SN2 as a pre

There are some who are currently using the SN2 as a pre. I'm using SN1 as a pre with a 250DR amp to great effect. I'm heading for a 282 

I've heard Finkfans system many times, sounds absolutely superb, so yes using SN as a pre works extremely well.

thanks if a SN1 sounds good then that bodes well for the DR SN2

is it just a question of using the preamp DIN port with a Y cable to hook it up to a NAP300?

dvshannow posted:

thanks if a SN1 sounds good then that bodes well for the DR SN2

is it just a question of using the preamp DIN port with a Y cable to hook it up to a NAP300?

Hi , I use a SN2 as pre with a 250DR and its a wonderful 2 box solution . I will upgrade the SN2 one day but 12 months on I'm still in no rush to change . 

The 250 is connected to the Bi-amp socket on the back of the SN2 .

I don't think a y cable is used, just the cable provided with the power amp connects to pre amp out on SN2.

Although I've used SN2 as pre I'm finding a DRd nac 202 blows it away. Mid range clarity in particular is quite addictive, being emotionally communicative (bit like my small dog! )

This will lead me to sell SN2 and free up some funds, superb though the SN2 is in its own right.

thanks for replies all v useful , sounds like at the least I can try the SN2 before discounting it and theres a good chance I will be quite satisfied with it

I asked Naim and they emailed back quickly on a Saturday evening that's really good service!

their reply was brief but to the point, they said the nearest equivalent to the SN2 as a standalone pre is a 282, which sounds promising and would allow me time on the path to the 252 upgrade.

That the 300DR will drive B&W better as they like power

also a Y cable is needed into the 300DR as its got separate DINs per channel while the 250DR does not

I stand corrected. 

And, yes, I imagine the 282 would be a better natural  partner to the 300 dr. 

Impressive response from Naim. 

pete T15 posted:

dvshannow posted:

thanks if a SN1 sounds good then that bodes well for the DR SN2

is it just a question of using the preamp DIN port with a Y cable to hook it up to a NAP300?

Hi , I use a SN2 as pre with a 250DR and its a wonderful 2 box solution . I will upgrade the SN2 one day but 12 months on I'm still in no rush to change . 

The 250 is connected to the Bi-amp socket on the back of the SN2 .

Here is a broad and generic question: What benefits have you heard with the 250DR vs SN2 amp?  I thought about doing this but nobody, at that time, indicated any experience with this arrangement.

dvshannow posted:

I asked Naim and they emailed back quickly on a Saturday evening that's really good service!

their reply was brief but to the point, they said the nearest equivalent to the SN2 as a standalone pre is a 282, which sounds promising and would allow me time on the path to the 252 upgrade.

I would have thought it was the 202... 

To my ears the 282 is far superior to the SN pre amp 

Finkfan posted:

To my ears the 282 is far superior to the SN pre amp 

Agree with Finkfan,  but the SN is a good intermediate solution .

what power amps were you running them both into when you compared them? 

the 282 was not the one that would spring to my mind either but this came from Naim, maybe the more modern design with DR is why they suggested this,.

i am going to as first port use my Sn2 and with a 300DR in the system which either way i am confident will be a lot better than a SN2 in isolation, and will leave me with plenty of scope for future upgrades!

reason for this path is spending now on classic amp tech which has been more recently overhauled with the DR statement trickledow and save my streaming/DAC/preamp upgrades...who knows a N373 might be released in the next few years, 

Finkfan posted:

To my ears the 282 is far superior to the SN pre amp 

And you would expect unless Naim got its pricing utterly wrong...

dvshannow posted:

who knows a N373 might be released in the next few years, 

 

The phantom -- 372. Will it ever arrive? Not sure actually whether a 372 makes sense in Naim's philosophy of separates. It would certainly encourage considerable "cannibalism". Where would this leave the 282 and the NDX?? I wouldn't get my hopes up... 

