Whilst not the most natural upgrade, I came across a 250 DR for a pretty good price recently and snapped it up with a view to it being the start of an upgrade journey to a 282 over the next 18-months.
I added it in this morning expecting to be fairly underwhelmed (as I know most suggest adding a 282 is the first upgrade to an SN3*) but I am pretty much blown away with the difference it has made.
I knew it would likely add more bass but everything seams to have been bought forward by about 10-foot making it for a much more engaging listening experience. Only had a quick listen to ROON but will grab some time later today with my P8 for a more in depth listening session.
Long-term plan is a 3-box solution (to keep on a single rack) with a non-NAIM streamer / transport (most likely a Zenith Mk3) - I am thinking the following:
NAC 282
Supercap DR
250 DR
Reason for the Supercap DR is that I “may” look toward a 252 when we move house in a coupe of years, and I have more room to play with in the lounge. I know for harmony purposes that would then mean a 300 DR but then that’s still only 4 boxes.
Why do so few people add a NAP 200 / 250DR to the SN3 even when it’s advised by NAIM on the official “Upgrade Path” ?!?
I think may be your speakers (as in your profile) are needing that extra current/power?
Not every set of speakers and room requires it necessarily, the amp is just a function of these.
I added NAC 282 first to SN2, as I was told that the change in the system was bigger than what 250 would have brought, now I am looking for a 250 dr to complete the change. I have to say that the 282 introduction brought big improvement in terms of detail, instrument positioning, definition of the sound, so I am glad you found improvement with 250 as soon I will get it and I can assure you that the 282 will bring big change, even with hicap DR instead of supercap
Naim has to know that a 272 replacement is the absolute first-priority new product for a lot of people!
Right now I can see a SN3+HC+NDX2+XPS in my future, but if the 272 replacement comes out soon, I definitely would consider going that route with a SC and NAP 250!
Had my 250DR for 7 years now, very very good amp. Notwithstanding the forthcoming 272/372/572 if you’re going to have a SC see if you hear a 252, when going up the Naim ladder it sometimes pays to jump a rung.
…congratulations you are not alone on taking this route. Type in 250 to SN or 282 to SN in the search bar and you will find 50+ threads listed under each.
I took the NAC 282 to my SN 2 first since I had the HiCap already. Then traded in the SN 2 for the NAP 250 DR later on. Reading through the threads in the past there is certainly a lot of support for both routes when making the move from integrated to separates.
For a couple of reasons: the first is because of the source first philosophy (?) and the other is because Naim are ARGUABLY known more for their preamps rather than their amps (?), thus people tend to go this route first, on top of that, you can add a Nac to a SN with no Cap attached to it. That’s why my SN2 is not going anywhere.
I would say that SN2 or 3 are something like NAC 112 with Nap 200 . So it’s normal that going for a 282 first with the SN will give more uplift, because the difference between the 112 and 282 is much bigger than between 200 and 250.
I know, it’s more an opinion than really a fact.
