272 lacking sparkle
Posted by: maze on 29 June 2017
Hi just purchased a used 272 from naim dealer, it's a great upgrade over my 172, more detail, deeper soundstage and separation of individual instruments in a recording, however I do find it lacks a bit a sparkle in the upper treble, which I also noted from the 172. Admittedly sound has opened up over the course of 48 hours.
Rest of the system is Nap200 none DR, nac 5 cable and Harbeth P3 speakers, I also noticed the same effect through the SBL's I owned previously, so not a speaker issue IMO.
Have also owned Supernait, no problems and nait XS and Nait 5i in the past, all no issues here.
What I am talking of is air, space and a bit of sparkle.
Sounds the same on all sources, LP12, Flac and wav files streamed from the nas.
I know responses will guide me to XPS or 250DR, I'm not sure that's going to change the overall sparkle, I may be wrong.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by stuart
I think it also comes with a hearing aid connection....some of the old boys need it..
What??
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by wenger2015
I think it also comes with a hearing aid connection....some of the old boys need it..
What??
What do you mean . . what... speak up....
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Huge
Oh dear! Clearly all us 272 users are immediately going to have to sell our 272s and buy ND5 XSes and NAC202s as with separate boxes that combo simple must be better (and don't forget a NAT05 XS if you use FM). Thinking about it a ND5 XSes and NAC202 are also more expensive, so it's quite obviously really. Case closed!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by David Hendon
The NAT05 XS has been discontinued........
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by hungryhalibut
Goodness me, I do have the FM radio. I thought it sounded pretty good, so thanks for correcting me on that.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Huge
The NAT05 XS has been discontinued........
DISASTER! It's no good. ABANDON SHIP!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by spurrier sucks
Oh dear! Clearly all us 272 users are immediately going to have to sell our 272s and buy ND5 XSes and NAC202s as with separate boxes that combo simple must be better (and don't forget a NAT05 XS if you use FM). Thinking about it a ND5 XSes and NAC202 are also more expensive, so it's quite obviously really. Case closed!
In hifi it is all about the price of obe's system and not the music it makes. Great point on the ND5/202 being far superior. Looks like another change is coming my way.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Finkfan
What were Naim thinking????? It'll never sell 
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by stuart
Oh dear! Clearly all us 272 users are immediately going to have to sell our 272s and buy ND5 XSes and NAC202s as with separate boxes that combo simple must be better (and don't forget a NAT05 XS if you use FM). Thinking about it a ND5 XSes and NAC202 are also more expensive, so it's quite obviously really. Case closed!
I'm on way to dealers now to return demo set. Going to have to insist on separates instead then. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by spacey
Its funny how preconceived the ideas are about HiFi, more boxes = better sound, right.... I mean lets double the cost of the casework packaging and add a few cable inputs/outputs to the equation... must be better because there's more.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
HH has disappeared. Guess he's still counting how many functions he has in that box
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by David Hendon
HH has disappeared. Guess he's still counting how many functions he has in that box
Maybe he's now thinking outside the box!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Chris Dolan
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by hungryhalibut
HH has disappeared. Guess he's still counting how many functions he has in that box
We are in Loughborough, collecting the boy from Uni.
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Huge
True, but at considerably more cost!
Strange, it seems to be an engineering compromise... Well, now there's a surprise isn't it!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by David Hendon
HH has disappeared. Guess he's still counting how many functions he has in that box
We are in Loughborough, collecting the boy from Uni.
My kids are well past Uni now, but I remember the collecting them process. We now know that you are in fact carrying the box!
safe journey
David
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
HH has disappeared. Guess he's still counting how many functions he has in that box
We are in Loughborough, collecting the boy from Uni.
My kids are well past Uni now, but I remember the collecting them process. We now know that you are in fact carrying the box!
safe journey
David
When our girls finished Uni I remarked that 'I was now finished with parenting".
What little I knew
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by trickydickie
The 272 also has an alarm clock. Is there anything this piece of kit can't do?
All those functions, no wonder it sounds crap, except it doesn't!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by David Hendon
Yes I'm afraid parenting doesn't ever stop. It just gets supplemented in due course with grand-parenting.
best
David
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Yes I'm afraid parenting doesn't ever stop. It just gets supplemented in due course with grand-parenting.
best
David
Really......
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by ChrisSU
Don't forget a dab radio if it's fitted
I would definitely forget that if I was looking for some more sparkle!!
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Finkfan
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by stuart
Decision made, I will be placing an order, time to start ripping my cd collection.
Plenty of sparkle in my room. This pairing is better than what I have and safely within my budget. Don't see what all the fuss is about.
:-)
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by Pcd
A quick coat of this should sort the problem ?
Posted on: 01 July 2017 by ryder.
The Naim N272, XPR-DR, Hicap DR and NAP 250 DR were used to drive the Harbeth Super HL5 Plus in Venice Audio room of the LA show. Source includes the Well Tempered Amadeus Versalex with a Naim Superline MC photostage. This was in the Harbeth newsletter. The 272 must be something special to have a place in the system.
