Is 300DR needed to get most out of 272/555PSDR?

I would strongly suggest that you listen and decide for yourself before committing to an expensive box upgrade like that. You will likely hear a variety of different opinions here, as has been the case in the past with various PSU upgrades, and you won’t know which opinion aligns with your own until you’ve heard it for yourself. 

Yes, you should try and listen to both the XPSDR and the PS555DR in your system to decide. One thing I am sure of is that a 250DR is more than transparent enough to reveal the benefits of the PS555DR. I went from a XPS to a PS555DR on my NDS, using a 250DR throughout. The uplift in SQ was fundamental and significant (in a good way), indicating the 250DR is more than up to the challenge.

Just replaced an XP5XS with a 555DR on my existing setup 272/250DR with a huge lift in performance I don't think the 250DR is holding anything back.

Also Simon in Suffolk on the parish uses a 552 into the older 250.2 I guess its down the speakers.

Thanks all. Unfortunately there is no place near enough to me for a demo, but you've answered my main question about the 250DR being up to the task with a 555PS. Thanks again!

YES, you do.  I moved from XPS DR to 555 DR on my 272.  Big improvement!  Though I already had a 300 Dr in my system.  Thus, the performance of the 272/xps dr, was really holding back the 300.  I suppose the 250DR, in the same way, is holding back the 272/555 DR.  Now, the 300 is the big star of my system.  What an amp!

I doubt a 250DR is holding back a 272/555DR

With those Magicos I’d say get both, but do the 555PS first. 

hungryhalibut posted:

With those Magicos I’d say get both, but do the 555PS first. 

That’s the plan HH!

Great. I got both last year and the difference was huge. You’ll love it. 

Make sure you home demo before buying. When upgrading I’d mentally already purchased the 300DR to go with the 272 and 555PS.  When my dealer installed with my ProAc K6s I was bitterly disappointed - flabby, booming bass, not pleasant. Substituting the 250DR (on the recommendations of Stewart Tyler, head honcho of ProAc, and one of Naim’s reps) brought about an immediate transformation. My story was met, on this forum, with much disbelief and incredulity - the belief of many, particularly owners of the 300DR, is that it is a far superior amp, period. It may well be - it certainly sounded fantastic in my dealer’s demo room, but not in my lounge! Perhaps if I’d been willing to shop around for different speakers the result may have been different. All I’m saying is don’t just assume the 300 will get the best out of your system in your room - try it first.

Good luck!

Good advice - thanks Timmo

Good advice from Timmo, more expense doesn't always mean success, speaker choice, room acoustics etc etc home demo essential

Robert Burgess posted:

hungryhalibut posted:

With those Magicos I’d say get both, but do the 555PS first. 

That’s the plan HH!

Hi Robert - I'm going (next week) to hear the A3's at my local dealer.  I own 252/250DR; he has a 250DR and might have his 272 in to use as a front end; otherwise it'll be non-Naim front end.  I'll bring my usb stick of usual audition music.

I don't want to derail your thread but I'd love to hear your impressions now that you'hve had them for a few months.  Feel free to email me directly - email is in my profile here.

The advice that you should listen for yourself stands.  However, I have a 250DR and adding a 555PSU to my CDS3 was very clearly a big improvement across all aspects of performance.  

Regards,

Lindsay

Hi Bart - Afraid I couldn’t see the email address in your profile, but glad to give my impression of the Magico A3 speakers: they’re very natural sounding with good imaging, but took quite  a while to “run-in”- well over 100 hours before the base settled down and tightened up. Despite being a sealed box design, they do need a bit of space (at least a foot or two) from the wall. I’ve had them for a couple of months now and am very pleased! While not cheap, I think they’re well worth it and stand up well in the price range of the competition here in the States. Have a good listen! Bob

BPou posted:

YES, you do.  I moved from XPS DR to 555 DR on my 272.  Big improvement!  Though I already had a 300 Dr in my system.  Thus, the performance of the 272/xps dr, was really holding back the 300.  I suppose the 250DR, in the same way, is holding back the 272/555 DR.  Now, the 300 is the big star of my system.  What an amp!

 

Not quite sure I understand your logic. I think it far more likely the XPS DR was holding back the performance of your 272, which wasn’t fully realised until you added the 555 DR. Given neither you nor the OP have, or had, the 272/555/250 combo, how can you state the 250 is holding back the 272/555? I fully get you like your 300, but unless you previously owned a 250 you aren’t relating a first hand comparison.

I'm keen to see how this pans out, as my next upgrade is v likely to be exactly this; swapping out the XPSDR for a 555DR to power the 272 into the 250DR. If anyone can add to what's already been written it'll be mucho appreciated.

