While casually browsing 2nd hand Naim boxes, the following question came to my mind: How does the 272 preamp would compare to the SN2 one?
The reason I am asking is that I could probably replace the SN2/Hicap DR combo with a NAC-N 272/NAP 250DR for pretty much no cost and without increasing the number of shelves/boxes.
The source is (and would remain) the ND5XS2-nDAC. So I would only need the preamp functionality of the 272. The extra power of the 250DR would be welcome, so if the 272 preamp can perform at a similar/better level to the SN2, then I would expect an overall improvement at no cost.
So, does this exchange make sense from a performance point of view? Just want to compare apples to apples here, no need to propose solutions that increase cost and box count (i.e. 282 etc).
Looking forward to your thoughts, if you ever had the chance to compare these two combinations!
Your Audiovector R1 shouldn’t be difficult for SN2/HCDR but a 250DR will sound fuller and less strained.
On paper SN2 preamp should be a scaled down 282.
272 is on level with 202 or thereabouts.
I’d say at best a sidegrade.
Unless the 272 is cheap as chips, I wouldn’t go there:
Screen display fade over time.
Dated streamer section, will this be supported onwards ?
I’ve had a Superuniti (which is related to N-272) and found it needed new display again again, rather annoying.
Too limited in streaming option may final decide.. as others just use a Wiim, then what’s the point of having a 272 which is hard to resell ?
I notice you intend to use separate ND5XS2, then a better preamp such as 282 can be powered with your HicapDR.
Not sure what paper you are looking at… When i listened at home a 272 was better than a 202/HicapDR, and a Supernait2 pre is also way off a 282. Not that i’m advocating the swap, as i think that boat has sailed, and i’d likely go a different route.
Thank you all for your feedback. I know that a 282 is a better approach, but that was not the point of my original question.
The motivation of my question is as follows:
A used 272-250DR combo can be found in the range of €2700-€3300.
Selling the SN2/Hicap DR combo should net me something like €2500-3000.
So overall let’s say a total of €200-300 expenditure and no additional shelves or power cables.
Given this premise, how would the sound compare between the two? Again, without caring about the 272 streaming/DAC section. Just as a pure preamp fed by the ND5XS2-nDAC combo.
I am reading comments online saying that the 272 would give a more detailed but more flat sound compared to the SN2, which is definitely not the direction I want to go. That would be more of a showstopper than the fading screen!
Yeah, I wasn’t impressed by the 202/HCDR myself thinking original retail price.
Same with 272 which now is old hat.
Nowadays, good s/h purchase is another matter.
The quoted price above, for 272/250DR looks ok, service might come in very soon though.
Apart from the 250 more power, put a Nait 50 into the game could be interesting.
Given that you want the 272 as just a preamp it seems an awful lot of redundancy just to get something different. You can pick up a 282 for about £600 more than a 272 and of course you’d then need to keep the Hicap, so wouldn’t get £600 from the sale, giving an extra cost of £1,200. But for that you would get something significantly better rather than just different. If you can’t stretch to that I’d suggest you do nothing and stick with what you’ve got.
The 272 isn’t far off a 282, especially with an XPS2 and the 282 hicapped.
My 272 screen is absolutely fine, although it’s never been on when listening. The legacy Naim streamer has its issues BUT if you use Bubble UPnP and Bubble UPnP Server it will play your choice of HD streaming like a local stream. Very good indeed.
Making a sideways change is obviously not worth the hassle. I guess I am just thinking that this is the less painful way (not necessarily about the financial impact; more about the extra boxes and cables that the 282 would introduce in the equation) to get a 250DR into my system (which should logically be a step up over the current configuration).
Probably the wisest thing is to stay put and stop browsing the 2nd hand Naim market!
If you want to keep it simple, how about getting the 250DR and then swapping all the rest for a 222? Used prices are down much for affordable levels now.
When talking about the 272 it is very important to be clear if what is written is with or without an external power supply since this really improves on the 272. A bare 272 was so so to my ears but with XPSDR or even better 555PSDR I could happily live with it still today. The setup I have enjoyed the most on the past has been 272/555PSDR/300DR. Very good setup IMO.
I like the 272,and use one a a pre without exsternal p s.
Very nice volume control,plus you can balance out the sound if you have hearing loss in one ear .I use the 272 with a Nap 100 in a small room,very nice combination.
I also have nait 50, but good as it is,it hasnt a balance control,so sound for me very uneven.
They do indeed. For me a 272/XPS DR was way better than a 202/HiCap DR when I did the comparison years ago. Comparison with a 282/HC was more a question of difference rather than superiority, but I didn’t find the 272 set notably inferior. But I am aware the 272 is something of a marmite component, splitting opinion at least on the forum.
To the OP, moving between sets of boxes from the same manufacturer at about the same price rarely yields benefits IME. I think you’re wise to stick and perhaps look to a source upgrade when funds allow.
I’m happy keeping my source separate from the amplification. No reason to touch the ND5XS2-nDAC as far as I am concerned. Unless a half-width NSS111 showed up… That could fit next to the HiCap and open up space for a 282!
That’s a key point and I think it leads to the diversion of the discussion a lot. My original question was 272-250DR vs SN2/HicapDR, but from the mixed responses it seems it won’t be a clear-cut upgrade.
So better to stay put for now. Long holiday trip coming up soon anyway!
I remember an extremely good demo at Signals, when the 272 came out. The 272 was fronting a Nap300 vs a 282. Myself, Alastair and Andy of Signals all thought it was 6 of one, and half a dozen of the other, and the conclusion was it was pretty much on the same level.
I went from an SN2 to a 272/250DR, and it was a big upgrade. It was the 250DR that made the difference. On the old forum, someone compared the 272’s preamp to the SN2’s preamp and thought they were close to each other. At the time, the 272 also introduced me to streaming, and I was able to connect it directly to my TV. My main source was the CDS3.
I believe Naim has mentioned that the preamp was considered the weak link in the 272. Personally, I had no issues with the preamp in terms of enjoyment—I just didn’t enjoy it as a streaming source.
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