In praise of 272/250DR

At last! The 272/250DR has been largely ignored on this forum for the last year or so.... It was about time that someone spent a few words in praise of it.

Thanks,

M

272/250DR here, got first deliveries back when. Feeding Sopra 2 with Melco N1A providing the 24bit files in Direct Stream mode. NACA5, but might try TQ black or black ultra next SC and IC, tried SL didn't feel the force really. Might play silly and try some stillpoints next.

Dan43 posted:

272/250DR here, got first deliveries back when. Feeding Sopra 2 with Melco N1A providing the 24bit files in Direct Stream mode. NACA5, but might try TQ black or black ultra next SC and IC, tried SL didn't feel the force really. Might play silly and try some stillpoints next.

Do you have the system on a Fraim Dan? I don't know how much of the magic I heard was due to the boxes being on Fraim, but maybe worth trying if your wallet has itchy fingers..

TQ Blue speaker cable was in use during my demo. Sounded good.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Agree for a hybrid the N272 is very good.. certainly if you don't want or need the performance of a dedicated Naim preamp it's a very enticing option... 

I love this damning with faint praise 'for a hybrid'. The 272 is simply very good per se. The idea of settling for it 'if you don't want or need the performance of a dedicated Naim preamp' doesn't really make sense. I've heard an NDX/282 and didn't think it was any better, and I'd take a 272 over a 252 any day. I've owned a 552/300 and while of course it's better, the 272/250 isn't actually that far behind given the size of the price difference. I certainly don't feel I'm settling for second best - the 272 is simply bloody good, and a fantastic bargain. 

I agree.  A good few years ago, I ran monobloc power amps, but my 250DR is much better, not just better 'for a two-channel amplifier'.  Surely what matters is the enjoyment you get from your system rather than what components are found in each box?  After decades of purchasing and listening to hifi, I derive more pleasure and listen more often to my current system than any I have had before.

This gives me an opportunity to thank Nigel for his early advocacy for the 272/250DR as this led me to audition and ultimately buy this great pair of boxes.  It's made me very happy.

Roger

Count me in as happy 272/XPS dr/250 dr owner. I don't think I'll consider an upgrade for a long while and that is saying a lot. Unless there is a new version of the 272 coming. Even then I'm not sure I'll make that move. Happy just enjoying the music and not worrying about upgrades. Imagine that. 

Chris Bell posted:

If I were ever to downgrade (and I have thought about it) I'd do the 272/250DR combo.  Simple two box hi-fi solution.  

Nothing personal Chris, but it's extraordinary how many people consider 272/250DR a two box solution when it still needs a source.

I mean, either one has all his music on a NAS, a USB drive, a Mac or a PC, or whatever, with just 272/250DR he won't hear a single note.

I have a CDX2 and a Supernait. This is a two box solution.

My kindest regards

M

Max_B posted:

Chris Bell posted:

If I were ever to downgrade (and I have thought about it) I'd do the 272/250DR combo.  Simple two box hi-fi solution.  

Nothing personal Chris, but it's extraordinary how many people consider 272/250DR a two box solution when it still needs a source.

I mean, either one has all his music on a NAS, a USB drive, a Mac or a PC, or whatever, with just 272/250DR he won't hear a single note.

I have a CDX2 and a Supernait. This is a two box solution.

My kindest regards

M

Rather bizarre reasoning....

I too have a CDX2 and Supernait but I don't hear a note without a CD  

Wait till 372 arrives

Emre posted:

Wait till 372 arrives

yeah ��

Emre posted:

Wait till 372 arrives

The mythical 372 forum talk model but no reply from Naim who knows maybe.....

It could be a beautiful partnership with the 300DR 

Just chilling to Number of the Beast on my 272/100 Proac Tablette 10s sounds amazing, hang on the wife has told me to turn it down!!!!

My 272, 200 and S-400's are sounding wonderful. I know one day i'll look at the 250dr or XPS-Dr but I am in no hurry.

Slim68 posted:

My 272, 200 and S-400's are sounding wonderful. I know one day i'll look at the 250dr or XPS-Dr but I am in no hurry.

My thoughts too, must be the 272 as my budget NAP100 sounds great on the end of it

kevin J Carden posted:

Dan43 posted:

272/250DR here, got first deliveries back when. Feeding Sopra 2 with Melco N1A providing the 24bit files in Direct Stream mode. NACA5, but might try TQ black or black ultra next SC and IC, tried SL didn't feel the force really. Might play silly and try some stillpoints next.

Do you have the system on a Fraim Dan? I don't know how much of the magic I heard was due to the boxes being on Fraim, but maybe worth trying if your wallet has itchy fingers..

