Power Supplies

Colin

Welcome.

A HiCap can only power one item at a time. the extra output sockets can only provide music signal connections, so if you had for example a pair of 135's you would use two of the Hicap sockets to provide the music signal to both.

The simplest way to power both a CD5 and a headline is to get a FlatCap 2 which does have two seperate power outlets for just this situation.

The best way is about how much you are into seperate boxes and quality level in the resulting sound. In general a CD5 powered from a HiCap will give a little more of everything than one powered from a FlatCap. This is also true for a Headline and if you are going to be doing a lot of headphone listening investing in a Hicap could give that something extra in return.

HiCap's are usually quite eeasy to find 2ndHand and are a pretty safe "buy". If you do decide to go that way try to get a fairly new one (or 2), say less than 5 years old which will give you some years of use before needing a Naim service which is typically recommended after 10 years.

If you can get to hear the differences between using a Flatcap 2 or 2 Hicaps it is always recommended.

regards
GEOFF

Thanks Geoff!
Colin

Geoff

Hoping you can clarify something that continues to confuse me. A couple of reviews I've read on this side of the pond indicate that a Flatcap II can only be used to power one source and one preamp not two sources, say a CD-5 and 112 but not a CD-5 and a Stageline. I just purchased a Flatcap II and the instructions only show the source and preamp. However, yours is not the first time I've heard mention of powering two sources. Is the two source connection one of those things that can be done but isn't recommended for grounding or signal path purpose or is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks
Clay

Clay

As I understand it you can view a 112 as a "source" in just the same way as you view a CD5 or a Stageline as a "source". Each gets it's power from one of the power supplies in the Flatcap2. Each delivers a signal pair to the Flatcap down the same cable. The only difference is the level of the signal delivered.

In the case of the CD5 and the Stageline the signal is at the right level for connection to a pre-amp source socket. In the case of the 112 for example the signal is at the appropriate level for connection to a power amp.

The Headline is a little different in that it only takes power from the Flatcap and gets it's signal from a "record out" on a pre-amp source socket on a seperate lead.

However to be sure send an e-mail to Naim. for their expert response.

regards
GEOFF

Geoff

Thanks. Appreciate the help.


Clay