Flatcap XS

There's always a run-in period. Power supplies should be operational and stabilized within 15-20 seconds from start up, and slowly improving for the next few hours.

Some people here expecienced their kit to come "on song" after a few days being fired up.

BTW, congrats for your new power supply, it's a very good upgrade for both your XS-2 and CD5. 

Bye.

There is a long and painful run in period for the flatcap xs (months for me) - and each input needs to be run in separately.

In which way does the FC XS improve the Nait XS 2? Tighter bass, better timbre, cleaner highs, more coherent (better separation)?

Last thing I would want would be more pronounced mids and/or leaner bass.

Don't quite understand why each input needs to be run in separately either.

Final question is whether the outlay and extra box is worthwhile vs simply getting a SN 2.

its a power supply - thats all.

If you look at the innards - there's not much in there so i would be extremely skeptical if there were "burn in " issues of weeks and months.

in fact i have a separate question -

a. if a Flatcap XS is used to power both a CD5XS and a Nait XS - with both the devices be fed properly ? or the 1st device gets all the power and the 2nd device could do with just a bit more power ?

I am thinking this will not be the case - as the FC XS is designed for this - but whats the practical experience of users like ?

b. Does the XS2 ( 70W ) is in lesser requirement of a FC XS than the XS ( 60W ) ?

c. why not simply go for an SN2 if the SN2 would have a better pre - power section than the SN2 and would not need the FC XS to turbo charge it ? Ohhh.... there is the HCDR isnt it ?? 

mpw posted:

in fact i have a separate question -

a. if a Flatcap XS is used to power both a CD5XS and a Nait XS - with both the devices be fed properly ? or the 1st device gets all the power and the 2nd device could do with just a bit more power ?

I am thinking this will not be the case - as the FC XS is designed for this

You correctly answered your own question. The FC(XS) is Naim's only PSU that can be used to power two devices, so why not take advantage. A FC used for dual power on XS level gear is Naim's greatest VFM in my experience and I wouldn't think too long or hard about it. The alternative - use two separate FCs to power two devices - makes no sense.

mpw posted:

c. why not simply go for an SN2 if the SN2 would have a better pre - power section than the SN2 and would not need the FC XS to turbo charge it ? Ohhh.... there is the HCDR isnt it ?? 

As you say, the FC is not the appropriate PSU for the SN2. If you've got the funds for a SN2 I'd go there. I've been listening to my SN2 for two years with no PSU, so don't consider the HC obligate by any means.

staffy posted:

Is their such a thing as a run in period for the FC XS.   I have about 15 hours on mine.

You're not turning it off are you? Nor any of your other Naims?

C.

hastings posted:

There is a long and painful run in period for the flatcap xs (months for me) - and each input needs to be run in separately.

Are you only playing one track of a CD per day.   Months does seem a long time.

Christopher_M posted:

staffy posted:

Is their such a thing as a run in period for the FC XS.   I have about 15 hours on mine.

You're not turning it off are you? Nor any of your other Naims?

C.

Hi Christopher.  I always turn my equipment off at the end of the day.  Or when their is a heavy downpour with the chance of an electrical surge from lightening hitting my house.    When I turn everything on, I leave the system for 40 minutes to really warm up.

staffy posted:

Christopher_M posted:

staffy posted:

Is their such a thing as a run in period for the FC XS.   I have about 15 hours on mine.

You're not turning it off are you? Nor any of your other Naims?

C.

Hi Christopher.  I always turn my equipment off at the end of the day.  Or when their is a heavy downpour with the chance of an electrical surge from lightening hitting my house.    When I turn everything on, I leave the system for 40 minutes to really warm up.

+1 - I also turn mine off and find that 30-45 minutes warm-up will bring it on-song nicely.

Can't advise on the run-in question, but my dealer loaned me Flatcap to use on my 282 while my Supercap was away being serviced and DR'ed. Must say I was very impressed at the performance the Flatcap put in. Excellent VFM in my view. 

mpw posted:

in fact i have a separate question -

 

a. if a Flatcap XS is used to power both a CD5XS and a Nait XS - with both the devices be fed properly ? or the 1st device gets all the power and the 2nd device could do with just a bit more power ?

I am thinking this will not be the case - as the FC XS is designed for this - but whats the practical experience of users like ?

b. Does the XS2 ( 70W ) is in lesser requirement of a FC XS than the XS ( 60W ) ?

c. why not simply go for an SN2 if the SN2 would have a better pre - power section than the SN2 and would not need the FC XS to turbo charge it ? Ohhh.... there is the HCDR isnt it ?? 

Thats an interesting observation.  Before the arrival and connection of my FC XS my stageline was connected to my Nait XS2  and the volume control was set at at the 10am position.  Music sounded fine.   CD player sounded good at 9am position.

Then I purchased and connected  the FC XS.   This deals with the Nait XS and stageline.   I now find that I have to turn the volume up to the 12pm position in order to obtain the same quality of sound.   On the other hand my CD player only needs the volume set around the 8.30am position

Apologies for the volume and clock analogy.

