Power Supply Upgrades to Nac n272

Hungryhalibut posted:

I bought my 272/250 on 30 June 2015, and still find it as delightful today as I did then. It was always the plan to add an XPS, which I did about three months later, followed by SL cables in early 2016. Since then it's just sat in the corner doing its thing. For me, as something of a serial,box swapper in the past, this something about how musically satisfying it is. New owners will hopefully be as excited with their new boxes as I was when I got mine, so of course they will enthuse about it. Perhaps it's time for you to get one! Says he, hiding behind the sofa for fear of flying power supplies from Casa Max. 

Nigel,

when I bought a CDX2 from a friend for a ridicule sum, and my brother-in-law's SN for a very good price, I had done much reasoning about which and how many boxes I was going to have. If you remember, I explained my choices here and you seemed to agree completely. I now have two boxes. A possible power supply won't upset anything.

So, we don't really disagree. The reasons why I don't have 272/250DR are:

a) I don't stream and am not yet interested in liquid music

b) I don't buy new, because new Naims are expensive for my 'ethics'

c) I like CDX2 and Supernait.

If I'll still have the same system in two years, we'll be even regarding the present moment. If I'll have something different, well, it's life: and life is change.

Best

Max

...this has rather strayed off piste! As a new 272 and 250 owner experiencing a massive and resolutely unequivocal improvement in performance from his former Naimuniti...what hike in performance can I expect from adding a Naim PS?

Thank you...

The Dude posted:

...this has rather strayed off piste! As a new 272 and 250 owner experiencing a massive and resolutely unequivocal improvement in performance from his former Naimuniti...what hike in performance can I expect from adding a Naim PS?

Thank you...

XPSDR - significant improvement, perhaps 35-40% better

555DR - truly magnificent, 60-70% improvement.

I realise how difficult it is to place numerical values on performance, so this is purely my clumsy attempt, on the basis of extended dealer and home demos, to illustrate my own very personal evaluation. What I would say is indisputable is that either of these power supplies will improve the performance of the 272 (the same may well apply to the XP5 XS, but I have no experience of it).

Tim

I would say the improvement is at least 7 / 5 / 6.

I haven't plugged in the XPSdr or 555 into my 272 because I couldn't afford to purchase either ( I have the money in the bank but getting this passed the wife, well...)and even at ex demo pricing the starting price is around £3k !!

So I took a punt with an ex demo XP5xs at just over a grand, very happy with the purchase and has unlocked the 272 in terms of the power arrangements and all power rails are in use. Sound wise hard to put a percentage on the increase but with my lugs it's gone up by 40-50%, extended detail and bass increase with great separation. Only 3 days in though and each day there's an improvement so probably in 2-3 months I can give a better answer.

All down to budget I guess so if you have deep pockets do some home demos.

Thank you Tim ,very helpful and Huge thanks also; to the value of x,y,z...

Sorry, but I have no idea how to assign a single scalar value to the multidimensional concept of sound quality and it's different perception by different people; so assign whatever meaning you want to the 7, 5 and 6!

...your response actually made me laugh Huge because of course you are right...Hope you are well x

When I first demo'd the 272,my dealer had an ND5XS at the store,so I took it home to try,knowing full well I was not going to buy it(no DR tech inside).I listened to the 272/250 DR alone first for a few hours,then added the XP5,honestly I did not hear much difference.I left it in place for the week long demo I had,and took it out for half a day to compare,before returning it...again,not much difference.Now the XPS DR WAS very noticeable right away,and continues to sound awesome.I would rate the improvement over bare 272 as no more than 10% if I am being honest,which did not justify the price to me,I have not heard the 555 yet.

Thank you...do you mean that the xps,to your ears, only added a modest  improvement ?

The Dude

If you are asking me that question,no,I mean the Xp FIVE only added a modest improvement,the XPS is substantial improvement to the 272.

No quarter posted:

The Dude

If you are asking me that question,no,I mean the Xp FIVE only added a modest improvement,the XPS is substantial improvement to the 272.

I guess that's to be expected as the XPSdr is double the price of the now discontinued XP5xs, but an ex demo XP5xs can be had for just over a grand.

In my 272/100 system the XP5xs added a very nice lift in performance, maybe in a 272/250dr this is less noticeable. Over the past few days the quality of my system is improving but my  Proacs are exceptional at the top end and mid range so maybe I'm picking things up differently to other setups. 

When I tried the XP FIVE,it was with Dynaudio C1 platinum's,and the 272/250 DR.

I believe the differences in peoples experiences of adding power supplies to the 272, reflect their different tastes in music, their different perceptions and expectations, and what different aspects of music reproduction are important to them in the way in which they listen to music.  So maybe it's better to describe what benefits they heard rather than trying to give an overall degree of difference.

In my case I mostly perceived a substantial improvement to the subtlety:
I could hear quiet instruments that had previously been hidden in the overall sound
Words in vocals were quite a bit clearer
Orchestral timbres were much better differentiated...
So it was much easier to hear each part in complex counterpointed music while still at the same time being able to hear the entire composition as an integrated whole.

(272 + 555DR  / 300DR / Spendor SP2)

...Thank you and agree that detailed descriptions of the perceived changes are ultimately more helpful than % performance increases...however obtaining an insight from other users can be helpful even when the method of quantification and words used to share such findings might be technically crude...for example if someone asked me whether the 272 provided a discernable improvement in sound quality over the uniti my response would be a resounding and unequivocal yes...however whether it represents good value for money and should that person negotiate the change is only answered by them and their accountant!

So I conclude that if I have a few grand seeking a new home then I can expect to hear an improvement ,for this money, if I purchased a naim power supply...

This is actually quite helpful...

The Dude posted:

...Thank you and agree that detailed descriptions of the perceived changes are ultimately more helpful than % performance increases...however obtaining an insight from other users can be helpful even when the method of quantification and words used to share such findings might be technically crude...for example if someone asked me whether the 272 provided a discernable improvement in sound quality over the uniti my response would be a resounding and unequivocal yes...however whether it represents good value for money and should that person negotiate the change is only answered by them and their accountant!

So I conclude that if I have a few grand seeking a new home then I can expect to hear an improvement ,for this money, if I purchased a naim power supply...

This is actually quite helpful...

Dude, I just wanted to say that Huge's description of the 555 added to the 272 cannot be bettered, and is in accordance to what I have found since adding one to my 272 a week ago. I would add that in addition, there is a vice-like grip on rhythm, so it really is more foot tapping than the bare 272/250Dr which is in itself no slouch. The XPSDR is also excellent and would probably only suffer in direct comparison with the 555.