Supercap2, XPS2 and Fraim compared.
Posted by: Geoff P on 31 December 2003
Folks
I just I just thought I would share my opinion from a chrsitmas demo session and what I am experiencing now I have purchases at home.
This is one take on the minefield of CD power supplies vs pre-amp power supplies and the stand to put it all on. Enjoy.
Base demo system: CDX2/282/1 HiCap/250mk2 on Hutter into a pair of Spendor Floorstanders (Sorry don't know eaxct model no. but they "do bass" well)
This sounded as I would expect, since it was a close match for the sound I was hearing at home out of this setup with Totem Mani-2 speakers. IMHO this is a very good system as it stands, The bare CDX2 is excellent already, bringing detail and clarity, which the 282 transfers with good control and results in the sort of meaty sound that the 250mk2 is capable of with good control in the bass and plenty of sparkle in the higher end.
Swapping the Hicap for a NEW Supercap2
The improvement is obvious as heard but a bit harder to describe. For those that have experienced the effect of adding a HiCap to a pre-power combo which was using the power amp to supply the pre before, the sound change is somewaht similar when swapping a SC for a HiCap but on a grander scale. The same deepening of the sound stage and the feeling that the instruments playing have taken on a new richness. Note: allow for the fact that the SC was delivered the day before and had only run overnight,which means it was still in the "sounds great straight out of the box" phase which will drift away and then comeback and mature some more.
Adding the XPS2 ON TOP of the Supercap
I did'nt have time to try the XPS2 with a HiCap driving the 282 so since I was already "sold" on the Supercap we did this demo so I could hear what extra would come from an XPS2. Well this deos not leap out and hit you in the face, it is quite subtle. Listening into the music is where the differences show up. The Bass delivery which was already well controlled in general became firmer. I had commented a little earlier in the demo that the Spendor's were sounding a little bit "boxy" in the bass region. With the XPS2 in place the slight boxiness went away. A small edginess of higher frequency sounds was taken away and it became more apparent how the sound of say a cymbal strike or a tinkling bell started and finished. The indivdual instrument locations also seemed to seperate a little more sharply so each was fully in it's place. I stress that we are not talking about major changes but subtle additions in the overall feel and complexity of the sound coming off the CD.
Putting it all on FRAIM
Well this was a leap of faith since I have had it all on a basic cheap glass shelf affair at home until now. However this is where you get the biggest "bang for your buck" as they say. Everything you put on a fraim shelf improves. So I am sitting here right now hearing a completely new sound. It all just got more focused. There is a solidity to what you hear which comes into the music. You can crank the volume way up and the edginess and harsh sound you expect to set in just does'nt seem to happen (at least as far up as I was prepared to go (around 11.30 -12.00 on the 282 volume control.
A feeling sets in that any difference you are hearing in the quality of the music from track to track is definitely on the CD and not in the way the system is playing it.
So there you go. IMHO grading the improvements on a VFM basis the Fraim makes the biggest difference, since it improves all the parts of the system. The Supercap comes next in order for the way it enriches the total sound and the XPS2 comes in third for the way it introduces more subtlty and detail into the individual sounds in the music.
IPut it this way I can quite happily live without the XPS2 provided I can keep the fraim and the supercap. I think maybe the point at which the XPS2 would figure (automatically of course) would be if i ever decided to pop for a CDS3, but that is a long way out.
I was up until 3am last nite listening to my "new" music
regards
GEOFF
I just I just thought I would share my opinion from a chrsitmas demo session and what I am experiencing now I have purchases at home.
This is one take on the minefield of CD power supplies vs pre-amp power supplies and the stand to put it all on. Enjoy.
Base demo system: CDX2/282/1 HiCap/250mk2 on Hutter into a pair of Spendor Floorstanders (Sorry don't know eaxct model no. but they "do bass" well)
This sounded as I would expect, since it was a close match for the sound I was hearing at home out of this setup with Totem Mani-2 speakers. IMHO this is a very good system as it stands, The bare CDX2 is excellent already, bringing detail and clarity, which the 282 transfers with good control and results in the sort of meaty sound that the 250mk2 is capable of with good control in the bass and plenty of sparkle in the higher end.
