Two Options at Similar Cost...Which One For System Balance?

Just scratch it

MDS posted:

GraemeH posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I agree that 250DR is the obvious choice.....but if you sold your NDX and DAC, you could possibly stretch to an NDS. Just a thought.....

Then the itch for a 555PS would set in to 'balance' the system...

G

...and then for a second 555PS to balance it still further.

Aaaahhhgghh!

G

MDS posted:

GraemeH posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I agree that 250DR is the obvious choice.....but if you sold your NDX and DAC, you could possibly stretch to an NDS. Just a thought.....

Then the itch for a 555PS would set in to 'balance' the system...

G

...and then for a second 555PS to balance it still further.

No, that would be an enormous Monkfish. You'd have to rebalance with a 300DR!

Buy the best power amp you can afford. In this case it's the 250dr. It's a no brainer.

GraemeH posted:

OK, I might have a little cash to spend (circa £2750) in June and am considering one of two options to balance the system slightly further up the 'ladder'.

Presently I use NDX:NDAC/XPS2 source HiLined to 282/HCDR and out to NAP 200 then Ovator S400.

My two thoughts are:

1. Sell HCDR & 200 and buy S/H Supercap2 & 250.2 or

2. Sell 200 and buy new 250DR, retaining the HCDR on the 282.

This will be my resting place for a while due to kids education expenditure so 'balance' is important.

Any experience shared gratefully received.

Thanks,

G

Option 2 all day long..

That'll be number 2 then.

The forum (almost) entirely in agreement.

Now that's a thing!

250DR. While you're at it try a SuperLumina interconnect in place of the NDAC and HiLine. 

cdboy posted:

250DR. While you're at it try a SuperLumina interconnect in place of the NDAC and HiLine. 

Now that is an excellent suggestion. Have just got a SL IC and it is amazing. Financially, you could probably do a straight swap for the NDAC and HiLine. Try the physical substitution first on demo and see if the financial swap makes sense in terms of enhanced SQ.

Been off the forums for a while - 

if I may suggest something:

Sell everything except the XPS-DR.

Get a Nac 272/250DR.

Failing that, 282/HiCapDR/250DR should be nicely balanced. Get rid of the Naim Dac. You'll adjust - and will feel less crazy staring at a 3 box source.

I'm running a Nac272/250DR with Totem Forest Signatures. Simple system and love it.

Hell - just go with the Nac272/250DR. Get the kids a small HiFi for college.

May I recommend the NAD D3020 + Totem Kin Minis? Or whatever is sensibly priced that side of the pond.

I was able to fix all the issues that led to my crazy upgrade cycles by fixing networking issues at my place - replaced ethernet cables with BlueJeans 6a ethernet cables, and put noise filtering powerstrips at all the points that were influencing/connected with anything that had to do with ethernet.

Now if you're not brave enough to go to the new Naim sound, 282/HiCapDR/250DR is the way to go.

MangoMonkey posted:

Get a Nac 272/250DR.

It seems no thread is safe 

C.

For anyone interested I've replaced the HCDR with a non-DR Scap-2 on the 282 and I'll wait a while with the 200 before jumping to 250DR.

'Source' first still holds for me. It's a very worthwhile first step.

G

Assuming you have installed the Supercap, what differences have you noticed with the 282 compared to the HCDR?

Hi Graeme

I hope that the supercap is working well for you.

A thought, if I may.  I am a definite admirer of the 250DR, yet I wonder whether you might have more musical enjoyment if you kept the 200 but swapped out the NDX & ndac for an NDS?  There are several ex-demo NDS units available from reputable Naim dealers.  An NDS/XPS is really quite a front end.

Just a thought.

Best regards, FT

Thanks FT...A definite thought...but not for a while!

Best

Graeme

nigelb posted:

Assuming you have installed the Supercap, what differences have you noticed with the 282 compared to the HCDR?

Hi Nigel - I've only formed 'first impressions' thus far as the system has been partially powered down for a week or so. I'll give it a few days before really serious listening.

G

250dr. 

I think you've made a good call, Graeme.  I felt a SuperCap on the 282 over a HC was one of those wow moments and I decided on the SC in a heartbeat.  Although much later I got my SC DR'ed, it wasn't anything like the jump in performance that I heard when the SC replaced a HC.  For me the 282/SC is a real sweet-spot in the Naim range, and one that can handle and show the benefit of better power-amps,  even a 300. So you can be confident you will get even more out of a 250DR, as and when you try one.  

I would have been happy to live with my 282/SC and was only eventually seduced to replace it by the very much more expensive 552DR.  

Mike   

I love it, option 2, unanimous, first time in the history of the Naim forum, so option 1 it is then!

thing is you can't really go wrong with either, enjoy!

SJB

Sloop John B posted:

I love it, option 2, unanimous, first time in the history of the Naim forum, so option 1 it is then!

thing is you can't really go wrong with either, enjoy!

 

SJB

I can do two, so 2 too.

G

GraemeH posted:

I can do two, so 2 too.

Aha, I get it - you're going back to the SN2 then G?

Keeps things tidy and tight and puts money in the bank. Excellent choice!

joerand posted:

GraemeH posted:

I can do two, so 2 too.

Aha, I get it - you're going back to the SN2 then G?

Keeps things tidy and tight and puts money in the bank. Excellent choice!

Life's too short for that...

G

Hi Graeme I was in a similar position. Went from a SN1 with HCDR to an 82 with a 250.2

In my view even an unserviced SC - i bought a 99 olive one was much better than the HC on the 82

If you can find a deal on a 252 this is worth considering also. I have one now and am delighted with what it brings

How do you find the NDX DAC XPS2- i have the bare NDX and will next year add either the power supply of the Dac to it

Richard

Thanks Richard. Re 252 - I had one. previously but this time round would skip it for a 552 if funds ever allowed (unlikely).

I think the XPS2 on the ndac is a must and both together really upscale the NDX, giving deeper insight into recordings.

I'm after a nice balanced system for a few years and so a 250 is the next logical step.

G

Well really it was the first logical step, but as you are doing both it's somewhat academic. You're going to end up with a really nice setup, and I suspect you will get far more significant improvements from the 250 than the Supercap, even though it goes against source first. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Well really it was the first logical step, but as you are doing both it's somewhat academic. You're going to end up with a really nice setup, and I suspect you will get far more significant improvements from the 250 than the Supercap, even though it goes against source first. 

Thanks HH...anticipation is half the fun.

G