I understand that the source is important. But forgive me for one more moment. The source. In my opinion, it is my NAC272. I don’t quite understand why it’s CDX2. I also play vinyl through my NAC. I just bought the 555 to improve my “source” which I understand must be the NAC272…? Or…? If I reconnect my NAC with XPS, I’m back where I came from, and CDX2 now gets a 555. Where is the sound improvement in my system when I play from my NAC272? I don’t quite understand… Should I have a digram to look at? The 555 feeds extra power to the preamplifiers, right?
I have the same system as you and have had loose thoughts myself about trading in my XPS for a 555 but basically I think the system sounds good enough as it is so it never happened. Hope you will be more satisfied with your purchase after a little longer burn in, good luck.
Thank you Clive. A very good explanation and good point. My 272 isn’t just for streaming, it’s good for that too, but I mostly use it as a preamp for vinyl and CD playback
Believe it or not, as I rapidly typed that post an alarm went off in my head that you might pick me up on it because it’s technically wrong, but I didn’t have time to change it…
If you mainly use the 272 as a preamp to listen to vinyl and CDs, you may well be better off with a 282 and Hicap or Supercap, or indeed the new 333 preamp, and a suitable streamer.
Looking at pictures of your setup, you have reached a point where you really need to address how it’s supported if you want to get the best from it. The need for the Burndy cable to hang free should not be underestimated. It’s a pain, but there it is. A lesser system, installed optimally, can often sound better than an ostensibly better setup installed sub optimally. You really do need to get it off those shelves and onto a proper support system, which doesn’t have to be wildly expensive or take over your room.
People have said to wait 400 hours to hear what the 555PS brings to the table. As I said, mine make a huge improvement straight out of the box. If you don’t hear a big improvement now, you’ll probably never hear it. You’ll just end up convincing yourself that it’s better because people tell you it is.
As has been said above I think it’s time to take stock and decide where you want the system to go. Do you need CD at all, when you have the 272? How important is streaming? Do you want to get the best from what you have, with the need to re-house it?
The problem with asking for opinions is that they are like arseholes, everyone has one. Just work out what is right for you.
HungryHalibut. Thank you very much…
I’m not going to invest in more equipment now. The 555 was the last for a very long time. Right now, it doesn’t make sense for me to think about something completely new again. I have consulted back and forth about the 272. They generally say that the 272 can play well with the 555 and that I will experience a clear boost. Naim also recommends this combo
As others have said with a high quality system like that it is important to optimise cable dressing through racking. If you don’t get a big improvement in sound then logic suggests to look at your racking. There lies your problem @Peter63.
You want space behind the racks so cables aren’t touching the walls or the floor. Your cables will all be touching the walls.
If you are aren’t buying any more equipment then at best your system won’t be optimised. It’s up to you, your system.
Advice has been given, jt’s up to you whether you take it.
You don’t wven need to an expensive rack. Just one that takes the cables away from the walls. Some have used Ikea units or shelves to good effect and have space behind the units. This could be an interim plan.
A proper Fraim rack or Quadraspire or Isoblue will be better still!
I meant the same system you had before, ie 272/XPS/250… I never bought a 555 even though I thought about it for a while. But as I said, I hope you’ll be satisfied in the end.
source more important but if you play vinyl often, then the 555PS on the 272 makes sense.
If you primarily listen via CDX2, then the 555PS will be a big jump in sound quality compared to the XPS on the CDX2.
David
You have bought an expensive power supply that has not given you the uplift you expected to hear – you seem to be quoting what other people say on the forum about the 272/555 combination but as stated previously, one persons night and day is another person’s nuanced.
You could spend months optimising and running in with all the suggestions on this thread, but I think you may have to accept that for whatever reason your 272/XPS is maxed out and a 555 is not doing enough to justify its cost and if you can get it back to the dealer, I think that’s what I would do.
I was a tad underwhelmed by the 555 on my CDS3 when I got it as I was expecting a transformative experience from reading posts on this forum which I didn’t get. But as with most things Naim, I could keep it and go up the ladder to the CD555, or give it back to the dealer and stay with what in retrospect was the better combination. CDS3 – XPS2. I went up!
Cut your losses you seem to be not enjoying this upgrade at all.
With CDS3 I had XPS2 and used to alternate with 555PS. It sounds richer, darker, more detailed and more defined. It takes a veil off the sound.
You should hear that out of the box.
The 272 555DRPS with 250DR is a well known great combination. I would keep it. See if it makes any difference moving the 272 and 555 so you can get burndy to not touch anything.
It should be a big upgrade! I wouldn’t take it back.
BTW, as an academic I value critique and the pointing out of errors - these help me to learn.
Would a good form words to summarize the advantage of three legged rack designs over 4 or more legged designs be that 3 legged racks self-stabilize on near horizontal floors?
