New XPS DR Experience

Posted by: Ricto on 01 December 2017

SO I waited nearly 8 weeks for my new XPS DR I am going to give my thoughts so far.

System Naim NAC 272 Naim 250 DR New XPS DR Focal 1028 BE speakers with naim nasa speaker wire.

Plugging in and listening to the first song I couldn't tell any difference. After 10 songs I started to notice a very slight difference but nothing to put my finger on apart from the bass was cleaner. 

After 2 hours I listened to Eric Clapton Tears In Heaven MTV edition  now this was completely different in every way from stereo separation, individual instruments could be heard better I also noticed the volume was slightly higher.

Over all on the first night of about 3 hours it was better but not yet £3,600 better, my listen quest continues tonight.

 

 

 

Posted on: 05 December 2017 by Ricto

OK where on day 5. Sound is definitely getting more detail even at low volume which is a real plus. Separation getting even better and so is stereo image. 

What is interesting I have a long playlist on Tidal but am now looking at differing music including 10cc which sounded superb. It looks like the XPS is turning a corner for the better.

 

Posted on: 06 December 2017 by Atherton

I recently added an XPS-DR (pre-loved) to my 272/200DR->PMC 23's. For the first few hours I too was disappointed, but once it had fully warmed up, oh wow...fan-bloody-tastic. Forget all this talk of needing a 555, unless perhaps you are going for a 300DR.

I'm listening to one of my favourites, Bob James/Earl Klugh, Cool. It sounds so good I'm seriously wondering if I've just made a huge mistake pressing the buy button on an ex-demo 250DR....

I'll find out next week.

Posted on: 06 December 2017 by GraemeH
Atherton posted:

I recently added an XPS-DR (pre-loved) to my 272/200DR->PMC 23's. For the first few hours I too was disappointed, but once it had fully warmed up, oh wow...fan-bloody-tastic. Forget all this talk of needing a 555, unless perhaps you are going for a 300DR.

I'm listening to one of my favourites, Bob James/Earl Klugh, Cool. It sounds so good I'm seriously wondering if I've just made a huge mistake pressing the buy button on an ex-demo 250DR....

I'll find out next week.

You haven’t.

G

Posted on: 06 December 2017 by Mort2k
Ricto posted:

OK where on day 5. Sound is definitely getting more detail even at low volume which is a real plus. Separation getting even better and so is stereo image. .

 

I went through a similar cycle when I added XPSDR to my Streamer. It took a good month before it settled down. For the first two weeks I left it playing 247 at low volumes and still took that long to come fully on song. Some ups and downs along the way but once it settled down the improvement was massive. 

Sit back and enjoy the journey

Rob

Posted on: 06 December 2017 by Ricto

Day 7 listened to music on NAS drive 96 KHZ downloads from HDTracks all sounding fantastic. Starting to feel the price is worth the product. The Tidal streams have also got better. 

 

 

Posted on: 07 December 2017 by Dan.S

Damn this XPS DR you speak about, damn it to hell! I'm sure it does nothing, absolutely nothing to the sound. It's just a big conspiracy of those with 4000E sitting around doing nothing. 

I shall listen to my 272 and 250DR this Christmas, wishing all naim power supplies in the world to vanish!

Posted on: 07 December 2017 by Atherton
Dan.S posted:

Damn this XPS DR you speak about, damn it to hell! I'm sure it does nothing, absolutely nothing to the sound. It's just a big conspiracy of those with 4000E sitting around doing nothing. 

I shall listen to my 272 and 250DR this Christmas, wishing all naim power supplies in the world to vanish!

Ha! I am so glad I bit the bullet getting an XPS-DR before upgrading my 200DR->250DR. It was financially painful, even pre-loved, But now I feel, once the 250DR is installed (next week hopefully), I will have the system I have always hankered for.

The XPS-DR won't vanish, it'll nag you like a festering sore........until you capitulate and get one!

Posted on: 07 December 2017 by MDS

Congrats on your new XPSDR. Sounds like it's beginning to come on-song. As others have said, patience is needed here and will be rewarded.  BTW great choice of speakers