to flatcap or not to flatcap ?

Posted by: rorominator on 17 July 2002

Hi, I’m french and have some Naim's electronic.

At the outset, my sytem was being composed of a NAC102 and NAP180.
As the NAC102 has no power supply this is the NAP180 who feeds it : the power current running from poweramp to the preamp. and the Audio signal going from the preamp to the poweramp.
And everything that by the same cord, the SNAIC 4.
The input/output connector used on the preamp is Output 4 PIN.

And then I have bought a Flatcap2 to feed my Headline and the NAC102.
I have red scrupulously the manual on who it is written to link the preamp to the Flatcap2 (the input/ouptut connector is then the Output 5 PIN) thanks to the cord supplied with the Flatcap2 who is called SNAIC5.
They say to link the Flatcap2 to the poweramp with the SNAIC4.

The way to the Audio signal is then :

NAC102 > Flatcap2 > NAP180

Why not to link the NAC102 directly to the NAP180 for the audio signal ?

Hey well this is what I have done and that goes !
But for that I had to unweld the PIN called +Ve on the SNAIC4 otherwise this is the poweramp who feeds the preamp and not the Flatcap2.

And up to the listening ?
Apparently the direct plugging gives more aeration, trebles are more distinct and the medium is better to his place because minus forward, more transparence to ;
I prefer.

But the other plugging seems to give more bass and more punch. Perhaps simply because of a difference level.

Lastly everything that is to confirm because I have not listened a long time.

Here is my question :
Have you tryed this direct plugging on your system ?
Do you think that there is an interest that the Audio signal go through the Flatcap2 ?

Sorry for my poor english and thanks for your replies.

Roro
Posted on: 17 July 2002 by Andrew L. Weekes
The direct connection of the amp to the preamp normally degrades musicality. Timing in particular is affected severely.

This is because the 0V reference point for the audio circuits is within the PSU, and both the preamp and power amp sound best when connected this way.

I have a modified NAC42.5, that has some extremely high performance audio regualtors fitted internally and in this case the system will sound dramatically better when the power amp is plugged directly into the preamp, since the reference point for the audio circuits is now within the preamp box.

Most Naim preamps do not have internal regulation, and hence work best the way Naim have designed them to be connected. It ultimately limits the maximum achievable performance in these older designs though.

Andy.
Posted on: 17 July 2002 by rorominator
quote:
Hi !! Does the answer satisfy you ?




Yes !

I've spent one hour with Naim's french dealer who gave me the same answer as Andrews.

But I'll have to listen the 2 solutions to confirm...