In a (oh no not another) moment of madness....

Posted by: JonR on 20 March 2005

...I bid for a Hicap2 on eBay last week, and......won!

So having picked it up from the seller it now sits in front of me in its boxed and pristine state.

Now, of course I should connect it up to my system forthwith, but before I do I thought I'd post this topic because ISTM that I now have a number of options to consider.

My system is as follows:-

CDX2/XPS2/202/FC2/200/Planar 3/Stageline/NACA5/Spendor S5es.

The FC2 powers both the 202 and the Stageline.
Obviously the main reason I got the Hicap2 was to use this to power the 202, and I am hoping the provides me with a reasonably significant improvement in sound quality, particularly at low volumes which is important to me given my current living situation.

Now, the complicating factor here is the Stageline - how do I power this? Do I keep the FC2 just to power the Stageline or do I plug it into the powered socket of the 202 and take the FC2 out of the system completely?

Or...do I continue to power the 202 with the FC2 and use the Hicap2 to power the Stageline?? OK, it's the wackiest option I know but it's possible!

The other slightly complicating factor here is that I don't currently have enough mains sockets to accommodate both the FC2 and the Hicap2! I currently use a Graham's 4-way unswitched plug adaptor to plug the system into. So, do I change this for a 6-way or do I get a 4-lead Hydra instead? Or do I got for one of those MAPLINs multiplug things??

Anyway, lots of stuff to chew over, so what suggesteth the forum?

As usual, any and all replies and responses gratefully received, and many thanks in advance for reading!

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Geoff P

Jon

Stick the HC on the 202. Plug the Stageline into the back of the 202 and sell the FC2.

Sure a Stageline sounds nice on a HC but it's relative. Also depends on % of Vinyl vs CD listening.

regards
Geoff

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by phil. S

Jon

Stick the Hicap on the 202 and the stageline on the Fcap, you won't be dissapointed.

Phil

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by HTK

Wot Geoff said, except I'd hang onto the FC for the Stageline (NB - not a Naim amp user here, so it's all guesswork).

I'd also get one Hydra to cover all the Naim boxes.

FWIW.

Congrats on the Hi mate.

Cheers

Harry

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Tam

As has already been said, hicap the 202 and flatcap the stageline. However, as always with these sorts of things, the best option is probably to have a listen to all the different options and see which one you like best.

regards,

Tam

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Guys,

Thanks for your replies so far, and for the congrats Harry - cheers!

I think Geoff has raised a very pertinent point here - how much to I listen to CD vs vinyl? TBH since I got the XPS2 I listen to CD far more often. Convenience does of course have a lot to do with this, plus the thought that my TT is overdue an upgrade!

However after all the money I've spent lately (and not just on hifi!) I'm going to have to postpone all thoughts of a TT upgrade, so sticking with what I have, I like Geoff's suggestion of selling the FC2 and plugging the Stageline into the 202.

I like the Hydra idea too!

Any more for any more...?

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Obsessed1

bit of a dissent, here.

I've got my 282 Supercapped and my Stageline Hicapped (not overkill for me because the LP12 delivers about 90% of what I listen to).

I would not power the Stageline from the Hicapped 202. I started off powering the Stageline from the 282 and, while it didn't sound bad by any stretch, when I put a seperate power supply on the Stageline I found this improved both LP and CD replay.

I would strongly recommend that you try flatcapping the Stageline and leaving the Hicap solely to power the 202, before you decide to sell that flatcap.

(Or, you could do like I did and keep the Hicap for the Stageline and buy a s/h Supercap for the 202!

. 'Course, then you'd need to trade the Rega for an LP12....)

Craig

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Rico

quote:
Now, the complicating factor here is the Stageline - how do I power this? Do I keep the FC2 just to power the Stageline or do I plug it into the powered socket of the 202 and take the FC2 out of the system completely?

Jon, just suck 'em and see. My money's on the FC2 gone-to-ebay-land, with your stageline powered from the 202 (more groove, more coherent, less hifi). YMMV. Let us know how you get on!

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

quote:
Originally posted by Obsessed1:
(Or, you could do like I did and keep the Hicap for the Stageline and buy a s/h Supercap for the 202! Big Grin. 'Course, then you'd need to trade the Rega for an LP12....)

...and on, and on, and on, and on it goes, yeah Craig I know exactly what you mean!

Perhaps I will try flatcapping the Stageline vs plugging into the 202 to see what kind of results I get. I suppose it would be wise to at least try this first before making any decisions about selling on the FC2.

