Blimey, the 272 is even better than I thought it was...
Posted by: hungryhalibut on 19 October 2017
I’ve been using my beloved 272 since June 2015, with the addition of an XPSDR in autumn that year. Yesterday I installed a brand new 555 PS DR, with a new S-XPS Burndy. Rather like when I bought the XPS two years ago I didn’t try the 555 first, and when I picked it up from the shop Dan from Naim was there for a Uniti open day. All Dan said was ‘you’ll love it, even straight out of the box’. And he was right, and then some. I thought the system was sounding great before, but the 555 has moved it to a different level. The music is so much more real, leaping out of the speakers in a much more lifelike way. Everything is clearer, so you get more into the music. The speakers sound a lot bigger too, which I imagine is the impact of the power supply on the preamp. Five hours later to was sounding better still, and of course things will improve further over the coming weeks.
It’s bloody expensive, it weighs a ton, but blimey it’s good. The idea of a £6,500 power supply on a £3,500 streaming preamp is perhaps bit odd, but the combination is just incredible. I know there are a few others using this combination, and that they have said how much better the 555 makes the 272, and perhaps I underestimated how much difference it would make: now I have one at home I am very much over rather than underwhelmed, which is always good.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by JWM
Does anyone know why the original XPS (olive) can't be used with a 272?
If XPS and XPS2 can be used as alternates on the CD players up to CDS3, and XPS2 can be used with 272, I don't understand why the olive XPS can't as well.
Yours thickly...
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by Mike-B
Does anyone know why the original XPS (olive) can't be used with a 272?
If XPS and XPS2 can be used as alternates on the CD players up to CDS3, and XPS2 can be used with 272, I don't understand why the olive XPS can't as well.
Yours thickly...
Transformer size, the olive is a lot smaller & the streamers draw more current than CDP.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by nigelb
If I might be so bold, I think they’d be a bit wasted on your speakers. As you know, I did no demonstrations at all, and just bought them. But I’ve owned both a 555 and 300 before, albeit non DR, so I know what they do. And as it happens, they have way exceeded my expectations. Setup is critical though, as I’ve been reminded today when adding the extra shelf, and the performance has taken a real step up.
You are of course right about my speakers being the weak link and I indeed have these on the list, hence my recent interest in the Kudos 606s. I have always been a source first bloke though, as evidenced by my monkfish set up. I know that the NDS is capable of far more with a decent PS so will look at a 555DR first. My speakers have been revealing enough to display SQ uplifts from all my upgrades along the way to the current set up so they will probably be last as the 606 is not on the shelves yet and I tend to go for exdem where I can.
Great to hear you have such an improvement from your recent additions.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Nigel (B). I retire from work at Xmas we really must get you over to hear the S20s. Sorry HH for diverting the thread.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
Retirement is highly recommended!
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by Pcd
Retirement is highly recommended!
Best Job I've ever had takes flex hours to a new level !!
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by nigelb
Nigel (B). I retire from work at Xmas we really must get you over to hear the S20s. Sorry HH for diverting the thread.
Lindsay, congrats on the retirement. Yes, Christmas got in the way of a visit to you last year to hear your (then) new S20s. Thanks for the invitation, the S20s are still of interest as I fear the new 606s might be out of reach, particularly as I have my eye on a 555DR too.
Apologies to the other Nigel for perpetuating this diversion.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
I’m just miffed that I’m not invited...
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
I’m just miffed that I’m not invited...
You most certainly are 
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by Clive B
Although I’m not a habitual box-swapper one of the aspects I enjoy about integrating a new component is progressively discovering different nuances to my music as I work through the collection.
Regards,
Lindsay
Isn't that why we upgrade?
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Nigel (B). I retire from work at Xmas we really must get you over to hear the S20s. Sorry HH for diverting the thread.
Lindsay, congrats on the retirement. Yes, Christmas got in the way of a visit to you last year to hear your (then) new S20s. Thanks for the invitation, the S20s are still of interest as I fear the new 606s might be out of reach, particularly as I have my eye on a 555DR too.
Apologies to the other Nigel for perpetuating this diversion.
The other Nigel does make a rather compelling case for a 555dr doesn’t he?!
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by nigelb
Nigel (B). I retire from work at Xmas we really must get you over to hear the S20s. Sorry HH for diverting the thread.
