nac82 + 2nd hi-cap : good idea ??

Hi James

I believe that 2 hicaps on the end of an 82 each power an individual channel. That's why it's important to make sure that they (hicaps) are reasonably matched.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong

Jay

Oh no, here we go again...
How do 2 Hi-Caps power an 82?
Some say one Hi-Cap does the left channel and the other does the right, whereas others say that one does the left+right of the input stage and the other does the left+right of the output stage.
I don't know!
Would somebody from Naim please put this in an FAQ for uS?

Paul Rowlands

Thanks to all for the advice.

I suppose it would be possible to see how 2xhi-cap's work by switching off one of them and seeing what happens to the sound -- does one channel disappear or both [But would this damage the pre-amp -- don't know so won't try it].

James

I bought an 82 with 2 hicaps that were matched. the seller was really nice and a musician. He also auditioned a spercap and said it was nice and clean but a bit thin sounding to him. with the two hicaps he said he got a "fatter" sound out of the preamp and he is mostly interested in electric guitar work. I took his word for it and bought it all. Look in the manual for preamps and you will see a connection diagram for the 82 with both one and two hicaps. I think he said that with one it runs both sides, but with two each one handles a side by itself. I'm not electronically adept to know why, I just like the sound, it is rich and full. Some others would say it is a dead end and you should go from one hicap to supercap. I'd go for the second hicap myself, they always seem to be useful later on down the line.

glenn

Life is analogue

James,

I've also been searching around this topic.

Is the answer here, in Richard Dane's post?

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=4221997046&r=9631950146#9631950146

It's also discussed in:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=5681917586&p=1

So it looks like Jay is right - but what is 'reasonably matched'?

Cheers,

Ian

quote:

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but what is 'reasonably matched'?

---

Well I was thinking.....similiar age/condition.

I have tried a new hicap and an older one (in need of a recap) on my 82 at home. It didn't sound wrong as such....just a little flat and not an great improvement over one hicap.

Proof will be in the listening really.

Jay

quote:

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Originally posted by James Hamilton:
[...]
I am buying a nac-82 with 1 hi-cap but now I have the option of 2 hi-caps [all secondhand] and have decided to get two [so why am i asking ???].
[...]

James

---

James, I've never heard a comparison between 82/hi and 82/2hi, but some people told me about it as a small improvement over one hicap. But I did the step from 82/hi to 82/supercap and this is a really stunning upgrade which you could notice at once without the need to switch between the two possibilities, it's evident (though the SC could't use its full potential combined with 'only' a 82)!
And this upgrade is not a 'dead street' because you could later go for a s/h 52 or even a 252.

Regards
HANNES

Thanks to everyone for the help [I also read the links]. The consensus semes to be 1-hicap good 2-hicap better [but supercap even better].

The links include a posting from Naim saying one hicap powers the right channel, the other the left. So this would explain why they should be reasonably matched. Also, according to another posting, if you turn off one hicap both channels stop working due to protection circuitry !!

James

Thanks for all the advice ... bought [second-hand] 82 + 2xHiCap. I don't have the link plugs so I won't know [be able to test] if second HiCap makes much difference. [But I believe it will from the comments and my dealer's advice ... thanks].

James

[This message was edited by James Hamilton on WEDNESDAY 18 February 2004 at 03:07.]

[This message was edited by James Hamilton on WEDNESDAY 18 February 2004 at 03:08.]