A Naim Integrated Comparable To NAC282/NAP250DR Standard

analogmusic posted:

 

But the 250 DR is so amazing..... Mikapoh life is short, just do the upgrade 

analog, how amazing? Could you elaborate on this I am sure OP is keen to know too.

the 009 transistors (which are the same in the statement - capable of 90 Amps current !) give an additional musical flow and sense of ease / the music seems more effortless. The transistor is now made of non-ferrous materials which  is more immune of vibration due to huge currents going through the 3 legs/pins of the transistor.

The DR regulation is quieter than the previous one, music is more clearer, less background noise, seems even more "live" than before. If you remember how Hicap DR transformed your 202 and 282, well imagine that leap, but a huge lot more from 250.2 to 250 DR

This time round we got 2 major advances the 009 and the DR regulation, which really gives the previous 250 a real clean pair of heels.

There was still some debate about NAP 200 and 250.2 before, (some like 200 more), but anyone who hears 200 and 250DR would not hesitate to buy the 250 DR funds allowing. I love my 200 a lot still, but if I had to choose one, no hesitation, the 250 DR is the winner. I have heard 250.2 and I wasn't that motivated to move from my 200 to 250.2, but 250 DR, that won me over in one song.

There is no way I could go back to the older 250 or NAP 200 now even at much reduced price.

Another way to look at this - 202>282 is by general consensus a paradigm shift whereas 200>(old)250 less so.   But from experience I would say 200>250(DR) is a similar shift.  

analogmusic posted:

the 009 transistors (which are the same in the statement - capable of 90 Amps current !) give an additional musical flow and sense of ease / the music seems more effortless. The transistor is now made of non-ferrous materials which  is more immune of vibration due to huge currents going through the 3 legs/pins of the transistor.

The DR regulation is quieter than the previous one, music is more clearer, less background noise, seems even more "live" than before. If you remember how Hicap DR transformed your 202 and 282, well imagine that leap, but a huge lot more from 250.2 to 250 DR

This time round we got 2 major advances the 009 and the DR regulation, which really gives the previous 250 a real clean pair of heels.

There was still some debate about NAP 200 and 250.2 before, (some like 200 more), but anyone who hears 200 and 250DR would not hesitate to buy the 250 DR funds allowing. I love my 200 a lot still, but if I had to choose one, no hesitation, the 250 DR is the winner. I have heard 250.2 and I wasn't that motivated to move from my 200 to 250.2, but 250 DR, that won me over in one song.

There is no way I could go back to the older 250 or NAP 200 now even at much reduced price.

Thank you for your thoughts. I should not have asked you to post it in the first place and now this nagging thoughts have come to haunt me. I am pondering this choice in near future, upgrading 250.2 to DR version vs SL interconnects (from HCDR to Nap250.2). Which is more bang for bucks?

For sure going for 250dr

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Another way to look at this - 202>282 is by general consensus a paradigm shift whereas 200>(old)250 less so.   But from experience I would say 200>250(DR) is a similar shift.  

Yes I would agree with that, now the 282/250 DR is a clear paradigm shift compared to 202/200 and 282/200.

Some have said on forum that 282/SC/250DR is as good as it gets before 552/500...

There isn't really a 282/250. It would still need to have at least one power supply for the preamp to work with a 250 (usually two including the NAPSC). So it's more a 282/NAPSC/Hicap/250. Of course a SN2 can't match it - you wouldn't expect it to. It's advantage is that it's a fraction of the price, and avoids a wall of boxes. Quite a few high end integrated amps out there for people with deep pockets and limited space: D'Agostino, Soulution, Constellation etc. Why not a higher than SN2 level one from Naim? An UberNait or something? I guess a 282/200 or 272/250 is closest?

analogmusic posted:

I would agree, the 282 is one of the VFM super-performers in the Naim range, and some do say 282/SC is only bettered by 552 !

 

That has been my experience. The 282/SC is excellent VFM in my view and it has taken the eye-wateringly expensive 552 to really better it.

MDS posted:

analogmusic posted:

I would agree, the 282 is one of the VFM super-performers in the Naim range, and some do say 282/SC is only bettered by 552 !

 

That has been my experience. The 282/SC is excellent VFM in my view and it has taken the eye-wateringly expensive 552 to really better it.

Now, now MDS, remember some of us still quite like the 252 and think it betters the 282. I know you had extended demos of the 252 and returned to your trusty 282 and I get that. But you don't have to sell the kids to improve on the 282, particularly if you already have a Supercap. Just sell one kid and get a 252.

'OK kids, heads or tails'. 

nigelb posted:

MDS posted:

analogmusic posted:

I would agree, the 282 is one of the VFM super-performers in the Naim range, and some do say 282/SC is only bettered by 552 !

 

That has been my experience. The 282/SC is excellent VFM in my view and it has taken the eye-wateringly expensive 552 to really better it.

Now, now MDS, remember some of us still quite like the 252 and think it betters the 282. I know you had extended demos of the 252 and returned to your trusty 282 and I get that. But you don't have to sell the kids to improve on the 282, particularly if you already have a Supercap. Just sell one kid and get a 252.

'OK kids, heads or tails'. 

Selling vital parts of one's anatomy is also a popular method of financing upgrades... 

For me it's not a question as to whether the 252 and 300 are an improvement over the 282 and 300 - they clearly are -  it's a case of whether I can justify the investment when the former is so mind blowingly good. 

nigelb posted:

MDS posted:

analogmusic posted:

I would agree, the 282 is one of the VFM super-performers in the Naim range, and some do say 282/SC is only bettered by 552 !

 

That has been my experience. The 282/SC is excellent VFM in my view and it has taken the eye-wateringly expensive 552 to really better it.

Now, now MDS, remember some of us still quite like the 252 and think it betters the 282. I know you had extended demos of the 252 and returned to your trusty 282 and I get that. But you don't have to sell the kids to improve on the 282, particularly if you already have a Supercap. Just sell one kid and get a 252.

'OK kids, heads or tails'. 

I wouldn't argue with that, Nigel.  If the 252 did for me what is does for you and some others on here I would have happily stopped at that point and studiously avoided listening to the 552. I would also have avoided an even greater outlay.  But fate determined otherwise.

Mike