SuperUniti OR N172XS OR N272?

The consensus is that the sequence would be:

pre-amps: N172 > 202 > N272 > 282

streaming: N172 > ND5XS > SuperUniti > N272 > NDX > NDS

A lot depends on where you want to end up. With the right source, I'd take a 202, or better still a 282, over a 172 or 272 any day, but that means putting an NDX in front of it. A 272 is still a good option though. What power amp are you intending to use?

Not sure what your plans are for the Flatcap, you can't use it with a 172. 

I don't entirely agree with Adam - these things are subjective. It's hard to compare a 172 streaming section to a SU because it depends so much on what you partner it with . . . but I prefer a 172/200 to a SU. I like both, but to me the 172/200 sounded more musical and transportive over a protracted listen.

With Naim, you generally get what you pay for, roughly speaking. The 172 is excellent, a gem, but the 272 is a step up. If you can afford it, and you have a power amp to do it justice, the 272 will do a very fine job indeed.

Thanks for the views so far. I'll respond to the queries and ask for further views.

Life is never simple, thank goodness. I was a more-or-less 'straight' Naim devotee until a few years ago, though I've always given time to listening to other makes. The exception to that statement was Naim speakers - I only ever rated the NBL as anything special. So, the familirar story ending with Nac-52, 6 x Nap-135, CDS-1 etc. Wonderful stuff!

Then I got ill and poor because of a business mess-up, so decided to 'downsize'. I did so as far as a 'Jadman' Nac-72 and a pair of Nap-160's. But then at the Bristol show a few years ago I listened to a SuperUniti. That led me towards Streaming, and my present questions (above).

I absolutely love the flexibility of the SU, and keep most of my music on NAS. My wife plugs in her numerous iPad-thinggys. All is quite contented on that front!

However, I listen to a lot of FM Radio-3, and I do tend to buy 'World Music' CD's for the music and the information about performers etc.  Hence I recently 'allowed' myself to acquire a CD5 XS, FlatCap  XS and Nat-05 XS.

Having added these to the SU, I can now 'hear' the limitations of its (really good) pre-amp.

Oh yes, and I've had two late-in-life epiphanies. In one of these I bought a Chord amplifier. In the other I found myself acquiring a pair of Ovator 600's, which are immensely revealing  & I'd like to get Active at some point.

To be honest, therefore, the 'Separate box' approach is kicking back in.

What will probably decide matters one way or another is the performance of the pre-amp, or pre-amp section, of whatever I decide to go forward with.

My last comment is that I've spoken with some Naim Dealers who - very disappointingly - 'prescribe' enirely dull and predictable recipes: 'If you have Ovator-600's you MUST get a Nac-552 or at least Nac-252' etc etc.

I'm at that stage where 'MUST' anything is almost definitely going to be the end of the conversation ....

Skyebridge

Hugh - you MUST not listen to your dealers Music is the most important thing - not the equipment