Supercap or Hi-cap

if you can afford it then the super-cap is the way to go.

However at the cost it may be worthwhile to upgrade the pre-amp first. A good start would be the 82 which can be picked up relatively cheaply secondhand.

Regards


NB

I don't think many would recommend a Supercap on a 3.5, not because it wouldn't sound better than a flat or hi, but because the money would best be spent elsewhere.

If you can afford a SC then you would be better selling the 3.5 and buying a CDX. A Secondhand Hicap is about as far as you would expect to go with a 3.5. HiCap's are very versatile and can be used with most Preamps as welll as the 3.5 or CD5, so money spent on a HiCap will not be wasted.

I agree with greeny.
I Hi-Capped a 3.5 and it worked well.
When I moved up to CDX/82 I was able to re-use the Hi-Cap.

Paul Rowlands

[Again in panto voice] Its behind you!

Here is your 'lost' thread

Seth

Seth - thanks - see my other "missing" thread .

Thanks for the advice so far guys . Can any one enlighten me as to the basic differences between the three , or if this has already been covered point me towrds the relevent thread ?

I understand, for example, that depending on which one you may power more that one unit ? etc etc

I am completely in the dark here (sorry)!

Regards

Marc

Marc

For starters why don't you try this page on the Naim audio web site:

http://216.149.62.210/products/intro_psu.html

By clicking on each illustartion you will get info on each power supply.You will see there are several alternate ways you can use the 3 diffrenet power supplies. They also increase in quality and price from Flatcap thru'hicap to Supercap.
After having a read by all means ask any question here and we will help you further I am sure.

regards
Geoff

quote:

---

Originally posted by solid state:
Can any one enlighten me as to the basic differences between the three. .... I understand, for example, that depending on which one you may power more that one unit ? etc etc

---

The Flat-Cap provides a consistent power supply. The Hi-Cap provides a more consistent power supply. The Super-Cap provides an even more consistent power supply. That's the basic electronics out of the way.

Now there's the issue of how directly proportional a piece of equipment's performance is to the consistency of its power supply. In the case of a CD3.5, it can work using with its own supply with a certain level of performance. Adding a Flat-Cap provides a good jump in performance. Adding a Hi-Cap improves it some more, but considering that the Hi-Cap costs twice as much as the Flat-Cap, it does not (IMO) increase its performance by twice as much as the Flat-Cap did. Therefore, the value for money is less. Similarly, the Super-Cap can improve it a bit more, but not enough to justify the additional cost. You're much better off getting a CDX long before considering a 3.5/Super combo.

In the case of Naim pre-amps, though, the curve is straighter. I would say that the Hi-Cap DOES provide approximately twice as much benefit as the Flat-Cap (compared to the basic supply provided by most of Naim's power-amps). The Super-Cap is a big jump ahead again, although not as much as the difference in cost. It's still a better return for your money, though, and stereos are ultimately subject to the law of diminishing returns.

The Flat-Cap, Hi-Cap and Super-Cap are designed to control one piece of equipment at a time. There is a slight "exception" to this. The NAC82 can take no supply (other than that from the power-amp), one supply or two. The Super-Cap can be used to provide both of those supplies to the 82, but it's still powering only one piece of equipment.

The Flat-Cap2 is different. It can supply a CD5 (or CD3.5), or a pre-amp, or both. When it powers both, the pre-amp uses the primary (i.e. better) supply, while the CD player uses the secondary supply.

Clear now?

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Guys - as ever , thank you for your help .

This has geatly clarified things for me .

Marc