Naim 282 hicap Vs Hegel p30

Posted by: DutchNaim on 19 May 2018

Hello, i am a Naim fan. Driving the system with a NAC 272 with 555 ps with 2 Jeff Rowland model 6 vintage mono amps. Wired it all with Chord super array. I tried a Hegel p30 from a friend and it wins out the preamp of the NAC272. I reed people saying that the preamp performance of the NAC272 hangs between the NAC282 - 252. I want too upgrade to a NDS with the 555dr so need a good preamp. The sound of the Hegel p30 impressed me very much. Very tubelike natural sound and with good dynamics en bass. It has the musicality like Naim gear. They are also a lot cheaper than the Naim combo’s. Does somebody have experience to help me compare? Because i do not have a friend where i can borrow a Naim preamp to try it at home and do a long period of listening.

Br,

Posted on: 22 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

French Rooster posted:
you will hardly find someone you have compared the hegel p30 with naim nac 282/hicap. You will have to borrow the 282/ hicap or buy it blindly. Good luck.

Leaving the NAC282/HiCap DR to one side and fwiw, in almost two years none of our clients chose a P30 over a NAC-N272, NAC-N272/XPS DR or NAC-N272/555 PS DR even when using Hegel’s highest performing and most expensive product the H30 power amp.

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by French Rooster

Musicraft (Derby) posted:
French Rooster posted:
you will hardly find someone you have compared the hegel p30 with naim nac 282/hicap. You will have to borrow the 282/ hicap or buy it blindly. Good luck.
Leaving the NAC282/HiCap DR to one side and fwiw, in almost two years none of our clients chose a P30 over a NAC-N272, NAC-N272/XPS DR or NAC-N272/555 PS DR even when using Hegel’s highest performing and most expensive product the H30 power amp.

but the op found the pre section of the hegel p30 better than the pre of 272/555dr.....

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by Antonio1

Dan.S posted:
The 272 is a preamp @ 202 - 282 level, and a streamer&dac @ ND5XS - NDX level. Upgrading it with a power supply will lift its pre performance above 282 and its stream/dac section @ NDX level.
Any suggestions/corrections are welcomed.

272 maximizes one thing only, being a streamer with a gain i.e. digital &internet streaming (in that it's very good if you're not interested in other sources ,it beats the box count and an all full XS level ).

In Naim hierarchy it's the entry product at classic preamp level ,then we have 202 -282-252-552 -statement preamp.

Also, any separates preamp in the line as above matched starting from 202 to any Naim streaming separate source is definitely better as for SQ.

As to the OP it's no surprise the finding the 272 being largely behind the Hegel and should try a real Naim preamp.

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

French Rooster posted:
Musicraft (Derby) posted:
French Rooster posted:
you will hardly find someone you have compared the hegel p30 with naim nac 282/hicap. You will have to borrow the 282/ hicap or buy it blindly. Good luck.
Leaving the NAC282/HiCap DR to one side and fwiw, in almost two years none of our clients chose a P30 over a NAC-N272, NAC-N272/XPS DR or NAC-N272/555 PS DR even when using Hegel’s highest performing and most expensive product the H30 power amp.
but the op found the pre section of the hegel p30 better than the pre of 272/555dr.....

I am just relaying our experience across of the pre’s with the H30.

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by French Rooster

Musicraft (Derby) posted:
French Rooster posted:
Musicraft (Derby) posted:
French Rooster posted:
you will hardly find someone you have compared the hegel p30 with naim nac 282/hicap. You will have to borrow the 282/ hicap or buy it blindly. Good luck.
Leaving the NAC282/HiCap DR to one side and fwiw, in almost two years none of our clients chose a P30 over a NAC-N272, NAC-N272/XPS DR or NAC-N272/555 PS DR even when using Hegel’s highest performing and most expensive product the H30 power amp.
but the op found the pre section of the hegel p30 better than the pre of 272/555dr.....
I am just relaying our experience across of the pre’s with the H30.

i see in your profile that you have esoteric source and jl audio amp, with naim pre. Why this choice to use specially naim pre, as your customers, if i may ask?

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

The JL Audio amp you are referring to is the CR-1 which is an active subwoofer crossover. I am sorry to say that I don't understand your question. I'd be grateful if you clarify this please.

Posted on: 23 May 2018 by French Rooster

Musicraft (Derby) posted:
The JL Audio amp you are referring to is the CR-1 which is an active subwoofer crossover. I am sorry to say that I don't understand your question. I'd be grateful if you clarify this please.

I am wondering about your choice for a naim pre , as your customers, vs pre of other brands, with non all naim gear( example : nac 282 with atc active, nac 272 with hegel). It could have been naim source with non naim pre, or naim amps with non naim pre .....

Posted on: 24 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

I am content on how the NAC282/SuperCap DR is working with the other components. Sorry to say it again but I don't understand the rest.

Posted on: 24 May 2018 by French Rooster

Musicraft (Derby) posted:
I am content on how the NAC282/SuperCap DR is working with the other components. Sorry to say it again but I don't understand the rest.

sorry but my english is limited.....no matter, enjoy.

Posted on: 24 May 2018 by Stringerbell

Rick
Lol...I suppose what French Rooster is asking in french-english is : why did you favor this particular source over a naim source, and why are your pairing it with a naim pre and atc actives ? And pertaining to the 282, what makes you prefer it to other preamps in your system ?

I believe , you were using a hegel P30 in the past

Posted on: 24 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

French Rooster posted:
Musicraft (Derby) posted:
I am content on how the NAC282/SuperCap DR is working with the other components. Sorry to say it again but I don't understand the rest.
sorry but my english is limited.....no matter, enjoy.

No worries and no need to apologise.

Posted on: 24 May 2018 by Musicraft (Derby)

Stringerbell posted:
Rick
Lol...I suppose what French Rooster is asking in french-english is : why did you favor this particular source over a naim source, and why are your pairing it with a naim pre and atc actives ? And pertaining to the 282, what makes you prefer it to other preamps in your system ?
I believe , you were using a hegel P30 in the past

The NAC282/SuperCap DR's transparency, grip (particularly in bass) and its ability to inject energy made it a no brainer. Boy can the system boogie with the NAC282/SuperCap DR

NDX 2/XPS DR and the ND 555/555PS DR are on my radar