I don’t get it.

Oh my god. The flat fish is going to have a field day with you my friend.

feeling_zen posted:

Oh my god. The flat fish is going to have a field day with you my friend.

I am just using that system configuration as an example, there are many others. 

Hi Popeye,  me too I guess.   But instead of being confused.dot.com, I’m more of a pinch of salt & a rolly.eye.com.     All the streamers mentioned are damn fine devices,  run as bare boxes I found the NDX had the edge,  But others say the 272 is really better with a 555,  I’ve not heard a 555 on both a 272 & NDX in a demo that I’m controlling so can’t really say.  Are they good enough to justify a 300,  that I have doubts about, but hey!   that combo satisfies a few people,  so what’s to be concerned about.  Enjoy. 

My next move is to active speakers but suspect by that time we might have a higher end new platform pre-streamer,  if so great,  I expect however that might add some more questions than answers.

I suppose the question to the OP is ‘why do you care?’  You’ve made your choice and are happy with what you have, so why worry about why other options do or don’t work? If you really want to decide whether the 272, 555 and 300 is a viable balanced system, just listen to one because at the moment, as you say yourself ‘I can’t really comment because I haven’t heard many of the combinations’. Or, and this is what I suggest, you forget about it and enjoy the music. 

hungryhalibut posted:

I suppose the question to the OP is ‘why do you care?’  You’ve made your choice and are happy with what you have, so why worry about why other options do or don’t work? If you really want to decide whether the 272, 555 and 300 is a viable balanced system, just listen to one because at the moment, as you say yourself ‘I can’t really comment because I haven’t heard many of the combinations’. Or, and this is what I suggest, you forget about it and enjoy the music. 

I “care” because it’s confusing for anyone who does and asks advice.

I think asking for advice on the forum is a risky proposition at times. This stuff we buy is too expensive to fork out for on hearsay. The help of a good dealer and demonstration is the way to go. Ultimately, there are people on this very forum who have decided to partner an Atom with $20,000 speakers and feel they made the right decision and that source first is a pile of outdated nonsense. People have every right to spend their money how they wish without judgement. But looking at how people spend money as a form of advice is probably not the way to go.

FWIW, a 272 with a 555PS or 300DR makes zero sense to me either. But I've never heard it and I'd absolutely need to know what it really did before deciding to discount that against another 3 or 4 box system. The forum can't do that for me.

As an ex 272 owner ...I think it's an excellent value for money purchase..that punches well above its weight and is a good basis for a mid range system when on its own or better partnered with an xpsdr or even a 555ps

Given that a preamp or streamer need a good power supply...I can see the sense in going as far as a 555 with it (especially bought used)

I can add that to improve on my 272/xpsdr combo ..I did have to go to a 252/scap dr and nds ...but ultimately ..I think that was the way to go if I change my 250dr to say a 300 in the future ...but that is just my thinking . Others may well think that 272/555/300 is a great end point... especially if not using any other source into the 272 ( I've now got a new rega 8 ..and that really shines into the 252)

Just my 2p worth .....

Have a look at the Naim site and see what they suggest about partnering equipment for the 272. You might be pleasantly surprised. With these types of questions it's always worth looking at the manufacturer's site for suggestions. Rich 

I think optimal choice of power amp is more influenced by speakers than source meaning that arguing about whether 272/555 justifies 300 over 250 is pointless before you know what the speakers are. 

And given that, IME, speakers are very sensitive to a) your room and b) personal taste - generalising about mullets is pretty pointless too.

I think these two points explain why people's experiences are contradictory and appear confusing.

Popeye posted:

hungryhalibut posted:

I suppose the question to the OP is ‘why do you care?’  You’ve made your choice and are happy with what you have, so why worry about why other options do or don’t work? If you really want to decide whether the 272, 555 and 300 is a viable balanced system, just listen to one because at the moment, as you say yourself ‘I can’t really comment because I haven’t heard many of the combinations’. Or, and this is what I suggest, you forget about it and enjoy the music. 

I “care” because it’s confusing for anyone who does and asks advice.

