what next

Ok where to?

I think that your system is bottom heavy, i.e. your CD player should be next to face replacement. A CDX2 is the best choice IMO. Then the pre should be upgraded to 202 or 282 standard. Then maybe a Hicap and 250mk2.
If you bought a current Hicap and slapped it on the CD you'll get a great upgrade, plus it will a very useful box if you want to follow the above.

My advice would be to audition the final setup at your friendly dealer, and see whether you like it and if it's where you want to end up. Then see how you can make that a reality without having to buy anything twice.

Luck mate

Joe90

will a hicap make that much difference to my cd?...is a 3.5 + hicap better than a straight cdx2?

whats the cost of these options?

the 202 straight is better sounding than a 112+hicap?

thanks



anselm

all art is contemporary; it is the way we look at it that changes...

Quote:-

is a 3.5 + hicap better than a straight cdx2?
____________________________________________

No way, a CDX2 will outperform a 3.5/hi by a long way!

Regards

NB

Depends how much money you have - but source first. A Flatcap (£250) on CD3.5 will give you a bit of refinement. A Hicap (£450) a little more - although I think that it is not worth putting a Hicap onto a 3.5. A CDX (£1300) will give you a huge improvement. An XPS on the CDX will refine further.
Terry

Hi Anselm. It depends on how high you want to climb that upgrading ladder.... Personally I would be tempted to get two hicaps for your CDplayer and preamp and after that follow Tom Alves first advice: more music. Upgrading the CDplayer, pre and power amps will cost a lot.

Two HI-CAPs ain't cheap!

anselm

all art is contemporary; it is the way we look at it that changes...

As you can see Anselm there are as many opinions as there are options and at least some of them are based on personal experience. In my case the CDX was one of the biggest and best upgrades I made. When I put a Hicap onto my 3.5 the added value (if any) was negligible over a Flatcap.

You will just have to 'suck it and see'. If you buy second-hand you can always sell again at very little loss.

Terry

Anselm, two 2nd hand hicaps aint very expensive and will be cheaper than upgrading the other stuff. It just depends on how much you want to spend. As plynnplynn says a CDX beats 3.5/hicap but a capped 3.5 is still a very good CDplayer. Mrbassmans advice about a flatcap2 is surely a good one BUT hicaps don't have to be that much more expensive than a flatcap2 when bought used and the gains in performance are massive. The funny thing here is that when someone asks for advice about upgrading in a cheap way, as I understand your question, they invariably get recommended CDX, 82's 250'2 and so on. Excellent stuff for sure but expensive. You asked about flatcap2 vs hicap. Sure, you can be happy with a flatcap2 but IMO 2 hicaps and then stop thinking about upgrades, buy music, travel, enjoy

anselm

Your system is a little back end heavy in my view. Let's consider how to balance out the system. The minimum partner to the EPOS speakers is a 250. Now the 250 can't power a preamp so a power supply would be necessary. The CD3.5 and the 112 are a balanced combination but at a lower level than the (potential) 250/EPOS combination. The balanced result would be a CDX2, 82/282, *cap, 250. How you get there depends on budget and time constraints. If this is going to be a long term upgrade plan, then I would go this way:

1. Flatcap2 - to power both CD and preamp and also free up all the power of the 180 for those EPOS speakers.
2. 250 to drive them properly.
3. 82 or 282 to open up the 3.5 and drive the 3.5 properly from power input A on the flatcap2.
4. CDX2
5. (Optional) Hicap.

Another way of doing this would be:

1. CDX2 - to improve the source significantly such that you don't stress the amp by raising the volume too much.
2. 82/282 - to open the gates to the CD player - the 82/180 is a very highly regarded combination.
3. Hicap - to open up the 82/282 properly and let the 180 do its stuff.
4. 250 - to open up the EPOS speakers and feed them more juice.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Dear Anselm,

Are you saying that my rather excellent 'Take Five' does not sound so good with the lights on?

The song was actually inspired by a trip to McDonalds with my then wife. Having eaten a rather hearty meal earlier that day, I decided not to order anything and took my seat at a plastic table whilst Mrs. Brubeck joined the queue.

However, when my wife appeared back with an upsize Big Mac Meal and offered me a 'fry', I said 'Actually darling, if you don't mind I think I'll Take Five'. You know how it is when you don't think you're hungry... and then you see and smell the food.

Listen to the song again, you can almost taste the salt, even with the lights turned on.

After we had eaten I went to buy some new 'Jazz Mags'.

I agree with everybody.

But if you want to make a not expensive hit...

A flatcap2 can power the CDP and 112 and will add balance to your system.

There is no other thing under UKP 500 which can give you so much improvement.

A FC2 could be found as a s/h, too.

Emil

Anselm,

There are two ways out of a slightly back-end heavy system. The expensive way is to improve the front-end and amplifiers. The cheaper way is to sell your Eposses and get cheaper, less demanding loudspeakers.

For what it's worth.

Have fun,

willem