signal through Hi-cap or not?

Posted by: Hans 67 on 26 January 2003

While connecting a NAC to a NAP and using a Hi-cap then the signal goes from the NAC through the Hi-cap to the NAP. At the same time the Hi-cap supplies the NAC with power through the 5 pin din interconnect. And if a NAP with build in preamp power supply is used then this power supply can not source current because the 4 pin din connectors on the Hi-cap have not connected the supply pin.

Connecting both the NAP and the Hi-cap directly to the NAC is NOT possible when using a NAP with build in power supply because the 2 power supplies will fight each other for supremacy. Using the NAP 300, NAP 500 or the NAP135 in this way is also NOT possible because 2 pieces of 4 pin din connectors are then needed on the NAC. But it is possible when using a NAP 250 or a power amp from a different brand (no power supply)!

Probably a lot of people will say that this is NOT the Naim way. And that the Hi-cap is the reference of the stargrounding.

But why is the transformer outside the NAC?
I thought because the leakage flux will have influence on the signal. And the iron of the transformer is also close to the signal.
So why then feeding the signal through a black box with transformer (= Hi-cap)?

It can not be that bad because Naim does this with the CD 5!

Greetings, Hans
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Mike Hanson
Feeding the signal through the Hi-Cap, as it's done now, sounds superior to breaking the star-earthing rule and feeding it directly to the power amp through a separate cable.

I've only heard of one individual who thought it sounded better the other way, while quite a number have tried it and decided to stay with the status quo.

It also saves the confusion of needing special SNAIC4's, with and without power wires.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by Hans 67
Maybe I was not clear.

If you connect a Flatcap 2 (or Hi-cap) to a CD 5 then the signal does NOT go through the Flatcap 2 but flows through a "parallel" SNAIC. And the Flatcap 2 only supplies power. The "same" way as the 2nd Hi-cap on a NAC (2)82. I was thinking of doing the same to NAC, NAP and Hi-cap.

If this way of connecting is really bad, then why is Naim using it?

It can different.
If you use a Stageline with a Flatcap 2 then the signal goes through the Flatcap 2 (just as the normal situation in connecting a NAC > Hi-cap > CAP). But you need a strange SNAIC with 4 pin AND 5 pin din connectors.
Why was this way of doing it NOT used with the CD 5?

Greetings, Hans