Hi all. I have a NAC 272, NAP 250 DR and ProAc D20R speakers. Interested to make some upgrades and happy to go 2nd hand. I only stream music. Seen various threads referencing XPS DR or 555 upgrades Thanks.
If you’re happy with the streaming options supported by the 272 you could do worse than to add a power supply. Either of the options you suggest would really improve the performance of the 272 as long as you have the space to give the box its own shelf.
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A power supply really enhances the performance of a 272. Adding an XPSDR was a big upgrade on our old system.
If it’s just streaming performance it’s easy to upgrade - add an external streamer like an ND5XS2 or one of the other non naim alternatives as listed on forum (Wii etc.).
However, even if you add an external streamer the pre section of the 272 still benefits greatly from the PSU. The pre is the best bit of the 272.
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Another option is to upgrade the 272 to a 222 which does work well with the 250DR. Later when funds allow you could get an NPX300 for the 222.
How far do you expect you will want to go, and how many boxes could you accommodate?
Adding a PS is reckoned to make its preamp about as good as 282+HC. To go beyond that would take a 252 (or 52) and doing that would probably make sense only with an significantly improved source, so you may decide that this is as far as you want to go.
The 272’s streaming platform is more beatable than the preamp, and not just because the newer platform supports Qobuz. Most here would say, I think, that the PS for the 272 is the first step, and that replacing it as a source would come next.
An ND5XS2 would be good as a source for 272 and beyond, but getting an nDAC as well, or getting an NDX2 instead, would make your source better again.
Of course, if you get nDAC or NDX2, either sounds even better with an XPSDR on it. If you have XPSDR on the 272 and decide at some point to move to a 252/SC, then put the XPSDR on the nDAC/ NDX2 - it’s a real upgrade.
By this point, you would have 5 or even 6 boxes and your ProAcs would still be showing extra SQ….
The alternative in the New Classic range would be to get a 222 as a direct replacement for the 272. That too benefits from a PS, but it sounds great even without one.
Good luck!
That’s really helpful, will have a look on eBay and cost up the options. For the streaming side does anyone here have experience of non-Naim solutions? Node and Eversolo DAC’s get good reviews and the specs sound impressive but I am never sure if they are being discussed as a comparison to a Naim type product or lower down.
I haven’t, but typing ‘eversolo dac’ into the Search bar will help here.
Yes, especially when you have a 555DR on it and it’s fed with an ND5XS2 into a NAP and SL2s. 
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