272 with Nap300 user feedback

I started off with a N272/NAP 250DR and ended up selling the amp to get the 300DR which to my ears is a better synergy with the N272 than 250DR

I also had a 272/XPSDR with the 250DR for about 10 months and was happy with it. I then moved on to the a 300DR after a demo, it took me all of 30 seconds to know it was a keeper, the improvement was that marked. I would say the 250DR works really well with that combo however the 300DR brings performance up considerably, if I had to use one word to convey what it adds I think refinement is apt. I would never want to go back to the 250DR having lived with the 300DR these last few months, it`s a seriously good amplifier and Im delighted with its performance.

But is your room 8' by 9'?

Rob T posted:

having lived with the 300DR these last few months, it`s a seriously good amplifier

Hi Rob T

Indeed  and also an excellent match for the NAC-N 272

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hungryhalibut posted:

But is your room 8' by 9'?

I'm with HH. I think it might even be something to report to the RSPCA* if you use even a 250DR in a room that small, let alone a 300.

*Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Amplifiers, obviously

Had a quick impromptu demo of pmc twenty5 23s with 272 / 300 the other week. Sounded fantastic!!! 

I had a listen to a 272/300DR at my dealers last year, and it was initially very impressive. It was fun to listen to, but a bit of an untamed beast. Great fun at a party, but I couldn't have lived with it, and I think the 300 was probably exposing the relative weakness of the source. 272/XPS/250DR sounded more balanced, refined and musical. I didn't listen to 272/XPS/300 as I don't want 4 boxes, but I'm sure it would have been at least a bit more balanced.  

My room size seems to cause concern....However although the 8x9 seems small  the ceiling is highish and the room is not that regular it has a well damped  attic type ceiling. Acousticly it is very good with pmc speakers. If you wind the volume up to around 55 then you start to get effects from room nodes. 

General it is very good....I generally listen at level 30 to 35...

I am delighted with 272....It is so revealing especially with the 555ps. I was interested to see how far other 272 users have pushed their units. I am thinking of going down a similar path....Naim have really produced something quite special with the 272.

The 300 is great at low volumes. The room size isn't as important as it seems. 

When I had my Sopra No.2 on my N272/300DR it sounded like the N272 was at its limits but when I switched them out for the Sopra No.3 it sounded like magic and the 555PS was all that was missing so....

Drewy posted:

The 300 is great at low volumes. The room size isn't as important as it seems. 

Totally agree double the dynamics and detail at less volume than 250DR ever was...

Drewy posted:

The 300 is great at low volumes. The room size isn't as important as it seems. 

+1 One of the many advantages with the 300DR, low volume listening is still balanced and revealing.

Rob T posted:

Drewy posted:

The 300 is great at low volumes. The room size isn't as important as it seems. 

+1 One of the many advantages with the 300DR, low volume listening is still balanced and revealing.

Hi Drewy and Rob

+2

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi thanks all for all the good feedback

It is also a future proof investment, easily the last power amp for most of us, for me for sure

Rob T posted:

Drewy posted:

The 300 is great at low volumes. The room size isn't as important as it seems. 

+1 One of the many advantages with the 300DR, low volume listening is still balanced and revealing.

well yes - but in my experience and casual research shows this as very much being down to the amplifier/speaker coupling.. A speaker will respond differently at different volume levels - as do our ears. Fascinating research paper referring and describing this in some detail  recently in the AES. A quality amplifier should however be reasonably consistent in performance across a wide range of volume levels into a speaker  load. I think the classic regulated amp designs from Naim really help here. I think the 250 and 300 work well here .. certainly more so than the 200 .. again IME

Richieroo posted:

Hi thanks all for all the good feedback

It is of course always good to read comments that tell you what you want to hear. I still think that the idea of a 300 in a tiny room with a pair of small PMCs is barking, albeit less barking than last week's idea of a 500. You may not like this view, but it's all too easy to say buy, buy, buy. Obviously everyone with a 300 will sing its praises, and of course it's very good. But the question is whether it's appropriate. Is the 250 really not enough? Will the PMCs really show £7,000 of power amp's abilities? Perhaps put the money into a house extension instead. 

Hi HH ... nice to hear from you .... have you ever heard say Linn Kans driven by a really really good system ....I have.. they are astonishing. In my humble opinion the pmc's are superior. Look at the n-sat reviews on the end of a good system .... again amazing. Yes you will get more impact from a bigger speaker in the correct room of course . Check out KK review of Acoustic Research amp hooked up to LS50's. Small speakers are really very sensative....and do respond to a tight grip.

I respect your opinion .... but pls lay of personal attacks.

Kind regards

Yes, I've heard Kans driven by a 52 and 135s, and have owned nSats driven by a 552/300. They are of course superb, but were also in a space of sensible proportions. Anyway, I'm sorry if you felt my common sense approach constitutes a personal attack. Buy what you like, I don't care, and I will say no more. 

From what I've herd at a friends pad... 272/300 good

a 272/xps DR /300 really good 

a 272/555 /300 bloody great. 

But still not to sperates level. 

Hey just my opinion.

I think the Halibut has a very good point.  Perhaps the best way to optimise in a small room is to tilt the balance of the investment towards the source/pre and match the power amp to the best speakers.  NDS/S1/NAP 100/Neat Iota  anyone??!!  More seriously I have good authority from one forum member that the 272/NAP 100 is a very good pairing.

Regards,

Lindsay 

Yes agree about the space ...... however, the space situation I have the moment is not perminant. As for madness I think any average person in the high street would consider us all bonkers!!! Don't get me wrong I appreciate and enjoy all the comments even HH .... 

Thanks all

As to PMC 21 being better than Kans..... All i can say is Kans are one of the most visceral, exciting, communicative and engaging speaker out there, and PMC's are not. All my opinion of course.

I beg to differ on that .... things have moved on .... but as you stated this is only my opinion. .. but do agree kan's are fantastic

There is no right or wrong, and people are free to do what they want as it's their money anyway. In my opinion if the speakers are not demanding and the room is small, the power amp is of least importance. A larger power amp with higher power/current capabilities will usually come in useful when listening volumes are moderate to high, usually in larger rooms with the speakers set up in mid to far-field configuration.

Of course, one may obtain a nice improvement with the NAP 300 even in small spaces as reported by few owners. However, the full potential (of the NAP 300) may be more justified (again, in my opinion) if the speakers are larger and more demanding, and the listening room is large. 

I note that the listening room is temporary. If that's the case, you have a better reason to consider the NAP 300.