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

My experience in the Dolomites this summer would suggest in any wager, money being better placed on the grappa!!

Peter

Timmo1341 posted:

Well and truly in the school playground it would appear, no chips in evidence, just forests! I'd like to make it clear I'm not on holiday (unless you count being retired as one long one!).

Why do you find the need to constantly come running to defend HH he is more than capable believe me and yes it does seem like we are in the  school playground and you it seems  have school boy crush.

Bob the Builder posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

Well and truly in the school playground it would appear, no chips in evidence, just forests! I'd like to make it clear I'm not on holiday (unless you count being retired as one long one!).

Why do you find the need to constantly come running to defend HH he is more than capable believe me and yes it does seem like we are in the  school playground and you it seems  have school boy crush.

Really?

(I will admit, the sheer silliness did make me laugh out loud)

My goodness people -- turn up the music, enjoy and move on. And then meet again in a different thread without arguing.  

All rather OTT but I do like reading the upsize, downsize, upsize journey of the OP. For me I've always been about slowly upsizing although I rather liked the recent half width Exposure pre and power amp review in a certain mag. To think that I started with Exposure in pre-forum days of any sort. I do have to muse at some of the OPs postings though - fewer boxes and those less than complementary comments about Quadraspire. They never put me off and I love my SVTs. Horror and of horrors, I love my Sopra 2s. What a dull world it would be if we all conformed.

Bob, Perol -- don't you reckon that off-topic drifts are what keeps the forum interesting? No offense, but you've kinda already proved this theory correct: you do seem interested in what's written here.

oh, and HH: i'm envious indeed of the tartufo and vino.

It would be much appreciated if a level of civility and optimism is maintained.

Congratulations HH .... I thought 555ps brought a massive improvement ..... to he mighty 272. I even drove  NAP500 with it and it was fantastic ....... I think the 272 gives a mighty bang for buck..........and of course you have an upgrade path to power an NDS ....he he.

I'm a 272 user, but not quite in HH's league (yet!). I'm thinking of upgrading my 200DR to a 250DR. Is this upgrade likely to be significant? Is there any other upgrade that I should consider instead for similar ££'s? I'm happy with my PMC 23's. My main source is Tidal. Sorry if this has been already covered elesewhere.

Thanks, Richard

Like you Richard, I have the 272/200DR combination (but driving Focal Aria 906 speakers) which I was very pleased with, but based on the feedback from the likes of HH, I took the opportunity to bolt on the XPSDR which was a real step change in performance - which was consistent with other user's feedback. TBH I was almost disbelieving that a PSU could make such a difference to the SQ but I have been so pleasantly surprised that I would certainly recommend that you take a look at the XPSDR as an alternative to the 250DR though you will not have the offset of the 200DR trade-in and it will be an extra box.

Peter 

quickben posted:

Like you Richard, I have the 272/200DR combination (but driving Focal Aria 906 speakers) which I was very pleased with, but based on the feedback from the likes of HH, I took the opportunity to bolt on the XPSDR which was a real step change in performance - which was consistent with other user's feedback. TBH I was almost disbelieving that a PSU could make such a difference to the SQ but I have been so pleasantly surprised that I would certainly recommend that you take a look at the XPSDR as an alternative to the 250DR though you will not have the offset of the 200DR trade-in and it will be an extra box.

Peter 

Many thanks Peter. Yes it is quite hard to get one's head around spending this sort of money on a psu. But your input, along with what I've been reading here, has got me thinking seriously about it. A direct listening comparison between the two upgrade options would be ideal, but probably impractical.

Richard

When I got my 272/250 I used it briefly with twenty.23s and it was really good. The speakers need some driving and if it were me I’d go for a 250 if it’s do-able. 

If I could be indulged with one more holiday comment: we’ve been to La Scala tonight to see the first night of Nabucco. It was a great experience, wonderful music, a lovely atmosphere and to see everyone dressed up was really something. And only a few minutes walk from the hotel. Milan really is a super city. 

very happy to see you're enjoying your holiday HH. Keep on posting 

HH is at minimum partly responsible for me having (sorry enjoying) a N272.  initially without a external PSU but more recently with a 555.  That certainly raised the bar.
I looked at a 300DR with ATC SCM40 (passives) but ended up with the active version, so the temptation of power amps has been removed, plus no SL loom to worry about.

HH is also partly to thank (blame?) for having a Quadraspire rack in my case a X-reference which made a huge difference (same SVT shelves).  Fraim was purchased but her ladyship wasn't keen on the looks.
I still need to srt out the dedicated mains then I can hopefully sit back and enjoy .... until the N373/572 or whatever is released.

