NAP250DR v NAP300 ?

Precisely the same question here! W/T Simplex/ND5XS/ZEN NAS/282/250.2/Spendors

No doubt the 250DR is a fundamentally different beast to the old 250 - closer to the signature of the 300.  If you really aspire to the 300DR, and why not it is a further step up from the 250DR, then I would go for the 300 now in readiness for the upgrade.  But = the 250DR is a magnificent amp and somewhere I've decided to stop.

I don't think it really matters. The 300 is wonderful and if you see a nice cheap one around then grab it. You can always DR it later. Alternatively, the 250DR is a superb amp and miles better than the rather tubby sounding 250.2. Either way you can't lose, but we cannot tell you what to do. 

I'm not sure why you want to hear a non DR 300. Surely your decision is between ending up with a 250 or a 300, either DR. You therefore need to compare those two and decide whether the 300 DR is your ultimate aim. If that is the case then go for the used 300 non DR version with the plan to DR later. If the 250 DR does what you want, forget the 300 altogether.

Thanks folks, very helpful.  '...somewhere I've decided to stop...' Yes - that's the nub of it! When I put my system together a year ago I was so happy with it I said I'd never need anything more. What a difference a year makes and lots of noise about how much better are the DR upgrades! Elsewhere on this site, someone used the term 'upgradeitus'. At what point does one say 'that's good enough'! When you've reached the bottom of the bank balance?!

CDB - I have a 250.2 My decision is whether to DR it or acquire used 300 for half the new cost and not an enormous amount extra after selling the 250. And DR it later. I guess the comparison is really to listen to 250DR vs 300DR and decide whether the difference is big enough to me to go the latter of the two or whether the 250DR is sufficient - for me. As always, as you suggest, it comes down to personal demo' comparison.. Nevertheless, always interesting to hear others' informed views and compare direction.  

eagle3333 posted:

CDB - I have a 250.2 My decision is whether to DR it or acquire used 300 for half the new cost and not an enormous amount extra after selling the 250. And DR it later. I guess the comparison is really to listen to 250DR vs 300DR and decide whether the difference is big enough to me to go the latter of the two or whether the 250DR is sufficient - for me. As always, as you suggest, it comes down to personal demo' comparison.. Nevertheless, always interesting to hear others' informed views and compare direction.  

I think those who advocate thinking longer term about where you want to end up are wise. I will not be going beyond the 250 so I plan to get the DR upgrade done in the next month or two.

I think that sounds quite wise, too!

Personally I think that the 252/SupercapDR and the NAP300 are a symbiotic combination - I expect the 300DR will be better still but have yet to try it.

So my inclination would be to go the 300 route - unless a 552 were a possibility in which case I would hold fire 

eagle3333 posted:

. I guess the comparison is really to listen to 250DR vs 300DR and decide whether the difference is big enough to me to go the latter of the two or whether the 250DR is sufficient -   

I've done that, driving a pair of Sopra 2s.  The 250DR is a good step up from the 250.2, but the step up from 250DR to a 300DR was very much bigger to my ears.  So big, I bought the 300DR and haven't regretted it for a moment.

Mike