Swapping the Hicap for a NEW Supercap2
The improvement is obvious as heard but a bit harder to describe. For those that have experienced the effect of adding a HiCap to a pre-power combo which was using the power amp to supply the pre before, the sound change is somewaht similar when swapping a SC for a HiCap but on a grander scale. The same deepening of the sound stage and the feeling that the instruments playing have taken on a new richness. Note: allow for the fact that the SC was delivered the day before and had only run overnight,which means it was still in the "sounds great straight out of the box" phase which will drift away and then comeback and mature some more.
Adding the XPS2 ON TOP of the Supercap
I did'nt have time to try the XPS2 with a HiCap driving the 282 so since I was already "sold" on the Supercap we did this demo so I could hear what extra would come from an XPS2. Well this deos not leap out and hit you in the face, it is quite subtle. Listening into the music is where the differences show up. The Bass delivery which was already well controlled in general became firmer. I had commented a little earlier in the demo that the Spendor's were sounding a little bit "boxy" in the bass region. With the XPS2 in place the slight boxiness went away. A small edginess of higher frequency sounds was taken away and it became more apparent how the sound of say a cymbal strike or a tinkling bell started and finished. The indivdual instrument locations also seemed to seperate a little more sharply so each was fully in it's place. I stress that we are not talking about major changes but subtle additions in the overall feel and complexity of the sound coming off the CD.
Putting it all on FRAIM
Well this was a leap of faith since I have had it all on a basic cheap glass shelf affair at home until now. However this is where you get the biggest "bang for your buck" as they say. Everything you put on a fraim shelf improves. So I am sitting here right now hearing a completely new sound. It all just got more focused. There is a solidity to what you hear which comes into the music. You can crank the volume way up and the edginess and harsh sound you expect to set in just does'nt seem to happen (at least as far up as I was prepared to go (around 11.30 -12.00 on the 282 volume control.
A feeling sets in that any difference you are hearing in the quality of the music from track to track is definitely on the CD and not in the way the system is playing it.
So there you go. IMHO grading the improvements on a VFM basis the Fraim makes the biggest difference, since it improves all the parts of the system. The Supercap comes next in order for the way it enriches the total sound and the XPS2 comes in third for the way it introduces more subtlty and detail into the individual sounds in the music.
IPut it this way I can quite happily live without the XPS2 provided I can keep the fraim and the supercap. I think maybe the point at which the XPS2 would figure (automatically of course) would be if i ever decided to pop for a CDS3, but that is a long way out.
I was up until 3am last nite listening to my "new" music
regards
GEOFF
Hi Geoff,
I already learned from the different topic you did buy the Supercap. (one hell of a Christmas present, I must say
). Have you already bought the Fraim as well? I'm eager to listen in on both, actually. Do you still have the HiCap for a comparisson? That woul be great 
.
Prividing everything was put on separate shelves, how much would you have to spend on a Fraim? Won't be cheap. But VFM would still outpeform the Supercap I guess, since it does add some improvements on the cheaper systems as well. It doesn't have to change during the upgradepath, and stays the same for many many years of upgrading. Ow well, head on to the 252 I would say .
Cheers,
Kevin
I already learned from the different topic you did buy the Supercap. (one hell of a Christmas present, I must say
). Have you already bought the Fraim as well? I'm eager to listen in on both, actually. Do you still have the HiCap for a comparisson? That woul be great .Prividing everything was put on separate shelves, how much would you have to spend on a Fraim? Won't be cheap. But VFM would still outpeform the Supercap I guess, since it does add some improvements on the cheaper systems as well. It doesn't have to change during the upgradepath, and stays the same for many many years of upgrading. Ow well, head on to the 252 I would say
.Cheers,
Kevin
Dear me! That does look magnificent Geoff! All Maple, don't you just love it? . Partington Heavy's, just as Joenit recommends. One hell of a setup, I must say!
Happy New Year from Delft!
. Partington Heavy's, just as Joenit recommends. One hell of a setup, I must say! Happy New Year from Delft!
FWIW, I've never been keen on center speakers in home cinema setups. The scale, if you will, of what comes out of these is usually much smaller than the scale of the L & R speakers, so the whole thing sounds wrong. I find it very distracting. Not heard Naim's center speaker though
I would phantom the whole setup and lose the center speaker.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
I would phantom the whole setup and lose the center speaker.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here