N272 internal DAC vs stand-alone DAC

1  The 272 DAC is very good.

2  If you select one of the streamer inputs (UPnP / BT / USB / iRadio) you can't play music from the Analogue inputs.  If you select one of the analogue inputs the streamer isn't enabled (to reduce noise).

That depends largely on how you intend to use it, as you cannot route the signal from the 272 streamer out to an external DAC and back into it's analogue stage - you can only do one or the other.

erm... no, not a good idea, there is no need for this, the DAC inside 272 is already very high quality.

What you want to do is buy an XPS-DR for the 272

Just to clarify, I have a Rega DAC-R which I either plan to sell, or use it in between a Uniti Core and the N272.

sell the rega. It's a 600 GBP DAC, and it's not going to be able to improve on a Naim DAC inside the 272

The problem you're introducing is

1) Rega does not have DIN outputs, and hence you will lose the star earthing inherent with Naim.

2) what wire will you use between Rega and 272? Good interconnects can cost lot of money.

3) you will lose some of the Naim sound.

I think the forum people really underestimate how good and well sorted is 272.

Now if you were talking about Chord Dave (8500 GBP) , that's another story.

600 GBP DAC, forget it and sell it.

'nuff said. Thanks!

There's nothing to lose by trying, given that you already have the necessary hardware. The SPDIF out on the Core is very good, so rather than just assuming that your external DAC will be worse, why not just try it and see. You might find that careful setup on a decent rack with quality interconnects makes all the difference.

Because you have a Core, you will still be able to use the Naim app for control. You can then compare UPnP vs SPDIF into the 272 vs SPDIF into external DAC. My guess is that it won't be worth keeping the Rega, but making assumptions on DAC quality based on price is a mug's game, as many a Chord user would remind us.

Just forget it. Your 272 outshines your Rega. You will need to invest much more to have a competitive alternative - f.i. Hugo...

Hugo2

Emre posted:

Hugo2

But that sort of defeats the object of the 272....

As Chris says, if the chap already has the Rega then it's worth a try substituting it for the 272 internal DAC. 

James

Sorry i was refering the post above by bert, competitive alternative hugo and i said hugo2

i am very happy with 272, if someday if invest in a dac might change 272 for 282/552

Emre posted:

Sorry i was refering the post above by bert, competitive alternative hugo and i said hugo2

i am very happy with 272, if someday if invest in a dac might change 272 for 282/552

Got you Emre 

My advice, if you don't already have the Core, is not to bother with it. A good nas will sound just as good for a lot less, and is much more flexible. It's not as convenient to rip of course, however the money saved, plus the proceeds from the Rega dac, will go a long way towards an XPS.