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by toad

Hi Jon,

Have you considered adding a NAPSC to your 202? This may go against the grain, but it made a bigger difference to my 102 than a flatcap did. Adding a Hi-cap to the pre was a different matter though.

The FC2 could also be used to power a Headline as well as your stageline should you wish to give your neighbours some respite... so may be worth hanging on to.

Kev.

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

quote:
Originally posted by Rico:
Jon, just suck 'em and see. My money's on the FC2 gone-to-ebay-land, with your stageline powered from the 202 (more groove, more coherent, less hifi). YMMV. Let us know how you get on!

I like the cut of your jib, Rico!

I'm tempted to agree with you, but I'll give it a try and will indeed post the results.

Toad's idea is interesting though - keep the FC2 and get a Headline, that's certainly another take on things.

Thanks!

Cheers,

Jon

PS: Re NAPSC....watch this space

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by NB

Nice one Jon hows it sounding?

Regards

NB

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Cheers NB,

When I get up off me fat arse and plug the bloody thing in I'll let you know!

Don't worry, findings will be posted here in due course [reluctant to give the system a work-out at the mo due to the current neighbours-in-full-attendance factor

]

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by NB

we look forward to your postings Jon,

Regards

NB

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Hawk

Well done Jon! sell the flatcap to help finance the 282! Youll need one of those to get the best out of the Hicap!!! lol

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Hmm....very, very interesting Hawk. Now, I wonder how I should set about obtaining a 282, should I buy new, or...........

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by graham55

Depending upon its age, Grahams may be prepared to trade your Hydra for a bigger one and charge the difference: they've done so twice for me in the last six months.

G

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Graham,

Unfortunately I don't have a Hydra - perhaps my opening post wasn't clear - I have a 4-way plug adaptor, but maybe Grahams can make it into a 6-way, or perhaps I can trade it in for a Hydra??

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by graham55

Jon

Sorry, I misread your post. Get a Hydra, whether or not Grahams do a P/X. I was told by Naim last year that they much prefer the Hydra to anything else: something to do with their "star earthing". They can't sell Hydras themselves, because consumer safety regulations require them to sell individual leads with three-pin plugs for each unit.

I currently have an eight-headed monster Hydra, which works perfectly.

G

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by Steve O

If you're used to having the Stageline through the FC you'll regret it if you take it off. I did the same thing when I went from a 112/150 to a 282/250.2/Hi, thinking the better pre/power combo would compensate. Now I have the Stageline running off a HiCap.
Regards,
Steve O.

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

quote:
Originally posted by graham55:
Sorry, I misread your post. Get a Hydra, whether or not Grahams do a P/X. I was told by Naim last year that they much prefer the Hydra to anything else: something to do with their "star earthing". They can't sell Hydras themselves, because consumer safety regulations require them to sell individual leads with three-pin plugs for each unit.

I currently have an eight-headed monster Hydra, which works perfectly.

No problem and thanks for the info. An 8-headed monster - wow that's a lot of wires going into one plug! I gather you've been assured as to its safety!

Out of interest, what is the rest of your system? With that many leads would I be correct in assuming your whole system is plugged into it?

Thanks,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

quote:
Originally posted by Steve O:
If you're used to having the Stageline through the FC you'll regret it if you take it off. I did the same thing when I went from a 112/150 to a 282/250.2/Hi, thinking the better pre/power combo would compensate. Now I have the Stageline running off a HiCap.

Steve,

Do you have two Hicaps then, one for the 282 and the other for the Stageline?

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by graham55

Jon

There's a warning on the Hydra that it must ONLY be used with Naim equipment.

Mine is powering the electronics, but not my Quad ESL57 stacked pair of front speakers, which comprise: NAT01/NAPST, CDS2/XPS, NAC52/Supercap, two NAP135s, Headline2/Supercap, and (for rear channel reinforcement) an AV1 and NAP250. All going through one plug and safer and better for the Naim equipment than eight individual plugs.

G

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Graham,

Wow, that's a big system!

I don't think I'm likely to ever need as many Naim boxes as that - perhaps I'll go for a 6-lead Hydra, that should cover everything I'm likely to need I reckon!

Cheers,

Jon

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by graham55

Jon

It is a big system and I can't imagine that there are too many out there which are similar.

Good idea to go for the six-headed Hydra, but Grahams advise that you don't have any spare "heads", as these tend to act as antennae and pick up RF interference when not in use. Obviously, not a problem if you're just about to plug something else in, but not recommended on a longer term basis.

Regards.

G

Posted on: 20 March 2005 by JonR

Graham,

Thanks, understood.

Regards,

Jon