Flatcap/Hicap for CD3.5 vs CDX

Posted by: Edwin on 01 November 2000

I am interested in seeing if anyone has compared the flatcapped CD3.5 against a hicapped CD3.5. Is it worth the extra dough?

Also, has anyone auditioned the hicapped CD3.5 against the CDX. My dealer says that the hicapped 3.5 is very close to the CDX without the XPS.

Any thoughts?

Posted on: 01 November 2000 by BrianD
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I also have the CDX leveled on a homebrewed suspension of an inch thick glass base which sits on a very firm inflated innertube. This makes a huge difference in performance.
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Can you amplify on this a bit please Eric.
Don't want to hijack the thread so can you e-mail be directly please?

Is this your first effort? Have you tried anything else other than an inner tube? I'm just starting another home build rack project, which, if it fails, I will have to try a 'professional', very expensive rack. Any tips?

Brian

Posted on: 02 November 2000 by BrianD
For Edwin

Sorry about this. I just had to ask Eric for more info and this was the only way without starting a new thread.

Now that I can concentrate having woken up properly. I had a CD3.5 and a Hicap on home loan probably about 6 or 7 months ago. I used the CD3.5 with and without the Hicap and frankly didn't think it worth the money. For me the Hicap made no improvement to the CD3.5. I haven't tried a Flatcap. I posted about this on the old forum. The opinion from contributors to the forum was that these things 'grow on you' over time. You would notice an improvement existed after REMOVING the power supply had you been using it long enough. I did try this concept by removing my power supply from the pre-amp (which I've used for years) and I must admit, I noticed a huge drop in performance so perhaps the notion is valid. Problem was that I could only have the gear on loan for 3 days. I didn't pursue it because I didn't think it was good enough value for money.

I think the CDX is a huge jump over a CD3.5. If you can afford the 3.5/hicap, wait a bit longer and go for the CDX.


Eric

Thanks for the clarificiation. I thought my e-mail address could be accessed by using the icon in the bottom right of my post. It's there for me and I haven't made any effort to remove it. I may try your idea, it sounds interesting.

Brian

[This message was edited by Brian on THURSDAY 02 November 2000 at 13:03.]

Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Edwin
I have the CD 3.5 hooked up to a used hicap which I bought for a mere $200, so the new CD3.5/used hicap combo was much cheaper than a CDX. I heard a CDX at a dealer and it certainly had a lot of drive and weight compared to a straight CD3.5.

Has anyone demo'd a CD 3.5 against a CD5? Is it worth the change? A Naim guy was talking to says the feedback he's getting is that the CD5 is better than a CD3.5/Flatcap.

Posted on: 03 November 2000 by Rico
Edwin

my take on the 3.5 with flat or Hi question is this. Yes, the Hi improved the naked 3.5 to a greater degree than the flatcap, but the difference to my ears was not as great. The overriding impression was that it was still a loooo-ong way (as in much further than £500-odd) behind a CDX. Whether a HiCap represents good vaule is down to your wallet, and your ears. I eventually voted with mine and purchased the CDX.

Rico - musichead