Is a NAP 300 too much for a 282?

Posted by: The Naim's Dave on 22 March 2018

Present system.  CDX2 + XPS2, NAP 282, NAP 200

Just wondering about a 250 DR or maybe a 300DR.

Is the 300 a step too far?

Please don't suggest streaming.  Happy with CDs at present.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Pcd

Dave,both are excellent amplifiers I run a 250dr for over twelve months switching to a 300dr the 300dr is much better as it should be taking into account the additional cost. I suggest you spend some time with your dealer to discuss and demo various options to suit.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by T38.45

http://www.music-line.biz/cms/...ap300_stereoplay.pdf

best in class test at stereoplay: 282+300DR! it's in german but the you may translate it via web,,,

 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Antonio1
The Naim's Dave posted:

Present system.  CDX2 + XPS2, NAP 282, NAP 200

Just wondering about a 250 DR or maybe a 300DR.

Is the 300 a step too far?

Please don't suggest streaming.  Happy with CDs at present.

Have you at least an Hicap DR for the preamp at present?

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

No the 300DR is excellent with the 282 but you will need at least HC. 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by hungryhalibut

A shufti in the OP’s profile reveals a Hicap, but no speakers. 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Mort2k

Having heard the 282/300 combo a lot I would say no it’s not two much. The question is more about which you prefer. The 250&300 are voiced different and I know people who prefer the 250 and other that won’t have anything but a 300. I would suggest a home demo if possible. 

Rob

 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by MangoMonkey

Forum wisdom used to be:

282/HiCap/250

or

282/SC/250

or

282/SuperCap/300

The 300 probably needs a 282/SC rather than a 282/HiCap.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by wenger2015

You may well find your choice will be governed by your listening room, ultimately it’s down to what works best, as has been suggested a home demo is the only way to find out.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by MDS

I ran a 282/SCDR/300DR for a while and was very pleased with it. That said, the 300DR is very revealing compared to the 250.2 that it replaced, and I wanted to be sure that the source was up to it. A home demo showed conclusively that it was but I would advise trying before you commit.  As others have said, you also want to think about the PSU on the 282.  I felt that the SCDR on the 282 was streets ahead of a HC - one of those demos that is decided after just a few seconds of listening. So if I were you I want to try two options: the one you are contemplating and the other swapping your HC for a SuperCap. Both should bring an improvement but you might prefer one over the other. Oh, and the second should be significantly cheaper, of course.   

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by mcjt
The Strat (Fender) posted:

No the 300DR is excellent with the 282 but you will need at least HC. 

The 282 wouldn't turn on without at least a hi-cap. Or am I missing something? 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by MDS

I think it was established earlier (by HH) that the OP has a HC.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Chris Dolan

I would not go 282 and 300 irrespective of the pre-amp power supply. I would rather work towards a 552 - assuming front end cuts the mustard. 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by analogmusic

I think my 250dr pairs very well with my 282, and would only upgrade to a 552 like Chris Dolan said

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by analogmusic

So yes I think 300 dr is a step too far

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Foot tapper

Hi Dave, a nice choice to have.

May I suggest an alternative path to consider? First, by all means go for a 250DR, especially if it’s an itch that you must scratch (I would too!).

Second, my own experience of CDX2 ownership would suggest putting your extra funds to a 555PS in place of the XPS. I found this upgrade to be much more significant than a change from 250DR to 300DR. Both of these DR power amps are excellent whenever I’ve heard them.

Third, replace the Hicap with a Supercap.

Fourth, upgrade to a 300DR if you really feel the need.

A decent Naim dealer will let you hear these changes for yourself, so that you can decide your own preferred path.

Hope this helps, FT

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by feeling_zen

Surely this is a repeat of this thread from a couple weeks ago

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...50dr-or-300dr?page=1

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by The Strat (Fender)
Mort2k posted:

Having heard the 282/300 combo a lot I would say no it’s not two much. The question is more about which you prefer. The 250&300 are voiced different and I know people who prefer the 250 and other that won’t have anything but a 300. I would suggest a home demo if possible. 

Rob

 

I don’t think the DR versions of the 250 and 300 are voiced differently in the way that their predecessors were.  

Regards,

Lindsay

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by The Naim's Dave

Thanks for all the comments

Firstly, yes I do have a Hicap

Secondly, I did try a 555 power supply but was not at all convinced it was superior to my XPS2

Thirdly I had everything DRrd,  Well not everything, but everything that could be.

Speakers are Audiovector and I am very happy with them

I did listen to an old version of a 250 and thought it was too overblown in the bass and am concerned the new DR version may be similar

 

 

 

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by Bodger

Another vore in favour of the 282/300. The CDX2/XPS/282/300 with a humble Hicap was my first full Naim system. I owned that set up for years. As I bought the pre-power at the same time, I did a lot of listening and deciding. In the end i plumped for the 300 by preference and also as I thought that woud be the final destination. How wrong I was but that is another story.

Yes the Supercap is better than a Hicap and 555PS than the XPS but they can perhaps wait. If you go for the 300, you will enjoy your new 4 box integrated amp. All the gear I describe above was years before all this DR-ing. I have not heard the 300DR. The 282 is good enough to "hear" the differences if you upped your PS on the CDX.

I also changed out my Hicap for Supercap on the 282 eventually, but this was knowing I was going to acquire the 252 shortly afterwards and this let me spread out the costs over a period of time.  The 282/300 combo worked for me.

Dave

 

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

Dave - yes the old 250 was in my opinion overblown - somewhat - in the bass but in my experience the DR version is cured.  

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by sjbabbey

Am currently running in my new 300DR (with 252DR) delivered less than 2 weeks ago. The 300DR replaced my 250DR and my initial impression is that while the bass with the 250DR isn't overblown as such, in comparison with the 300DR it did sound a bit rounded or "fruity" whereas the 300DR gives more clearer/distinct notes in my speakers' (Kudos S20s) lowest octave.

As I say, it's still early days with my 300DR but it certainly seems a great upgrade from the 250DR.

Steve

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by Filipe
Chris Dolan posted:

I would not go 282 and 300 irrespective of the pre-amp power supply. I would rather work towards a 552 - assuming front end cuts the mustard. 

I’m inclined to agree with Chris. There are lots of factors in deciding what goes together well - so what works for one may not work for another.

Phil

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)
The Strat (Fender) posted:

the 300DR is excellent with the 282 but you will need at least HC. 

Indeed it is 

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by Bob the Builder

DR or not 282/300 is a great sounding amp and with standard cables it still sounds fantastic. To me a Super Lumina full loom seems wildly over priced at pushing £5,000 for 2 x mono din XLR and 5metres of speaker cable  and I fail to see how Naim can justify such high prices.

Posted on: 23 March 2018 by analogmusic

that's because the likes of Chord make 2000 GBP cable with Sarum cables,

The sarum effect is one of those myths perpetuated ad nauseam by this forum, and there you have it, the price is acceptable, and the Superlumina is priced at Sarum levels.

Had the Naim community rejected Sarum because of the prices as it should have, SL would be priced more reasonably

as some point buyer fatigue sets in, and Naim would have wiser to price the SL more reasonably so that people would buy more black boxes. 

They should have remembered their own business model, no expensive cables needed with Naim gear and people spend the money on the boxes.

The cable are very good, but the prices are not.