Hi Ron,
Probably depends on your speakers and if you stream locally or from Tidal/Qobuz.
If you have easy to drive speakers and a Hi-Res subscription for the cost of the 350s you could have NSC 222, NAP 250 and hook up your existing 555PS – I’d be surprised if this did not deliver more of an uplift in SQ than 272 and 350s.
That said quite a few on here prefer the OC sound signature over the NC, so if you can do a demo at a dealer or even better at home of the NC gear this should help with your decision.
Good luck.
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Spot on 
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Not in my experience. NSC 222 can sound fab with NAP 350’s 
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Fwiw, as good as the NAP 300 DR is I find the New Classic NAP 250 to be superior.
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I’d consider going from your 272 to an NSC222 (which I have and love). The 272 is getting a bit long in the tooth now and changes/improvements to the Naim streaming platform have come a long way. You can then decide later how to upgrade your NAP.
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That would make sense, although a 272 with a 555PS and 300DR was one of the sweet spots of the previous line up (isn’t it what you had HH?).
No reason why a 222 with NPX (or 555PS) and 350 couldn’t be one either. Would probably depend on the room and speakers. I’m certainly happy with my combo, but not ruling out replacing my source at some point with a 333/332.
Interesting, thought of maybe purchasing the NX2 and using the 272 as a preamp along with PS555DR.
How about an NX2 and using the 272/PS555DR as a preamp?
Stream Tidal, speakers Nola Contender S3, thus quite easy to drive. Only one dealer in town and unwilling to do a home demo - just in store!
No reason at all. I just get the impression that the 222 isn’t lifted as much as the 272 but the addition of a 555. But of course, that’s what you have: did you find the increase just as significant? It’s another Naim dilemma of course; 222/300 or bare 333/332, the prices of which aren’t that far apart in the scheme of things. While I think the new stuff looks lovely, I’ve never heard it. If you’d be so kind as to say how you feel about the 555 upgrade on the 222, that would be great.
The NDX2 is a big improvement on the 272s streaming/DAC section, especially on internet based content. Sound is just more open and detailed.
We ran our NDX2 into 272/XPSDR/250DR for a short spell during upgrade.
The preamp is the strongest section of the 272.
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Knowing that I’d definitely take your 555PS and speakers, if they don’t have them, to your dealers and try with NSC 222 and NAP 250 - big improvements over 272 and 250dr but still worth checking as SQ is quite personal. Good luck.
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While Naim call it a NAP250 - a number of us here, for the sake of clarity refer to it as NC250.
In part because a NAP250 (DR or nonDR) needs a special cable for the connection from NSC222.
The same also applies for connecting 555PS to NSC222 iirc, so worth checking @rdmotti that dealer has this cable. There is a thread on the forum which describes and references cables for connecting OC with NC kit.
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Iirc the NDX2 is now eol; a few units still available. Maybe a bargain to be had. However NC if buying new, is perhaps the way forward. The 555PS can be used, with the special cable mentioned.
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There are threads worth reading on all the options, but no 100% consensus.
FWIW, the best supported view seems to be that the 272 preamp is near 282 (or 82) level, with any PS. The streamer element is more out-dated and well beaten by newer models.
Some rate 222/NPX300 ahead of 332/333 (with no PS on either), but many disagree. Either would beat NDX2 (no PS) plus 282/Hicap, but so they should for the money. And NDX2/282/HC should beat the 272 (with any PS) in every area except box-count.
Having tried 82 (like an older 282)/ HC/250 with a few streamer sources, I’d say it is a good fit with ND5XS2 and maybe NDX2. However, adding XPS to the NDX2 while sticking with 82 or 282 was to me a poor mix - we needed to jump to 52 (or 252) preamp to really hear the PS’ full effect. Mind you, some here use NDX2+XPSDR as source with a Supernait 3 + Hicap - different ears…
We also compared the various front ends with 250 and 300DR when we had all the boxes on 1 place The latter was much better at low volume and better controlled (esp in bass) and more spacious/open/involving. However, that was with 52 and NDX2/XPSDR. With ND5XS2 and 82/HC, we thought a 300DR hardly distinguishable from a (serviced) olive 250.
