250 DR for non-DR 200

or improve your source?? sorry you did not mention what is feeding the 200?

The 250DR is a great AMP, will be ugrading as soon as I can, I went from 202 to 282 with NDX /LP12 which is a great upgrade using  mu current 200

lots of comments on the 250DR on forum its a superb upgrade from 200

CD5XS + DAC but that's not changing

Very few here are happy with 202/ HC/ 250 regardless of DR. 282/ HCDR/ 250DR I could certainly understand but it would leave you bare a*sed as to your source. Consequently, I'd leave the amps as they are and get medieval on your nDac instead with a XP5XS or XPS. The latter will give you better future proofing.

Chris

Upgrade the 202 to a 282 first. It's a significant upgrade as is a 200 to 250dr but you won't see anywhere near the benefit unless you do the pre amp first.

Richard

in which case I would demo a 282 and 250DR and see which one brings the most to your system,

enjoy the music

A good dealer demo is a must the 250dr is a cracking amplifier but will need a 282 to bring the best out of it.

Hi Calum,

I think your CD5X played through an nDac should be a sufficient source to make sense with a 282.  I would be much more inclined to consider the pre-amp route first in your position.  You already have the hicap to power it too, so it should be a very nice upgrade.  The 200 is a very capable amp and unless your speakers are a demanding load, the control a better pre would bring should be most beneficial. I used to run HDX into a bare nDAC with 282/200 even without Hicap at one point (282 powered from 200) and it was a very nice system.  I found it quite a step up over my 202/200. The hicap brings more and you have that already.  I think that the 282 would balance nicely with what you already have.

Whilst the 250dr is a great power amp, your system may be balanced a little more toward 'source last' if you went that route.  Not that it wouldn't work of course, it would.   Would it be the best option though? ......based on my experience of 202/250(non DR).....I would think not the optimum way to upgrade from where you currently are (unless of course your speakers are a problem load).

There, you have my thoughts, now disregard them and go listen to both options and see what you think is best and do what you think is right! ��  Enjoy.

Like others, I'd look to upgrade the 202 to 282 before thinking about a 250DR.  The 282 is a mighty fine pre-amp that has a good degree of upgradability e.g. an extra Hi-cap and then Supercap (in my experience the 282 is pretty stunning when powered by a SCDR).  

Do 282 only if you think you ll get sooner a 250 to match.

Otherwise stay with 202 and put an XPS on dac, a very nice solution, and  especially if you re not into analog.

Thanks Gents, my logic here was/is 1) I've no space for further boxes 2) I'm only looking to change one component so if do 282 the 200 stays indefinitely 3) Speakers are 4 ohm Elac, they would devour the extra juice of the 250 and 4) Cosmetic reason but I prefer the aesthetics of the 202. Never mind, I asked and you have spoken!

Calum F posted:

Thanks Gents, my logic here was/is 1) I've no space for further boxes 2) I'm only looking to change one component so if do 282 the 200 stays indefinitely 3) Speakers are 4 ohm Elac, they would devour the extra juice of the 250 and 4) Cosmetic reason but I prefer the aesthetics of the 202. Never mind, I asked and you have spoken!

Yes, the NAC 202 does look neater than the NAC 282 and for that reason I too prefer the aesthetics of the former. I previously ranted about the NAC 282 being ugly but eventually ended up with one, replacing my NAC 202.

I think much have been said about the merits of both NAC 202 and NAC 282. Some preferred the NAC 202 whilst some liked the NAC 282 better. Though the general consensus, or rather in accordance with Naim's hierarchy of preamp, the NAC 282 is supposed to be superior than the NAC 202. I'll leave it as that.

With the 4-ohm Elac speakers, the NAP 250 may be more up to the task when compared to the NAP 200, and it's just the match between the NAC 202 and NAP 250 DR that is the question here. Most do not really recommend this combination.

By end of next week I will have all NAC 202, NAC 282, NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR and can compare the NAC 202 / NAP 250 DR if you want. Nevertheless, I think I can suspect the outcome even before I listen to the system. The NAC 202 / NAP 250 DR can sound good, but personally I suspect the NAC 282 / NAP 250 DR will be on another level. Of course, you can consider the NAC 282 / NAP 200 route too but either way you will likely (or eventually) end up with the NAC 282 / NAP 250 DR whichever route you choose - the NAC 282 or the NAP 250 DR.

If you can rig up the 202 / 250 DR against 202 / 200 would be v. interested in your impressions, you indicate "I think I can suspect the outcome even before I listen to the system" - Which is, what ? Don't bother with the 282 on my account, it's the 202 / 250 DR or keep 200 for me. Folks on here extol the 282 a lot but lets not forget this is a FOUR GRAND pre-amp at TWICE the price of the 202 so I'm wondering for a future thread "Best VFM - 202 or 282 ?" or would that be mischievous ?

When I mentioned I may know the outcome before I listen to the system, I was referring to the 282/200 being more musically satisfying than the 202/250 DR.

And the 282/250DR being more musically satisfying than the 282/200DR.

Of course it is all subjective as I am aware that some folks prefer the 202/200 DR over a 282 based system.

ryder. posted:

Of course it is all subjective as I am aware that some folks prefer the 202/200 DR over a 282 based system.

Interesting...there were plenty of people who weren't that keen on the 250 until the DR version arrived, but I don't think I can recall anyone expressing a preference for 202 over 282.