All this talk about XPS2's, argh!

Well if that's how it works I guess you would like to have lots of posts saying how great a Supercap makes a 282 sound.

Just to start the ball rolling I did the supercap thing first, and to alert you so you can avoid it I will be writing about the XPS2 that arrived yesterday any time now.

I had 2 HiCaps for a bit but because they were not matched as recommended I went back to 1 HC on my 282 which seemed to give a cleaner sound.
When the SC came the chnages it wrought were significant, compared to the HC. The 282 just seemed to get "quieter" which allowed the music to come through in fine detail and incidentally caused increasee in listening volume without any strain. More punch in the bass and extra richness in the midrange with sharply etched high frequency detail.

There I hope that's what your lookin for so you can blame others when you become destitute.

BTW you will soon become one of us pitifull souls that are so taken by our XPS2's that we HAVE to tell others about it.

regards
GEOFF

My excuse is that as summer is here, I am not intending to be at home too much in the long summer evenings. I fully intend to stick some cash aside though for a major upgrade as the evenings draw in at the other end. I always seem to make purchases when I never intend to, and I don't think I have ever just gone out intentionally to the hifi dealer to get more kit - I just somehow seem to drop in and come out with something, wondering how I am going to explain myself when I stagger through the door with a new box. I think you have done the right thing Steve - you just have to come to terms with spending nearly 3 grand on something you don't really need. But hey - you could never justify it if you thought about it for too long. My buddy has just bought a new Porche at £92k. He had paid off his mortgage, so he took out a new one. So an XPS2 maybe not so bad after all!
Let us know your first impressions when you get it.

Just picked up my XPS2 today - wehay!

Just paid the rest of the bill for it, boo!

Installing it was a joy, had to move my 175 onto the stand with the TT which now has a NAPSC & a stageline sitting on top of it.

The XPS2 is now on the rack taking it's place, the Burndy is some cable to manhandle where you want it, gave up and left it poking out the side in the end at the back of the stand in the end.

Played a track of Niamh Parsons before plugging it in, then played the same track again with it plugged in - Bloody hell! That is some difference. Stepped through a few more tracks of other cd's finally settling on the Blue Danube. It makes so much difference straight out of the box, I can hear all the nuances in the music, can pick out all the individual components so much more easily but still with everything gelling together. I also have the music from Amelie on a CD and that just sounded astounding though slightly offputting was being able to hear the keys on the accordian being pressed!

Will see how things progress.

Astounding!

Oh, did hear some buzzing from the transformer for about 5 minutes which was quite loud then just seemed to fade away.

Steve.

quote:

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Oh, did hear some buzzing from the transformer for about 5 minutes which was quite loud then just seemed to fade away.

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congrats on your purchase!
The transformer on my XPS2 hums like an upset trapped bee was inside the box on some occasions - my wife thinks this unacceptable for a piece of kit costing as much as it does!

Its down to impurities in the mains I'm afraid! I have tried the ring main v spurs comarison with this and it does calm down the buzzing somewhat on the seperate spur, but does not get rid of it all together.

Still it's a cracking piece of kit. Next for me is a 250II or supercap.

andy c!

Without an XPS2, a CDX2 is running at a 50% capacity.

The power supply really transformed the player.

This was one of the few worthy upgrades i've experienced and whilst a notion of paying this much for a mere power supply box raises few eyebrows but boy, it was worth it for me.