What to upgrade

A Supercap on a 282 takes the pre-amp to a whole new level. One of those really big Naim upgrades in my view, so that's what I would do next.

Well...since the 282 is brilliant anyway...I would get a 250....dr if possible. This is less front end biased....but is well balanced...the 250dr is very dynamic and will drive your speakers really well.... 

Ideally I'll get both but obviously one at a time.... I thought the 200 would have been the weak link but I do fancy a supercap 

I'd get the 250. And maybe sell the rather pointless second Hicap and use the cash to upgrade the CDX2 to a CDS3. 

First 250DR. SuperCap later.

Having owned most of your equipment - i think it can sound very good. However what I have found

• Preferred the sound of one HiCapDR on the 282 - I did not like the SuperCapDR on the 282
• The CDX2 blossoms with many upgrades but NEEDS good support to sound at its best - nothing less than full fat Fraim - consider upgrading to that if not already.
• The 282/HiCapDR seems to breath better with a 250.2/250DR over a 200 - so might be worth looking at - though I suspect is room/speaker dependent to some extent
• The 252/SuperCapDR will be a massive upgrade (although not everyone agrees - it just was for me and cured my upgradeitus ) but is much additional cost - getting a SuperCapDR now can make it less painful - but note my first bullet - I reverted to running my 282 on my HiCapDR any put my SuperCap back in its box until I saved enough for the 252

Cannot comment on 282 with Supercap; but when I upgraded from my 200 to 250DR it was a joy - I'm listening to it at the moment and still smiling 2 months after installation.

Go for it, you know you want to

Allan

I'll backup Simon's comment about the support for the CDX2 even if the rest is on Lite, you'll probably want to upgrade the rest to full fat eventually so do it from the start if you can. Pay attension to cable dressing and even power plug order. There's disagreement on the latter, I favour giving the system signal earth (ie the CDX2 or its XPS) the shortest route to earth.

If you already have all that sorted a 250 is due an audition, with and without the second hicap.

When taking the signal from the hicap to the power amp try the socket closest to where it comes in, I found it made a difference.

 A supercap will do impressive things to a 282 but if I passed that way again I'd probable go for just a hicap. 

If the XPS is not the DR version then I would start there. The timing takes on a completely new dimension when the CDX2 has an XPS-DR powering it.

If it is DR'd then I'd certainly look at the 250DR as the next option.

Frank.

If it were me in your position I would sell the 2 HiCaps and the 200 and replace them with one HiCapDR and 250DR if that is financially doable. I had a 282 with a HiCap (non DR) and a 200 and moved (in a few steps) to 252/SupercapDR/250DR. I have never owned a HiCapDR but suspect it is the ideal partner for the 282 unless you eventually are likely to move to a 252 in which case I would go straight to a SuperCapDR now which is great with a 282 and wonderful (well essential) with a 252.

Please do take the time and effort to listen to these various options at home, one new black box at a time. Don't try to attempt two black box home auditions at the same time - way too confusing (and expensive). Upgrade gradually, after a lengthy home demo of each target black box.

I will admit I have no experience of your speakers so cannot comment on how they might work with the amplification I have suggested. All the more reason for home demos.

Just seen Frank's post above and as I have no experience of the CDX2 (streaming only in this house), his advice re the XPS DR then 250DR might well trump mine. As I say, home demos of one black box at a time is the only way to make an informed decision.

The Audio Physics Virgo are capable of taut and punchy bass. For this reason, the NAP 250 DR will be beneficial as the bottom end will fill out more as the bass becomes fuller and gains more texture. The NAP 200 is leaner and a bit lightweight in the bass when compared to the NAP 250 DR. 

I have done a lot of comparison between the NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR with the NAC 282. The NAC 282 / Hicap DR / NAP 200 combination is very enjoyable but the NAP 250 DR seems to the natural partner of the NAC 282 that "completes" the system.

As a side-note, I have not tried 2 Hicaps with the NAC 282 but have used a PSU from Israel with 2 equivalent outputs to power the NAC 282. I did not find any significant difference when the NAC 282 was connected by 1 or 2 outputs(with the PSU from Israel). Since you have 2 Hicaps, you might want to disconnect 1 from the system and see if 1 Hicap with the NAC 282 still works out fine.

Personally, I would sell 1 Hicap and get the NAP 250 DR if I were in your shoes.

upgradeitus ...Love that word

Thanks for the input guys much appreciated.. I think I'll demo the 250dr first at home

Let us know how you get on.....good luck...