What should one expect to hear when adding a FC XS to a Nait XS 2?

Anybody here prefer the XS 2 without the FC XS?

Iconoclast posted:

What should one expect to hear when adding a FC XS to a Nait XS 2?

Anybody here prefer the XS 2 without the FC XS?

The speaking clock according to my last post.

staffy posted:

Hi Christopher.  I always turn my equipment off at the end of the day.  Or when their is a heavy downpour with the chance of an electrical surge from lightening hitting my house.    When I turn everything on, I leave the system for 40 minutes to really warm up.

Ooooooh !    (sharp intake of breath)

I get the 'chance of surge from lightning' reason for powering down and disconnecting  (you do disconnect from the wall don't you?),  but switching off every night?  Your poor printed circuits and caps, to say nothing of your trannies... there should be a law against doing what you're doing by powering the poor darlings up and down so often.

As it happens, the law in the future is more likely to be in your favour to protect our planet from the unspeakable waste of electricity, but in the meantime, a lot of folk will wonder why you'd deliberately shorten the life of your equipment in this way.... and I'm one of those who wonder.  But I applaud your green credentials, sir.

Thank you, RJ.

Chris

rjstaines posted:

staffy posted:

Hi Christopher.  I always turn my equipment off at the end of the day.  Or when their is a heavy downpour with the chance of an electrical surge from lightening hitting my house.    When I turn everything on, I leave the system for 40 minutes to really warm up.

Ooooooh !    (sharp intake of breath)

I get the 'chance of surge from lightning' reason for powering down and disconnecting  (you do disconnect from the wall don't you?),  but switching off every night?  Your poor printed circuits and caps, to say nothing of your trannies... there should be a law against doing what you're doing by powering the poor darlings up and down so often.

As it happens, the law in the future is more likely to be in your favour to protect our planet from the unspeakable waste of electricity, but in the meantime, a lot of folk will wonder why you'd deliberately shorten the life of your equipment in this way.... and I'm one of those who wonder.  But I applaud your green credentials, sir.

 

 

If Naim really need to take its hifi into the future, it'll have to be OK to switch off and on as much as needed and without being serviced every 10 years... You guys moan about obsolescence built into today's white/pixelated goods - well the black and green goods needs more miles built in .

I've had a flatcap xs for about 1 month (both upgrade options into a 152) and can't say I've noticed any 'burn-in' change over this period.  It's been superb since it was installed. I keep everything powered on 24/7.

@ICONOCLAST: I havent heard the FC into an xs2, but into my setup (nd5/152/155) the flatcap made a massive positive difference, most notably in the bass definition, low-level dynamics, and in reducing harshness at higher volume. IMO it now performs as I would expect from electronics with a retail price of £5k+.  Seriously happy with my setup. 

I have a flat cap xs that I've used with my Nait 5 and CD5 and now with my XS2.  For me it was the least impressive upgrade I've made (compared to upgrading speakers or going from the 5 to the 5XS2 or going to the CD5 from a nakamichi).   The Naits are good amps - so I'm surprised by the sometime dramatic differences others hear with the flat caps.  

Ian Brown posted:

I have a flat cap xs that I've used with my Nait 5 and CD5 and now with my XS2.  For me it was the least impressive upgrade I've made (compared to upgrading speakers or going from the 5 to the 5XS2 or going to the CD5 from a nakamichi).   The Naits are good amps - so I'm surprised by the sometime dramatic differences others hear with the flat caps.  

I don't doubt those who claim to be happy with the FC XS but I just can't help but wonder if it's good VFM or if that money could be better spent elsewhere. Does a power supply need to be that big and that expensive? Wouldn't a half size box reduce costs and save space?

Here is maybe an answer. HiCap, the anti FlatCap?

Chag -

rjstaines posted:

to say nothing of your trannies... there should be a law against doing what you're doing by powering the poor darlings up and down so often. 

We are still talking hi-fi here aren't we?  Hope so!

Iconoclast posted:

Wouldn't a half size box reduce costs and save space?

 

I have no idea what cost savings there'd be for a half case, though I can't imagine it's much relative to the retail price. As for space the FCXS has two more outputs than the HC which may necessitate the full case. The HC, despite being a half case, really doesn't save any space because "proper racking practices" dictate nothing should be stacked next to it anyways. In fact, the HC is taller than the FCXS and requires more vertical shelf space.

Going back to the OP, I too turn off my amps when I go to bed, but then I don't listen to them everyday as I am often away for work and I always thought unplugging was part of keeping the contacts clean (although I admit I don't disconnect all the interconnects every day). However for "burn in" purposes I always consult the weather forecast looking for lightning free conditions for three or four days and leave the new amp or in this case the PS on throughout that time whether in actual use or not. 

In told that putting the flatcap contents in a smaller case adversely impacts the performance. So 5 series case it is and all the better for that..