Blimey, the 272 is even better than I thought it was...

Not what I wanted to hear from you HH,I thought you were very happy with the XPSDR...but I am glad you have one,because I was starting to think about Superlumina wires,for my setup.Would you recommend me going for the 555DR before SL cables?I almost pulled the trigger on a 555 before I got my XPS,but I also thought the price was insane,and got a great price on my XPS.Keep the info coming please,because I always believed it makes more sense to spend on boxes,not cables.

Glad to hear the 555 sounds so good HH! 

I’m using my 272 bare and I’m delighted with it. It sounds brilliant this morning. At some point I would like to add a ps. I did demo an XPSDR not long after I bought the 272, and although it did make a difference, I didn’t feel it was a big enough leap to justify the price, not that I had the cash anyway. I missed out on a pre loved 555 another forum member was selling, as funds didn’t allow at the time. If the 555 is so much better maybe a non DR version would be a nice addition to my setup in a years time?? 

555DR then SL speaker cables then SL xlr/din was my route

555DR is such an upgeade that changes everything, just try it for a few days and then disconnect it

i never tought that i will spend that much of a money for PS and speaker cables but it transforms the electronics totaly

Sİnce you have already a power supply i would go for speaker cables first than 555

The 272/555/300/SL/Fraim/Power lines is at the level that even when i get back home from listenig ultra expensive systems, it does not dissapoint me considering the money i spent vs the uber expensive one

NQ - yes, I was happy with the XPS and didn’t really feel that anything was lacking. Having had a trying year and reaching something of a conclusion, I bought the 555 as something of a celebration. I remember what it did to my CDS3 back in the day and decided to give it a spin. Interestingly, listening to the Today programme on BBC HLS, even that sounds miles better and much more engaging. That’s a thing that is so good about the 272 - you upgrade the power supply and it improves everything - the streamer, the preamp and the radio. I’d agree about the box/cable issue, though as I have SL cables I can’t tell what the impact would be of adding the cables after the PS, rather than before. I imagine that having the cables means I get maximum benefit from the new box but it’s a bit academic really. What I do know is that the new PS makes everything so much more musical and enjoyable, which is what matters to me. Also, if I had less revealing speakers, the difference I’m hearing might be less. It’s almost like the electronics are finally living up to the speakers, though of course you don’t know what’s missing till you try it. I do hope that makes some sense, as it’s early in the day fo me. 

Congratulations HH and welcome to the club! I was lucky enough to get a mint pre-loved original 555 DR PS for £3K including the Powerline and Burndy 18 months ago. I can still remember the 1st time I listened to it and I nearly fell off my chair! This was coming from a bare 272. All you need now is some active ATC's and away you go! (Only joking!).

300dr next?

This is my goal to move to the 555dr as at the moment using the XP5XS as a temporary solution until I make the jump.

Pleased the 272/555 sounds great very encouraging, enjoy

300DR next.? Umm, hopefully within the next two weeks. The new shelf is ready and waiting.

My experience is that the PS555DR has a massively positive effect on any component it's connected to. I even tried it on my CDS2 before I bought an NDS. It almost persuaded me not to bother with the NDS!

It makes total sense to me HH,boy I have to stop reading this forum,now I am all excited,and wondering how I can swing this upgrade,crazy really,when the music already sounds fantastic.Wouldnt you know it,I am heading to my dealer next week to pick up a Hugo 2 for a demo,now I REALLY need to talk to him,honestly though,it is nice to know that you are not at a dead end,no matter what.

Hungryhalibut posted:

300DR next.? Umm, hopefully within the next two weeks. The new shelf is ready and waiting.

300dr excellent, almost complete and I guess the 555 is waiting for the new 372 or whatever it will be called

What happened to the Rega

The Rega was a daft impulsive purchase. I took it back and swapped it for a second Qb. I’ll say no more!

Congratulations HH and enjoy your new piece of kit. How does Morrissey's new song (spent the day in bed) sound on it? I like it, new album on order.

No quarter posted:

It makes total sense to me HH,boy I have to stop reading this forum,now I am all excited,and wondering how I can swing this upgrade,crazy really,when the music already sounds fantastic.Wouldnt you know it,I am heading to my dealer next week to pick up a Hugo 2 for a demo,now I REALLY need to talk to him,honestly though,it is nice to know that you are not at a dead end,no matter what.

The key is to be happy with what you’ve got. Don’t think too much about what might come next, or it will hamper your enjoyment. The last thing I’d want is to cause dissatisfaction for anyone else. For a few days I’ve been using the 272 without an XPS and it was still very enjoyable. Just not as enjoyable. 

Halloween Man posted:

Congratulations HH and enjoy your new piece of kit. How does Morrissey's new song (spent the day in bed) sound on it? I like it, new album on order.

