Adding HiCap DR to SN2?

I have listened a few times to the SN2 + HCDR and SN1 + HCDR (the combination I have myself). The HCDR on the SN1 is a kind of a must do upgrade, but on the SN2 the effect is less - but apparent. If you are hoping for deeper, harder hitting bass, I'm not entirely convinced that a HCDR is the way to go. The HCDR should make the bass a tad more tight though, but could even be experienced as less bass. I don't know the alleas, so I don't know how this work out on them. There is no mention of your loudspeakercable,  It could be that changing that has more effect.

The obvious things like try yourself apply etc ...

Daft Apeth posted:

What will HCDR bring? I'm hoping for deeper, harder hitting (more slam) bass 

I think you'll get exactly what you seek - more slam, speed and bass emphasis with the HCDR. Speed and slam have their merits, but in the long run I found the SN2/HCDR less musical, more fatiguing, brutally revealing, and with reduced upper frequency cohesion compared to the bare SN2. Give yourself time with the HCDR and listen to a variety of recordings, as it can be immediately addictive on first listen.

I like my SN2 with HCDR - it brings depth and clarity.

As to hard hitting bass - that's a nature of a recording if anything else

I agree all the points made by Ardbeg10y.    The SN2 will not benefit as much as SN1 with a HC,  but in itself that will not bring bass 'slam'.    I believe the speakers are probably where its being held back;  the Allaes are superb in most all respects except that because they are made to go hard up against the rear wall they have their frequency response tailored to for this -  they drop off from about 500hz & continue to rise in the mid & treble.  A mate has a pair & although he has them hard against the wall they still roll off in the bass & (my opinion) don't go that deep according to my room SPL response measurements,  they do however suit his musical tastes of classic, baroque & choral & for this they are stunning,  but to my ears they are not head bangers.  

pretty much agree not cheap upgrade to get more clarity , not such a revelation when matched to preamps where everything improves  . 

well maybe you need an XPS with the CDX2

Theirs only one way to answer your question, arrange a home dem.....

Or you can try a classic HiCap or even look for a good bargain for a Supercap. You could lose the eventual benefits of the DR technology on the SN's preamp but gain that slam factor you want. DR doesn't bring bass slam, but older HCs or SCs did. 

Good point, Max! It could be that a downgrade to the SN1 gives you what you want + Euro 1000 in cash.

The SN1 is the street-fighter in the Naim portfolio. Afraid for nothing and absolutely not polite.

Actually, I didn't mean a SN1, but adding a non-DR HiCap or even Supercap to his SN2, which could add some 'slam' that the newer PSUs don't seem to favor.

M

I had the HCDR 3 times on the SN2 when I owned it.

The first hummed like a great humming thing, so it went. The second didn't convince me of an overall upgrade in the long term, so it went. After some months I tried again with a third, convinced I must be wrong - I wasn't and so it went too.

The SN2 has a certain rightness as a stand alone unit. I'd look to the source (or 'speakers?).

G

Interesting. I might be barking up the wrong tree here. I suspect the allaes may have to go

You certainly won't get bass slam if they are too far from the wall. They are super speakers when sited properly, though I couldn't make them work in my room, and the bass was always a bit chuffy. Perhaps Kudos C20s might fit the bill. 

Just measured and 500mm from wall with no way to wriggle closer. It's looking like speakers not HiCap 

Would closer together help or is that impossible too?

Not possible. It's a very odd room. 

Daft Apeth posted:

Hi all

CDX2, SN2, Powerlines on both, Hiline connecting, allaes..

What will HCDR bring? I'm hoping for deeper, harder hitting (more slam) bass 

allaes are further from back wall than is ideal, can't change this..

Thoughts appreciated..

DA

 

Just get a Rel sub... Solved my problems.

I wouldn't necessarily look to a sub to yield harder-hitting bass. A sub can introduce a greater range of excitement of bass nodes in the room and won't mitigate compromised placement of the primary speakers.

For more bass slam change your speakers or buy an nSub.

To me adding a HCDR on to my SN2 was a no brainer as it improved the sound across the board......borrow one and listen yourself.

Try some Dynaudio speakers, plenty of bass.

Same with Focal electra 1028BE, wow, what a bass slam from that one.