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.
TOBYJUG posted:I guess some nice new shoes, handbags, jackets and a couple of holidays to keep the other half happy are next. Enjoy.
Could it not be that HH's 'other half' (much nicer to refer to her as Hilary) is just as excited by the new acquisitions? Time to kick such gender based stereotyping into the long grass.
TOBYJUG posted:I guess some nice new shoes, handbags, jackets and a couple of holidays to keep the other half happy are next. Enjoy.
We are off to Milan next week. I hear it’s quite good for clothes shopping.
Timmo1341 posted:TOBYJUG posted:I guess some nice new shoes, handbags, jackets and a couple of holidays to keep the other half happy are next. Enjoy.
Could it not be that HH's 'other half' (much nicer to refer to her as Hilary) is just as excited by the new acquisitions? Time to kick such gender based stereotyping into the long grass.
Tim, I like the sentiment but no, she is not as excited as I am. She can easily hear the difference but she simply doesn’t care about it. As we have always done we split our money down the middle, through good times and bad, so she gets precisely the same lump sum to spend as she wishes. She has mentioned a motorbike - she has a full bike licence - but since my accident it worries me. We’ll see.
Hungryhalibut posted:analogmusic posted:First of all congrats to HH for the PS555 and for sharing with us that indeed it makes a difference to the 272.
As to why the PS555 sounds much better than XPS, it's very obvious when looking at the internal pictures, to me it is the best power supply that Naim make, better than Supercap !
I’m not convinced that looking at pictures can ever explain how things sound, but it certainly explains why it was so heavy when I was carrying it from the shop to the car.
Can't comment on other manufacturers, but internal pictures of Naim PSU leave some clues as to how they do what they do, musically and sound quality wise.
Obviously no-one is going to spend thousands of GBP on a PSU based on pictures... 
well HH
Hungryhalibut posted:Timmo1341 posted:TOBYJUG posted:I guess some nice new shoes, handbags, jackets and a couple of holidays to keep the other half happy are next. Enjoy.
Could it not be that HH's 'other half' (much nicer to refer to her as Hilary) is just as excited by the new acquisitions? Time to kick such gender based stereotyping into the long grass.
Tim, I like the sentiment but no, she is not as excited as I am. She can easily hear the difference but she simply doesn’t care about it. As we have always done we split our money down the middle, through good times and bad, so she gets precisely the same lump sum to spend as she wishes. She has mentioned a motorbike - she has a full bike licence - but since my accident it worries me. We’ll see.
well HH, my wife and daughter don't care about any improvement on my Naim system either..... it would be nice if they would share some small enthusiasm about it.....
Nigel- I have followed your Naim journey since I added to this forum in 2005. You have been learnable honest about each step you have done within Naim boxes, ups and downs and I felt quite comfortable settling with my/ your current setup. At the same time I saw this thread I must admit the PS itch to me. I of corse, have to deal with that.
During my last downgrade I sold the non DR 555 and some weeks later an almost new 2727250DR appeared and I could not resist buying them. I listened to the sensible side in me when XPSDR was added, even if I could afford the 555DR..... and that episode sums up my journey quite well.
I`m aware you`ve been into some kind of accident without knowing any details (personal) and I`m glad that both health and economics are sorted out as far as possible for you. From there and the full time retired situation, I fully understand your approach towards a even more enjoyable Naim system. That again makes me think of my own thoughts about retirement or even age and how short life is (I`m soon to be 55 yo). As long as one have the money and accepted prioritize within family, just go for it.
Best of luck to you Nigel! 
Steinar
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.
Easy. Trade in your XDs that you're not using in the new apartment. 