Moz is such a grade A dick these days that I’ve hesitated. Julia Fischer and Suzanne Vega were sounding good though. 

To get control over the upgrade/ downgrade/ upgrade climbing, you have been such a good role model HH  It seems like it has failed now. I`ll have to cope with the incoming ambivalence. Anyway, congratulations!

I hate to say 'I told you so' but....!

I seem to remember someone ridiculing the very concept of spending twice as much as the source upon its power supply. What I find interesting is the unquestioning enthusiasm when HH spends his money compared with the lukewarm reaction given to others of lesser standing. It was ever thus!

Enjoy your new acquisition HH - I hope the 300DR suits your room and speakers better than it did mine.

Yes the bare 272 is surprisingly good, but the 555DR is, well quite surprising - again!

The thing is I don't understand WHY the 555DR is SO much better than the XPSDR.  However I'm still delighted with the final result even if I don't understand the technical reasons.

In terms of the 300DR...  Yes I see that as a very natural partner to the 272 + 555DR.
It makes the most of the strengths of the 272 / 555DR, and it's ability to do so even a lower (practical long term) listening levels is breathtaking.  I'd be very surprised if that's not another WOW moment (but you will need the SL interconnects, as IMO the stock cables hold back the 300).

Steinar - I wouldn’t say that ‘it’s failed’. I’ve been perfectly happy for over two years, and never hankered for more. We have had a modest cash injection and we agreed that it would be appropriate to take the system up a level. I’ve retired, winter is coming, and there will be lots of time to listen to music. I’ve thought very carefully and sought advice  about what to do to get the best from my 272 and SL2s, while keeping the number of boxes as low as possible. Three would be ideal, but I know from past experience that the 300 will take the speakers to a new level. I did think about going active with two 250s, but that would entail six boxes, a much bigger stack, and electrical work to install more sockets. And the SL speaker leads would simply cost too much. So the 300 it is. 

james n posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is that a message for Hilary?

It could be - she won't see much of you for a while so... 

Depends how spontaneous they are Morrissey's new song may trigger hidden youth

Good point about the 300 interconnects but it's an expensive upgrade with two being needed. I'm still on the standard ones and am still enjoying what I've got. I am not going to demo any for now but might be tempted to buy if a pair came up used at a bargain price. 

Drewy posted:

Good point about the 300 interconnects but it's an expensive upgrade with two being needed. I'm still on the standard ones and am still enjoying what I've got. I am not going to demo any for now but might be tempted to buy if a pair came up used at a bargain price. 

 

I built a pair of interconnects using Mogami W2549; the results are a significant upgrade on the stock cables and cost the princely sum of £20!

Timmo1341 posted:

I hate to say 'I told you so' but....!

I seem to remember someone ridiculing the very concept of spending twice as much as the source upon its power supply. What I find interesting is the unquestioning enthusiasm when HH spends his money compared with the lukewarm reaction given to others of lesser standing. It was ever thus!

Enjoy your new acquisition HH - I hope the 300DR suits your room and speakers better than it did mine.

I’ve had a 300 SL2s previously, about ten years ago, and it was a fantastic upgrade over the 250. It makes the speakers sound twice the size - almost as big as yours! Based on past experience, I have total confidence that it will work well.

I don’t think people get different responses according to who they are; it just depends on who responds and what their views are. I’ve had Naim long enough and am confident to make decisions, and I’m not bothered what others think. You can be sure that, as eggs is eggs, those who think the 272 is an overhyped piece of junk will be along soon enough!

Drewy posted:

Good point about the 300 interconnects but it's an expensive upgrade with two being needed. I'm still on the standard ones and am still enjoying what I've got. I am not going to demo any for now but might be tempted to buy if a pair came up used at a bargain price. 

 

£3,258 If I recall correctly. They are coming too. I don’t want to be without the full SL loom. It works so well with the DR amplifiers. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Drewy posted:

Good point about the 300 interconnects but it's an expensive upgrade with two being needed. I'm still on the standard ones and am still enjoying what I've got. I am not going to demo any for now but might be tempted to buy if a pair came up used at a bargain price. 

 

£3,258 If I recall correctly. They are coming too. I don’t want to be without the full SL loom. It works so well with the DR amplifiers. 

Ouch...  A mere 163 times the cost of my interconnects! 

I added the 555DR to my 272 and 250DR 3 months ago. I did try the XPSDR at a home demo, briefly, but chose the 555DR within 15 minutes as a. It sounded far smoother and dynamic compared to the XPSDR and b. If I bought the XPSDR, I would have taken a loss trading it in on the XPS DR  in a years time. 

The system even with the standard lavender DIN-XLR and A5 cable sounds wonderful. I am routinely a few minutes late for work, as I find it difficult to tear myself away from even Tidal tracks in the morning. 

So well done HH on getting the 555DR , I can only imagine how good the system will sound when you eventually get the 300DR.