Auditioned some products today
Posted by: Popeye on 10 November 2018
today I went to my local dealer and listened to the new NDX2 with Supernait2 to see what I thought.
I then added a hicap into the equation and then finally a XPS Dr.
Somewhat interesting results for me in that the NDX2 over the NDX was in my opinion fairly comparable and only marginally better.
I then added the Hicap onto the Supernait2 and this was from the first opening track was a big enhancement with definitely better separation between instruments and a more smoother cohesive appearance to the music.
Finally we added the XPS DR onto the NDX2 and this certainly gave an enhancement but nothing jaw dropping.
To my biggest surprise the biggest enhancement by far was the hicap and ironically is the cheapest of the lot. I will certainly be getting one in due course.
Yes the hicap DR is a nice improvement on the XS2 and supernait 2
And good value too
Unless your dealer does a very good trade in ...I would not have thought it economic to go from NDX to NDX2 unless you really really love what it does ...
Indeed, just make sure you go for a HiCapDR as the DR seems to work its magic on the wee power supply.
Popeye, do a search 'SN2 HICAP' and a lot of threads pop-up and worth reading through. I would say the opinion on the combo varies with some enjoying the addition of a Power Supply and others that prefer without. I think the only thing one can do is demo first then if you like the combo and add it on and listen for a few months, then take it off for a month or so before adding it back on.
I also plan on giving the NDX-2 a demo at some future date with the SN2 since there have been so many positive comments/reviews mentioning that it comes close to a NDS. I do appreciate your comments regarding you did not find much of a difference with the SN2 & NDX since I am running the same configuration at present.
Good luck with your decision.
seakayaker posted:Popeye, do a search 'SN2 HICAP' and a lot of threads pop-up and worth reading through. I would say the opinion on the combo varies with some enjoying the addition of a Power Supply and others that prefer without. I think the only thing one can do is demo first then if you like the combo and add it on and listen for a few months, then take it off for a month or so before adding it back on.
I also plan on giving the NDX-2 a demo at some future date with the SN2 since there have been so many positive comments/reviews mentioning that it comes close to a NDS. I do appreciate your comments regarding you did not find much of a difference with the SN2 & NDX since I am running the same configuration at present.
Good luck with your decision.
Yes I have read many of them, I wasn’t seeking advice, just giving my findings from today’s demos. Hicap DR made a large improvement apparent from the opening verse of the first track I listened to. To my ears it couldn’t be argued as anything but an improvement and took away the muddiness where a few specific tracks had a lot going on at the same time.
Popeye, although there maybe some debate over the value of a HiCapDR on a SN2, you have clearly done your research at the dealer, but I agree it might be worth checking you get the same uplift in your system.
I suspect you will!
This highlights a truth that is always forgotten when new products are released. The initial release of anything good is often commented on with such hyperbole that one could be forgiven for thinking that the previous model had a sudden drop in performance. They don't. An NDX today sounds as good as it did 5 years ago.
The same is true for anything superceded.
Regarding power supplies on sources, I think the benefits can be hard to appreciate in an A/B comparison. Borrowing an XPS for an NDX and then removing it after 2 weeks would likely be an eye opener. That said, I did find the XPSdr made a sudden change to the original NDX. To me, it made it change character from a digital source to some unspecified analog device. Not to everyone's liking though apparently and plenty on the forum preferred the NDX bare.
The HiCap is a no brainer. For anything that can be powered by it, it is the most cost effective upgrade of all the power supplies. People tend to hang on to them even after their system configuration makes one redundant because you never know when it may come in handy again and they are just sooo good.
For the record I found my NDX brilliant. It was hard to sell such a faithful friend. My NDX2 has however opened up a whole new world of pleasure. I am truly gob-smacked and await each listening session eagerly. Speaking of which ...
feeling_zen posted:
The HiCap is a no brainer. For anything that can be powered by it, it is the most cost effective upgrade of all the power supplies.
A HCDR on a SN2 was NOT a no-brainer for me. The initial wow factor was there, but it took a while of listening to a variety of music for me to figure out the HCDR was a long-term source of fatigue in my room. If you like a half-hour of listening at a time go for the HCDR. If you do extended listening sessions the HCDR could become too much of a good thing.
As far as the most cost effective of PSUs, I doubt anyone enlightened would consider anything but the dual rail FlatCap series the greatest value.
It's a particularly good result when the best improvement comes for the least outlay. And it underscores the importance of trusting your ears and your ears only.
joerand posted:A HCDR on a SN2 was NOT a no-brainer for me. The initial wow factor was there, but it took a while of listening to a variety of music for me to figure out the HCDR was a long-term source of fatigue in my room. If you like a half-hour of listening at a time go for the HCDR. If you do extended listening sessions the HCDR could become too much of a good thing.
As far as the most cost effective of PSUs, I doubt anyone enlightened would consider anything but the dual rail FlatCap series the greatest value.
Well, when I had a CD5XS/Nait XS I found that whilst the FlatCap XS did improve the sound, the gains were subtle and modest. However, on my SN1, a (non-DR) HiCap was transformative. In VFM terms it trumped the FlatCap so I guess I must just be one of the unenlightened.
Subsequently, I had the HiCap DR'd which led to another big jump in SQ. More so, to my ears and my surprise, than the improvement from the much more expensive DR'ing of my XPS (then on an nDAC) and much more than adding the FlatCap to the XS system.
Different ears and all that.
Roger
I for one am not a fan of the flat cap
I had an Xs2 flat cap and thought it terrible value for money
Just shows how we all see things from different point of view
In my experience flatcap brings next to nothing to the table on any classic series amp so can only be considered vfm at all in the context of xs series or if you need to power a stageline/ headline.
Fueller posted:In my experience flatcap brings next to nothing to the table on any classic series amp so can only be considered vfm at all in the context of xs series or if you need to power a stageline/ headline.
The Flatcap (XS...) was really made to complement the XS series, not the Classic components. No point in using it with an SN1 or 2, I should have thought it was quite obvious.
Exactly, the point I was trying to make was in response to Joerand saying the flatcap is best vfm - meaningless really when the hicap and flatcap are made for different ranges. Personally I thought the flatcap also did little for my 112/150 combo back in the day and I moved it on.