Powering 282

Hi Stephen. There's been quite a bit written on the subject on the forum. I think general consensus is that adding a second HiCap isn't worth it, and a Supercap is the way to go. Not heard either myself though. 282 is a great pre amp! 

If you are buying second hand and are not going to audition I would just go for the Supercap job done.

I went from Hicap (non DR) to a SupercapDR on my 282. This produced so much more but I suspect some of that was the Supercap and some was the introduction of DR technology. Many on here believe the HicapDR is the optimum PS for the 282 but I am in the SupercapDR camp, admittedly never having tried a HicapDR on my 282. I will also admit I was paving the way for a 252.

I would suggest either sticking with the HicapDR or going to a SupercapDR. Don't bother with a Supercap non DR unless you plan to DR it in the future. Oh yes, don't bother with a second Hicap.

I have a 282 powered by a SuperCap DR. Bought a HiCap DR at first and then borrowed a SuperCap DR from my dealer. Amazing difference, but not repeated until recently when I added Naim Powerline Lites to both power supplies. The result was an opening up of the sound stage and was a complete revelation. Maybe the HiCap DR would have been good with the PL Lite.

There is a thread from 2014 on the effect on the NAPSC. The theory is that even though it only controls the source selection etc, noise etc at this point is very bad. 

Phil

The SC would give you a lot more 282, but it doesn't transform the sound. A great upgrade.

What about SC powering the Snaxo instead? 

In my system I preferred the Supercap Dr on the Snaxo and Hicap DR on the 282. Subsequently put a non DR Supercap on the 282 and that was a big step up from Hicap DR.

It's all well and good thinking about Supercaps for the 282, but an active system fronted by a CD5? A CDS3 will make more of an impact than twenty Supercaps. 

But the OP has said he doesn't listen to CD much which implies he mostly listens to his RP6. I would however suggest a home demo of a better (than the CD5) Naim CD player or, perish the thought, a NDX before considering upgrading the power supply just to see how a digital source competes with the OP's vinyl source. Might be food for thought.

I put the one Naim PowerLine I own on my HCDR for the 282, I cannot listen to HCDR without the PL now..... Haven't heard SCDR on my 282, but for now PL is doing good upgrade job.

nigelb posted:

But the OP has said he doesn't listen to CD much which implies he mostly listens to his RP6. I would however suggest a home demo of a better (than the CD5) Naim CD player or, perish the thought, a NDX before considering upgrading the power supply just to see how a digital source competes with the OP's vinyl source. Might be food for thought.

Ah yes, I missed the 'don't'....

Nonetheless, it is just as inappropriate to be considering a £4,000 power supply when the system is fronted by a £1,000 turntable. I'd be looking at an RP10 unless a Linn or somesuch appeals - Michel Orbe maybe?

FWIW I found the 282 with a single HiCapDR was the best power option, I did not enjoy my 282 with SuperCapDR as much... the sound became over egged and to my ears a little to forced... other opinions are available 

However a SuperCapDR will get you itching for a 252... it did for me....

Marksnaim posted:

In my system I preferred the Supercap Dr on the Snaxo and Hicap DR on the 282. Subsequently put a non DR Supercap on the 282 and that was a big step up from Hicap DR.

Mark, for the sake of clarity, im assuming you mean that, given availability of only a single Supercap, its impact on the Snaxo is greater than on the 282 - rather than that a non DR'd supercap on a 282 is preferable to a DR'd Supercap ?

Also, for those who have a Supercap on their 282, do they feel the expense is worthwhile even if there is no intent to replace the 282 with a 252.

I am considering a (new) Supercap DR for my own system

LP12+Radikal+Urika+Kore+Ekos2+Akiva

CDX2/XPS DR

NAC282/HiCap DR

NAP250 DR

Focal Elektra BE1028

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

FWIW I found the 282 with a single HiCapDR was the best power option, I did not enjoy my 282 with SuperCapDR as much... the sound became over egged and to my ears a little to forced... other opinions are available 

However a SuperCapDR will get you itching for a 252... it did for me....

Simon.. I have noted your opinion on this matter both here and in other posts. In fact, for this reason, I am in the process of arranging to borrow a Supercap DR from my dealer, to try it out at home first. This will, of course, answer my own questions but I may have a little wait before it happens. In the interim I'm interested in opinions.