It might be confusing for you, but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone else. I’d suggest that if someone comes on here with a genuine question because they wish to buy a system, then people will go the extra mile to give suggestions. As it is, all you get is people saying ‘I don’t think the 272, 555, 300 makes sense, but I’ve never heard it’. WTF is the point or help in that? Ultimately all these options are very good, and that’s all that matters. It’s not really important to have ‘the best’, but to have what works for you. Endless debate about options is onanistic. 

Rich 1 posted:

Have a look at the Naim site and see what they suggest about partnering equipment for the 272. You might be pleasantly surprised. With these types of questions it's always worth looking at the manufacturer's site for suggestions. Rich 

Good heavens, what a novel idea. Asking people who know what they are talking about rather than those who dismiss things they have never experienced. It’ll never catch on. 

Rich 1 posted:

Have a look at the Naim site and see what they suggest about partnering equipment for the 272. You might be pleasantly surprised. With these types of questions it's always worth looking at the manufacturer's site for suggestions. Rich 

There is nothing surprising there, just says Nap 250 and Focal Sopras. 

My upgrade from a bare 272 to 272 + XPSDR (into a 250DR) was quite a jump, but based largely on the good vibes on here from people pushing the 272 + 555PS combo and +ve noises from my dealer I knew I'd end up there, and have. It's great, a level above the XPS combo. But that's it, for the foreseeable future at least. Three boxes is enough; to move on from here will need at least a 300 + PS, and a streamer +  pre-amp. That's quite some additional expense for what would be a superb system, but to me it's more than I'm comfortable with now. Life happens too and there's a family to consider so that'll do. A 272 + 555PS is brilliant from where I sit, for another £20k it could all move up a notch, but it doesn't appeal. 

If a 272 + 55 into a 300 is a mullet, what's the same into a 250? Other than a brilliant system? Source first & all that eh?

Edit - thanks HH, that screen grab thoroughly justifies where my system has ended up. Good stuff.

Not forgetting that a 555PS gives an element of future proofing when/if the 272’s successor puts in an appearance!

Popeye posted:

Rich 1 posted:

Have a look at the Naim site and see what they suggest about partnering equipment for the 272. You might be pleasantly surprised. With these types of questions it's always worth looking at the manufacturer's site for suggestions. Rich 

There is nothing surprising there, just says Nap 250 and Focal Sopras. 

Actually it also lists the 555DR as an upgrade path, so it is considered to be sufficiently good to be 'up to the 555'.

Furthermore one of the reviews Naim quote specifically mentions the tremendous improvement in performance that the 555DR brings to the party; ultimately however, you need to listen for yourself.

It’s not written as the suggested system which is what I was looking at however. 

I suppose a Robbin reliant would be improved with a Ferrari engine but I wouldn’t be exploring it. And it wouldn’t be the way I would go to get the “Ferrari”.

When the OP asks “surely in this guise.......” it says to me he’s simply after confirmatory stroking, reassurance he hasnt gone down the ‘wrong’ path! 

Popeye, if you’re that concerned then arrange a demo of the 272 etc. You’ll then be able to:

1.   relax 

or

2.   advertise the NDX and Supernait

Timmo1341 posted:

When the OP asks “surely in this guise.......” it says to me he’s simply after confirmatory stroking, reassurance he hasnt gone down the ‘wrong’ path! 

Popeye, if you’re that concerned then arrange a demo of the 272 etc. You’ll then be able to:

1.   relax 

or

2.   advertise the NDX and Supernait

Does it, o ????. No I said reading people’s posts over the years there are lots of contradictions to people’s “advice” and what they do themselves. 

If I wasn’t happy with what I have, I wouldn’t have it would I. ????

and like I said in my initial post, I used my own system as one example. 

Popeye posted:

It’s not written as the suggested system which is what I was looking at however. 

I suppose a Robbin reliant would be improved with a Ferrari engine but I wouldn’t be exploring it. And it wouldn’t be the way I would go to get the “Ferrari”.

Not a valid analogy.

