Well all go down the road of “I wasn’t supposed to, but then out of nowhere…” 
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It’ll be interesting to compare with the XPS DR. If I don’t think the improvement is worthwhile I have the option to return the 555. I thought the XPS made a big difference in itself.
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To my ears XPSDR is a bigger change to a naked 272 than XPSDR to 555PSDR. This means I don’t agree with some of the member here FWIW.
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I see you have XPSDR and 555DR in your profile. Which one is powering the 272?
I agree the XPS makes a big difference. I went fairly quickly from:
90’s Technics CD + amp > 272 + Technics amp > 272 + 150X > XPSDR + 272 + 150X > XPSDR + 272 + NAP300
To my ears the XPS addition had the biggest “wow” factor, and this includes the most recent change of swapping the MA BR2 speakers for APC SCM11. All of the changes have had a significant impact but the 300 did take something away over the 150X. The system became more composed and detailed, but it lost a little excitement and drive. I’m hoping the 555 will inject some of that back.
I’m sure I’d miss the 300 if I swapped it back for the 150X, particularly the detail, but the 150X was great fun.
XPSDR did but is now replaced with 555PSDR.
To my ears 555PSDR is to XPSDR what 300DR is to 250DR. I don’t hear more excitement and drive from the 555PSDR. It’s more on the path going from 250DR to 300DR IMO. It seems 252 is the same path compared to 282 so I assume the design philosophy at Naim is the higher you go the more composed, relaxed and natural the sound is and more demanding so to say by the user just like an expansive wine. If you think you get more and more of what you have on the cheaper Naim equipment by climbing the ladder then you will get disappointed.
That makes a lot of sense and fits with my experience. I’m sure if I swapped the 150X back for a few days I’d soon want the 300 back. I used to suffer listening fatigue at times with the 150X but not so on the 300. A favourite album is less enjoyable on the 300, but that’s the transparency showing up the poor quality production/recording which wasn’t evident before. I guess like with anything in life there’s always a trade off. I’ve read the 500 series sources and amps have the best of both worlds, but out of reach for me right now.
My personal favourite speakers with Naim, at sensible prices, are Dynaudio and Kudos.
However, I found the cables also made a big contribution to the sound.
I ended up using Witch Hat Phantoms.
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Just fired up the 555. It’s fantastic 
Bigger upgrade than bare to XPSDR to my ears? Possibly, possibly not, tough call. Both great upgrades but the 555 takes things to another level again. The laid back presentation I’ve had since adding the 300 has been replaced by something rather more forward and involving. The bass is making my spine tingle, that’s the biggest improvement of all. OK I’ve only listened to a few tracks, but it’s a keeper.
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Yes the bass is biggest difference from XPSDR together with sounding more “analogue” and real. It’s much more well defined/tight. The 555 grows in my setup hour by hour just like the 300DR did. Love it.
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Yeah 100% having listened for a few hours that nagging digital feeling to the sound is largely supressed and it does sound more real.
Now I wonder what DR’ing the 300 would add…
Having now spent a good few listening hours with the PS555DR I have to agree with those saying it’s a bit special with the 272. On my short but steep journey going up the hifi ladder there’s been some great uplifting moments but there was also always compromise i.e. more drive less composure, more detail less warmth, more open less excitement. For the first time my system sounds absolutely bang on, like everything is working in harmony. It just sounds ‘right’ if that makes sense…
The none DR 300 (serviced last year) in my setup is the perfect partner for my SL2s and I’m in no rush to DR, the none DR 300 and SL2s just click together but I guess this is no surprise as they were designed together.
Yeah the next logical upgrade would be to DR my 300. But the system sounds right in every respect just now. I’d be nervous about upsetting the balance.
It feels like there isn’t anything lacking, for the first time. Will adding something better take something else way? And will it take exponentially more financially to address the weakness? That’s my take on things so far. It feels like a hard won balance that I’ve got now, and I’m nervous about upsetting the applecart. I think the one thing I could upgrade to give me more of everything is the speakers.
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