next upgrade

Preamp upgrade makes sense especially as you already have a Supercap. The 282 and 252 have different presentations so make sure you audition at home before you decide. You should also consider having your 250 upgraded to DR.

is the 252 worth the extra money over the 282

I would agree with the above but you must listen at your dealer if you listen to both the 282 and 252 you might want to use your Supercap and 250 but also include the Supercap dr and 250 dr in the listening sessions as I would think that would be the next upgrade after the Preamp.

Opinions differ on that question. I own a 252 so have to declare an interest. As I say, some forum members prefer the 282 for its more "dynamic" presentation and are even happy to match it with power amps above the 250DR. It's a matter of personal preference. 

I think that you should audition both preamps with your own system bearing in mind that if you do prefer the sound of the 282, it would allow funds towards an upgrade of your 250.

how much is it to get nap 250 ,dr done 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ap-dr-upgrade-prices

Prices as at November last year. These assume you are in U.K. In any event you should contact your local dealer for definitive info on costs and lead times for upgrading.

Aceone posted:

is the 252 worth the extra money over the 282

IMHO, absolutely. But as there is a significant difference between the sonic signature of the 282 and 252, a HOME demo is a must - assuming you have a Naim dealer not too far away from you.

BTW, I have owned a 202, 282 and 252 for extended periods.

Hi,

I rate so higly the nac282 and its 250 companion I would alway hang my hat there, it s that good it can be safely partened to nap300 ,I heard it equally at home.

I don t know whether the same can be said of the 252 , fear You would keep on making some more adjustement, but it s my opinion only.

ive been told that the 282 is a big jump from nac 202 

Every move up the Naim preamp ladder is a big jump..

I very much enjoyed my 282/SC2/300 combination!

As has already been said, opinions on here on the 282 v 252 tend to be divided.  I had a 282 with Supercap for some time (into a 250.2) and twice tried the 252 at home but couldn't get on with it. For me it sucked the life out of rock music.  

I later ran a 282/SCDR quite happily into a 300DR for a while. In my view the 282 is easily up to exploiting the qualities of the 300DR.

So, like others, my strong advice would be to try the 282 and 252 at home to be sure which one is best for you. It's not just a qualitative difference; the two pre-amps have different presentations and characters.  

The 252 works great in my system. Went from an 82 with olive supercap and could not believe the difference

Pace and drive fantastic and i mainly listen to death/ thrash metal the refinement is superb

I went from 202 to 282 to my present 252. The 252 has a very different feel, as many others have said. For me it was immediately noticeable in the bass: I found the 252's bass presentation much more integrated and less 'boomy'. But I'm no bass-head. I bought my 252 at a very good price and had it serviced by Naim straight away. It should see me out...!

(I'm still rejoicing in Richard's description above that his death/thrash metal sounds refined. But then I am a humble fan of The Fall...)

Although I think the NAC252 is a better, more sophisticated, sounding preamp I also feel that its natural partner is really the NAP300 - whereas the 282/Supercap/250.2 is a symbiotic combination 

How about ditching the Linn, the 202 and the Supercap and getting a 272, an XPSDR and a DR upgrade for the 250.2? It may be all you need. I had a 252/250.2 and it was duller than a very dull thing. Anything that brings a sense of refinement to death metal is probably to be avoided. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

...
Anything that brings a sense of refinement to death metal is probably to be avoided. 

I think 282 will be the way to go dont want to change nap 250  I've spent loads on upgrades in the last 4 years  lol .

Very sensibile choice.

Hi Aceone.  
As many have said, change the pre-amp.  After a 202, the 282 is a sure fire winner, a serviced 52 even more so if you can find one. You may even prefer the 252, though I would audition first to see if you like its very different musical presentation.

A 272/XPS would also be a leap forward in terms of musical enjoyment.

So that's what I would do.  The pre-amp.  

If you are concerned about changing pre-amps, then get the 250 DR'ed.  
In hifi terms, it's an improvement.  In musical terms, it's a hugely better amp than the 250-2.  
It's a really encouraging sign that Naim has rediscovered its musical mojo.

Hope this helps, FT

Foot tapper posted:

[DR] is a really encouraging sign that Naim has rediscovered its musical mojo.

FT, Was it ever lost? C.