To 222 or not 222?

282 is a high bar though?

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Try getting a 282 and squeezing it into a box that contains a NAPSC, a Hicap and an NDX2. Do you think itā€™s going to sound:

a) better

b) the same

c) worse

than it would in its own box?

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In my experience the 272 was no where near the 282 either, as a pre amp.

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272 was definitely below 282 as a pre when we did demo. We compared 272/XPSDR to 282/HCDR and dedicated pre was clearly better.

We then thought ā€œwhat are we missingā€. Expensive thought, meant we ended up with 252/SCDR which is on another level.

If the new NSC222 meets pre performance of a 282 then thatā€™s great engineering by naim in a single box with all the other gubbins.

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Of course you canā€™t expect to reach the level of the Ndx 2. Itā€™s a pre with a headphone amp and a phono and more. If you want to reach level Ndx 2 you will have to wait for further expansion of the Naim range

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But thereā€™s no real way to test that so itā€™s just speculation. Iā€™ve owed Naim all in ones, integrateds, separates, to the top of the classic series. They all have their compromises when it comes to sound quality.

That depends on what itā€™s attached to. Iā€™ll take my set up all day every day over a NDX2/SN as Iā€™ve found the bigger compromise on SQ is the integrated amp.

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I did test it, back to back demo at home (owned the 272 and compared it to the 282) the difference was obvious

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Yeah, but itā€™s not a test of the preamps. youā€™re testing a stand alone preamp to a preamp with dac and streaming components.

No I compared it using the LP 12 I owned at the time

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Like I said. Itā€™s not an accurate test.

Whatever. What I am saying is that the pre on the 272 is not as good as the 282 pre. Not sure why comparing them both with the same source is not a direct comparison

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So Naim releases a pre and headphone amp and with a phono card and a streamer that is cheaper than the Ndx 2 and is on the same level. Doesnā€™t seem very logical to me.

Clearly. Youā€™re comparing a stand alone preamp to a preamp with streaming board and dac and powersupply. What did you expect? The 272 is for streaming, anything else is a compromise so these comparisons are silly at best.

I didnā€™t make that claim so not sure what youā€™re on about.

My last contribution to this but I said

You replied

I provided information on exactly how I tested them as pre amps. Not sure what is so hard to understand.

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Yeah, I donā€™t understand why you canā€™t understand itā€™s not a legitimate test of the preamps. Put a streamer, dac, and ps in your 282 then itā€™s a fair test.

That depends on what itā€™s attached to you said.

For me always source comes first.

That source doesnā€™t exist in a vacuum. The 272 is a compromise, the SN is a compromise, I know which I prefer and I value the source first premise but itā€™s not an absolute law.

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With my 272/XPS DR/250 DR system, I am off next week to listen to the NC at Acoustica comparing with my current config. Peteā€™s hypothesis is that swapping for the 222 & NC 250 will be better than my config for relatively low outlay with the trade in of 3 boxes. Option to up the ante with NP 300.

I have an open mind and stapled shut wallet. Letā€™s see the numbersā€¦.

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