Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer...
Posted by: seagull on 22 April 2003
I have finally borrowed a Hicap to try with my CD5, not sure what to expect, though people here have said that it is an improvement. With my usual dose of scepticism I took the Hicap home and plugged it in and played some tunes. Being familiar with the sound of my own sistem I bypassed the usual A/B nonsense and just went for it straight away.
Mrs Seagull was sitting in her favourite chair (in the "big headphones" position, not ideal for listening) but the look on her face when she heard the CD5/Hicap combo for the first time was a picture...
"Well?" I said
She smiled that enigmatic smile only a truly beautiful woman can, "Yes there is a difference, it is much better, you can have one dear."
"Really? You're not going to ask why I need a power supply for the CD player?"
"No dear, it does sound better, I said you can have one."
(lifting jaw off floor) "Really?"
"Yes, it does sound better."
"So, I can have one?"
"Yes!"
...
pause
...
"Can I have an extra shelf for my stand as well?"
"Don't push it..."
Just for confirmation, I unplugged the Hicap and played the same song and watched her again, she nodded and said that she much preferred it with the Hicap attached. I asked her to sit where I normally do and listen again, "Do I have to listen to that again? I said you can have one..."
Mrs S had never been interested in the sistem before, I owned much of it before we got together and recent purchases were auditioned alone, she was only involved once the kit was brought home for a demo and the WAF test. She only ever said "If you like it dear, I can't tell the difference." This time she definitely could and said so!
Over the week-end I played only CD's, Mrs S even played some music of her own. Miss S (3 next month) did too, but then she normally does, though she offered no comment about the improvement in sound quality. I didn't even drag out any records to try as a sanity check (vinyl vs bare CD5 vs CD5/Hicap) as I'd originally planned, it wasn't needed.
I've always liked my CD5, it stood up well in a comparison with a CDX, but with a Hicap it is at a different level and would be much closer. The tunes flow, the bass is better defined and more controlled, the treble clearer. Cymbals started going "tttssssss" rather than "ttthththth". Spaces appeared in the music where there was none before, between the instruments and the notes they were playing. Fairly densely recorded material opened up (e.g. OK Computer) and I noticed things in the songs I never knew were there. Even Madge sounded good (on one of Mrs Seagull's compilation CD's.)
Having heard it for myself I can honestly say that the Hicap does make a huge difference to my CD5 and I want one. Mrs S says I can have one too!!!
...
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried
...
Mrs Seagull was sitting in her favourite chair (in the "big headphones" position, not ideal for listening) but the look on her face when she heard the CD5/Hicap combo for the first time was a picture...
"Well?" I said
She smiled that enigmatic smile only a truly beautiful woman can, "Yes there is a difference, it is much better, you can have one dear."
"Really? You're not going to ask why I need a power supply for the CD player?"
"No dear, it does sound better, I said you can have one."
(lifting jaw off floor) "Really?"
"Yes, it does sound better."
"So, I can have one?"
"Yes!"
...
pause
...
"Can I have an extra shelf for my stand as well?"
"Don't push it..."
Just for confirmation, I unplugged the Hicap and played the same song and watched her again, she nodded and said that she much preferred it with the Hicap attached. I asked her to sit where I normally do and listen again, "Do I have to listen to that again? I said you can have one..."
Mrs S had never been interested in the sistem before, I owned much of it before we got together and recent purchases were auditioned alone, she was only involved once the kit was brought home for a demo and the WAF test. She only ever said "If you like it dear, I can't tell the difference." This time she definitely could and said so!
Over the week-end I played only CD's, Mrs S even played some music of her own. Miss S (3 next month) did too, but then she normally does, though she offered no comment about the improvement in sound quality. I didn't even drag out any records to try as a sanity check (vinyl vs bare CD5 vs CD5/Hicap) as I'd originally planned, it wasn't needed.
I've always liked my CD5, it stood up well in a comparison with a CDX, but with a Hicap it is at a different level and would be much closer. The tunes flow, the bass is better defined and more controlled, the treble clearer. Cymbals started going "tttssssss" rather than "ttthththth". Spaces appeared in the music where there was none before, between the instruments and the notes they were playing. Fairly densely recorded material opened up (e.g. OK Computer) and I noticed things in the songs I never knew were there. Even Madge sounded good (on one of Mrs Seagull's compilation CD's.)
Having heard it for myself I can honestly say that the Hicap does make a huge difference to my CD5 and I want one. Mrs S says I can have one too!!!
...
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried
...
Now just imagine the additional improvement to be gained from putting a hi-cap on the pre as well. But can you do that with a 42 
- lovely heart-warming story though.
David
"Opinions are like belly-buttons, everybody's got one"
- lovely heart-warming story though.David
"Opinions are like belly-buttons, everybody's got one"
quote:
Originally posted by David Stewart:
Now just imagine the additional improvement to be gained from putting a hi-cap on the pre as well. But can you do that with a 42
That's why a 72 and another hicap are on the wish list as well. One step at a time though...
p.s. there's a money spider running up and down my screen at the moment - is this a good sign?
quote:
Originally posted by Greg Beatty:
...is should you sell on the CD5, add the hicap funds, and get a CDX (used) or CDX2 (new)?
No and no. I've done the CD5 vs CDX comparison, the CDX was better but not by a huge distance. The CD player is my secondary source anyway and the Hicap has raised the performance level to one I am very happy with.
As I said above, I am also hoping to get a 72 and another Hicap (if it can do this for a CD player, I presume it can do the same for a Naim amplifier) which will improve music played by both sources.
Further listening last night (at more sociable levels, Miss S was asleep) merely confirmed things for me.
Unfortunately, this Hicap has to go back at the end of the week
but I shall be looking for one once funds are available (hopefully, very soon 
).Seagull !
That is fantastic post (wih happy end, isn't it
).
Glad to hear that your wife to likes Naim.
I have bring so much electronics at home, but when I was bring CD5, she was said "a ha, now that sound ... right, I don't know else, but it just sound right and anything else before was sounded somehow wrong and all the instruments which were played are not yet invented". She was also said that CD5 is the sexiest player. (Soon will be more of the same I hope, CDX2, of course).
I wish that your new hi-cap arrive very soon.
Ozren
That is fantastic post (wih happy end, isn't it
).Glad to hear that your wife to likes Naim.
I have bring so much electronics at home, but when I was bring CD5, she was said "a ha, now that sound ... right, I don't know else, but it just sound right and anything else before was sounded somehow wrong and all the instruments which were played are not yet invented". She was also said that CD5 is the sexiest player. (Soon will be more of the same I hope, CDX2, of course).
I wish that your new hi-cap arrive very soon.
Ozren