272

Blimey... 

.....Statement.....

alan33 posted:

Blimey... 

HaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaa made me laugh out loud.

The price is a clue.

Very very capable from experience. Not 252 quality though. 

Forum received wisdom is that Naim figure the bare 272 is at around the level of a 202 (and ND5XS), possibly slightly better. 

Adding an XPS takes it to around 282 (and NDX), possibly not quite there but approaching thereabouts. 

Adding a 555PS takes it to, blimey, I'm not sure there's any forum received wisdom to cover that!

Dave***t posted:

Forum received wisdom is that Naim figure the bare 272 is at around the level of a 202 (and ND5XS), possibly slightly better. 

Adding an XPS takes it to around 282 (and NDX), possibly not quite there but approaching thereabouts. 

Adding a 555PS takes it to, blimey, I'm not sure there's any forum received wisdom to cover that!

I certainly hope takes notice of this and works into marketing. I can the photo now. Guy in socks and Diesel jeans with an astonished look and captioned with Blimey! It's marketing gold I tell you. 

If they can work some gladioli into the background too, it can't fail.

yeti42 posted:

The price is a clue.

Hardly, the streaming capabilities add quite a bit to the cost of the unit as compared to stand alone pre-amps.  If that's what you base your buying decision on, you'll be in for disappointments.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

.....Statement.....

You would think, based on some of the members opinions here. 

Aceone posted:

Could anyone tell me how good is the preamp on the 272 ,is it as good as 282 or 252 plz .

An accurate assessment may not be possible as the analogue preamps can be matched with various DACs from other manufacturers whereas the DAC in the 272 is fixed. Nevertheless, from what I gather,

A) Impressions based on member’s experiences:-

272 = 282/Supercap DR

272/XPS DR = 252

272/555 = 552 or Statement

B) Reality / Actual scenario:

272 = 202

272/XPS DR = 282/Hicap DR

272/555 = 282/Supercap DR or 252

Some would even say SN2 preamp sound better.

RYDER

i have a 272,and it does have analog inputs,I just recently used it with a Hugo 2 fed a signal from my Core...so you CAN use the 272 with outboard DACs.Ultimitely,though it sounded great,I have decided to return the Hugo 2,and stick with the onboard DAC in the 272.My focus now will be saving my pennies up for the Dave DAC.

I heard a rather unorthodox pairing recently of the 272 streaming into a bare SN2. I thought it sounded wonderful, as far as streaming goes. This pairing was done at a dealer's room on my request. I was demoing speakers and was most familiar with the sound of the SN2. The dealer normally has the 272 set up with 282.

spurrier sucks posted:

Dave***t posted:

Forum received wisdom is that Naim figure the bare 272 is at around the level of a 202 (and ND5XS), possibly slightly better. 

Adding an XPS takes it to around 282 (and NDX), possibly not quite there but approaching thereabouts. 

Adding a 555PS takes it to, blimey, I'm not sure there's any forum received wisdom to cover that!

I certainly hope takes notice of this and works into marketing. I can the photo now. Guy in socks and Diesel jeans with an astonished look and captioned with Blimey! It's marketing gold I tell you. 

With a can of Farrow and Ball in his hand " Blimey! it's better than watching paint dry" or even "Blimey bring La Scala into your living room".

joerand posted:

I heard a rather unorthodox pairing recently of the 272 streaming into a bare SN2. I thought it sounded wonderful, as far as streaming goes. This pairing was done at a dealer's room on my request. I was demoing speakers and was most familiar with the sound of the SN2. The dealer normally has the 272 set up with 282.

Yes Joe there are many ways you can use the 272,since it also has a digital out...I also ran it for a short time as a streamer into the Hugo 2,using the H2 as a DAC and preamp into another amp I have.The 272 is the closest thing to a Swiss Army knife Naim has.

Indeed, I was impressed by the contribution I heard from the 272, though "Blimey" never entered my head .

That said, the 272 into SN2 is probably not a logical financial pairing.

Did you listen to the 272 without the SN2 in the chain?Because I used to own a SN2 before I got the 272,and let’s just say I am glad I made the swap,trying not to upset anyone.

One thing I don't understand yet ...

If the 272 is so brilliant, why does it pop up on 2nd sites often? There is always a handful available.

No quarter posted:

Did you listen to the 272 without the SN2 in the chain?Because I used to own a SN2 before I got the 272,and let’s just say I am glad I made the swap,trying not to upset anyone.

No, I was there strictly for a speaker demo. Wanted to be on familiar ground listening via the SN2.

Aceone posted:

Could anyone tell me how good is the preamp on the 272 ,is it as good as 282 or 252 plz .

I suppose a question to you would be what do you want to do with it in the context of your system ?

I'll attempt a slightly more serious response.

I've heard the 272 on 3 occasions although I would dismiss the last at the Bristol Show as the room was frankly all wrong.

It's an excellent product both for its price and sonic qualities.   Naim have recognised that more and more that many users will require a digital capability merged with traditional pre-amp functions.  It therefore fulfills a different role to the 202/282/252/552 so comparisons are at best difficult and then when the various configurations are considered it's pretty well impossible.  I imagine that Naim's thinking is that going forward their customer base will progressively shift away from 2/3 box pre=power combinations at the "mid-price" level. One dealer suggested that in reality 272/200 was not quite at NDX/202/200 level.  Nonetheless based, for the most part, on the 2nd of the occasions I heard the 272 at the excellent Audiobarn with Focal Sopra 2s I'd offer this.

The NDX/XPS/SN2 vs the 272/XPS/250DR.  Very clearly to my ears the former offered greater resolution, a greater soundstage and richer musical experience.  The 272 was good indeed - very good - but my preference was from first note to last for the NDX/SN2.

But once the 272/XPS was paired with the 300DR the 272 provided a lot more.  Time precluded pairing the NDX/XPS with a separate pre/power on this occasion although on the first occasion I heard the 272/XPS/250 vs NDX/XPS/282/HC/250 I thought the latter comprehensively won the day.  But on the occasion everything was pre-DR.

However, factor in performance vs price vs convenience and how best to optimise to meet your own requirement and it's not as straight forward as my conclusions above.  Clearly pairing a 272 with a 555PSU and 300DR (perhaps even a 500DR) is an excellent configuration.  Would it compete with a NDX/555/252/300 - in all likelihood not but that's not the point.  It's another very viable option and way better than the majority of other hi-fi systems out there.

The OP needs to find a dealer to demonstrate the options.

Regards,

Lindsay

There must be a judge in Berlin.

No quarter posted:

The 272 is the closest thing to a Swiss Army knife Naim has.

Yes ... but how do I use to to get stones out my horses hooves?

PS. I love my NAC-N 272 and NAP 200 combo ... but to be honest I haven't compared it to "separates" so can't really help comment - but I wouldn't disagree with anyone's comments above.  My slight "criticism" of it would be that Naim should have added a powered connection for a Stageline.

What is the obsession with making the 272 the peak of naims achievement?

It's a nice streamer / pre within the context of its price point

I like mine and it compares well with my old (serviced) 82 / hicap combo ...but so it should as it has an xpsdr to help it

I would not say it's a completely different league to the old 82 ...but I have gained a streamer and not increased box count..so am happy