Dr upgrade first? Or extra boxes?

Merely making an observation! I'll try not to say any more on the subject, other than that if the OP likes collecting Hifi, getting a turntable is a top idea. 

Mango - don't take this personally - you're always good for entertainment but seriously?

First, the 250DR and 300DR are probably the best amplifiers (solid state) short of massive (and I mean massive money) anywhere.  Bring on the 500DR.  Next the 272 is a great box - even more so with an XPS although adding an external PSU to a one box solution does seem slightly absurd granted - but surely it will always be the case that a high-end pre-amp decoupled from any digital circuitry (SN1>SN2) will £ for £ outperform an integrated streamer/server.

So given that the OP has a CD555 () the system is crying out for the best quality pre-amp.  The 252 would be fine although I'm not really sure that it is a dramatic improvement over the 282 - better in many ways though mainly refinement - but the 552 is where it's at particularly at this level.  The pulse of an awesome system would then be in place.  DR upgrades/streamers etc would then come later.

PS: To these ears CD replay (and vinyl - agree Gary!) outperforms streaming I would not swap out the CD555 for a NDS under any circumstance.

We are not talking about constructing the best of the best vinyl collection, we are talking about playing records on a record player. Why do we get all precious about collecting vinyl, it's just playing music. Yes if one wants some rare jazz or suchlike it's expensive and difficult, but it is not that easy on digital either. As i said, i could put together a damn fine vinyl collection for the cost of 4 Powerlines, which no one says one iota about when they do it.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Mango - don't take this personally - you're always good for entertainment but seriously?

First, the 250DR and 300DR are probably the best amplifiers (solid state) short of massive (and I mean massive money) anywhere.  Bring on the 500DR.  Next the 272 is a great box - even more so with an XPS although adding an external PSU to a one box solution does seem slightly absurd granted - but surely it will always be the case that a high-end pre-amp decoupled from any digital circuitry (SN1>SN2) will £ for £ outperform an integrated streamer/server.

So given that the OP has a CD555 () the system is crying out for the best quality pre-amp.  The 252 would be fine although I'm not really sure that it is a dramatic improvement over the 282 - better in many ways though mainly refinement - but the 552 is where it's at particularly at this level.  The pulse of an awesome system would then be in place.  DR upgrades/streamers etc would then come later.

Quite so. With a CD 555, 300 and SL2s, a 552 is the only sensible way to go. Then, if the OP wants to focus on streaming, swap the 555 head for an NDS. It's really very simple. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Merely making an observation! I'll try not to say any more on the subject, other than that if the OP likes collecting Hifi, getting a turntable is a top idea. 

As i said in my second reply, i would then dump the 272, buy a 552. So that is a great CD player, and great turntable into a very good system. Hardly collecting Hifi, not everyone wants a one source, two or three box minimal system Nigel.

Hungryhalibut posted:

T

Quite so. With a CD 555, 300 and SL2s, a 552 is the only sensible way to go. Then, if the OP wants to focus on streaming, swap the 555 head for an NDS. It's really very simple. 

Yeah but I wouldn't swap the 555 for a NDS.  I've actually done the comparison and............

I only said if..... Actually I've never thought much of the 555; to me the CDS3/555PS is a more musical and enjoyable player. The 555 has a nice lid though, and I love how it opens and shuts when you wave at it, like a well trained dog that lies down when you give it a signal. 

FreezingColdDownHere posted:

Hi Guys

I am currently running 272/555ps+300+CD555/555ps+SL2+Highline+Powerlines.

Need to borrow your wisdom and make a decision. Do I change my 272 to a 252/SC and add NDS? Or do I get DR upgrade to all my boxes first? Which one would give me more SQ improvement? Thanks.

DR'ing all the boxes would give a better SQ than swapping your 272 to a 252/SC

However, swapping the 272 for a 552 will provide a better SQ improvement than DR'ing all the boxes.

You can DR the boxes after the 552 as and when funds become available.

Adding an NDS will increase the choice of source input, but won't improve the SQ. Same applies to starting up a vinyl front - unless you spend a fair chunk of £££ you won't get an improvement over the CD555.

Quite separately, I would ditch the SL2's and get a proper pair of speakers as soon as possible.

Actually it isn't always well behaved - brush past it with your jacket slightly loose.......

I used to think that about the CDS3 but then I heard the system belonging to a certain fluffy white bear of the parish and...........

Don Atkinson posted:

Quite separately, I would ditch the SL2's and get a proper pair of speakers as soon as possible.

Oooh. Feisty talk, Don.  

Proper speakers, proper speakers.........

Don Atkinson posted:

DR'ing all the boxes would give a better SQ than swapping your 272 to a 252/SC

However, swapping the 272 for a 552 will provide a better SQ improvement than DR'ing all the boxes.

You can DR the boxes after the 552 as and when funds become available.

Adding an NDS will increase the choice of source input, but won't improve the SQ. Same applies to starting up a vinyl front - unless you spend a fair chunk of £££ you won't get an improvement over the CD555.

Quite separately, I would ditch the SL2's and get a proper pair of speakers as soon as possible.

Urm not sure Don - I reckon (need to be tested) that a 282/hc would kill the 272 let alone a 252 - but we're all good with the OP getting a 552!!

