Naim Hi cap

Timo posted:

William posted:

Well I just demoed a HCDR with my NDX/Mojo/XS2/SL2 and in my living room it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. In the words of the missus it's "the music as I always thought it should be played, a 'welcome home' experience".

I would have thought it made more sense to put the spare cash into a SN2... 

 

Well, I once compared the XS2 with a Supernait. I think it was a SN2 but I couldn't be sure. I actually preferred the XS2. Just felt more at home with it. Besides, the upgrade path is a very slippery slope in general. Why not just skip the SN2 and go for s/h separates? Then still feel the urge to spend even more cash on a PS... The XS2 is plenty good enough for me, especially thanks to the sheer musical enjoyment it brings with the HCDR.

William posted:

Timo posted:

William posted:

Well I just demoed a HCDR with my NDX/Mojo/XS2/SL2 and in my living room it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. In the words of the missus it's "the music as I always thought it should be played, a 'welcome home' experience".

I would have thought it made more sense to put the spare cash into a SN2... 

 

Well, I once compared the XS2 with a Supernait. I think it was a SN2 but I couldn't be sure. I actually preferred the XS2. Just felt more at home with it. Besides, the upgrade path is a very slippery slope in general. Why not just skip the SN2 and go for s/h separates? Then still feel the urge to spend even more cash on a PS... The XS2 is plenty good enough for me, especially thanks to the sheer musical enjoyment it brings with the HCDR.

Fair point -- you do what you enjoy! I haven't heard the XS2 with HiCap but hope to move on an SN2, which I rather liked when I heard it. I recall to have read that the XS2 with HiCap was described as an "XS2 on steroids". Made sense to me since the XS2 was designed to work with the more modest Flatcap. So I haven't explored the HiCap option... But great that the steroids work for you! 

Not sure that the steroids metaphor really applies to my set-up. It's not so much that the music is being "pumped up", more that the timing and presentation are enhanced - instruments and vocals are given more 'space', they are more clearly defined, and so the overall sound has authority, integrity,... It's what I call an "honest" sound. I will say it's highly addictive though! Good luck with the SN2 quest; you may be wanting a HCDR to go with it ��

That steroids metaphore was used in the past when someone added a Supercap on a Supernait.

When I added a HiCap DR to my old Nait 5, it was on steroids. The HiCap Dr exposed the relative weaknesses of the Nait too much. The good things were also nicely audibe, like the lowered noise, and tighter welldefined bass. Problems were mainly in the treble. Especially Piano was not nice anymore after many hours of listening. Just too edgy.

badlands posted:

Robiwan posted

The bare SN2 already sounds clear and bright so adding a HC is too much.

Curious, do you own a SN2 to make such a definitive statement?

I mean, I know I'm not qualified to give an opinion, being that I happen to own the pairing.

Is there an age limit to register to this forum? I mean, shouldn't one be at least 12?

dayjay posted:

Robiwan posted:

badlands posted:

Robiwan posted

The bare SN2 allready sounds clear and bright so adding a HC is too much.

Curious, do you own a SN2 to make such a definitive statement?

I mean, I know I'm not qualified to give an opinion, being that I happen to own the pairing.

i have heard the SN2 many times. It's great when used bare, just like the SN1 and XS/-2. Okay i don't like the Hicap sounds get's overcontrolled so you loose in musical pleasure. 

I take it your answer was no then, you don't own one?

no a SuperNait. With Hicap it sounded overcontrolled and fatigue. With Stageline even worse. Bare SN is top!

Robiwan posted:

no a SuperNait. With Hicap it sounded overcontrolled and fatigue. With Stageline even worse. Bare SN is top!

I wonder how you've managed to connect the Stageline and use it as a power supply... that's a new one for me... 

Adam Zielinski posted:

Robiwan posted:

no a SuperNait. With Hicap it sounded overcontrolled and fatigue. With Stageline even worse. Bare SN is top!

I wonder how you've managed to connect the Stageline and use it as a power supply... that's a new one for me... 

SN + hicap with SL on aux 2 or bare SN and SL + hicap.  

Max_B posted:

 

Is there an age limit to register to this forum? I mean, shouldn't one be at least 12?

Oh, go listen to some Bach! Resorting to personal insults, who's the child here??????

No wonder you don't like anything that has the DR upgrade. You need to listen to real music!!!!!

Robiwan posted:

 

no a SuperNait. With Hicap it sounded overcontrolled and fatigue. With Stageline even worse. Bare SN is top!

OK, everybody who has the HiCap DR connected to your SN2, sell it off, because according to this expert and authority on power supplies, it's a waste!

Never mind the obvious sonic benefits of what the HiCap DR brings to the SN2, and every other Naim component it's connected to. Disregard what YOUR own ears tell you, and do what this member suggests in no uncertain terms.

badlands posted:

Robiwan posted:

 

no a SuperNait. With Hicap it sounded overcontrolled and fatigue. With Stageline even worse. Bare SN is top!

OK, everybody who has the HiCap DR connected to your SN2, sell it off, because according to this expert and authority on power supplies, it's a waste!

Never mind the obvious sonic benefits of what the HiCap DR brings to the SN2, and every other Naim component it's connected to. Disregard what YOUR own ears tell you, and do what this member suggests in no uncertain terms.

yes it is. Buy music for the hicap money!

badlands posted:

Max_B posted:

 

Is there an age limit to register to this forum? I mean, shouldn't one be at least 12?

Oh, go listen to some Bach! Resorting to personal insults, who's the child here??????

No wonder you don't like anything that has the DR upgrade. You need to listen to real music!!!!!

Let's be civil here. No need for insults.

Amazing views and opinions here. 

I don't own a SN2 but I've listened to it a couple of times in different setups at my dealer over the last view months. Always with the NDS as a source, bare & cap'd, and driving various TAD and Sonus Faber speakers.

I never heard anything bright but was very impressed by its good and well balanced sound every time.