White Paper from Naim on Hicap DR and Supercap DR powering NAC 282

Hi Ryder, a white paper wouldn't discuss your specific query as they are more about technology and innovation, however Naim do have a white paper discussing their discrete regulator technology

https://www.naimaudio.com/site...er_May2012_FINAL.pdf

Hi Simon, thanks for the link. Interesting and useful article.

Ryder - I'm not sure what technical info you want but at a top level -

The Hicap can only feed 2x 24V rails to the 282 via single SNAIC 5. The Supercap can supply up to 4x 24V rails to the 282 (using 2x SNAIC 5 cables)

You can supply 4 rails to the 282 using 2 Hicaps but the benefits gained by the extra 2 rails are offset as the grounding scheme becomes slightly degraded compared to a single Hicap / Supercap arrangement.  

Hi James, thanks for the useful information. That is part of the information I was interested in.

I am particularly interested in the way the 24V rails are split to the 282 especially when 2 Hicaps are used. Do the rails split equally to the Left and Right channels of the 282. Will a much older Hicap affect the overall performance of the system if another new Hicap is powering the 282. In other words, will there be an imbalance in the sound when two different Hicaps either age or type (Olive and Black for instance) are used.

Ryder - I'm not too sure on that one as i've seen conflicting information on how the rails are split between the channels, but the general recommendation is that both Hicaps should be of similar vintage and type - ie don't mix DR / Non DR as they have a different sonic signature. 

Perhaps Richard can answer this one with some definitive info or maybe an email to the factory would be in order ? 

If you are going this way then i'd recommend giving a Supercap a go rather than the 2x Hicap route - it really does work well with the 282. I was very happy with mine. 

James

@ryder - My understanding is that in the case of the 82, each HiCap feeds a channel - and I believe the 282 is similar. This is why some matching between the 'Caps is recommended - similar age/type, freshly re-capped, etc. I use 2 Olive HiCaps with my 82 - they are not identical (one is a CB conversion, one is native Olive), but they are quite similar - both have the older type transformer - Fisher & Holden...? Both are also recently recapped. 

There is quite a cost difference here - perhaps you need a Rolex........?

The question the OP is asking is I believe about whether you can use a hicap and a third party power supply at the same time, which is why it's important to know whether the two supplies power the two channels, or if they'd power different bits of both channels. 

[@mention:4804681823084713] - I cannot see where any 3rd party PSU was mentioned, by the OP.....?

I understand that with the NAC282 each Hicap essentially powers each channel on both the play and record circuits.  On the NAC82, each Hicap powers each channel of the play circuits but share the record circuits. In either case, where using two Hicaps, you should ensure they are as closely matched as possible.

Obviously, non-Naim power supplies are not recommended in any form or configuration.  They are unauthorised modifications to the pre-amp and thus their discussion also falls outside of forum AUP.

ianrobertm posted:

[@mention:4804681823084713] - I cannot see where any 3rd party PSU was mentioned, by the OP.....?

You can't, but there is a question elsewhere....

Thanks for all responses. Yes HH, I tried to camouflage the question, and it appears that I have got the answers that I wanted. So, the power supplies would have to be as closely matched as possible for optimum results.

I guess I can now scrap the plan (only HH knows what it is).

I do like the Hicap DR very very much, and I just cannot be bothered to swap it out with a Supercap DR.

I'll keep saying this, (and I'm sure Richard Dane is amused with my change in stance, from 7 years ago) - but I have no expectation that a Supercap could turn a Chord Hugo into a CHord Dave.

It just won't and that's the end of the road for me - still source first.

This was again reconfirmed to me this weekend when I had the good luck to test Chord Dave vs CD555, I had no doubts there, that anything downstream (whether upgrading 552 to S1 or upgrading 500 to 500 DR),  sorry but I cannot imagine those changing CD555 into Chord Dave or vice versa.

Moderated Post:  I have edited your post - please re-read my post above regarding forum rules.  If there's anything there you don't understand then please email me care of Naim and I shall endeavour to make as clear as I can. Thank you.

ryder. posted:

I guess I can now scrap the plan (only HH knows what it is).

"Far off the shadows of Sauron hung; but torn by some gust of wind out of the world, or else moved by some great disquiet within, the mantling clouds swirled, and for a moment drew aside; and then he saw, rising black, blacker and darker than the vast shades amid which it stood, the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr. One moment only it stared out, but as from some great window immeasurably high there stabbed northward a flame of red, the flicker of a piercing Eye; and then the shadows were furled again and the terrible vision was removed."

Oh, I think others may have 'sussed'.

analogmusic posted:

... I have no expectation that a Supercap could turn a Chord Hugo into a CHord Dave.

Adam Meredith posted:

ryder. posted:

I guess I can now scrap the plan (only HH knows what it is).

"Far off the shadows of Sauron hung; but torn by some gust of wind out of the world, or else moved by some great disquiet within, the mantling clouds swirled, and for a moment drew aside; and then he saw, rising black, blacker and darker than the vast shades amid which it stood, the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr.

Feel free to substitute 'Barad-dûr'  by 'Naim Statement'.

Adam, I like your indirect ways of telling something. It makes my mind associate to whatever.

Adam Meredith posted:

analogmusic posted:

... I have no expectation that a Supercap could turn a Chord Hugo into a CHord Dave.

Adam Meredith posted:

analogmusic posted:

... I have no expectation that a Supercap could turn a Chord Hugo into a CHord Dave.

 Since we are off topic, Who won the British open?

Allante93!

Allante93 posted:

 Since we are off topic, Who won the British open?

Allante93!

I guess the question has been answered, so before this thread gets any sillier I'll just close it.