snaics & Caps

Posted by: Simo on 16 January 2004

Last night i make some test with my nac72 + hicap and not, connected by a black snaic4 and grey snaic 5.
The improve of hi cap is not so big with some kind music, yes better bass, more body but not so mutch better.
I ask you if the grey snaic is the problem.
P.S.: my hicap is 5 years old

thanks for reply

S.P.

Posted on: 16 January 2004 by Phil Barry

I found the hicap to help at the frequency extremes and in loud, complex passages, so it seems probable it would not help for recordings with little infor at the frequency extremes and without loud complex passages.

But...

What was your testing method? The preamps circuits lose heat very rapidly, I've been told, so rapid switching does not allow you to hear a warmed up box. You have to leave it on for a good while every time to remove the power to the preamp. And the Hicap needs warmup, too.

Also, the REAL benefit of the hicap is musical coherence, and rapid switching may not allow you to perceive this change.

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 17 January 2004 by Simo

In the test i need about 1 minute for the change, hi cap stay allways switch on. I presume the gray snaic 5 not show completly potential of hicap and the black snaic with my 180 help to reduce the differences.

thanks

Simone

Posted on: 17 January 2004 by syd

Simo

This sounds quite worrying as I presume your'e leaving the units powered up and just swapping the Snaics. This is dangerous and could lead to you blowing up the units. Always switch off when changing Snaics around. Best way to evaluate the effect of different components is to listen to youre favourite music for a few days, change components etc and then listen again for a few days.

Yours in Music

Syd

Posted on: 17 January 2004 by Phil Barry

You can't keep the preamp powered up during this switch. As explained to me, preamp (or CD) circuitry cools down significantly in a matter of a few seconds.

A black SNAIC may make a meaningful difference to you in your 'test' - but your testing method is invalid, so the better results would not be meaningful.

Phil