Flatcap XS + Nait XS + Stageline N
Posted by: SNAIC in the Grass on 21 April 2016
It seems a good logical step for my XS and Stageline would be to add a Flatcap; this is a modestly priced upgrade, but would lift all boats per se.
I've heard to avoid the HICAP for the XS and stick with the Flatcap, also getting a HICAP would be twice as much and not help the Stageline.
That said, what is the setup like for this, i.e. the SNAIC configuration. Given that I have a SNAIC going from the Stageline to the XS (SNAIC4?), and the Flatcap comes with a SNAIC (not sure what type)...what other cables would be required and how would they plug in to the system?
SITG
It's not exactly the 200 page joke threat...pfft.
Anyway, what will a HICAP do for me, I got a line on one from 2010?
What I meant was: it reduced the background noise of the system. Of course, YMMV and all that. Try one and see if it floats your boat. If not, you can sell on the Hicap for no loss.
Just got the RP6 / Exact and a HICAP from 2010 set up!
First record is "Kind of Blue"
It sounds good, but I can't tell yet...sounds sweeter, and notes are longer a bit more clarity I think. Cymbals sound better...probably will take a week or so to know what I have here. Anyway its burning in we'll see!
Percussion in general is nicer...which always seems to be the first thing I notice with a Naim upgrade...the percussion is better.
RP6 / Exact -> Stageline N -> Nait XS - HICAP2 - NACA5 - Credo
We have a Nait XS, a Flatcap XS, and a CD5X, and we use a Meridian Explorer as a second digital source via Audirvana Plus on an Isoblue stand. In my opinion this is the perfect small integrated amp. This setup goes into a pair of nSats on an outside wall and a pair of Naim nSat stands. Upstairs. I don't know what the weak link is. It might be the speakers. It might be the CD. I do not think it is the Nait XS and Flatcap XS. You can crank it up with these small speakers and there is no bloom but the bass is there. I tried an original SuperNait with the DAC and liked what we have better.
Good bass. Good timing. Tight. James Brown Tight.
Our 500 rig downstairs is all of the above. Bigger D40R ProAc speakers. Great timing. Soundstage. Grip. All that 500 stuff. The Proac and Nordost pieces might have muddied the waters downstairs. The bigger bass and the big sound we have downstairs and it is impressive.
James Brown Tight lives upstairs at my house. James Brown Tight is a worthy goal.
Skip posted:We have a Nait XS, a Flatcap XS, and a CD5X, and we use a Meridian Explorer as a second digital source via Audirvana Plus on an Isoblue stand. In my opinion this is the perfect small integrated amp. This setup goes into a pair of nSats on an outside wall and a pair of Naim nSat stands. Upstairs. I don't know what the weak link is.
That's because there isn't one :-)
Chris
Indeed, a pleasant post from Skip. Nice to read that someone appreciates their XS system as much as their 500-level gear.
Skip posted:Our 500 rig downstairs is all of the above. Bigger D40R ProAc speakers. Great timing. Soundstage. Grip. All that 500 stuff. The Proac and Nordost pieces might have muddied the waters downstairs. The bigger bass and the big sound we have downstairs and it is impressive.
James Brown Tight lives upstairs at my house [on our XS rig]. James Brown Tight is a worthy goal.
Could some Naca5 wires and some Ovators give you James Brown Tight downstairs too?
Chris
We have NACA 5.
I have never even seen a pair of Ovators. They are scarce in the US and now discontinued. But I do think you are probably right. The ProAcs have a beautiful sound, but I don't think they are my last speaker.
We have a Nordost 8 outlet strip filled with Naim Powerlines and a Frey 2 power cord feeding it. Nordost has a brighter sound. The Powerlines sound rolled off in comparison. The older my hearing gets, the more I can appreciate the differences in power cords.
Thanks Skip. I wrongly assumed that your Nordost was speaker wires.
And now back to Snaic's thread.....
C.
Christopher_M posted:Skip posted:Our 500 rig downstairs is all of the above. Bigger D40R ProAc speakers. Great timing. Soundstage. Grip. All that 500 stuff. The Proac and Nordost pieces might have muddied the waters downstairs. The bigger bass and the big sound we have downstairs and it is impressive.
James Brown Tight lives upstairs at my house [on our XS rig]. James Brown Tight is a worthy goal.
Could some Naca5 wires and some Ovators give you James Brown Tight downstairs too?
Chris
Perhaps some super skinny jeans are what's needed. Never mind wires and speakers.