If you are demoing the 250DR at home then be prepared to buy ...

In fact ... I'll remove myself from this forum if you don't get a huge kick out of it, it's that good!

Allan

Will do guys

many thanks 

I've upgraded to XPSDR, SCDR and 250DR over the last couple of years. Really pleased with them all. Biggest surprise was the XPS - the level of improvement was unexpected. However I think the 250 made the biggest difference to my ears, though it was the final of the three. SC and 250 give benefits across all sources whereas the XPS is clearly single source focussed. I'd go for the 250 as the SC will head you off to the slippery slope known as the 252 - and that of course is always a hot discussion topic.

Alan funny that as I've just asked to demo a 250dr and at the same time send my xps to be dr'd , then hopefully move to sc 

Allan Milne posted:

 

If you are demoing the 250DR at home then be prepared to buy ...

 

In fact ... I'll remove myself from this forum if you don't get a huge kick out of it, it's that good!

 

Allan

Allan, did you by any chance demo the 300dr before buying the 250? I'm starting to put together my upgrade short list for early 2017, and am interested in personal comparisons of these two power amps. The winner will be teamed with a 272 (+ps), as I cannot exceed 4 boxes.

Timmo - I did not audition or even listen to the 300DR.

If the 250DR had not wowed me then I might have but it was getting into a price range where I was uncomfortable (VFM and "morally" rather than financially) and I did not want to be lured into it - I only audition or listen to those boxes I intend to buy, not aspire to.

There are, I seem to recollect, a number of threads talking about the differences between the 300DR and 250DR and seem to imply there is a difference in presentation between the two rather than just "more" of whatever.

Allan

The 250DR is a super amplifier and works very nicely with a 272 and XPS. I'm sure that the 300 is better, but why stop there when a 500 is even better? There is a tendency to overanalyse and rely too much on others' opinions when all that matters is that you like it and can afford it. In fact I didn't even bother to test my black boxes before buying them, nor did I ask the Forum. Sometimes it's easier that way. 

@the OP: Richard, my simple personal experience:

- CDX2 (I have had four, I have one now, have had them with XPS.2 and XPSDR, the current one runs bare) is not necessarily 'better' with an XPS2, and the so-called flow, especially, is not 'better' with an XPS – DR or not. Other parameters are highlighted, but plain music is not compromised by the lack of an XPS.

- To my ears, and my taste, a non-DR Supercap is wonderful on a 282. I have a 282 with a single HCDR, and a listening test with my b-i-l's 190*** Supercap was enough to convince me: more finesse, more integrity, more natural voices, a better 'flow'. I am rubbing my nose against the idea of a second HCDR since weeks, like a dog with another dog's a**, but the truth is that even an older, non-DR Supercap is a serious, audible and musical improvement over a HC. I have not  yet tried a second HCDR on my 282.

- My biggest surprises, and in some ways revelations, have been a) hearing a 252: natural, musical, refined, interesting and with a much better flow than my 282 (it's the third time I am using the word but I don't have another one). A great preamp, for musical ears. And, b) removing floor protectors from under my n-Stands.

Best, M

Massimo

I added a 2nd HC (non DR) to my 282 when I had it and thought it to be worthwhile (contrary to general opinion) - to my ears it added more sparkle and definitely more gain - it felt like the power amp had been given a wattage injection. The SC is better - I replaced the two HC's with a SCDR whilst I still had the 282 and agree with your comments. It is almost double the price of the two HC's so you would expect something for the outlay.

I agree with you on the 252 as well. I would liken the 252 to a serious debate about an important topic by well informed and worldly-wise adults whereas the 282 is like a lively discussion in a 6th form common room. Both are enjoyable - but for different reasons. I really liked my 282 - but I know I could not return to it.

My remark may sound silly to some, but I am amazed, after decades of hifi, at discovering that each step up in the Naim hierarchy really means a jump in quality. I now have heard everything bar Statement and S-800s, and I can honestly say that each preamp and each power amp are better than their previous sibling in a very definite way, and that each step is really good and satisfying, until you put your nose in the next level.

I also agree on your nice comparison; and I add, on a personal level, that the 252 is how I wish I'll be with my students when I enter my classroom in the morning, and the 282 is how, after all, I feel I have been when I leave it at the end of my lessons.

M