For the same price

I think I'd go for the 300. I've heard the difference between a SCDR and SC on a 252 and while the former was better, the difference, to my ears, wasn't huge.  The difference between a 250.2 and 300, however,  ah!

300 every time for me. .... if you have heard one and like it’s ‘voice’. It’s different to a 250, I love both for different reasons. Some prefer one over the other. 

Rob

Is the XPS of DR type? If not, I'd actually do that first. In fact, as tempting as a 300 is, I might think on how to DR everything from the XPS, the SC and the 250.2. The latter comes with a warning. The DR power amps are substantially different and that means that assuming you can slot one into an existing system with no problem is wrong. 

I DR'd my 250.2 which worked beautifully with the system at the time but the DR did not work well with my speakers at all. A change of speakers ensued. I had sort of planned to do that anyway but the 250dr really forced my hand.

How close is the Supercap to needing a service? It makes financial sense, I think, to do both at the same time. Personally, if it was a due a service in the next two or three years, I'd wait to do both (service and DR) at the same time.

having recently added a 300 into my system I would go 300

reasons, the control, focus, seperation and shear musicality of the 300 will add to your whole system, the 250.2 and 300 have different musical character, 250DR is closer in style to 300

in the world of upgrades moving boxes around, I can safely say the 300 (now DR) is the single biggest upgrade I have ever added to my system LP12/NDX/282/HCDR/300DR

only issue if you choice 300 route is finding one SH

Perhaps bring phonostage and cables into the game

Aria/TQB not a fortune to add

300. If you like what a 300 does. If you do, there's no contest. Less HiFi, more music. 

Bullet bitten and 300 reserved. With the exception of Dr upgrades and servicing that's it..... 

I don't imagine you'll regret the decision True Blue - I had a 252 and 300 and think the two have a tremendous complementary synergy.  Hopefully you'll find the same!

Peter

Welcome to your new music collection.

Like the 500, the 300 doesn't dish out  "the same but more/better". It's transformational. Nothing in the range (or anywhere else) sounds quite like it. For the right reasons.

True Blue posted:

Bullet bitten and 300 reserved. With the exception of Dr upgrades and servicing that's it..... 

same path as mine - purchased a 300 (2007) non DR in the summer and i was delighted with the 300 in the system

had the DR and service around a month ago...........................WOW!

enjoy 300 is sublime

Thanks all. Now got to wait 10 days till I finish work. Quick question re stacking. 

Does the head unit of the power amp class as brains?

For cable dressing I'm thinking of going. 

Left hand top to bottom

253

Ndx

Unitiserve 

Supercap

Right hand stack top to bottom

300 head

Xps

300psu

As a first guess:

right

300ps

xps

supercap

left

252

ndx

300

us

This gets the 252 higher than the 300ps so further from the transformers and you have a spoting chance of elevating the Butndy’s (hence the us at the bottom).

I’ve just noticed the other item like the CD player, deck and stageline. Where to they fit in in your scheme above.

True Blue posted:

Thanks all. Now got to wait 10 days till I finish work. Quick question re stacking. 

 

Does the head unit of the power amp class as brains?

 

Yes it does. 

Enjoy your 300, True Blue.

M 

Well. Cables wrestled into position. Not going to explain the sound. 

Game changing wow

OK first impressions after a couple of albums. 

Very clean articulate sound plenty of space around instruments  Power pace and control and oh my the clarity of the mids. Treble very well defined and the bass....... Gosh. 

Just seems everything is right. 

That's good news, TrueBlue.  There's probably more to come as the 300 properly warms up and settles. 

feeling_zen posted:

Is the XPS of DR type? If not, I'd actually do that first. In fact, as tempting as a 300 is, I might think on how to DR everything from the XPS, the SC and the 250.2. The latter comes with a warning. The DR power amps are substantially different and that means that assuming you can slot one into an existing system with no problem is wrong. 

I DR'd my 250.2 which worked beautifully with the system at the time but the DR did not work well with my speakers at all. A change of speakers ensued. I had sort of planned to do that anyway but the 250dr really forced my hand.

Can you describre what did’nt work with 250.2 DR and your speakers  ? What was the model of your speakers and what kind of problem you got ?

lionel

Wasn't a 250.2 Dr. Saw a great bargain 300 and went for it. Nothing wrong with the 250.2just the 300 is soooo oooo much better. 11.5 hours listening so far