Get the feeling it's time to go spend some money so looking for a few words of wisdom as to which is the best way forward.
Current set-up
CDX/102/180/BWN804 (Naim interconnect and speaker cable) other bits Sony tuner and tape deck (normally disconnected from 102)
Stands (currently Aavik A4) but moving to a frain-esq home made support which should be good (fingers crossed) when I can get round to finishing it off
Recently bought a pair of Sennheiser HD600 (£100 new!) so need to get myself a Headline and PS(unless other amps come recommended). Question, would it be worthwhile getting a better power supply then the NAPSC for this or not (given the front end).
Next, obviously need to listen to NAPSC and probably Hi-Cap on the 102, but would it be a more significant upgrade to jump up to the XPS, albeit a more wallet stretching one.
Bear in mind that I am considering continuing up the ladder though given that the hifi is far from ideally set-up (room constraints which are unavoidable) am not sure it is really worth pushing the bounds of sensibility that far yet!
If I listen to the XPS I will certainly have a listen to the CDS2 as I wouldn't buy the XPS unless I was certain I would move onto the CDS2.
It has been suggested that the BWN804 need plenty of juice, might it even be worth listening to a 250 (135's s/h possible) or would the Hi-Cap + NAPSC on the 102 free up the power amp and bring improvements in this area.
Cheers,
Matthew
PS And no, I am not going to change the speakers
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Simon Matthews
I would try to dem the difference between a hicap/supercap upgrade on the 102 V's the xps for the cdx. Do you have other sources? The xps will do great things and is a nice stepping stone to cds2 teritory. Having said that, naim pre amps are transformed by power supplies. Is the xps plus a hicap a bit of a stretch in one go? If not then the introduction of the pair would bring big smiles!
I would put both of these upgrades in front of touching your power amp.
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Bruce Woodhouse
Having been along this sort of path I would have to say HiCap the 102 (and add NAPSC) before adding XPS.
I love what the XPS does to my CDX but an uncapped 102 may not allow the real qualities to shine through. The XPS gives a real clarity and 'airiness' as well as adding solid bass character-these are precisely the areas where the 102 may be a little bit muddy without a Hi-Cap. This is also the cheapest option-not least because HiCaps are easy and cheap to pick up s/h. The NAPSC is very cheap and makes a definite but small benefit.
I'm afraid I do not know your speakers with regard to the power amp question.
Bruce
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Steve Toy
CDX/82/180 is a very nice system.
Alternatively you could spend the same money on a Supercap and only use a fraction of it.
It's always a nice day for it 
Have a good one! 
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Tony L
I would be absolutely amazed if the XPS was not the most noticeable upgrade. The 102 / 180 is a very competent amp, and is capable of dealing with the best front ends available. I would get the XPS, then get a CDS2 head, and only then start thinking about the amp. This is a far more logical approach that introducing a more revealing amp without having the front end fully sorted. I remember hearing Matthew R's system back when it was CDS2 / 102 / 140 and it worked really well, it sounded perfectly balanced.
In my own system any album that I have on both vinyl and CD sounds better on vinyl, I can tell this easy enough using my humble Nait 2 and Kans, so the difference would be far clearer through a 102 / 180. The point is that as good as the CDX is (and it is very good), there is still room for improvement, and that room for improvement can be clearly heard through my comparatively low budget amp and speakers. A XPS would be my most logical upgrade were CD my main source, and if that goes for me then it has to go for someone with a better amp.
The source first thing is still IMHO totally right, nothing has changed since the days of a LP12 / Nait / Kan system sounding far better than a P3 / 32.5 / Hicap / 135 / Isobarik system. Digital is no different - think along the lines of CD5 = P3, CDX = LP12 / Valhalla / Basic, and CDS2 = LP12 / Armageddon / Aro. Balance the downstream system accordingly!
Tony.
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Bruce Woodhouse
Well Matthew, polarised opinions for you!
Time for the dem and tell us what you think?
If I get the chance this weekend I might do some selective unplugging and tell you what happens. Suspense eh..
Bruce
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Bob Edwards
Matthew--
I'm with Tony on this one--the XPS is the way to go provided you don't force your family to eat PBJ and mac and cheese the next year to do it.
I've tried CDX/82/Hi/250 vs CDX/XPS/Nait (3,5) and the XPS system wins--the XPS renders a fundamental improvement to the quality of the music, where the upgraded amplification upgrades the sonics.
If possible, add the NAPSC at the same time, as it provides a notable upgrade to the 102 at a minimal cost.
Cheers,
Bob
Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Matthew T
Ok, will have to arrange some listening soon.
Any suggestions on headphone amps. I set up the HD600s straight out the back of the 102, wow, that is truly revealing, guess I will need to try out the headline and see what it does for me, the odd unplugging of speaker cables or £400? my ears will have to be the final judge.
cheers
Matthew
Posted on: 30 December 2001 by Bruce Woodhouse
Stuck in the house with a cold I had a fiddle around with my system, and tried CDX +/- XPS and the 102 +/- HiCap. The rest is 2x140 SNAXO/Hi-Cap and SBLs.Unplugging and doing a retrospective dem is always interesting I reckon.
Conclusion-well taking one bit out makes it significantly different but neither is necessarily better!
The uncapped 102 sounds a bit slow, slightly thick and loses a lot of definition to the bass in particular. The Hi-Cap makes it sound more lively and the sound flows better.It seems to lift a veil on the whole picture-noticeable when you take it out again.
The CDX alone is a bit 'technical' sounding for my taste but it has a very engaging style with crisp pace and a voices are very real and 'breathy'. The XPS adds all sorts, space, airiness, crystal clear treble and characterful bass (rather than amount). If the 102 then has the HiCap removed the real advances to bass and treble ends of the register are indeed lessened but the whole still has a lovely natural musical quality and gains over the CDX alone.
Conclusion for me is that the biggest increment of the two is the XPS but this costs a lot after all. If you never added a HiCap to the pre-amp you would only gain some of the benefits which looks poor value. The two components together seemed to have real synergy-as I reckon is the case with all Naim kit.
So all this has probably not helped you one little bit!
Bruce
