NDX2 vs NSC222

A little simplistic as it ignores the rest of the extra bits, and especially a lot of extra hand wiring (labour), but in essence the bare bones are similar just spread into two boxes instead of just one.

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That’s exactly what I experienced too, even with a 282/HiCap DR. The 300 just dissapears.

I did my upgrades separately and also the ‘wrong way round’ doing the pre-amp upgrade (252/Supercap DR) after the power amp. I was also very surprised at how much more detail was coming through. I expected the power, separation etc. but not the detail.

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Thank you Richard. That makes sense now that I know the transformers are the same.

It’s the same thing for 282 vs 252. Even if the 252 is superior, some prefer the 282. My ex dealer who sold Naim during 30 years preferred the musicality of the 250.2 and 250 dr over 300 and 300 dr , as me, with his favourite brand of speakers, which I have too ( Apertura).

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As a 300 user that is very interesting. Possibly an increase in sound quality over the current 300 at a lower price (than the 300) for the new 250. As the 300 was roughly twice the price of the old 250 could it be possible that a forthcoming new 300 at say ÂŁ12,000 might match or exceed the sound quality of the current 500 Dr. Shock horror!

Seems to me there’s more discussion here about the relative merits of various amplifiers than following the title of the thread….:joy:

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The problem is that you can’t really isolate the streamer from the preamp with the 222. So it’s impossible to compare directly those two streamers.
Only a comparison of 222/300/250 dr vs Ndx2/Xpsdr/ 282/hicap/ 250 dr would be interesting. Don’t remember if someone has done it.

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Could compare the NSC 222’s streamer/DAC with, for example, the ND5 XS2 by feeding that into the NCS222’s pre-amp. Like that, the pre-amp is the same in both cases and so the difference is just the streamer/DAC. I’d be very interested in this experiment as the ND5 XS2 and the NSC222 have the same DAC chip but different post-conversion filtering implementations and are, of course, in boxes with different other components. Perhaps without the NPX300 they are on a par, but with it the 222 creeps ahead? I’d be disappointed to find that, even without the NPX300, the 222’s streamer DAC fell behind the ND5 XS2.

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I wouldn’t worry about it - the DAC is the same in ND5XS2 and NSC222.
I’ve had both and really enjoyed ND5XS2 and XS3 combination: to my tastes prefer new classics but others may have a different view which is right for them.
Just have a listen if you can :grin:.

That is very strange indeed, mine 72+140 are gone more than 20 years ago with no regrets.
I don´t imagine how a 72 would outperform a 282.
With a SupercapDr a 282 is a close match to a 252.

Someone said above that 222/300/250 sounded better vs same with Ndx2 on front. Curious. Hum hum.

Not strictly true. I had a classic Olive 72/135’s driving Briks for years. In an attempt to convince me to spend money my dealer lent me a 282. It had a very clean and articulate sound but lacked a bit of the Naim drive and musicality compared to the 72. A 52 was definitely a step and the right direction. However, my dealer got the last word (and my wallet) when he loaned me a 552/500. Dealers always have the last laugh!

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Well,
I went from 72+140 to 202+200, nigth and day, from 202+200+hicapdr to 282+hicapdr+300dr, nigth and day , comparing the first to the last is like comparing a VW beatle to a Porches

Well after a night and a day you are still at the same place but 24 hrs later.

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If the comparison is with the NDX2 bare (no separate power supply) versus a 222/300, it’s not really comparing apples with apples. Running a NDX2 with a 555 DR into a 552, I’m fairly certain the NDX2 with a PS is way ahead of the 222.

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I’ll bet it is

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Is the comparison meaningful at all though?

If you’re buying a source to go with your amp, you’re not in the market for a 222.

If you’re looking for a streaming preamp, you’re not in the market for an NDX2 .

If you’re building a new system you know more New Classic is coming and the current gear is on the way out. So again, probably not in the market for an NDX2 but waiting to compare 222 with 300 series source and preamp.

At least when the 272 came out, the Classic range wasn’t going anywhere but today, the question seems moot.

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Probably not, though the elephant in the room is the entry price into the new classic series, versus current stock of discontinued classic items. Though, oddly, the NDX2 hadn’t been discontinued and pairs with the SN3 for quite a lower cost than the 222/250.

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And it’s a bloody big elephant in this part of the world let me tell you :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Like $17k vs $27k for the new classic combo

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I get that. Totally. But my thought process is a bit different. I don’t think, “What will I do? Naim have no separates at this price point. Aarrgh!” I think, “It’s a shame Naim have no separates at this price point. Luckily no one is forcing me at gunpoint to buy Naim so I can shop elsewhere.”

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