSDR. 

HH - that's an illogical position.  I'm not saying  the XPS DR wouldn't be an improvement over the XPS - of course it would be it on the CDS3, NDX or 272.  My point is that the non dr version is still a very good solution.   

Not illogical at all. Contemporaniety is very important. CDS3/XPS. 272/XPSDR. 

After visiting my dealer today with [@mention:50422349809511500] I've come home with a 272 to try. Dealer made me a silly trade in offer on my SN and HCDR. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is that from trying it at home? There is a massive difference from adding the XPSDR. I see entirely why a CDS3 is ideal with an XPS. I used to have one and they were made to go together - just like the 272 and the XPSDR. 

HH - that's an illogical position.  I'm not saying  the XPS DR wouldn't be an improvement over the XPS - of course it would be it on the CDS3, NDX or 272.  My point is that the non dr version is still a very good solution.   

Not illogical at all. Contemporaniety is very important. CDS3/XPS. 272/XPSDR. 

I'd be very surprised if an XPS didn't give you most of what an XPSDR gives you on a 272, contemporaneous or not. Besides, this is all conjecture as nobody has yet claimed to have made the comparison. Anyway, what's the worst that can happen? Graeme only gets a bit of an upgrade while he saves up for the DR upgrade, then temporal harmony is restored!

Finkfan posted:

After visiting my dealer today with [@mention:50422349809511500] I've come home with a 272 to try. Dealer made me a silly trade in offer on my SN and HCDR. 

You are going to be surprised at just how much better the 272 Is,I travelled down the exact same road.

After having compared my turntable into a bare 272 and then 282/HCDR, sorry gentlemen, bare 272 isn't as good as 282/HCDR. There could be a number of reasons why this 282/HCDR sounded a LOT better, but even putting a non-DR XPS on the 272 is going to make it better, as it switches off the transformer inside the 272.

If I had a 272, I would buy a XPS DR.

With Naim every level of Naim sounds good, well until you hear the next level up 

analogmusic posted:

After having compared my turntable into a bare 272 and then 282/HCDR, sorry gentlemen, bare 272 isn't as good as 282/HCDR. There could be a number of reasons why this 282/HCDR sounded a LOT better, but even putting a non-DR XPS on the 272 is going to make it better, as it switches off the transformer inside the 272.

If I had a 272, I would buy a XPS DR.

With Naim every level of Naim sounds good, well until you hear the next level up 

I've owned the next level and the next level 'up' and would respectfully disagree. There is something very right about the 272 at any price point. It's a very musical box!

G

analogmusic posted:

After having compared my turntable into a bare 272 and then 282/HCDR, sorry gentlemen, bare 272 isn't as good as 282/HCDR. There could be a number of reasons why this 282/HCDR sounded a LOT better, but even putting a non-DR XPS on the 272 is going to make it better, as it switches off the transformer inside the 272.

If I had a 272, I would buy a XPS DR.

With Naim every level of Naim sounds good, well until you hear the next level up 

if the only source is TT than 272 might not be the best.... but you are getting almost a NDX for free... that is something!! 

the value of 272 is the streamer.... is not an pre to better 282/HC 

Set A ) 272/555  - about 10,000£ 

Vs

Set B) NDX/282/HC - about 9,200£  

that is the fair comparison..... 

Now add a turntable to see which one will perform better.... try the streamer as well... 

I agree with your comments Emre, but what I am really saying is that XPS (even non DR) will improve the 272.

Graeme, I do hear what you are talking about when I hear a 272, but I don't think I could wait that long before adding an XPS to it.

ChrisSU posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is that from trying it at home? There is a massive difference from adding the XPSDR. I see entirely why a CDS3 is ideal with an XPS. I used to have one and they were made to go together - just like the 272 and the XPSDR. 

HH - that's an illogical position.  I'm not saying  the XPS DR wouldn't be an improvement over the XPS - of course it would be it on the CDS3, NDX or 272.  My point is that the non dr version is still a very good solution.   

Not illogical at all. Contemporaniety is very important. CDS3/XPS. 272/XPSDR. 

I'd be very surprised if an XPS didn't give you most of what an XPSDR gives you on a 272, contemporaneous or not. Besides, this is all conjecture as nobody has yet claimed to have made the comparison. Anyway, what's the worst that can happen? Graeme only gets a bit of an upgrade while he saves up for the DR upgrade, then temporal harmony is restored!

Contemporaneous!!!!!!! You have your moments HH and this is one of them!!

One does one's best. 

I have a 272 on order (due end May) to go with my 250DR. Do I save for the 555 power supply (which would not be until Christmas) or settle for the XPSDR which would mean I can order in July for possible August delivery? Rationale being stay with a 3 box solution for the foreseeable future.

Tony - you'd be welcome to pop over to Emsworth, and you'll realise that you are really not 'settling' with a XPSDR. 

Tony,

The 555ps is not the natural partner for a 272, I would suggest you go for the xps Dr.

TonyK posted:

I have a 272 on order (due end May) to go with my 250DR. Do I save for the 555 power supply (which would not be until Christmas) or settle for the XPSDR which would mean I can order in July for possible August delivery? Rationale being stay with a 3 box solution for the foreseeable future.

Surely placing an order for a 272 has bought a bit of leeway with your dealer? If so, then come July if you explain the situation to the dealer, I'm sure they'd be happy enough to let you compare the XPS and 555 at home on the understanding that you'll most likely be buying one or the other eventually. Sequentially rather than simultaneously, I expect, but you never know.

Then you can decide for yourself whether the wait & extra expense are worth it. Best/only way to be certain.

I got the call from my dealer this morning to let me know that my XPS was back from Naim having had its DR upgrade.

I've reinstalled it with my 272 and 250DR and am settling down for my first proper listening session with it.

The really interesting thing about the XPS' effect on the 272 was I actually noticed the difference taking it (in non-DR guise) out of the system far more than I noticed installing it originally a few months ago. It may have something to do with the revealing nature of the SL2s but the "bare" 272 seemed a shadow of its former self with the XPS gone. You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone...

With the XPS DR settling in normal service has been resumed - and some....

The depth and scale is very impressive and I know I have a few weeks yet until the DR really beds in and comes on song.

Another early observation is how much better it sounds in UPnP format via the UnitiServe in comparison to Tidal HiFi. Previously Tidal sounded almost on a par with the US which I knew was odd. Now it is far superior. I know that this is true of all great speakers but it's fascinating to experience how these fabulous SL2s respond to improvements in the quality of the source. I can only imagine how they would sound in active configuration and maybe one day I will. For now, with my system complete, I can concentrate on enjoying the music.

Regards to all

David

I've got a 272 to try for a few week and it's sounding very good! Assuming it stays, at some point I'll get an XPSDR for it and I look forward to hearing the improvement it bring to an already great sounding preamp. I'm new to streaming but I'm unimpressed with Tidal hifi sound quality at the moment.