Love the 272 please update - 1 click like post

Thanks for the reminder. I was very kindly given a copy of the disc by a forum member a while back, and it’s ripped to the Qnap. I’m sure it’ll be put to good use over the coming weeks.

Interesting to read about your system changes Nigel, I understand the logic, but so sorry to read about your hearing loss.

I have made my own ‘enhancement’ tracks, maybe I’m kidding myself but I run it every now & then. (best done when out of the house)
I have taken some tracks from an old HiFi News test CD, a series of fixed & swept frequencies plus I’ve added the TQ ‘Yoga’ track. I recently gave to a friend who has just bought ATC 40’s, he says its turned them around from tight & unmusical to excellent in a very short time

I’m really sorry about your hearing loss and glad your are moving forward positively with the challenges Nigel. Change in life is a certainty, how we respond is the important thing. The new set up is very elegant and will surely sound great and bring much joy. Well done.

New system seems to have been well tried and rested by quite a few, Nigel, with really good results. My own dealer said, just a few weeks ago, that he felt it a very close run thing between it and our 272 based system. The ProAc Tablettes I know to be a terrific speaker, albeit not in the same league as the SL2s. Were I to buy stand mounted they would be my first choice.

Can I just echo what has already been said - your knowledge and experience of all things Naim is valued and appreciated by many of us. Best wishes, and hope to make it to a Wemsfest gig one of these years.

Nigel I too am sorry to hear about your hearing loss and wish you all the best in the future. Thankfully for us this won’t diminish your wonderful ability with a keyboard and your quick wit. Your new system looks great and I hope you have many more years of enjoying it.

I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the future.

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Really sorry about your hearing loss…it is a great fear I have my mum lost most of her hearing at 65…my hearing is not fantastic…at 59…it is one reason why I decided to have as good a system as I could whilst I could meaningfully enjoy it…and it’s something I will never regret. At the moment my hearing is OK up to around 12k…so not too bad… all the best mate…those little tablet’s will be amazing…they are funky little things full of spirit…all the best mate.

All the best @anon4489532.

Very sorry to read about your hearing issues HH. I admire the courage at addressing the situation pragmatically and then making the necessary component changes, and then of course being willing to share the information on the forum. Not an easy decision to make I’m sure, having invested time and effort to get the system working optimally. I can certainly empathise and appreciate the change in direction, having had a hearing issue of late. The replacement system is just lovely, and I’m sure will bring many hours of pleasure.

I’m a big fan of infinite baffle speakers, so I would expect those Proac speakers to sing in association with an NDX2/55 and SN3 - a lovely set up!

I don’t know the Proacs, shame as their factory is very close to me, but this looks an excellent system @anon4489532 has put together. What will be an absolute sweet spot will be the Nat 05/SN.

Hope the hearing holds up as best it can Nigel.

Regards,

Lindsay

I don’t know how I’d cope in your position - you seem to have tackled it stoically, and hopefully will give you pleasure from music for many years to come albeit not in the way you would have liked.

This really does remind me I should retire to make the best of my own time, while I am still capable of doing tge things I want to do including playing instruments.

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I’m also sorry for your loss of hearing @anon4489532. A dreadful thing to loose with this hobby. I’m glad to hear you still can enjoy listening to your music.

Hi Nigel, I’m so sorry to hear about your hearing loss. I’m very impressed with the way you’re dealing with it, and wish you all the best, keep enjoying the music.
Eoin

What two separates would the 272 be equivalent to?. I am sure that it has been covered above but I cannot see!. So sorry about Nigel’s hearing loss, I am use a hearing aid and have tinnitus, so sympathise.

Another tinnitus sufferer here. Sometimes I wonder why I bother but I do love music

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That’s a long had debate Ross and it’s a matter of opinion. No doubt the 272 was a very clever product albeit I understand the Digital stuff is now superseded. Having heard it several times I would say broadly on a par with ND5XS and NAC 202.

Having owned both paired with a 200 I’d disagree. Having heard one is definitely not the same as living with one.

I think it’s better than that actually Lindsay. Not NDX and NAC 282, but above ND5XS and NAC 202 I think.

Best

David

Another way to consider it is to ask:

What preamp is the 272/555DR equivalent to when you switch off the streamer and dac and feed it an analog source?

I have just tried this and it really is extraordinary.

Not only does the preamp section benefit from being the sole recipient of the large psu; it also sounds better because there’s no electrical noise coming off the other internal parts.

Has anyone else tried this?
@HiFiman
@Xanthe
@timmo1341
@HouseholdNaim
@jan

It’s how I’m going to use the 272 going forward, fed by an ND5XS2, and perhaps an external dac.

It could be a way to get many more years of excellent service from the 272.

And keep the 555DR in case it comes in handy down the line.

Just enjoying the eponymous LP ‘GoGo Penguin’ on Qobuz in 96kHZ/24 bit.

It sounds good, but mainly not because of the file resolution, but because of the ND5XS2’s excellent streaming board, and because the 272/555DR are focussed only on preamp duties.

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Humm … if you are using the 272 as a pure preamp, have you considered that your 272 + 555 could buy you a 282 + HCP DR (and some nice wine) or a pre-loved 252 + SC DR?

I bought the system I have because I wanted the best sounding 3 box system my budget would stretch to (would have squeezed 4 in, but the NAP300 didn’t work for me). I must confess I have no desire or inclination to turn any part of my 272 off or on! I neither have, nor want, an analogue source.

In brief, I am content with my system. I don’t wish to hear another streamer or DAC and risk igniting dissatisfaction. I get that others wish to constantly seek ‘improvements’. Me, I’ll settle for seeking out new music.

Chacun à son goût.

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