Greetings from Australia! I have an interesting situation. I had a NAC272/XPS-DR and a NAP250-DR. I bought an NDX2 and thought I would be better off moving the XPS-DR to the NDX2 and using the internal power for the NAC272. I had it that way for several weeks and decided to switch the XPS-DR back to the NAC272 and let the NDX2 power itself.
To my ear, the XPS-DR on the NAC272 sounds noticeably better - fuller and richer across the spectrum and tighter, punchier bass.
Please correct me if I’m mistaken, but I’m thinking that the NAC272 on its own power, can’t keep up with the NDX2. Does that make sense?
I would consider a second XPS-DR but I intend to upgrade the NAC272 to a NAC252/SC-DR.
More seriously - what you’re hearing is that the NDX2 is already more capable than what the Nac272’s Preamp can do. And putting the xpsdr on the ndx2 is making the source better, but the bottle neck is the nac272. The xpsdr on the nac272 is making the bottleneck go away - and the the NDX2 is still good enough.
You could put another xpsdr on the ndx2, making it a better source, but whether the nac272 will be able to do it justice remains to be seen - even with the xpsdr on it.
when I was in your shoes many years ago, I actually sold the nac272 off and got an Olive Nac 72/HiCap for less than half of what I got for the 272. and that system was awesome!
and yes, eventually, the 72 got sold off and replaced with a 282. still running the ndx2/xpsdr/282/supercap/250.
Having had a 272 for nearly 10 years, and thought it was a great piece of kit, I would say that with a PS it is a brilliant preamp. Without PS not so much. This is what you have proved! So stick with XPS on the 272.
Are you sure? Assuming primary use is digital source, I wonder if the 555PS on the NDX2, and XPS on 272 might be better? If there is vinyl used as a significant source, then I would agree with you (555PS + 272).
