NAC-N 272

Posted by: jorgjean on 16 April 2018

Hi, i am new on this forum and a potential Naim buyer. I would like tomtap into your experience with the Streamer/Preamplifier N 272.

My system sounds fairly forward in the upper middles and flat, lean. Bluenode 2, Rega DAC. Audiolab AP8200, AVM M3ng, Dynaudio Sapphire. My thoughts are to replace ths Audiolab with a N 272 and adding a bit of Naim tonality to make the setup swing!

The AVM‘s have a lot of power and resolve very well, the Sapphires are so unique and beautiful, those 2 items I would lime to keep.Alternatively I would go to the Supernait 2 if this idea does not work out.

what do the Naim experts say?

 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Adam Zielinski

I must admit I had to look up most of your components.Essentially - your system now handles streaming, but you use an audio-video pre-amp to process the stereo signal.

N272 is a serious piece of kit, that will handle streaming, act as a dac and a vey good analogue pre-amp. It does need a decent power-amp to do its full justice.

It is not unheard of to mix Naim components with other manufacturers. Having said that... most of the Naim components tend to work best in an all-Naim system.

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by redalphabet

The nac 272 is a fantastic bit of kit sound wise 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by kaydee6

Why would anyone consider the 272 at a time  when naim is renewing all streamers to the new architecture behoofs me.

Wait for the 272 replacement. Who knows it may be here sooner than you think. The update will definitely make the 272 sound broken. 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by ChrisSU
kaydee6 posted:

Wait for the 272 replacement. Who knows it may be here sooner than you think.

It could arrive this year. It could be 2 or 3 years. Or maybe never. Naim will not make an announcement until any replacement has been developed, so how patient are you prepared to be?

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by kaydee6

I doubt it needs a long development and listening time by Steve and Roy from their experience with the new streamers. 

Latest and greates pre/dac with color screen, possibly sprinkled with some discrete components around the output of dual dac. Shiny new streamer board with lower noise floor. Additional £1000 over the 272. What’s a little patience? Be patient.  

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by analogmusic

its not that simple. the sum of all the new parts still has to perform as a complete unit down to the way the internal wires are laid out. 

I would buy a 272 and enjoy it. it has tidal and Upnp. 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by DrMark

Not only that but the idea that it will make the 272 sound "broken", well, let's just call that an overstatement.

The 272/XP5/250 is sonically the best system I have ever had. What's coming may very well sound better, but a 272 will not sound "broken".

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Bob the Builder
kaydee6 posted:

Why would anyone consider the 272 at a time  when naim is renewing all streamers to the new architecture behoofs me.

Wait for the 272 replacement. Who knows it may be here sooner than you think. The update will definitely make the 272 sound broken. 

Because not everyone has or wants to drop £4,000 on a bit of hifi kit especially when used prices tend to get very competitive around the release time of new products.

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by kaydee6
Bob the Builder posted:
kaydee6 posted:

Why would anyone consider the 272 at a time  when naim is renewing all streamers to the new architecture behoofs me.

Wait for the 272 replacement. Who knows it may be here sooner than you think. The update will definitely make the 272 sound broken. 

Because not everyone has or wants to drop £4,000 on a bit of hifi kit especially when used prices tend to get very competitive around the release time of new products.

You misunderstood my statement. I am referring to the rationale of buying a 272 at this time. Nor sure used prices have crashed yet. New 272 price definitely staying high and might.

 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by kaydee6
DrMark posted:

Not only that but the idea that it will make the 272 sound "broken", well, let's just call that an overstatement.

The 272/XP5/250 is sonically the best system I have ever had. What's coming may very well sound better, but a 272 will not sound "broken".

The "broken" statement is meant to be overstated.

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by jorgjean

Thanks for your input. Yes the AVM is probably not very widly known outside the continent. I am coming from Arcam and Rega sound which is musical and if i may say, warmer. I bought the AVM Monoblocks off the paper specs, as demo units, for a very good price. They have ample power and drive the Dynaudios effortlessly, but have a tendency to be very analytical, which is not  what i am used to.

Both the Supernait 2 and the N-272 offer the possibility to integrate AV processors. Which  could be an avenue to follow. The SN2 does it in a more sophisticated way in that it is restricted to 2 Analog Ins only. Makes it more convenient and less complex to operate than always going into the Menu to switch around. Do you guys expect a degradation of the signal when operating together with the AV processor?

The question of  wether it is a good point in time to buy the N-272 now or wait for a new model to arrive makes me thinking to keep the streaming/digital world completely separate because thT world changes so fast and will make your expensive system possibly obsolete in a few years whereas the SN2 will be a more lasting investment. On the DAC side i am very happy with the Rega DAC and the Bluesound has a decent App, those 2 together sound pretty good, maybe not as good as a N-272 streamer but I could live with it easily.

How about the SN2 driving the Dynaudio Sapphires? They are similar in current requirement to the Focus 360 or 380. The Sapphires have a more airy, more resolving, more sophisticated midband, they sound lovely but can be forward if not paired correctly. And of  course the built quality is amazing and the veneer cover. Was lucky to get my hands on them as rarely used 8 years old demo units, trading up from the Focus 360.