Great hear that HH is enjoying life and appears to have a positive outlook on life ...not the easiest place to get too. Music helps transcend the problems of life...with a glass of something of course

Hi all,

Can I politely request that we all play nicely here ...?

Thank you

Phil

Have I missed something? I thought they were playing nicely (now).

It’s funny - I get the 555PS, enjoy the effect for two days then go on holiday. A similar thing happened when the 272 arrived in 2015 - I enjoyed it for a week then it was put away for a month while we did building work. The 250 leaves next Monday and I’m very much hoping that the 300 arrives before that. We have new leads coming too, so it can all run in together. 

This break is the first time that the AK70 has been used for serious listening. I’ve been enjoying the 2017 The Queen is Dead remaster, and particularly the Live in Boston tracks, which are new to me, and quite fantastic. I’m pleased to read P-K above say that I helped him decide on the 272. This is where the Forum is really useful - I was recommended some in ear phones by 1 More, which I’d never have bought without positive feedback from others, and have found them really very good, and for only about £80 too. It’s amazing to be able to carry over 200GB of music in one’s pocket and get such good sound quality. 

We had lunch overlooking Lake Como today, at a place recommended by Massimo and Silvia, which we’d never have found by ourselves. Glorious sunshine and no fog in late October has surprised even the locals. We come back tomorrow, so I’ll have nothing to write about other than hifi. Oh well. 

nigelb posted:

Have I missed something? I thought they were playing nicely (now).

Nigel, don’t go there. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

We had lunch overlooking Lake Como today, at a place recommended by Massimo and Silvia, which we’d never have found by ourselves. Glorious sunshine and no fog in late October has surprised even the locals. We come back tomorrow, so I’ll have nothing to write about other than hifi. Oh well. 

Very happy to hear that. There's another friend here who's  eaten at the same place, and I hope he's not jealous to be sharing the wonderful place with you and Hilary. But most of all, I'm happy that you both are enjoying your trip. Those minutes in full sunlight and blue sky, on the top roof of the Duomo, looking at the city all around, talking or not, about anything, were really relaxing and regenerating for me. Thanks.

(Ciao Mark, come again you too). 

Back home again, and when I initially switched the system back on again it was sounding pretty dreadful. Partly due to being cold, partly to the 555 being new and partly because I had removed the SL din to XLR and replaced it with a bog standard one which is virtually unused and has been in the loft for two years, the system hadn’t sounded so bad for ages. But 24 hours later it was totally transformed. The 555 just makes everything so much more natural and engaging. We had friends round and I was playing a Max Richter album. She said to her husband ‘we must get this’, to which he replied ‘we already have it’, but they had never engaged with it as they did last night. I guess it shows what a good stereo can do. 

when are you getting the 300 and DIN/XLR for that? sorry if I missed it earlier in this thread.

Parlee-king posted:

HH is at minimum partly responsible for me having (sorry enjoying) a N272.  initially without a external PSU but more recently with a 555.  That certainly raised the bar.
I looked at a 300DR with ATC SCM40 (passives) but ended up with the active version, so the temptation of power amps has been removed, plus no SL loom to worry about.

HH is also partly to thank (blame?) for having a Quadraspire rack in my case a X-reference which made a huge difference (same SVT shelves).  Fraim was purchased but her ladyship wasn't keen on the looks.
I still need to srt out the dedicated mains then I can hopefully sit back and enjoy .... until the N373/572 or whatever is released.

Great hear that HH is enjoying life and appears to have a positive outlook on life ...not the easiest place to get too. Music helps transcend the problems of life...with a glass of something of course

 

How do those active ATC’s sound v non active and 300dr?

regards

Gary

I spoke to Naim yesterday and they said that it should all ship on Monday. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Back home again, and when I initially switched the system back on again it was sounding pretty dreadful. Partly due to being cold, partly to the 555 being new and partly because I had removed the SL din to XLR and replaced it with a bog standard one which is virtually unused and has been in the loft for two years, the system hadn’t sounded so bad for ages. But 24 hours later it was totally transformed. The 555 just makes everything so much more natural and engaging. We had friends round and I was playing a Max Richter album. She said to her husband ‘we must get this’, to which he replied ‘we already have it’, but they had never engaged with it as they did last night. I guess it shows what a good stereo can do. 

I think most systems at a certain level impress especially those who don't have much in the way of a decent home stereo.

My in-laws always comment when they occasionally pop round for Sunday lunch and I pop on the odd oldie they are familiar with.

I hope your friends don't have a 552/500 system at home