Hungryhalibut posted:

nigelb posted:

But the OP has said he doesn't listen to CD much which implies he mostly listens to his RP6. I would however suggest a home demo of a better (than the CD5) Naim CD player or, perish the thought, a NDX before considering upgrading the power supply just to see how a digital source competes with the OP's vinyl source. Might be food for thought.

Ah yes, I missed the 'don't'....

Nonetheless, it is just as inappropriate to be considering a £4,000 power supply when the system is fronted by a £1,000 turntable. I'd be looking at an RP10 unless a Linn or somesuch appeals - Michel Orbe maybe?

I suspect that's one of the likely changes, I like the arm and the cartridge- I will probably change the turntable at some point.  Thanks for your advice.

AlanJ posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

FWIW I found the 282 with a single HiCapDR was the best power option, I did not enjoy my 282 with SuperCapDR as much... the sound became over egged and to my ears a little to forced... other opinions are available 

However a SuperCapDR will get you itching for a 252... it did for me....

Simon.. I have noted your opinion on this matter both here and in other posts. In fact, for this reason, I am in the process of arranging to borrow a Supercap DR from my dealer, to try it out at home first. This will, of course, answer my own questions but I may have a little wait before it happens. In the interim I'm interested in opinions.

Regarding Simon's comment about the SC DR making the sound forced, I certainly felt the sound was forced with a PL. The PL Lite was a big improvement over the standard MK plug of old (I believe the PL Lite is now standard on most black boxes now). My NAPSC now has a PL Lite which with the SCDR's made my music quite magical and similar to a live performance. 

We are going to Tchaikovsky Gala at the Albert Hall on Tuesday so we should have a better experience of live music after a lengthy absence other than opera from the Met at the cinema.

As HH says the Rega RP10 plus Aphelion is a superb TT coupled with the Aria and Couple interconnects.

Phil

Filipe posted:

AlanJ posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

FWIW I found the 282 with a single HiCapDR was the best power option, I did not enjoy my 282 with SuperCapDR as much... the sound became over egged and to my ears a little to forced... other opinions are available 

However a SuperCapDR will get you itching for a 252... it did for me....

Simon.. I have noted your opinion on this matter both here and in other posts. In fact, for this reason, I am in the process of arranging to borrow a Supercap DR from my dealer, to try it out at home first. This will, of course, answer my own questions but I may have a little wait before it happens. In the interim I'm interested in opinions.

Regarding Simon's comment about the SC DR making the sound forced, I certainly felt the sound was forced with a PL. The PL Lite was a big improvement over the standard MK plug of old (I believe the PL Lite is now standard on most black boxes now). My NAPSC now has a PL Lite which with the SCDR's made my music quite magical and similar to a live performance. 

We are going to Tchaikovsky Gala at the Albert Hall on Tuesday so we should have a better experience of live music after a lengthy absence other than opera from the Met at the cinema.

As HH says the Rega RP10 plus Aphelion is a superb TT coupled with the Aria and Couple interconnects.

Phil

Phil, do you feel the Supercap DR on the 282 is a worthwhile investment in it's own right or only if you are working towards a 252 ?

Alan, The demo using a well run in SC DR convinced me. However, I waited and waited with the new SCDR, and added the nDAC plus XPS DR and CDX2 and was underwhelmed and disappointed with system as a whole. The turning point has been getting power cords sorted plus the Witch Hat Din to XLR. Having moved to 300 DR from 250DR and to Focal Sopra N2 in January I can't say how much those have contributed. What I can say is that PL Lites added a month ago make a the difference I quoted. Fine detail that bring music alive makes a big difference to my enjoyment. Each change I made has always been justified, but with what I know now I might have done things in a different order and possibly some things not at all (but I can't be sure about the not at all). 

Don't let your dealer rush you into decisions! If you live near Stroud in Glos happy to have you visit. Very happy now with the system, but didn't expect it to be as hard as it was.

Phil

Phil, thanks for your insights and advice - and for the invite. Im in Essex so Gloucester not so close - but thanks anyway. Will do the home demo and see how it goes..

Alan

Supercap coming on loan next week, for a couple of weeks.... ��