NAC-C 272 + NAP 200 vs. SuperUniti

The 272/250 is very significantly better than the SU. The 200 is a very good power amp and while a 272/200 won't be as good as a 272/250 I can't imagine that it still won't be significantly better than as SU. 

Surely the way to find out is to listen to the two options yourself? That said, the Atom is extraordinarily good, so the Nova may be all you need. 

I put a 200 on my Superuniti for a while, and it was a noticeable improvement. The 272 will bring a further improvement, so I don't think you'd be disappointed.

If the new streaming hardware in the Nova is a big step up, it's only a matter of time before it finds its way into all Naim products, but waiting for that with no timescale could be frustrating. 

Thanx HH ... indeed the Uniti Nova might be all I ever need ... but all this stuff is so tempting  

I sold most of my stuff looking for a Nova to replace it. Then a s/h 272/250DR showed up, almost new and I could not resist them. There`s some crossroad in front, but as said above, for how long do you have to wait, loosing musical enjoyment.

There will always be something better or something new coming in imo.

S

Over the last year i moved from superuniti to 272 / 250dr huge diff. I have just bought the xpsdr and hooked it up and just an hour in its another huge step up. So definitely trade in the su.

Klout10 posted:

I need your advice ... I'm currently enjoying the SuperUniti, but ....

Upon the release of the new Uniti series, I've had a chat with my dealer about changing the SuperUniti with the new Uniti Nova.

However, somehow, there are other alternatives and since he has a second hand NAP 200 (non DR) I wonder if any of you compared the SuperUniti with a NAC-C 272 + NAP 200.

Please note that I'm not able to stretch to NAP 250DR within 2 years ...

Any thoughts would be appreciated ...

I have used the 272/200 combo for almost 2 years, I bought a 272 immediately after they became available in the US. My 200 is a non-DR, the non-dr is absolutely irrelevant in this scenario. In a 200, the only difference in the 200 and 200DR is that there is discrete regulation for the power feed to the pre-amp. The 272 has an internal power supply and does not use this feed, a 200 and 200DR have no performance difference in a 272 setup. The 200 is all the amp you need - it is extremely fast, engaging and has a great deal of weight.,  while I just bought a 250DR from a forum member, I have no hesitation in recommending the 200, many believe it is a better sounding amp than the 250.2. I don't think you will feel compelled to upgrade to the 250, I did so because I have always wanted one; not because of any dissatisfaction with my system with the 200. You are in a good spot too that you don't wish to upgrade because you don't have to consider the relative trade or sale value of the 200 vs 200DR as the DR does you absolutely no good. 

Hi DUPREE, thank you for your extensive reply and your explanation. Yesterday, I've had a similar discussion with my dealer and in the end I've made the decision to go for the NAC-N 272 and NAP 200.

Having owned a 200 and a 250.2, good though the  200 is, it just can't provide the performance of a regulated amp such as a 250.2/250DR/300DR etc and realistically neither should you expect it to . Yes the 250.2 can sound a little ponderous with lesser preamps whereas the 200 is more forgiving.. but give it a suitably capable NAC (282 or higher) then it provides an incredible portrayal of texture, detail and refinement that I just could not hear on my 200 and once enjoyed and appreciated I didn't want to return to the 200. The 250 amp is a true classic, the 200 is a great amp.

Why didn't you try the 250dr with the SU? That's what I would have done and then you could change to the 272 later. Maybe this would have been as good or better than the 272/200.

Thank you for your suggestion. Main reason is that I had the opportunity to trade in the SuperUniti without any loss of money spend earlier. Once the new Uniti Nova will be released early next year, that would not have been possible. Furthermore, I only could have done this because my dealer had a second hand NAP 200 available. Otherwise, funds wouldn't allow this change.

Next step would be a 250 DR indeed, but this may take a couple of years   

Klout10 posted:

Hi DUPREE, thank you for your extensive reply and your explanation. Yesterday, I've had a similar discussion with my dealer and in the end I've made the decision to go for the NAC-N 272 and NAP 200.

 

A good decision, and I'm sure you'll love it. 

DUPREE posted:

Klout10 posted:

I need your advice ... I'm currently enjoying the SuperUniti, but ....

Upon the release of the new Uniti series, I've had a chat with my dealer about changing the SuperUniti with the new Uniti Nova.

However, somehow, there are other alternatives and since he has a second hand NAP 200 (non DR) I wonder if any of you compared the SuperUniti with a NAC-C 272 + NAP 200.

Please note that I'm not able to stretch to NAP 250DR within 2 years ...

Any thoughts would be appreciated ...

I have used the 272/200 combo for almost 2 years, I bought a 272 immediately after they became available in the US. My 200 is a non-DR, the non-dr is absolutely irrelevant in this scenario. In a 200, the only difference in the 200 and 200DR is that there is discrete regulation for the power feed to the pre-amp. The 272 has an internal power supply and does not use this feed, a 200 and 200DR have no performance difference in a 272 setup. The 200 is all the amp you need - it is extremely fast, engaging and has a great deal of weight.,  while I just bought a 250DR from a forum member, I have no hesitation in recommending the 200, many believe it is a better sounding amp than the 250.2. I don't think you will feel compelled to upgrade to the 250, I did so because I have always wanted one; not because of any dissatisfaction with my system with the 200. You are in a good spot too that you don't wish to upgrade because you don't have to consider the relative trade or sale value of the 200 vs 200DR as the DR does you absolutely no good. 

At least one forum member has gone on record as saying that they found the 200DR to sound better than a non-DR version, and Naim say that there are "small improvements to some internal componentry and layout" so I think one has to be careful not to make assumptions here, added to which, there is likely to be a higher chance of sample variation in older units. Having said that, you can pick up a good, not very old 200 for half the price of a 200DR, that almost certainly will provide better 'bang-for-buck' when used with a 172 or 272. 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Having owned a 200 and a 250.2, good though the  200 is, it just can't provide the performance of a regulated amp such as a 250.2/250DR/300DR etc and realistically neither should you expect it to . Yes the 250.2 can sound a little ponderous with lesser preamps whereas the 200 is more forgiving.. but give it a suitably capable NAC (282 or higher) then it provides an incredible portrayal of texture, detail and refinement that I just could not hear on my 200 and once enjoyed and appreciated I didn't want to return to the 200. The 250 amp is a true classic, the 200 is a great amp.

I agree with what you are saying, and the 250 is certainly the most classic and iconic of NAIM amps. However, I have certainly heard the school of thought that the 250.2 was not the greatest of it's incarnations and that the 200 had a sound that many preferred. On the other hand the 250DR has gotten nearly universal praise as being an incredible amp. Either way, I don't think one would be unhappy with the 272/200 combo as it is really a super pair.

[@mention:1566878604003829] - I have a 172xs and 200 and to my ears they sound better than a SuperUniti, so I have no doubt at all that the 272 will sound even more better. Great decision! I'll be very interested in your opinion of the 272/200, if you have time to post it, as I'm thinking of going the same way eventually.

I used  the SU for 2 years with Harbeth and Naim speakers and loved it. Grea product. That said, the jump to the 272/200 was a big step up in every way. The analogue line in was especially improved for vinyl playback with the 272. And it was another siginificant step up when I put the 250DR in the system. I think the 272/250DR may be the sweet spot in the entire line up. So I strongly recommend the 272 with the 200 and in a few years you should be able to find a good deal on the 250DR.