The Analog Player that I use in this set up is a Rega P7 Cardas rewired with Rega Apheta and the Rega Aria Phono stage. I love the Rega sound and have a good and exclusive viny collection that I frequently enjoy in this set up. 

I ordered a N-272 and a SN 2 for home demo nesüxt week and will be happy to report back. 

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by docmark

Kaydee6, I have a 272 which I purchased last fall. It's paired up with a 250DR, and I also have a Core connected to a Chord Dave DAC, then into the 272.  It certainly doesn't sound broken, and I doubt very much that a new 272 would have me wringing my hands or grinding my teeth in grief.

Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Adam Zielinski

 Virtually all Naim pre-amps / integrated have an AV bypass feature. Easy to integrate with an AV system.

N-272 has two analogue inputs - DIN and RCA. Both are configurable and either can be used for anAV input (uniti gain). The other one will handle the turntable.

As to N272 being old? It’s only few years old, so if you like what it does just go for it. There will always be someone who insteqd of giving advice will project their prejudices.

As the OP can see, general consensus is that NAC N-272 with a Naim power amp makes for a good pairing

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by hungryhalibut

Naim have said that the 272 will continue, as it is selling well. What they have not said is that there will be a replacement. 

I’d suggest that the OP considers the system as a whole. Using a £500 streamer and a £500 dac with speakers that sold for $16,000 in their day is not an approach I’d follow. If a 272 was to be used it would replace the Node, the Rega and the Audiolab, so it would be sensible to compare the 272 against the Node, Rega and SN2. It would also be sensible to borrow a 250DR to try in place of the existing power amps. Using a 272 with the existing amps may or may not be a success. The 250 has more power and control for challenging speakers than the SN2, despite similar paper specifications. 

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by jorgjean

Thank you. I will try the 272 and see how it works. Will the SN2 or the 250 drive the Sapphire concincingly?

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by Eloise
Adam Zielinski posted:

N-272 has two analogue inputs - DIN and RCA. Both are configurable and either can be used for anAV input (uniti gain). The other one will handle the turntable.

Just for pedantry ... the N-272 has three analogue inputs - one DIN and two RCA pairs.

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by David Hendon
kaydee6 posted:

I doubt it needs a long development and listening time by Steve and Roy from their experience with the new streamers. 

Latest and greates pre/dac with color screen, possibly sprinkled with some discrete components around the output of dual dac. Shiny new streamer board with lower noise floor. Additional £1000 over the 272. What’s a little patience? Be patient.  

Let us not forget that the 12 months' delay in shipping the new Unitis wasn't sorting out the sound but rather getting certification from the likes of Apple and Google.  These things take longer than people reckon...... 

best

David

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by Will99
docmark posted:

Kaydee6, I have a 272 which I purchased last fall. It's paired up with a 250DR, and I also have a Core connected to a Chord Dave DAC, then into the 272.  It certainly doesn't sound broken, and I doubt very much that a new 272 would have me wringing my hands or grinding my teeth in grief.

Core -> Dave -> 272 ?

Do you mean Core -> 272 -> Dave ?

Probably showing my ignorance here but I thought you had to have the streamer function next in the chain from the digital files.

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by David Hendon

He's not using the Core as a server and 272 as a streamer here, but rather using the Core as a Hard Disc player, into the Chord DAC and then feeding the analogue signal from the Dave into an analogue input of the 272 which is just being used as a preamp.

More conventionally one would have a 282 or 252 rather than a 272 in this setup.

Or leave out the Dave and feed the Core directly into the 272, either in the same HD player way or over ethernet using upnp.

best

David

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by docmark

Yes, am using the 272 mainly as a preamp.  The Core into the Dave DAC sounds phenomenal.  I also stream from my computer into the DAC.  I have thought of getting a 282, but not just at the moment.

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by Klout10

Yeah right ... after the introduction of a successor (which at some point is inevitably) my N-272 will sound just as broken as it does today ... 

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

Oh - why am I responding to do this? - but how many times do we have to make the point that when a new product emerges what went before is neither broken or indeed redundant?

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by rainsoothe

Hi. I heard the Rega dac a while ago, and imo any Naim dac murders it. Also, I prefer 272 with nap 200 or even 100 to SN2, as I think the 272 sounds more natural, even if the SN2 might sound more impressive at first. You did the best thing one could: arrange for a home dem. Take your time deciding, and welcome to Naim

Posted on: 17 April 2018 by TK421

I bought a new 272 last December and currently use it with a non DR NAP 200.

I'm now listening intently just to make sure it isn't broken! LOL.

I might be needing the 5 year warranty sooner than I thought.

Posted on: 18 April 2018 by rjstaines

Let me summarise the posts so far:

"A NAC N272   plus   NAP250DR  is what you need to buy.  The sound will be indescribably wonderful."

Perhaps I should mention that I was never allowed to take the minutes of meetings at work;   apparently it was suspected that my own opinions too often replaced what was actually said... I never saw it that way though.