Napsc/hicap question
Posted by: Number 5 on 26 January 2003
I am presently running a 102/90 combination and am a little confused regarding the use of a napsc and a hicap.
Will my 102 take a napsc or a hicap and what are the sonic differences?
If I understand correctly if I was to move to a 250 then it(the 250) requires a power supply to operate however my 102 doesn't need a power supply nor does my 90.
What are the power supply options in a 102/90 vs a 102/250?
What is the best VFM in terms of upgrading my system?
Number 5
Will my 102 take a napsc or a hicap and what are the sonic differences?
If I understand correctly if I was to move to a 250 then it(the 250) requires a power supply to operate however my 102 doesn't need a power supply nor does my 90.
What are the power supply options in a 102/90 vs a 102/250?
What is the best VFM in terms of upgrading my system?
Number 5
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Jo Sharp
Naim pre-amps do not have an internal power supply. Your 102 is powered by the 90 power amp via the SNAIC cable.
You can improve the system by running the 102 from a separate power supply (Flatcap, Hicap or Supercap in ascending quality). A separate power supply for the pre-amp is better because it is then isolated from what is going on in the power amp.
A 250 power amp does not have a power output for a preamp. You therefore have to have one of the separate supplies.
A further improvement can be gained by using a NAPSC. This only powers the switching and control circuits of the 102, not the signal stages, removing another source of interference with the music signal. The NAPSC cannot power the whole preamp.
Jo
You can improve the system by running the 102 from a separate power supply (Flatcap, Hicap or Supercap in ascending quality). A separate power supply for the pre-amp is better because it is then isolated from what is going on in the power amp.
A 250 power amp does not have a power output for a preamp. You therefore have to have one of the separate supplies.
A further improvement can be gained by using a NAPSC. This only powers the switching and control circuits of the 102, not the signal stages, removing another source of interference with the music signal. The NAPSC cannot power the whole preamp.
Jo
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Wiltshireman
Ok, but does a hi-cap out perform a napsc or do you have to use a napsc with a 102 because a hi-cap will not work?
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by ted
Use a napsc to power the lights and buttons on the 102 and use a hicap to power the rest of it. It should sound very good. Just make sure to leave everything on for a while. It takes lots of time to warm Naim stuff up.
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Number 5
quote:
The combinations are:
102/power amp other than 250
102/NAPSC/ power amp other than 250
102/HI/power amp other than 250
102/NAPSC/HI/power amp other than 250
102/HI/250
102/NAPSC/HI/250
This list helps explain things well. Would this order give better sound with each move down the list and if so which increment would result in the greatest incremental improvement in a VFM sense?
Thanks
#5
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Number 5:quote:
The combinations are:
102/power amp other than 250
102/NAPSC/ power amp other than 250
102/HI/power amp other than 250
102/NAPSC/HI/power amp other than 250
102/HI/250
102/NAPSC/HI/250
This list helps explain things well. Would this order give better sound with each move down the list and if so which increment would result in the greatest incremental improvement in a VFM sense?
Thanks
#5
Other combinations are:
102/HI/HI+SLIC cable for digital section/250
102/Hi/Flatcap+SLIC cable for digital section/250
102/Supercap+SLIC cable (for digital section via output 2 of supercap)/250
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Number 5
What is a SLIC cable and digital section?
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Number 5
Oh....it's getting clearer....the SLIC will allow me to upgrade beyond the napsc and thus,If I have a HI/250, I can get 2 HI's into the system.
#5
#5
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Jo Sharp
Not much point - there will be no benefit to the sound quality that I am aware of by using a HICAP to power the switching instead of a NAPSC.
Or is someone going to say that switches and lights sound better on a Supercap?
Jo
Or is someone going to say that switches and lights sound better on a Supercap?
Jo
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Number 5:
Oh....it's getting clearer....the SLIC will allow me to upgrade beyond the napsc and thus,If I have a HI/250, I can get 2 HI's into the system.
#5
Yes. You can later use 2 Hicaps when you upgrade to the 82. If you want to bypass the 82 and go from 102 to 52 then get a supercap first (no Hicap and no NAPSC). So the issue is to plan ahead so that you dont end up with "extra box". It is not about the switches/lights that require hicap or supercap.
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Number 5
Thanks to everyone for the explanations. I now understand things a lot better...I guess the next dilema will be how to convince my wife that the NAPSC and HICAP have always been there.......
Good night and back to the Super Bowl
#5
Good night and back to the Super Bowl
#5
Posted on: 27 January 2003 by Gavin B
That should be easy with a NAPSC - it's a small black thing (approx 15cm x 7cm x 3cm) that you can stick on the floor under your stand out of sight. The Missus will never see it.
Hiding a Hicap? Different kettle of fish altogether!!
Gavin
Hiding a Hicap? Different kettle of fish altogether!!
Gavin
Posted on: 27 January 2003 by herm
But a Hi-Cap is only half-width, and it's got only one knobby thing, so it doesn't look like a big deal.
While looking for a hi-cap on de second hand market, try to get a fairly recent one, say not older than 1999. They need a recap after eight to ten years, and when you're not living next door to Naim HQ or NANA, that means expensive.
And keep an eye out for a 250.
Herman
While looking for a hi-cap on de second hand market, try to get a fairly recent one, say not older than 1999. They need a recap after eight to ten years, and when you're not living next door to Naim HQ or NANA, that means expensive.
And keep an eye out for a 250.
Herman
Posted on: 27 January 2003 by Number 5
Is a serviced/recapped HICAP of older vintage not a good idea?
#5
#5
Posted on: 11 February 2003 by ClaudeP
Back to this somewhat old thread:
How big of an improvement (and where) would a NAPSC make to a 102/hi-cap/140 system? And what would it cost (I'm in Canada - if someone knows the answer in $CDN it would be great)
How big of an improvement (and where) would a NAPSC make to a 102/hi-cap/140 system? And what would it cost (I'm in Canada - if someone knows the answer in $CDN it would be great)
Posted on: 11 February 2003 by Philippe Dancause
about 300-350can$. You could probably find one for less from someone selling a 102/napsc who is ok with selling items separately.
salut!
Philippe
salut!
Philippe
Posted on: 11 February 2003 by Audio Visionary
Actually a napsc costs $600 Canadian. Can also
be used to power the Headphone amp as well.
Bryan
be used to power the Headphone amp as well.
Bryan
Posted on: 12 February 2003 by Matthew T
The latest NAPSC is reputed to be a major improvement over the old one so it might be worth getting a new one.
Both NAPSC and hicap improve the 102.
Matthew
Both NAPSC and hicap improve the 102.
Matthew
Posted on: 12 February 2003 by Philippe Dancause
should have made clear that I was talking about a used napsc 
Brian is right about the price of a new one
[This message was edited by Philippe Dancause on WEDNESDAY 12 February 2003 at 15:47.]
Brian is right about the price of a new one
[This message was edited by Philippe Dancause on WEDNESDAY 12 February 2003 at 15:47.]