I agree reg 282 hence my surprise, i asked "how good a preamp does the SN2 have, given it is a DR piece i was hoping it might be fairly good" and the reply was "SN2 is similar to a NAC282" that was all, will report back on how it sounds in due course

reg N372 said a bit tongue in cheek but not planning on being in a great hurry my last update was 2014 when i added the Sn2.

incidentally as spending a reasonable amount on an upgrade i did listen to the Devialet Expert Pro 220 last week as there is a Devialet opposite my work and it sounded like many have said here , v clean detailed and precise, impressive technology for sure, but i preferred the sound of my SN2 and at no point was tempted to purchase one

Kevin Richardson posted:

pete T15 posted:

dvshannow posted:

thanks if a SN1 sounds good then that bodes well for the DR SN2

is it just a question of using the preamp DIN port with a Y cable to hook it up to a NAP300?

Hi , I use a SN2 as pre with a 250DR and its a wonderful 2 box solution . I will upgrade the SN2 one day but 12 months on I'm still in no rush to change . 

The 250 is connected to the Bi-amp socket on the back of the SN2 .

Here is a broad and generic question: What benefits have you heard with the 250DR vs SN2 amp?  I thought about doing this but nobody, at that time, indicated any experience with this arrangement.

It was 12 months ago Kevin but the main things were grip , control , wider , quieter , more background atmosphere , better  at low volume etc but most of all more music , a supercharged SN2  . Theres no need to plug in and plug out to evaluate , they work that well together . Yes I did buy it en route to a NAC  2*2 but a year on I'm content to wait and see what may arrive when the day comes ... My dealer warned me that adding the 250DR would lead me to new speakers and he was right , sadly he doesn't stock the ATC19s I bought , they  work an absolute  treat !!! 

SN2 + NAP250DR not textbook but recommended from my chair . There have been a couple of threads on this if you search . 

The NAP 300 is on order and have moved the system to its new room and setup using the SN2 while waiting.

What has really surprised me is the difference the room makes I know acoustics are important but hearing how different it can be is still astounding we get caught up on upgrade nuances but at this level of hi fi really makes me think by far the biggest factor is the room acoustics.

I have been experimenting with foam sound absorption pads in strategic places to 'tune' the room by ear and especially as the volume is turned up the system sounds far more controlled now than before.

Makes me wonder why I need the 300 but sure looking forward to it!  

pete T15 posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

pete T15 posted:

dvshannow posted:

thanks if a SN1 sounds good then that bodes well for the DR SN2

is it just a question of using the preamp DIN port with a Y cable to hook it up to a NAP300?

Hi , I use a SN2 as pre with a 250DR and its a wonderful 2 box solution . I will upgrade the SN2 one day but 12 months on I'm still in no rush to change . 

The 250 is connected to the Bi-amp socket on the back of the SN2 .

Here is a broad and generic question: What benefits have you heard with the 250DR vs SN2 amp?  I thought about doing this but nobody, at that time, indicated any experience with this arrangement.

It was 12 months ago Kevin but the main things were grip , control , wider , quieter , more background atmosphere , better  at low volume etc but most of all more music , a supercharged SN2  . Theres no need to plug in and plug out to evaluate , they work that well together . Yes I did buy it en route to a NAC  2*2 but a year on I'm content to wait and see what may arrive when the day comes ... My dealer warned me that adding the 250DR would lead me to new speakers and he was right , sadly he doesn't stock the ATC19s I bought , they  work an absolute  treat !!! 

SN2 + NAP250DR not textbook but recommended from my chair . There have been a couple of threads on this if you search . 

Did you ever try a HICAPDR with the SN2?

No , I always liked my SN2 bare and it was only with the release of the 250DR that I decided to go down the Pre/Power route . As stated earlier I will go further but happy for now .

So I have the SN2 hooked up now to the NAP 300DR, setup is Dacv1 -> SN2 -> 300DR, it sounds really different to the SN2 a very different character of sound the 300 sounds a lot more laid back vs the SN2 than I was expecting, but also quite magical, its still far from warmed up so I cannot really report anything more so far except for that so far it is already looking like a very worthwhile upgrade!  I also tried the Dacv1 s a pre and as advised on here it is not as good as the Sn2 as a preamp (I still don't understand why but cannot argue with my ears)

Glad to hear all is sounding well and things will only improve with time. At the start of this thread I said I was using SN as pre into 250 heading for a 282. However after a recent visit to my dealer I can home with a 272 and it's hear to stay. Enjoy your current setup and the 252 when it eventually arrives!