You articulate the NDS point far better than me.

I'm glad you made the speaker point not me!!!!

Feisty talk ? Bonkers ? Just "Sound" advice.

But I didn't expect everybody to agree... even the Polar Bear ditched his after he recovered his jaw from the floor..........

Happy New Year, Nothing like a good hi fi discussion! 

Repeat, "" 

But Wow! a 552 Dred Analog Hub, sporting a CD555, along with a Ndac, beefed up with the new firmware! 

Heaven!!!!!!

Perhaps it's time for the OP to tune in a give us a sense of Direction!

In how we should spend his Money!  "" 

If the SL2's are not proper speakers? ....I wonder what one would consider proper speakers to be? ......

To the OP,

You have a world class CD player in the CD555.  You also have excellent speakers that work well with a NAP300.

I'm not sure why you have a 272 pre-amp in this system.  It seems as though you are trying to bridge across several camps when it comes to sources (analogue + digital) with this pre-amp but it is the (relatively speaking!) weak link in your system.

If you want incremental improvements, then DR the 555PS on your CD player.  You can only benefit by doing this.  

However, if you want a more fundamental, substantial improvement for your existing CD source, then I too would put a (used, serviced) NAC552 top of my list.  This could be part funded by selling the 272 & one of your 555PS power supplies.  Given your other options, this would be a relatively small financial outlay for a really big gain.

Then I would DR the NAP300.  Finally, I would DR the 555PS on your CD player.

If, however, you have decided to go for the streaming option, then I would look hard at a streamer (e.g. Naim NDS/555PSDR) and at a DAC based solution (melco + Chord DAVE or Moon 180 Mind + Chord Dave) and still sell the 272/555PS.

Finally, if you wish to hear just how good vinyl can sound, then the 552 pre amp is still (even more?) the way to go.  I choose to have a CDS3/555PS and a turntable in the main system and find an abundant choice of music readily available on both CDs and vinyl - but perhaps I am too fond of mainstream music .  The list price of the turntable is considerably less than that of the CD player, yet it absolutely smokes it on 90% of albums.  Yet I keep the CD player because it is still a wonderful music maker and I have over twice as many CDs as vinyl albums.

Hope this helps a bit, FT

p.s. yes, I do have a streaming music system - a mac 'n dac one.  But I have yet to be tempted down the streamer route for the main system (i.e. replace CDS3 with NDS) for 3 reasons.

1. First, I've yet to hear the NDS sound more musically engaging, even though it is more resolving
2. I'm not sure whether streamer or mac 'n dac is the better long term solution (I suspect mac 'n dac
3. For ultimate musical sound quality, the turntable is still a quantum leap ahead of either digital format at the moment, though I fully expect high resolution digital to prevail in the end 

First of all, thank you for all these great suggestions. I think I can conclude from all the replies that does not matter which path I choose, I need to replace 272 with 552. I can recall reading an artical about pairing 272 with 555ps would achieve 90% of NDS. However, no artical was found regarding where the 272/555ps sits in the pre-amp family. I am in a very small town, It is almost impossible for me to do AB audition. Honestly, if the 272/555ps combo can really achieve 90% of the NDS and 252, then maybe I should DR everything first.

It is interesting to hear about the TT suggestion. I went with CD555 because it is the closest a CDP can be to TT. I was also told it will take a lot of effort (money, time and luck) for a TT to sound better than CD555.

Can I also ask why SL2 is not considered as a proper speaker?

Hi F,

Having the same source- CD555  and the speakers- running them active but with 200's' all I  can recommend is getting at least a s/h 552 , that is the proper pre for such a wonderful source.Secondly upgrade the highline to a Super Lumina IC.

Best Regards,

Fabian

Don't DR the 300 before you hear a none DR 500. Next step 552,

Then start playing with LP's. Im sure you will become a vinyl junkie!

IMO HI-line and nac5 cable are just fine. The Superlumina cables are not very good VFM..just saying...

272 - even with XPS to these ears very considerably short of 282/HC.  

FreezingColdDownHere posted:

I can recall reading an artical about pairing 272 with 555ps would achieve 90% of NDS.

I have yet to hear a 272 so I don't know how good it sounds. If its streamer output can be raised to that level, Naim are not charging enough for it. Mind you, I suppose it's a question of 90% of what? 

FreezingColdDownHere posted:

I can recall reading an artical about pairing 272 with 555ps would achieve 90% of NDS. 

Possibly written by a 272 owner 

From memory, it was a review by Andrew Everard. As a 272 owner, who previously had a CDS3 and 552, I'm very clear that the 552 based system is better, but whether the improvement is worth over £20,000 I'm not so sure. That said, if the OP is in a position to get a 552 and NDS, LP12 or whatever it will be better. But I think it's wrong to suggest that the 272 is some sort of pale imitation of a 282, 272 or 552. It just happens to be something of a bargain for what it does. 

Chris Dolan posted:

FreezingColdDownHere posted:

I can recall reading an artical about pairing 272 with 555ps would achieve 90% of NDS. 

Possibly written by a 272 owner 

I heard it made it 90% of an NDS and 552 combined.....