I too am planning the same (555DR) upgrade for my bare 272/250DR. I have a slightly different motivation though, which is that I can see the ND555/NAC252/SC looming on the 1-3 year horizon which, of course, will slot in with the 555PSDR. The 300DR would be an extra box and, for me, the 250DR is all the power I think I need.

The 300 isn’t just about power, and on paper it’s only 10W per channel more powerful. I wouldn’t agree that the 250 holds back the 272/555: it reveals the dramatic improvement that the 555 makes very clearly. About a week after swapping the XPS for the 555 I swapped the250 for the 300 and things shifted up another level. The interesting thing about the 300 is that it made the speakers seem about two feet taller as well as being much more open and natural. I think it’s a truly wonderful amplifier, very significantly better all round than the 250. I’ve always found it curious that it didn’t work for Tim, as his findings go very much against the grain. But findings are findings and it’s always best to try before you buy. 

ChrisR_EPL posted:

I'm keen to see how this pans out, as my next upgrade is v likely to be exactly this; swapping out the XPSDR for a 555DR to power the 272 into the 250DR. If anyone can add to what's already been written it'll be mucho appreciated.

I went straight to a 555DR with my 272/250DR and have never looked back. I tried the XPSDR for all of 3 minutes but the 555DR was so superior I bought it on the spot. I have listened to  the ND555 connected to the Statement on several occasions. It is superior to my far more humble setup, but the 272/555DR/259DR loses nothing to it in timing or musical satisfaction. It just misses the sheer scale and chutzpah of the super expensive system. The 555DR brings great finesse and naturalness to the sound and makes the most of the 272. The 250DR amply demonstrates how good the 272/555DR is. I have thought about the ND555 in my system but the sheer expense and extra box count precludes that, and what I have is a superbly balanced system  as it is. Maybe one day I'll get a 300DR , a more sensible option in terms of balance and expense, but there is no great hurry. So ChrisR hope that helps.

hungryhalibut posted:

The 300 isn’t just about power, and on paper it’s only 10W per channel more powerful. I wouldn’t agree that the 250 holds back the 272/555: it reveals the dramatic improvement that the 555 makes very clearly. About a week after swapping the XPS for the 555 I swapped the250 for the 300 and things shifted up another level. The interesting thing about the 300 is that it made the speakers seem about two feet taller as well as being much more open and natural. I think it’s a truly wonderful amplifier, very significantly better all round than the 250. I’ve always found it curious that it didn’t work for Tim, as his findings go very much against the grain. But findings are findings and it’s always best to try before you buy. 

Me too, HH! I’d actually had my mind set upon the 300, and was bitterly disappointed when I heard it perform. The only thing that had occurred to me was that the demo amp was a 10 year old that had been DR’d some 12 months previously, but it had sounded absolutely fine at the dealers. We checked absolutely everything, but could find nothing amiss, except for the fact it really did not sound good in my room! It really was ‘night and day’ when the 250 replaced it. What I found revealing was that neither Stewart Tyler of ProAc, and a Naim rep whose name escapes me, were surprised, implying they had encountered this issue before. One of life’s mysteries I suppose, although I may be tempted to try another demo one of these years!

I've got the 250DR and a 272 powered by non-Naim psu and love the sound through PMC 25.23s.

I'm surprised about some of the comments about the 300 (DR) being hit & miss as everything I've read upto now has been nothing short of glowing.

Gordon

Moderated post; Gordon I have edited your post to ensure it complies with forum rules.

gsr posted:

I've got the 250DR and a 272 powered by non-Naim psu and love the sound through PMC 25.23s.

I'm surprised about some of the comments about the 300 (DR) being hit & miss as everything I've read upto now has been nothing short of glowing.

Gordon

Moderated post; Gordon I have edited your post to ensure it complies with forum rules.

I don’t think its so much ‘hit and miss’ as a case of variable factors affecting performance. I’m sure that had I selected different speakers to the ProAc, which have a bit of a reputation for difficult to tame bass, the 300 DR would have performed admirably. As it is, I’m a very happy and satisfied 250DR owner with a slightly healthier bank balance!

I'm 3 days in with my 555dr which replaced the XP5XS using 272/250dr not sure how you can improve on this, the sound into my Proac Tab 10 sigs is stunning.

The bass is more defined and deeper, mids and the detail incredible and all from a sealed small box speaker.

Not sure what a 300dr would bring to my setup, may be  tip it over the edge.

Anyway I have promised the wife no more spending for 5 years spent too much this year 250dr, fraim, 555dr and cherry Tab 10 sigs!

As a now ex 272/xpsdr/250dr owner I am sure the 250 can handle everything you can throw at it front end wise

How do I know?      By the fact it easily showed the massive improvement going to the NDS / 252 Supercap front end I now have

Just so much more of everything..and still though the 250DR and same speakers...