Lindsay, congrats on the retirement. Yes, Christmas got in the way of a visit to you last year to hear your (then) new S20s. Thanks for the invitation, the S20s are still of interest as I fear the new 606s might be out of reach, particularly as I have my eye on a 555DR too.
Apologies to the other Nigel for perpetuating this diversion.
The other Nigel does make a rather compelling case for a 555dr doesn’t he?!
I have ignored my 'get me going' PS solution on my NDS for too long and have been on the look out for pre loved a 555DR PS for a while. Nigel's recent 'adventure' was a timely reminder for me that the NDS PS needs sorting and that I am missing out on a lot. He also quite rightly points out my trusty speakers are rapidly becoming the weak link.
The other thing I must do is plan an end point to all this madness!
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by David Hendon
I’m just miffed that I’m not invited...
You most certainly are
Is that most certainly are miffed or most certainly are invited? Just asking....
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
I’m just miffed that I’m not invited...
You most certainly are
Is that most certainly are miffed or most certainly are invited? Just asking....
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by fatcat
Does anyone know why the original XPS (olive) can't be used with a 272?
If XPS and XPS2 can be used as alternates on the CD players up to CDS3, and XPS2 can be used with 272, I don't understand why the olive XPS can't as well.
Yours thickly...
Transformer size, the olive is a lot smaller & the streamers draw more current than CDP.
It’s not the size of the transformer. But is something to do with the transformer.
The olive XPS transformer is actually a supercap transformer. All the DC voltages produced by this transformer are 40v, the regulators for the digital circuits knock this down to 15v, a drop of 25v. The higher the voltage drop the hotter the regulators get, the more current drawn, the hotter the regulators get. The regs are able to dissipate the heat generated by the 25v drop and the current drawn by the CD players, but not the 25v drop and the higher current drawn by the 272.
The XPS2 has a custom built transformer, the voltages produced by the secondary’s aren’t all 40v, but closer to the regulators voltage. The 15v regulators will probably only be dropping the voltage about 10v (from 25v). The regulators are able to cope with higher current, due to the lower voltage drop.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
I’m just miffed that I’m not invited...
You most certainly are
Is that most certainly are miffed or most certainly are invited? Just asking....
I suspect that you are too far away, and I’m not keen on driving long distances, though having got a new car to replace the Up! yesterday I’m keener than I was! I sort of feel the need for a Forum get together.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Buckingham. Just off the M40 J10.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
Too far. Do you and Nigel fancy popping down to the south coast? I need a sleep in the afternoon otherwise it’s dangerous to drive.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by nigelb
I don't mind a trip to Buckingham or the south coast. It would be great to meet the pair of you. The only restriction I have is that if it has to be at the week-end, it would have to be a Saturday for me.
Over to you Lindsay.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
Playing some Antonio Forcione now, the transformation is just incredible. The music is just so alive. Maybe the SL2s need a 300. Maybe the 555 has transformed the 272. Maybe the Burndy dressing has changed things. Maybe it’s the wine. Whatever, things have moved to another level, and a level I never thought I’d experience.
In fact, having owned 552s and all sorts, I’m just amazed at how good a £3,500 streaming preamp can be. Naim have certainly got this one right.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Yeah in the New Year - when I’m free!
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by nigelb
Playing some Antonio Forcione now, the transformation is just incredible. The music is just so alive. Maybe the SL2s need a 300. Maybe the 555 has transformed the 272. Maybe the Burndy dressing has changed things. Maybe it’s the wine. Whatever, things have moved to another level, and a level I never thought I’d experience.
Just out of interest, which AF album are you listening to? I have several of his. I have always felt that Antonio Forcione Live is very revealing of a system's capability. It was this album that really showed the difference between the 300 passive vs the 250 active demo on the Kudos 707 speakers fronted by a 272/555 BTW at the Audiobarn.
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by hungryhalibut
Posted on: 09 November 2017 by Mike-B
Hi FatCat, the standard Naim internal power system provides three voltages of 10v, 15v & 22v. The XPS powers the same internal circuits from separate independent regulators & the three voltages each become dual rail (effectively six but with a difference) The two 15v rails are a simple +15v/0v. The 10v & 22v rails are asymmetric - this means dual polarity - positive and negative on either side of a common 0v. So we have 2x +15/0v & +/-10/0v & +/-22/0v.. Finally there is a case GND (Earth) that connects the player to mains earth.
.......................................................
If forum get togethers are in the plan, count me in, I'm M40 J8, have car will travel. Phil at Naim was also hinting at it a few days ago.
