XPS DR advice please?

Can you borrow an XPSDR? The reason I suggest this rather than an automatic ‘Of course. It’s a huge upgrade’, is that my experience of the (albeit)82/135’s is that is was quite a ‘hot’ combination - lively and energetic if you will. Paired with the NDX XPS I imagine it’s well balanced.

DR technology is a leap forward in my view. I preferred the XPSDR on my 272 to the 555PS I trialled before it as the overall balance was better to my mind. I know there are some who have regretted DR’ing their power supplies though - until they then sort something else out in the chain.

Good luck.

G

GraemeH posted:

Can you borrow an XPSDR? The reason I suggest this rather than an automatic ‘Of course. It’s a huge upgrade’, is that my experience of the (albeit)82/135’s is that is was quite a ‘hot’ combination - lively and energetic if you will. Paired with the NDX XPS I imagine it’s well balanced.

DR technology is a leap forward in my view. I preferred the XPSDR on my 272 to the 555PS I trialled before it as the overall balance was better to my mind. I know there are some who have regretted DR’ing their power supplies though - until they then sort something else out in the chain.

Good luck.

G

 

Thanks for lucid reply Graeme - more or less along the same lines as my thinking. My speakers are a little bright - top end - which I mainly do not mind, listening mostly to jazz........... so perhaps the DR would tip the balance towards unpleasant ?!

I don't currently have the availabilty of borrowing a XPS DR to compare, so maybe best to just save my cash !?

Regards,

Al

I'm at a cross roads with my current XP5xs powering my 272 and thinking about an XPSdr or none DR 555 but after reading Graeme thoughts on the none DR555 on his 272 I'm not sure what to do. Okay if I obtain a none DR555 but serviced this should blow my XP5xs out of the water until I can afford the DR conversion.

HiFiman posted:

I'm at a cross roads with my current XP5xs powering my 272 and thinking about an XPSdr or none DR 555 but after reading Graeme thoughts on the none DR555 on his 272 I'm not sure what to do. Okay if I obtain a none DR555 but serviced this should blow my XP5xs out of the water until I can afford the DR conversion.

Something of the agility of the 272 was lost with the 555PS added. Initially it was impressive in terms of scale but it was like it over-inflated the limits of the 272...a bit ‘blousy’ and shut-in.

The 555PSDR is a different proposition I’m sure but is beyond my means. The XPSDR is ‘just right’ on it for me.

G

Thanks Graeme and I appologise to AL9315 for jumping into his thread.

The XP5xs does a sterling job to my 272 in terms of performance and you certainly know  once you remove the XP5xs and run the 272 naked. 

I may just look out for a used XPSdr and give this a try and compare to existing setup.

HiFiman posted:

Thanks Graeme and I appologise to AL9315 for jumping into his thread.

The XP5xs does a sterling job to my 272 in terms of performance and you certainly know  once you remove the XP5xs and run the 272 naked. 

I may just look out for a used XPSdr and give this a try and compare to existing setup.

Worth trying before you buy, HiFiman. My experience of PSUs on a nDAc was that the XP5XS offered nearly as much as the XPS2 (XPS2 and XPS2DR) at half the price. Now a 555PS, that was in a different league altogether.  In my view the XP5XS punches well above its weight. 

Yeah I have read a few of your comments on different threads regarding the XPS and the nDac and it took a 555 to make it worth while thanks for the reminder.

I will not be parting with any cash if the difference isn't big between the XP5xs and XPSdr ????

When I purchased the XP5xs my main goal was to separate the PSU from the 272 and activate all power rails, and you are right MDS the XP5xs does punch well above it's weight and is a steal in the used market.

al9315 posted:

Within the context of my current system (see profile) :-

I am considering getting the DR upgrade to my XPS - improving the source (NDX)

Will this produce an audible upgrade? - I have heard fully DRd systems but not one similar to what I am contemplating.

Any advice will be welcome !

I struggled with my XPS DR / NDX for a long time, but it turned out, the “Burndy” cable I had was the cause of harshness and a top-heavy sound.  I have since gone back to the NDX without XPS to find I can’t do without it - it’s an obvious and huge upgrade. I can’t really speak for a non-DR XPS, but with DR, you get a beautiful, natural, analogue-like, almost organic, sound, with so much more detail and space, but never tiring or harsh. In my system, the top end is much more refined and smoother with XPS DR, so I’d be surprised if you don’t find it a significant improvement that your system doesn’t object to. FWIW; I have found that my hi-line doesn’t pair well with it, and I’m using the included interconnect, but that’s not a common opinion, it seems.

Am considering getting an XPSDR for my 272.  At one point, I had toyed with the idea of a 555PS, but thought that it might be over the top for my system (Core/Dave/272/250DR & Burmester B10 speakers).  From what I'm reading here, I think that the XPSDR will be a good upgrade.

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In the context of your system, the 272 makes no sense to me so upgrading makes less. How about a used 252 and a SCDR? Or even a 282?

Why do you think the 272 makes no sense?  Is it because I use it mainly as a preamp?  I've considered a 252 or 282.  However, I also like to listen to Internet radio.  I purchased the 272 well before I added the Dave DAC.  You don't think that adding an XPSDR would increase the sound quality of my system?

Thanks.

I think you should try both, I listened to a 555ps on a NDX, it was a very significant upgrade.

docmark posted:

Why do you think the 272 makes no sense?  Is it because I use it mainly as a preamp?  I've considered a 252 or 282.  However, I also like to listen to Internet radio.  I purchased the 272 well before I added the Dave DAC.  You don't think that adding an XPSDR would increase the sound quality of my system?

Thanks.

No I think it certainly will improve things. The 272 is a cracking item.

But a Dave deserves a far better class of pre and hanging onto the 272 for internet radio seems counterintuitive. Most of the 272 functionality isn't utilised in this scenario and as a pure pre, there are things more suitable (and dedicated) that would show what the Dave and 250 can really do.

I agree, it seems a bit odd to have an all in one streamer/DAC/preamp, and only use the preamp, at least with your main source. I’m sure an XPS will still improve it, as well as improving the digital components that you don’t use. 

If you do decide to change over to a separate preamp, now might be a good time. If you change the 272 for, say, a 282, you would have to change the XPS too. 

If you want iRadio, Tidal etc you would get better sound by routing that signal through your DAC too.

If I get a 282 instead of the 272, I would also need a power supply, correct?  How much would that be - yes, I know price would depend on the power supply unit chosen.  The 282 is worth about $9K US, isn't it?  This is starting to look like an expensive upgrade.

A HiCap will be needed. A Flatcap would work but a HiCap is the natural partner. Considering the Dave would be a suitable partner with a 552, a 282 or 252 is really the least it deserves.

If you can borrow a 282 from a dealer, it would be best. I'd not expect anyone to just take someone elses word for it.

docmark posted:

If I get a 282 instead of the 272, I would also need a power supply, correct?  How much would that be - yes, I know price would depend on the power supply unit chosen.  The 282 is worth about $9K US, isn't it?  This is starting to look like an expensive upgrade.

If you have access to a decent used market where you live the 282 plus an older HC a CB for instance could be more affordable than you think and as for internet radio there are many very affordable ways of streaming radio to your Dave. Ultimately the 282 or 252 does make sense with such a fantastic source as Dave but it is your system, your wallet and your ears, if I had taken all the advice on this forum I would have spent many thousands of pounds on upgrades but apart from psu issues for my 282 im very happy with my system as is and thousands of pounds to the good not upgrading.