But, to continue with the car analogy as you seem to associate with it: take something like a Lotus Elise, with the handling capability that has, but designed to fit with the option of a 1.4l engine from a Lada or engines up to the 2.6l Porche flat 6.

If you got the Lada 1.4l version and had the chance to fit the Porche engine, why wouldn't you (insurance and cost excepted!  )?

(If you prefer BMW, then consider the 4l BMW unit instead of the Porche engine.)

Huge posted:

Popeye posted:

It’s not written as the suggested system which is what I was looking at however. 

I suppose a Robbin reliant would be improved with a Ferrari engine but I wouldn’t be exploring it. And it wouldn’t be the way I would go to get the “Ferrari”.

Not a valid analogy.

To continue with the car analogy, take something like a Lotus Elise, with the handling capability that has, but designed to fit with the option of a 1.4l engine from a Lada or engines up to the 2.6l Porche flat 6.

If you got the Lada 1.4l version and had the chance to fit the Porche engine, why wouldn't you (insurance and cost excepted!  )?

???????? point taken Huge you know what I mean,but it’s wouldn’t be the way you would own a Porsche, get the engine in another car first. Ha

Popeye posted:

It’s not written as the suggested system which is what I was looking at however. 

I suppose a Robbin reliant would be improved with a Ferrari engine but I wouldn’t be exploring it. And it wouldn’t be the way I would go to get the “Ferrari”.

Weak sauce.

Naim state, "A Naim Audio Retailer will recommend the right system for you, however you may choose to partner the NAC-N 272 with the following as a start: [Sopras and a 250DR]."

What's REALLY bothering you?

Popeye posted:

???????? point taken Huge you know what I mean,but it’s wouldn’t be the way you would own a Porsche, get the engine in another car first. Ha

How about the trusty old Mk 2 Escort then? It came with a range of engines from 1100 up to 2 litres plus the mad option of the 1800 BDA screamer. It wasn't much of a job to swap one out for the other (+ running gear) and they were all intended to fit, Ford expected punters to buy whatever suited their needs within a range of prices & options. From pers exp a fast Ford was a match for most things on the road. If you want the ultimate, you need to go up to Statement / genuine Ferrari level. A 300 isn't that far from the 272/555 really. RS2 Custom territory (in 1979).

The old ND5xs also listed a 555PS as an upgrade path. Doesn't mean you should.

In any case, the only thing that matters is that people are happy with it, and they clearly are.

I also think the point the OP was making has been lost. Yes, people are adding high end power supplies and power amps to things like a 272 or a Uniti (power amp only) and it is readily accepted. But talk about adding a 300 onto a 202 or 555ps onto an NDX and you get far more comments about that being a waste of a 300 or 555ps than you get agreement on the virtues. There is a bit of a double standard going on in perception. Heck, you get a fair new naysayers if you talk about partnering a 300 with a 282 ("oohh Mavis, the 300 really needs at least a 252! Another cuppa?") .

The OP's observation about this duality is spot on.

Popeye posted:

Huge posted:

Popeye posted:

It’s not written as the suggested system which is what I was looking at however. 

I suppose a Robbin reliant would be improved with a Ferrari engine but I wouldn’t be exploring it. And it wouldn’t be the way I would go to get the “Ferrari”.

Not a valid analogy.

To continue with the car analogy, take something like a Lotus Elise, with the handling capability that has, but designed to fit with the option of a 1.4l engine from a Lada or engines up to the 2.6l Porche flat 6.

If you got the Lada 1.4l version and had the chance to fit the Porche engine, why wouldn't you (insurance and cost excepted!  )?

???????? point taken Huge you know what I mean,but it’s wouldn’t be the way you would own a Porsche, get the engine in another car first. Ha

No it wouldn't be a Porche (nor would it be a Lada), if I was going to buy an Elise I wouldn't be in the market for a Porche; I'd be buying an Elise because I wanted the Elise.  Buying it with the Lada engine would be a stepping stone to getting it with the engine I wanted when the opportunity arose / when I could afford it.
Furthermore if you remember the Elise was never fitted with a Lotus designed engine.

Chris's Mk2 Ford Escort is a much better analogy.