The next upgrade, and is it worth it?

Hi-Fi Corner
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Good evening everyone

I’ve been following a lot of threads about this preamplifier solution

I would consider to have a balanced system. It consists of the following: XPSDR to CDX2, 555DRPS to NAC272, NAP250DR.
I have been thinking about a possible upgrade with a 282 and the included power supply. Sell my 272 and save my 555PS for a possible streamer.
Will the included power supply for the 282, NAPSC2, trump my current preamp solution? Or do I need at least a HICAP for a 282?
Unfortunately, I just see even more boxes that will be difficult to place, it will take up too much space.

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In addition to the NAPSC, you will need either one HiCap, two HiCaps or one SuperCap

Making it three or four black boxes, plus a streamer if you get rid of the 272.

DG…

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You would need the NAPSC2 and a minimum of a HICAP for the 282 as they power different circuits in the 282.

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Oh yes I need both off course, a NAPSC2 and a HICAP. Do you think it offers significantly better sound quality than my current 555PS and NAC272?

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I had a 272 with XPSdr and went to 282 and thought the dedicated preamp far superior, but to be honest you already have a great solution. If you’re worried about box numbers, it might be worthwhile thinking about the system you ultimately want before you move on from your current system? I fronted the 282 HiCap dr with a ND555 and the 282 did a great job in my opinion. Now I have 5 boxes and active speakers (they were another way to keep the box count down and improve sound quality).

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Another streamer should be massive upgrade over a 272.
Your CDX2 might have limited lifetime unfortunately, fingers crossed.

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222 into 555 dr and 250 dr should be a good three box system. 4 boxes with the Cdx2.

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I also have xps for my cdx2, so I count 5 boxes in total. 222 also looks interesting, and is probably the direct replacement for 272. I don’t know where the 222 preamplifier is in the hierarchy compared to 282. It also has a different design than my classic series. Does the new development in 222 match the rest of my setup, that also needs to be researched. But I can assume that the sound is Naim

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You have to listen first. One guy or two here have 222/555 ps and are very satisfied.

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It should be a modern 272.
For the price you can buy an excellent streamer, turntable and a well cared Nac 282.
After ownership of a Superuniti, I favor separates and no longer buy all-in-one Unitis.

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You can go into search part and tap 222 vs 282. Plenty of responses.
If you were not limited by the number of box, you would have a big upgrade with Ndx2/555 dr / 282/ Hicap/ 250 dr. But with your Cdx2/ XPS, it’s 7.
Ndx2/ 555 dr would be easily ahead of your Cdx2/ xps. So you could sell your Cdx2, before it dies.

Another upgrade. 2 boxes. But you have to listen first. Not sure you will like NC boxes.
333/332 into active ATC.

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I had similar thoughts and dilemmas as to what next for/from my 272/250 DR.

In the end I changed lanes, dropped the box count instead of increasing it and bought a Michi X3S2.

Easy peasy and a magnificent replacement, which easily beats any modern Naim Amplification and DAC I’ve heard at anywhere remotely near the price. And the £18k’s worth of current Naim three box set up too to my ears.

See if you can try one, it’s quite the thing.

Oh, and replaced my two box naim CDP with a one box Marantz SA-12se…

Can’t remember being more satisfied with any bit of kit than the Michi over the last 40 years though…

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wooow Jamie.. Thanks for your suggestion, and immediately logical when you consider the uncertainty of future service on Naim boxes, probably difficult for me to just replace my Naim sound I guess. Although I can see that the solution will be cheaper in the long run.

I also think that what Monkey_Jim said about thinking about how my system should end up being sounded sensible.

I have many thoughts. Still looking at heavily discounted prices on the 282. …

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Actually you can start with a Flatcap, which is dirt cheap, and that will power a 282 just fine and replace it with a HiCap later.

While not the natural partner with a 282, a Flatcap is fully compatible and you’ll start the hear some 282 magic even with that.

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Thanks Zen
Would you say that the magic of the flatcap you speak of exceeds the sound quality compared to 272/XPSDR…?

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I’ve never compared.

But in all honesty, there should be no scenario where a 282 powered by anything is not a very significant upgrade on the preamp section of the 272. And when you move onto a more natureal partner like a HiCap or SuperCap, you can either sell the FlatCap on or use it to power a HeadLine or StageLine (if you are headphone or vinyl curious). In fact the FlatCap is the only power supply from Naim that supports powering 2 devices so you could later use it to power a HeadLine and a Stageline at the same time.

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Flatcap 2 and later has 2 outputs, agreed, but a s/h original or Olive flatcap has only 1 - one of those would still do a good job with a 282 though.

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