Stageline

Hi ML, my well regarded Leicestershire based LP12 dealer told me that the only way to improve upon powering my stageline from the Aux2 of my 552 would be to buy a dedicated SuperCap. A HiCap would not be an upgrade in his view. I’d assume that the quality of your 52’s Aux2 would be similar to that of my 552. Rest easy knowing that you have a fine phono stage solution as it stands. 

Assumeing an hicap would not show that big difference in this particular occurrence it ‘s the very stageline  the achille’s heel in a similar context

Antonio1 posted:

Assumeing an hicap would not show that big difference in this particular occurrence it ‘s the very stageline  the achille’s heel in a similar context

+1

I don't know how the detailed layout is done, but I imagine that if the Nac has a Supercap or 52PS, one or two of the rails are used for the Aux2. It means that the stageline is powered by a (shared) supercap. Since the quality of the Supercap is supposed to be higher than the Hicap it could very well be that the Stageline is getting better power via the Aux2 therefore a Hicap is not an upgrade.

Having done the test I can confirm that a prefix sounds better powered off a supercap via a 52 than by a dedicated hicap.  IIRC there is a dedicated power supply passed through the 52 for this purpose.

Would imagine the same would hold true for a stageline.

Powering the prefix with a dedicated supercap is a whole different matter!

Regards,

Willy.

I power mine via 552 and it is excellent ......... 

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. I will keep as is and save shelf space.

Ardbeg10y posted:

I don't know how the detailed layout is done, but I imagine that if the Nac has a Supercap or 52PS, one or two of the rails are used for the Aux2. It means that the stageline is powered by a (shared) supercap. Since the quality of the Supercap is supposed to be higher than the Hicap it could very well be that the Stageline is getting better power via the Aux2 therefore a Hicap is not an upgrade.

Yes, there are dedicated windings on the SC transformer for feeding dedicated rails for the AUX2 on the NAC52 and NAC252. I recall I preferred the more "together" sound from the 52/252 AUX2 power (and also on the 552) compared to a dedicated Hicap, and IIRC it was also favoured by Naim's Roy George.