I’m really enjoying my 300, which I’ve been playing for about a month now. It sounds different from the 250. There are moments when I don’t think my Kind of Blue was as “soft” as it is now. It’s an album that’s already very laid-back to listen to, and can be enjoyed both intensely and as cool background music.
My system is, as you know:
Source XPSDR>CDX2 and Rega Aria>Project Turntable
Connected to
CD555PS>NAC-N272>NAP300DR
Speakers Dynaudio Contour S 1.4 LE..
I’m not sure where the weakest link is. My Dyns still impress me. Many people here in the forum have recommended that I replace the 272 with a 282 or 252. I may be looking at a 252 with Supercap DR.
It’s a difficult choice because I can see that more black boxes (perhaps) are on the way. I’m up to six boxes now.
The 252 and Supercap I am looking at are second-hand with 12 years behind. They are said to still perform excellently.
How much of an upgrade will I get here, and is there a better solution?
I am considering omitting these boxes: XPS, 272 and Rega Aria (if there is a good RIAA section in the 252?).
The key here is that you have a 555PS on your 272. Without that, the upgrade to a 252/SC would be a no brainer. With it, you really need to listen to see if you think the upgrade would be worth it. Bear in mind, the 252 and SC will need servicing soon, if they haven’t already. That’s some serious change to add to the advertised price. And the 252 has no phono/RIAA stage.
Thank you 77a
… for your valuable insights, which are worth considering in the overall assessment. Is it only the DR part, i.e. the supercap, that needs servicing? Incidentally, I don’t think these boxes are in use for very many years before they need servicing. And how much would something like that cost?
You’d also need to keep the Aria as there is no phono stage on the 252.
There is also no headphone socket on the 252 if that makes a difference.
If all that is OK then go for it. I have 252/300 and I absolutely love it. If the 555 does the same for the CDX2 as it does for an NDX2 then you’re in for a treat there too!
Exactly Entilzha, I’ve always been happy with my cdx2 and it will be paired with the 555. I’ve tried that before and it was good.
Well, when you sum it up like that, there are still a few things you’ll miss when you say goodbye to the 272. I still think it can stream in really good quality. Plus, the headphone output is really good… hmmm
Be very sure to listen to a 252 in your system before you commit. Some years ago I too upgraded my 250 to 300DR. I was running a 282/SC at the time. I then had an extensive home demo of a 252. It was very detailed and refined but…it didn’t have the vitality or ‘boogie’ that my 282 had. That was very obvious to both me and my dealer when he came round to swop out the 252 and re-insert the 282. So the 282/SC stayed until I could afford a 552, which was a whole different league.
The 252 v 282 debate has been around for years on here. I don’t think there’s necessarily and ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ view, its just down to personal preference. I know you’re coming to this from an N272, which I have never heard but would strongly advise having a good demo, preferably at home in your own system. You might fall in love with it, many do, but it might also underwhelm.
I have a 300DR, which replaced a 250 a few years ago. I had a 52 for some years and it was a great pairing; the boogie is a bit less permanently obvious than with an 82 (which sounds very like a 282) but not actually lacking, and there is a clarity and subtlety that no 82/282 can give.
Adding a second Hicap or using a Supercap with an 82 is imho fractionally better but not a real upgrade.
We heard a 252/300, and didn’t think it was an upgrade over a 52. A 52 remains a big sound-per-£ bargain if you don’t mind mixing Olive and Classic boxes.
Eventually, I tried a 552. Now that is an upgrade over 52/252, and the 300DR really shows the difference, but a 552 costs a packet even s/h.
I believe that 282 may be a little more balanced with Supercap DR than HicapDR, or is the difference very small with the connection to 300? I can see from the Compatibility card that we are dealing with many boxes when it comes to 282. That is why 272 is actually quite ingenious and versatile, not so many boxes before the amplifier.
It shouldn’t be easy…
Yes, thank you, that helps in terms of which boxes to consider. You also gave a good overview of the various combination options. I don’t really mind mixing green boxes with OC. Keeping the number of boxes down is already a problem to begin with.
That was not my experience. When I demo’ed a 282/250 (I then had a Chord pre/power) I started with a HiCap on the 282. It was good. But then the dealer swopped out the HiCap for an SC. The scale of the performance leapt upwards. I knew instantly that I had to have an SuperCap. As always, let your own ears be the decider (and budget, of course)
I think we can sometimes get caught up in specs and forget to listen for ourselves.
On my way to my current system I went from a SN3/HCDR to SN3/SCDR. I knew I wanted a 252 but was biding my time.
I knew full well that the SN3 couldn’t use any more power rails than the HCDR provided, but the Supercap sounded better anyway. Better quality transformers / caps I guess.
So I can easily believe the same for other naim preamps
Okay from experience, both the 282 and 252 are going to show the preamp element of the 272 a clean pair of heals, I have previously described the 282 as visceral and the 252 as mature but neither exclusively so, take your pick both make captivating music, the 282 is best paired with a SC(DR).
With regard to servicing providing everything else is equal it isn’t a show stopper but some recognition might be granted in the price.
And yes get the 555PSU on the CDX2 if that is the primary listening.
Edit - those Contours are fine and will lap up the greater insight provided by the 282 or 252, particularly the latter.
I’ll be the enfant terrible and suggest a non-Naim pre into a 300Dr as it really scales well and you can pair it with all manner of brands. Solid-state or valve.
No matter what you chose try to get a home demo. It is vital to hear how it gels with what you have. Synergy is key.