The Flatcap Blues

I added a flatcap1 to my 72, and was similarly underwhelmed. It only really seems to make any difference when you have the volume cranked up, as things used to get dead shouty without it. Recently Frank Abela suggested that it was because the the powersupply in a 180 is roughly equivalent to a FC. If you have a 200, maybe you are finding the same thing. I intend to get a hicap for the 72 when funds allow, and transfer the fc onto my CD3.5, in the hope it does more there.

Don't judge it yet. The FlatCap will probably take 3-4 weeks or more to burn-in, so give it the benefit of the doubt for the time being. That little bit of extra smoothness and more weight and authority will improve with time. The HiCap certainly makes a greater improvement to a CD3.5 than a FlatCap does.

David

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Should I have saved my money and gone for a Hi-cap , I wonder ?

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I think so. I started a recent thread summarizing my experience demo'ing a CD5, a CD5 + FC2, and CD + HC2. I'm assuming that the units at my dealer's place were well worn in. My experience was that although the FC2 improved the CD5, it was not a night and day type improvement. The HC2, on the other hand, made a huge improvement and, to my ears at least, was worth the cost differential over a FC2. I previously heard what a HC2 can do to a 202 and also was extremely impressed (I've never heard a FC2 on a 202). If I purchase the CD5, or when I get around to adding a psu to my 202, I intend to skip over the FC2 and go right to the HC2.

I hope you start noticing and appreciating the benefits of the FC2 soon. If not, perhaps because it is so new your dealer will let you work something out and bring it back and step up to the HC2?

Good luck.

MBM

The flatcap2 is meant to power two devices at a time, so is it fair to say that one would gain a small maybe 10% improvement on each piece therefore adding up to an overall enhancement of 20%.
I realize that it's impossible to put a number to sonic quality but is there one area of the music experience that a flatcap2 trully improves. (using a cd5 and nait5)
More bass
Better bass
Smoother mids
Crispier highs
Greater dynamics
PRaT

I think the reason I was expecting great gains was that I was upgrading the power supply to my CD , and also my pre-amp at the same time , therefore twice the effect of just upgrading one item .

Having said that I was disapointed with the results earlier on in this thread ,I can now qualify this a little.

The flatcap 2 has now been on a few hours , and has "warmmed through" and in a quiet listening environment I can now detect some changes more so than earleir .I am now getting much more detail with slightly lower (but more controlled , and less one note) lows and higher and sweeter highs (much less hash and grain) and overall music sounds more , well , "musical" (particulaly voices) but perhaps a little smoothed - still plenty of sparkle though . I would also add the the pre-amp (202) is only a week old , and therefore I guess I shouldnt be surpised if there is a lot of burnng in/changes to come .

I am now beginning to think that this is a worthwhile upgrade .

24 hours in - now im beginng to see what the PSU thing is all about - nice!!!

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Originally posted by av
More bass
Better bass
Smoother mids
Crispier highs
Greater dynamics
PRaT

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Man you said it - this thing is really starting to rock now!

Despite my earlier doubts this is DEFINATLY worth the £500 it cost - I can only imagine what Hi/Supercaps can do!

Glad it's doing the business for you. Most people seem to assume a PSU upgrade should 'sing' straight out of the box. I don't know the reason but they do seem to take time to bed in, but maybe not as long as major components. I think you also have to attune your ears to what it's giving you.

David

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I will ultimately get two HC2s, not because it is such a great call for the CD5, but because it leads to less tradeins on upgrading CDP and Pre (CDX2 thru a 282/2*HC2 kicks ass)

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Kid, be aware that 2 hiCaps, especially of different ages do not fit well with a 282, though if they are "matched" (bought new at the same time) they will be OK.
I found that I got a sweeter sound in combination with my CDX2 using just one Hicap on the 282.(I ended up putting my older HC on my Stageline,so it was'nt wasted)
The other danger lurks if you listen to a 282/Supercap2. I did and now have that combination, which BTW is still "burning in" after 1 month of play.

It is true IMO that the benefit from a PS is in proportion to it's scale. The HiCap outdoes the FC, as it should, by virtue of the dedicated single supply with heavier tranny, etc. Going to a Supercap seems to do the same again adding another portion of weight and dynamics to the mix.

It's only when we step back and acknowledge that the PS's cost as much as the pre's they are driving that we start muttering "I should bloody well hope so too".

Ridiculous is'nt it fancy buying a box full of electronics that has no power, but it works.

regards
GEOFF

BTW Kid check your PT's

Why don't you think two Hi-Caps work with an 282?

Paul Rowlands

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Why don't you think two Hi-Caps work with an 282?

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Paul
what I said was:

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be aware that 2 hiCaps, especially of different ages do not fit well with a 282, though if they are "matched" (bought new at the same time) they will be OK.

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In detail based on my own experience,and others reported here in the past,the 282 is sensitive to differences in the performance of different age Hicapssinceyou are driving one channel with one Hicap and the other channel with the second HC.
I was using a 1993 and a 2000 HiCap to drive my 282 and when I switched over to using just the 2000 vintage Hicap (based on comments about this effect) I realised the subtle differences in the supply quality between the 2 Hicaps has been causing a slight "muddiness" in the sound which went away with just 1 Hicap in use.

This is obviously a variable and anybody who tries out 2x HiCap's will have a different result, but the percieved wisdom (which was correct in my case) is that this is an issue to be aware of.

There are ways of addressing this to get matched Hicaps,like having them both re-capped at the same time or buying them both new, but it could make sense in these circumstances to bite the bullet and find the extra for a Supercap. That leaves any Hicap configuration in the dust.

regards
GEOFF

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Geoff -- thanks. Actually I am buying two new HC2s and putting one on my CD5 anb then, when I upgrade the CDP, it will go on the 282, next to the other one... do you see any issues related to your "vintage" comment if they are bought together but used slightly differently for a year?

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I shouldn't think so. The main thing that beds in as understand it is the large electrolytic Capacitors and of course the regulator transistors, but thats just about being switched on and not about what it's attached to I would guess.

regards
GEOFF