Nait XS and Hi Cap DR

Lovely combination. Needs a CDX2.

I didn't bother with a comparison with SN believing I already had Naim's most super Nait. (The SNDR was not even a glint in its designer's eye in those days). My Naim ambitions at the time were 202/ 200. I can vouch for the completeness of 202, Napsc, HC-DR and 200. In terms of muscularity and finesse the XS and HC-DR were not really close.

Tread carefully. I prefer to keep the HiCapDR for above XS level and use the FlatCapXS at XS level. System synrgy it's called. As always listen first to the two if at all possible.

Absolutely about the synergy. This is why I wrote 'needs a CDX2'.

I agree with CDBoy.  Nait XS and CD5XS were my first steps on the Naim ladder and, to my ears, the HiCap unbalanced that excellent combination, whereas a FlatCap gave a subtle lift to the performance while keeping the strengths of the bare boxes.  I later bought a SN1 and, in that case, the HiCap totally transformed the sound (to above 202/200 level according to my strange tastes) especially after a DR upgrade.  I found this combo a big step up from the XS boxes.  I've not compared SN1 and SN2, but most who have prefer the latter, so that ought to sound even better.

If you are intending to stay at XS level, I would only purchase a HiCap if you could get it for a price that would enable you to move it on with little loss if you didn't care for the result.  If you're intending to move up the ladder, a HiCap DR could make more sense, but then you'd need to think about swapping the CD player for a CDX2 or using the digital out of the CD5XS to feed a nDAC.

Roger

I use a 3rd party PSU with the XS and Ovator S400's, I found that the psu stabilised the slight fragility of the sound when bare.  I believe without the psu I wouldn't be content with XS/S400 combination.  I use a non-Naim source so the Flat-cap wasn't that attractive.  

I love what the HicapDR did to my NaitXS! it's not subtle but I couldn't go back to bare XS...

Don't forget you will need an addition snaic too 

What happened next?

I think the non DR Hi-cap, or Flatcap would have better synergy with your XS than the DR version. I believe, after hearing the DR and non DR versions, there is a certain synergy with DR power supplies and amps, the same goes for non DR supplies and amps.

In other words, if you have a SN2 which has the DR technology, the Hi-Cap DR has a better synergy with it than the non DR Hi-Cap, at least that's what my ears tell me.

I was really disappointed with the flatcap 2 contribution to my xs 2 performance

It wasn't till I upgraded the flatcap that I noticed any improvement ...in fact I would probably go as far as to say I preferred the xs 2 bare, over flatcapped 

FlatcapXS on my Nait I didn't like - too hifi for my tastes...

Japtimscarlet - was the Flatcap2 serviced?  Pretty much any original FC2 these days is well past its service due date and this can result in poor sound.