How to Biamp NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR with NAC 282 / Hicap DR

Sure can. Each amp gets driven from an output from the hicap ( it has three ).  Remove the jumpers from you speaker binding posts. Run one cable from each amp to each speaker making sure everything is off and no leads touch each other. Depending on you speakers you may get better results from the 250 up top.  

BIamping can yield mixed results so don't be surprised if the music sort of sounds smeared.  Experiment and have some fun

Stephen

Thanks Stephen. Do I connect the NAP200 to Socket 1 or Socket 2 on the Hicap?

I do exactly as you are proposing. so it goes like this.... You will need TWO interconnects, the first one is the cable between the HiCap and the 250, it must be 4 pin DIN to XLR config. I say this is the first because you want the first DIN socket in the HiCap to go to the bass drivers, then the second spot on the HiCap plugs into the 200. Here you use a 4 pin DIN to 4 pin DIN for the 200.  Obviously you will need two 2 sets of speaker cables, the first (200) plug into the top speaker terminals (remember to remove bridging cable or bar on back of speakers) and the second (250) plugs into the bass driver terminals on your speakers. The improvement is noticeable, just remember though, if your speakers need serious power, weigh up the cost of the extra amp PLUS the extra interconnect and speaker cable, if it comes close to the NAP300, then go for that. That said, bi-amping has great results and offers you the chance to get real dynamic headroom and control.  I use Chord Signature Tuned Array and NACA5 (at this stage) which adds to the cost but sounds great. I hope that helps

I may be breaking the rules by posting this photo below, but for ease of illustration I need to post this image.

The NAC 282 goes to the 5-pin of Socket 4. The NAP 250 DR goes to Socket 3. The NAP 200 goes to Socket 2. Is this correct? Or the NAP 250 DR goes to Socket 2 and NAP 200 goes to Socket 3?

Yes, I am aware that the metal plates bridging the top and bottom terminals of the speakers will need to be removed.

I will need to use my Rega SC42 speaker cables with the NAP 200 as I only have a single pair of Naca5. The Rega cables were bought together with the Rega Elicit several years ago and the Elicit was sold after few months of usage.

Ryder, I plug my 250 into socket 3 and the 200 into socket 2, Good luck mate, it is worth it for the bass drivers to have more grip.

AussieSteve, thanks for that. I actually have a spare NAP 200. I'll hook up the amp to the system this weekend.

Cheers.

Might I suggest that you'd be far better selling the stuff you don't need and putting the funds into a Supercap. Biamping is rarely beneficial and if you are proposing to use different speaker cables for the two amplifiers you will have no idea what is going on.  

If you do try this, it's also worth trying the 250 on the treble and the 200 on bass. 

Other than that, i'd agree with HH - money could be better spent elsewhere and i suspect you'll end up going back to the single 250.

Might I suggest that you'd be far better selling the stuff you don't need and putting the funds into a CDX2. Biamping is rarely beneficial and if you are proposing to use different speaker cables for the two amplifiers you will have no idea what is going on.

C.

Hmm, I don't know how good the Krell is, so I was assuming that the Supercap would be appropriate. I'd have thought that with the 282/250 the ideal Naim CD player would be the CDS3. Doubtless it's all irrelevant anyway.

Ryder,

just as far as HiCap sockets are concerned, I think that the signal is routed in series from 5-pin socket 4 to 3, then to 2, then to 1. So, if the presence of a few cm or so of extra wire, and more solders, are relevant to you, consider that socket 3 is the 'closest' to source.

Best

M

Thanks Max.

An update. I have done the test. In summary, I prefer the results when my speakers are biamped with both NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR. Full details below.

I have recently experienced an improvement I have never imagined possible. It is indeed a revelation. As some might have known, I was not entirely satisfied with the Harbeth Super HL5plus and was having doubts. Despite being a technically superior sounding speaker on paper over the older SHL5, I was having problems trying to warm up to the sound of the new speakers. I constantly reassured myself that the SHL5plus is a better speaker despite being not completely satisfied with the sound of the new speakers. I thought I needed time to get used to the SHL5plus and entertained the possibility I might prefer the SHL5 if I still find the Plus to be less satisfying in the long run.

Long story short. My main issue with the system is the SHL5plus sounds leaner in comparison to the older SHL5. Somehow I just thought something isn’t quite right with the sound as music did not sound as engaging. I first replaced the Naca5 with Rega SC42 cables to see if things will improve for the better. Since the jumpers linking the top and bottom terminals on the speakers are Rega SC42 bare wires I thought there would be synergy if the same speaker cable is used. Instead of improving the sound, the Rega cable made things worse. The sound is slower and slightly muffled in the low mid bass, and the tone is duller with a slight roll off in the treble.

I then run the system in biamp configuration with the additional NAP 200 power amp that I have in hand. Both NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR power amps are used to drive the SHL5plus. There are four combinations with this setup. I consistently find the system to sound its best when the NAP 250 DR is used to drive the top speaker terminals. The system sounded best with the NAP 250 DR driving the top terminals via Naca5 cables.

I wasn’t really prepared for the changes. I found myself tapping my feet to the beat and shaking my head in disbelief with the improvements the additional amp had brought to the system. I was gobsmacked. It’s not about the bass going deeper and getting tauter and punchier, or the highs getting airier or more extended. It’s the space and holographic presentation. There is a lot of space between instruments when driving the SHL5plus with both NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR. The sound is much flatter when running the NAP 250 DR on its own, almost 2-dimensional.

A caveat is the Rega cables that are used on the NAP 200 which I felt wasn’t the best option. The bass sounded slightly soft with music that has fast thumping bass. However, the overall improvement in space and 3-dimensionality pretty much overshadowed the slight deterioration in bass quality. I suspect the NAP 200 will sound better with Naca5 cables.

To reconfirm on the strengths of the biamp setup, I disconnected the NAP 200 from the system and listened to the NAP 250 DR alone, with the links connecting the top and bottom speaker terminals in place. The overall sound is more balanced with the NAP 250 DR alone with increased solidity and fullness in the bass and mid bass. An overall fuller and thicker sound with the NAP 250 DR. Nevertheless, the space and air around instruments that contribute to the holographic feel in the music is lost with this configuration.

Several hypotheses as follows:-
1. The Harbeth speakers sound different with biamping
2. The Harbeth speakers sound different without the any form of links or jumpers in place

I have refrained from using the term “better” although I am inclined to substitute the word "different" with better to avoid getting into arguments. Let’s just say I currently prefer to have the SHL5plus biamped with both NAP 200 and NAP 250 DR than running the speakers with a single 250 DR. I am not sure if the jumpers or links are limiting the potential of the speakers, or the speakers sound better without any links in place.

In summary, there is now hope with the SHLplus. I now have a glimpse of the potential of these speakers. I believe further experimentation will just raise the performance of the SHL5plus.

Since everyone’s system is dissimilar, the results will be different when the speakers are biamped with different amplifiers. Nevertheless, if there is opportunity for biamping, I would recommend to run the SHL5 or SHL5plus in biamp configuration. The outcome may not be better, but it will surely be different.

Great stuff mate, enjoy!

I use two hicaps mate, DR spec, I tried one then two and my wife and I instantly knew the sound was "right" for us, many advocate a Supercap but I couldn't justify the extra few grand. If you ever come across a spare and think it worth it, I can vouch for it.

Thanks mate. You are right, biamping does make a difference.

Noted on the benefits of a 2nd HIcap DR (or a Supercap). That will come much later as I have just recently done a complete revamp of the system and am not in a financial position to spend any more money on hifi.

Cheers.