272 pre amp

There are many, many comments on the Forum about this, and you’d do well to search rather than starting off another debate. How good the 272 is relative to the others depends on its power supply. Your decision also needs to take account of whether you wish to use its streamer and other facilities. 

I would use it bare until I could afford to upgrade the power supply.

Hi hungry halibut I would use it bare at the moment until I could afford to upgrade the power supply ,and I will be using the streamer thanks acetone.

I used a 272 in place of a 552 whilst the 552 went on holiday to Salisbury to be DR'd.  At that time the main amp was a NAP500 and speakers were B&W 802Ds.  I found the 272 to be a very accomplished preamp;  it's no 552, but it comes close enough that I was not put off playing music as usual during those three weeks.  And that was without an external power supply.

As far as I'm concerned it's great value for money  

Only your ears can tell. Also box count is reduced as streaming and DAC built in. I'm very pleased running it bare into 250DR and PMC 20 24's. If I had the space I might, and I say only might, consider separate preamp and streamer DAC. Rich. 

The consensus here is 272 pre section would be around 202 level. Complemented by a power supply, would put it around 282 level.

Well, I don’t necessarily agree with your consensus. If you are using the streamer it’s impossible to tell anyway. What matters is which of the various options one prefers, and how many boxes one can handle. 

Interesting, so where does the pre in the Supernait2 lie then, esp if a Hicap dr is added?

All these comparisons depend on what power supply the 202 and 282 are using as well, of which there are even more options than for the 272. Best go back to the 2015 threads (when 272 was launched) for the many opinions, or better get a demo and trust your own ears..

I would be happy to add my opinion to the list, but I think the more opinions you get, the more confused you will be  Depends on where you are going with the rest of your system too.  

272 - Naim recommend NAP250DR or even the NAP300DR

202 - Naim recommend NAP200DR

282 - Naim recommend NAP250DR or even the NAP300DR

Most on here would see the 202/250 as a mullet even with a PSU.

So what does this say about the 272 pre section.

HiFiman posted:

272 - Naim recommend NAP250DR or even the NAP300DR

202 - Naim recommend NAP200DR

282 - Naim recommend NAP250DR or even the NAP300DR

Most on here would see the 202/250 as a mullet even with a PSU.

So what does this say about the 272 pre section.

That it would be desperately in need of an expensive PSU to hold its own in such a comparison. 

And the bickering starts...... That’s why I gave the answer I gave above. Just listen to the bloody options and decide what fits the bill. 

Crazy question but has anyone connected a NDX to 272 to hear how it sounds vs 282/NDX? Also how the NDX compares to streamer built in to 272? Just curious. 

You’re right, it’s a crazy question. Somebody probably has, though. 

ChrisSU posted:

You’re right, it’s a crazy question. Somebody probably has, though. 

Lol. I’m sure someone has. Nowcwill they admit to it and give us details?

Hears one that will annoy some probably but....

if a new 272 is on the near horizon where will it stand. 

If the new NDX2 is classed now inline with the old NDS or better does that mean a new 272 MK2 will be inline with the original NDX, as I wouldn’t believe that they would make it as good as the NDX2. 

Thoughts?

I compared a bare 272 as a streamer / DAC to an ND5 XS and also compared the bare 272 to an ND5 XS and Nait XS preamp; the 272 won both the contests quite easily.

Popeye posted:

Hears one that will annoy some probably but....

if a new 272 is on the near horizon where will it stand. 

If the new NDX2 is classed now inline with the old NDS or better does that mean a new 272 MK2 will be inline with the original NDX, as I wouldn’t believe that they would make it as good as the NDX2. 

Thoughts?

I understood, from Jason when these were shown at Bristol, that the NDX2 with 555PS gets quite close to the NDS / 555 but doesn’t equal it. 

The 272 isn’t close to a 282.

I have heard both on my 250dr with an analog turntable

thinking about it, why would a 272 be good enough to challenge a 282?

282 is good enough preamp for life.... every time I hear a 252 or 552 system they sound very good but coming back home to my 282 I never feel the urge to upgrade...

The streamer / DAC of the current 272 stands between the ND5 XS and the NDX.
The preamp of the current 272 stands between the 202 and the 282.
Not bad considering that the price is only slightly more than was the price of the ND5 XS + a 202, and you get upgrades to BOTH components.

If Naim produce a 272 Mk2 then it's likely to be positioned in between the ND5 XS 2 and the NDX 2 and the 202 and 282.
One change though is that the 272 can be fitted with an external PSU to get a remarkable lift in performance, where as the ND5 XS 2 can't.

Slightly off topic guys but it has me wondering, if this is the case of the 272. What is the consensus of the pre amp in the Supernait2 then compared with the 272?

ESP with the addition of a Hicap Dr or Supercap DR

Popeye posted:

Slightly off topic guys but it has me wondering, if this is the case of the 272. 

If what is the case?

hungryhalibut posted:

Popeye posted:

Slightly off topic guys but it has me wondering, if this is the case of the 272. 

If what is the case?

Sits between the 202/282