Hydras are good value and a neat solution to a single wall socket. Mine had 5 heads, though sitting lonely and unused now.
Roger
Hydras are good value and a neat solution to a single wall socket. Mine had 5 heads, though sitting lonely and unused now.
Roger
I think one of the problems is box count. I have the classic 4 boxes 272/555ps and 300dr. This is pretty much the maximum of this setup. To go to an ndx2 is obvious but then you have to buy a sn3 or preamp + ps meaning 5 or 6 boxes and associated cost . I think that’s why the 272 has/had such a dedicated following and why we anticipate a successor.
There are some lower box count options there as well: NDX2/SN3 = 2, add XPS DR = 3, add HiCAP = 3.5, which may be where Naim’s focus is?
The 272 gave me years of musical enjoyment, and drew me into a new level of SQ.
But in the end I bit the bullet.
Sold the 272 and got ND5XS2, nDAC/555DR, 252/SC2, 150x, SL2s.
So 6 boxes, 5 power cables.
It is a very big jump up in SQ for frankly not that much more money, so well worth it.
A place I will happily enjoy for years to come.
My guess is that the 372 will cost about the same and will not sound as good because a multi function box will struggle to do what separates can do.
A separate transport/ streamer and DAC seems to be the direction of travel for ex 272 owners and also others who just think it sounds better, and the ND5XS and nDAC seem to be often recommended. There is Innuos/ Chord combos, NDX2 and Matrix Audio combos etc.
It’s bizarre that to do this the Naim way requires you to buy a Naim streaming DAC and discard the DAC, and then a very old Naim DAC that doesn’t appear as if it will be replaced!
I’m in the process of moving on from the 272/555DR sticking with Naim amps but a different manufacturer for the DAC, source etc.
Interesting what are you thinking of?
I’ve already completed the first stage and purchased an Mscaler/Qutest fed by a Node 2i.
Second stage a new 282 this is currently on order and I already have the HiCapDR sat in its box waiting for the arrival of the 282
As I have fallen to equal 5th in the postings league, and, as I dare not divert this thread, I ask again, will we see a new 272.2 or 372 in 2021?
No
So much dejavu on this thread…
Yes.
A friend of mine has the Qutest and is delighted with it…he added a better psu and recond that was a good improvement…
Your 282 should sound ace…with the Qutest…
The only question that would be in my mind is whether the Node is sufficient as a source to feed a 300/SL2 setup. Can even the magical powers of Chord put lipstick on a pig?
It sure can and is a delight to listen too.
Also a no
X2
Not withstanding delays caused by COVID to the supply chain, it does seem to have been too long since the launch of the ND streamers for the ‘updated’ 272 to arrive. But of course I am only guessing here.
From reading the forum, it does seem that several (many?) who were waiting for a 272.2 have already jumped ship and gone in another direction e.g. NDX2/SN or streamer/DAC.
No, the boat has sailed. One doesn’t discontinue a product without announcing a replacement. Marketing 101.
Not so sure about that… still expectant
I think my money would be on a Super Nova.