As for the 350s, many think they are a bit wasted with ‘only’ a 222 (which by implication would be even more true if using 82 or 282 or 272, but that isn’t a universal view either.
What everyone seems to agree thusfar (though I will be happy to be corrected) is that the NC250 is much better than earlier 250s and comparable with a 300DR, while the 350s (if fed with a suitably revealing signal) are clearly better than a 300DR, but still not as good as a s/h 500DR.
As with the preamp and streamer, there is big difference in SQ per £ between buying old boxes on eBay and buying new NC kit, but also a difference in likely box count.
What makes this all so complicated is that there are so many options, and the best compromise for one room and set of ears won’t necessarily be ideal for different ears/ rooms. Borrowing boxes or buying s/h and being prepared to sell if not convinced would let your ears decide in your room, and is likely to be a lot more helpful than hearing a few songs in a quick A/B at a dealer.
Good luck!
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You heard the Nap 350, not 300 dr. The problem is here. They have different sound signature. It’s not about which one is better.
Some prefer the new classic sound, other the classic. So you will have only opinions based on members personal preferences.
I personally preferred the 250 dr vs the 300 dr. I am in a minority camp, but not alone.
For 250 NC vs 250 dr, I am not sure which one I would choose, maybe 250 NC, but not by much.
The classic is more organic and textured, the new classic are more neutral, detailed, but leaner.
I have owned the 250.2, 300 dr, 250 dr, and NC 250.
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In the absence of a response by the op, to my question re budget, the thread is really a fishing one!
It can’t be an either or, if everything else stays the same.
FR useful to know what is driving the NAPs. I have auditioned (from my own kit) NSC222 + NAP250DR then + NC250, then NAP300DR. Imho just an evolution, interested but not my experience that you refer to NC as leaner, ymmv. I have commented previously, but NSC222 (NPX didn’t work in my quirky listening room - second system) + NC250 + S400s, so very much reminded me of an old OC system NDX, 252 + SC DR + SBLs.
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Nick, no correction, just a comment. Nice post. I have a similar age NC250 and NAP250DR (bought new but at a price that defied belief - dealer!). With an NPX supporting the NSC222 (for the test on Fraim et al, in a neutral room), my conclusion was that there was a hierarchy. The NAP300DR didn’t wipe the floor, but despite being around five years old, it was more able than NC250. The speakers were S400s which may have shone with NAP300DRs. However, having upgraded in second system, from Nova + S400s to NSC222 + NC250, (the NPX didn’t do enough, in specific context) with S400s it is a fantastic system in a difficult room.
I spent some time with a demo of 3 series with each step adding boxes. Each step was a worthwhile one, albeit at a cost. The only combo I haven’t heard, is 222 + 350. However when you hear what full 3 series is capable of, then it is a logical statement to ask why 222 + 350 is a truly realistic proposition.
Imho then 222 + NPX + NC250 makes more sense.
Only in totally blind auditioning, which few admit to doing, will the best combo win out.
Posts which suggest NC250 is vastly superior to NAP300DR when no further details of system are included, are very strongly, close to a nonsense!
No good adding details after, a concise and explanatory amount of detail, instead of bland opinion, establishes credibility.
When I posted a thread about the NAP comparisons I made, included was a lot of detail.
Nick, please excuse a bit of drift in responding to your thoughtful post. Just a final thought, re-reading yours. Are there really more options than historically, if budget is a primary driver and existing owned kit is excluded?
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I agree that the preamp driving the amps has an impact. But the pre in my case is a constant, the amps the variable. ( not sure the terms constant and variable are the same in English as in French).
My pre is the Ear 912.
But I have also listened to 222/300/ nc 250 and 333/300/332/300 into Focals, at dealer place.
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