Last couple of upgrades - which order advice

Hi, would definitely recommend getting the 250 Dr'ed..... at the recent Bristol show, they were using the Nac 5 on a non Dr 250 then the dr'ed 250, you could notice a significant improvement in all areas. 

So I would suggest that's the natural starting point.

The 250DR works fine with the A5 cables, so have no worries on that account. As the 250 needs a service, I would get it upgraded at the same time, as it's a little cheaper than servicing and upgrading separately. 

Heard the 250dr against the non dr at the Bristol show  the dr upgrade is a significant improvement in fact I will shortly be arranging a demo in order to upgrade my olive 250 in my system as advised by Naim.

I would service & DR the NAP250.

The 555PS will give you deeper bass, better transients (i.e. more dynamic) "blacker blacks" (just to wind up HH!) and many other admirable hifi qualities.  I have one on my CDS3 for all of these reasons.

The DR upgrade on the NAP250 will only give you one thing: more music.  But it is such a fundamental improvement that it even outweighs all the hifi (and real) improvements that the 555PS will bring to the NDS because it will get rid of the 250.2 character/colour/personality that is stamped on everything that flows through it.

There are many excellent reasons for a source first approach.  Indeed, I have pursued this approach for years.  However, once you hear a NAP250.2 and a 250DR back to back, you realise how much the 250.2 taints the music and how much music it holds back.  In this instance, I'd get rid of that bottleneck first.

YMMV, FT

Pcd posted:

Heard the 250dr against the non dr at the Bristol show  the dr upgrade is a significant improvement in fact I will shortly be arranging a demo in order to upgrade my olive 250 in my system as advised by Naim.

You know, don't you, that the olive 250 cannot become a 250DR? You need to sell the olive and buy a new amp.

Foot tapper posted:

I would service & DR the NAP250.

The 555PS will give you deeper bass, better transients (i.e. more dynamic) "blacker blacks" (just to wind up HH!) and many other admirable hifi qualities.  I have one on my CDS3 for all of these reasons.

The DR upgrade on the NAP250 will only give you one thing: more music.  But it is such a fundamental improvement that it even outweighs all the hifi (and real) improvements that the 555PS will bring to the NDS because it will get rid of the 250.2 character/colour/personality that is stamped on everything that flows through it.

There are many excellent reasons for a source first approach.  Indeed, I have pursued this approach for years.  However, once you hear a NAP250.2 and a 250DR back to back, you realise how much the 250.2 taints the music and how much music it holds back.  In this instance, I'd get rid of that bottleneck first.

YMMV, FT

I've got to love inky blackness with my 250DR and SL cables. I'm sure that's the route to it, rather than power supplies for the streamer. It's actually very beguiling, the way notes emerge from silence. 

HH, yes will be looking to purchase a new 250dr and possibly a speaker upgrade Naim then advised to add a power supply to the NDX as the preferred upgrade route for my system this is what I shall hopefully be doing shortly.

Good, that's ok then. 

I would suggest to go for the 555ps and postpone the dr of your 250

I have not heard (in my system) the difference between an XPS2 and a 555(DR?) on my NDS but I have gone from a 250.2 to a 250DR on my NDS and the change was significant (and I too have a 252 and SupercapDR). Like going from a dark grey thing to a very black inky-type black thing even with NAC A5 speaker cables. No you don't need SL speaker cables for the 250DR to shine in an inky black kind of way.

Seriously though +1 for DRing (and servicing) the 250 first.

You don't need me to advise the only way to decide. Do you have a friendly dealer near you who will allow you to play with both a 250DR and a 555(DR?) at home? You know it makes sense. 

Thanks for all the replies!

I think it is clear that the vote goes for the 250DR upgrade

i have also taken into account the likely cost of a 555DR after trading in an XPS2 so won't borrow one just yet!

Thanks again - will report the result when sorted - I guess it takes a few weeks?

Am I too late?  Just make the space for a s/h NAP300.  There are tons around at the moment at great prices.  This leaves you with the future option of moving to 300DR.  300DR > 250DR.  QED.

I have a full five level fraim and to get more space for another (6 level is far too high)  I would need do get rid of an ikea sideboard that is very long and a matching dining table and 6 chairs all about 12 years old but still looking modern

So looking at about £4K as would get M&S oak stuff with a shorter side board before upgrade costs

Or move the dining table and sideboard out of the end of my lounge and kick my teenage daughters out of what was the dining room and deny them their own TV and computer room which also lets them watch their stuff without bothering me in my lounge 

Or wait till they leave home !!!

you have got me thinking now though ������

Is a serviced and dr upgraded 250.2 exactly the same as a new 250dr? The upgrade cost v tradin in and new is less than I thought?

A serviced and DR upgraded 250.2 is indeed the same as a 250DR.

250dr first. 

The 250 is due a service and it really should have one. That more or less dictates the choice - or lack of it.