Stageline + Hicap (non DR) or Stageline + Flatcap

In my opinion the combination of phono stage and cartridge is almost symbiotic. Certain carts just get on 'really well' with their symbiotic phono stage counterpart. So depending on the cart, you need to research the phono stages that seem to be the counterpart that works with it. At the same time, with respect to your LP12 Majik, its level of performance is likely to be exposed a bit mercilessly by the superlative capabilities of something like the Superline/Hicap! So, better not go there.

On the other hand, inserting an XPS into a 272/250DR is a bit like taking a system and bumping its performance into the next level up. What you have is a lovely system which gets many things right, but when you add the XPS to that combo it really becomes a different animal with far more nuance, grace and poise, and it becomes much more engaging to boot.

Frank.

ps forgot to mention...the quality of rips, nas drive used, network infrastructure and server software will all fundamentally and emphatically affect the quality of performance from your 272! That's a discussion for the Streaming forum but the dividends through optimization there are huge.

I agree with Frank-if you're considering a Superline, you need a better turntable first.

Remember that the XPS powers the entire 272, so it should improve both digital and analogue performance. 

Super helpful, Frank and Chrissu. Thank you. I think I'll go slow with the analog side for now: Flatcap + Stageline. And will ponder about when I can afford that XPS. 

The Majik, as entry-level as it is, sounded just lovely on home demo this past weekend, coming from a Denon DP300F. Stevie Wonder, Talking Book; Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway... pretty amazing what I could hear now. 

Or rega aria instead of stageline which I don't find it particularly brilliant with FlatCap2  and takes space

So why not rega aria for a better price thand hicap

There is nothing wrong wth the Stageline if you can power it from your other kit and it compares well to the Aria but if I had to buy a power supply for the Stageline I'd probably go down the Aria route.  There's not much difference between them, better sound stage on the Aria perhaps, wheen powered via my SN2

Apologies for the hijack, but I am looking for some advice on a similar theme.  I recently traded in my Uniti 2 for an N272 and am now trying to connect up my LP12, the Stageline of which was previously powered from the Uniti.  I have since acquired a used Hi-Cap and am the proud owner of 2 5-pin SNAICs.

The N272 has a 5 pin Analogue Input 1, the Stageline has a 4-pin Socket 1 and 5-pin Socket 2, and the Hicap has 3 4-pin Sockets 1-3 and a 5-pin Socket 4.  I would be extremely grateful if anyone can offer up the correct wiring solution that would enable me to fire up the LP12 once more.

you'll need a 4-pin to 5-pin SNAIC to go from the Hicap to your 272.

TJ137 posted:

Apologies for the hijack, but I am looking for some advice on a similar theme.  I recently traded in my Uniti 2 for an N272 and am now trying to connect up my LP12, the Stageline of which was previously powered from the Uniti.  I have since acquired a used Hi-Cap and am the proud owner of 2 5-pin SNAICs.

The N272 has a 5 pin Analogue Input 1, the Stageline has a 4-pin Socket 1 and 5-pin Socket 2, and the Hicap has 3 4-pin Sockets 1-3 and a 5-pin Socket 4.  I would be extremely grateful if anyone can offer up the correct wiring solution that would enable me to fire up the LP12 once more.

Use 5pin SNAIC from Stageline Socket 2 ----> Hicap Socket 4 (Make sure band it as Stageline end)

Use 4pin to 5pin Interconnect (not SNAIC) from Hicap Socket 3 ----> NAC272 5pin Analogue Input 1 (Band  at Hicap End)

dayjay posted:

There is nothing wrong wth the Stageline if you can power it from your other kit and it compares well to the Aria but if I had to buy a power supply for the Stageline I'd probably go down the Aria route.  There's not much difference between them, better sound stage on the Aria perhaps, wheen powered via my SN2

Thanks, Dayjay and Emre. Unless the Aria is miles better than the Stageline, I'll probably stick with the Stageline, on the theory that Naim stuff likes to be together.  

DCP, I'd take the non DR HiCap.

Point of info: Superline won't suit Adikt because Superline is MC only and an Adikt is MM.

Chris

dcp posted:

dayjay posted:

There is nothing wrong wth the Stageline if you can power it from your other kit and it compares well to the Aria but if I had to buy a power supply for the Stageline I'd probably go down the Aria route.  There's not much difference between them, better sound stage on the Aria perhaps, wheen powered via my SN2

Thanks, Dayjay and Emre. Unless the Aria is miles better than the Stageline, I'll probably stick with the Stageline, on the theory that Naim stuff likes to be together.  

i am using stage line / flatcap2 / EAT Major / Ortofon Quintet Blue connected to 272 and i can not say i am very happy with the result, it is not bad but not better that streaming or CD2X, even with a Analog cut expensive records...

Connecting Stageline/flatcap2/272 is a cable orgy of connections also there is always Hicap in my mind which make the total Stageline package very expensive phono stage compare to its performance.

In my view phono stage has to be " together " with the cartridge rather than the amp or rest of the stuff so i am not worried about all Naim system, a superline with supercap would be nice but then again not worth it with my turntable and it is a very expensive proposition. 

so i am thinking or to sell the stageline/Flatcap2 to get a Aria or maybe some other 1000£ phono amp, also dont forget that with stage line you are MM or MC, Aria can be use with every cartridge 

Also there is another problem with 272/300DR combo that i am using, i have only one DIN connection remaining that i like to use it for my CD2X rather than Stageline, so a RCA phono stage makes sense for me

So in brief words stageline is good but confusing