TQ Blue speaker cable was in use during my demo. Sounded good.

I did have a Fraim but have sold it on since. Quite interested in the still points as the reviews do seem very good, but with my eyes wide open to the usual witchcraft that can infiltrate, so I trust my own ears and will try then, why not.

Have avoided the XPSDR or 555PS upgrade, SL cables didn't do much for me in the end (price a factor also) so to PSU upgrade.

Although the price of a 272/XPSDR/555PS is Chord DAVE territory almost, which I am demoing soon into the 250DR to see what gives there.

Slim68 posted:

My 272, 200 and S-400's are sounding wonderful. I know one day i'll look at the 250dr or XPS-Dr but I am in no hurry.

+1. I have exact the same configuration as you, Slim68. Hoping in the future to come across an nice SH 250DR or XPS-DR.

Regards, Jeroen.

Max_B posted:

Chris Bell posted:

If I were ever to downgrade (and I have thought about it) I'd do the 272/250DR combo.  Simple two box hi-fi solution.  

Nothing personal Chris, but it's extraordinary how many people consider 272/250DR a two box solution when it still needs a source.

I mean, either one has all his music on a NAS, a USB drive, a Mac or a PC, or whatever, with just 272/250DR he won't hear a single note.

I have a CDX2 and a Supernait. This is a two box solution.

My kindest regards

M

Ah! but then you need a storage box for all those CDs, so that's at least a 3 box solution!

kevin J Carden posted:

Dan43 posted:

272/250DR here, got first deliveries back when. Feeding Sopra 2 with Melco N1A providing the 24bit files in Direct Stream mode. NACA5, but might try TQ black or black ultra next SC and IC, tried SL didn't feel the force really. Might play silly and try some stillpoints next.

Do you have the system on a Fraim Dan? I don't know how much of the magic I heard was due to the boxes being on Fraim, but maybe worth trying if your wallet has itchy fingers..

TQ Blue speaker cable was in use during my demo. Sounded good.

My 272 sits on an Ikea unit with an Atacama sorbothane footed support under the 272. This works a treat. I never used it under the CDS3.or NDX as it killed the sound, but under the 272 it works very well.

G

Graeme, you may already be aware, but just in case - sorbothane can discolour wood veneers.  So best to make sure the feet aren't directly in contact with the Ikea unit.  I use something similar (at least on and off, when I'm not trying to figure out the problem with my system) and just cut out some thin plastic discs (from bin bags, no less!) to put under the feet.  They're invisible in use, but prevent the pads touching the furniture.

Dave***t posted:

Graeme, you may already be aware, but just in case - sorbothane can discolour wood veneers.  So best to make sure the feet aren't directly in contact with the Ikea unit.  I use something similar (at least on and off, when I'm not trying to figure out the problem with my system) and just cut out some thin plastic discs (from bin bags, no less!) to put under the feet.  They're invisible in use, but prevent the pads touching the furniture.

Thanks for the advice.

G

Timo posted:

Max_B posted:

Chris Bell posted:

If I were ever to downgrade (and I have thought about it) I'd do the 272/250DR combo.  Simple two box hi-fi solution.  

Nothing personal Chris, but it's extraordinary how many people consider 272/250DR a two box solution when it still needs a source.

I mean, either one has all his music on a NAS, a USB drive, a Mac or a PC, or whatever, with just 272/250DR he won't hear a single note.

I have a CDX2 and a Supernait. This is a two box solution.

My kindest regards

M

Rather bizarre reasoning....

I don't know...(1 + 1) +1 has equaled 3 for along time...

And yet if we're counting the music storage / source of the data as well as the playback...

(1 + 1) + N =  2?   ? !!

Where N = the number of CD cases!

Maybe that's the bizarre reasoning.

Huge posted:

And yet if we're counting the music storage / source of the data as well as the playback...

(1 + 1) + N =  2?   ? !!

Where N = the number of CD cases!

Maybe that's the bizarre reasoning.

Exactly -- thanks Huge!

Hungryhalibut posted:

I love this damning with faint praise 'for a hybridI love this damning with faint praise 'for a hybrid'....

 Bit confused by this Nigel - who is doing the damning? If you are referring to me - far from it.. Naim have been keen to develop and improve their integrated and hybrid performances. Yes they will tell you when you discuss the matter with the product designers and have had presented the marketing slides to you that the top performance is with the decoupled units - however they have really started to push what they feel is possible with combining functions  - and this is seen with what they learned with the N-Series hybrid streamer pre-amps and more recently the new Uniti series.  The N272 has been a huge seller for Naim and so they are spurred on I'm sure.  Although no one in Naim said this to me - but my words are the gap could be closing.