Do I need another HiCap?

And a supercap on an 82 would mean I could use it if I moved eventually to a 52 then...HHmmm...makes sense. OK James, thanks for that. I won't bother.

Hi Rasher - long time no speak,
I hade a Hi-capped 3.5 for ages and it was really good (recently sold it to upgrade to CDX2).
Another thought is that if you purchased a 2nd hand hi-cap they virtually hold their value, so you could use it until you don't need it anymore the re-sell it at little loss.
I've just ordered a 282 which will be powered by a single hi-cap until i get the funds for a supercap....I'll then hi-cap the stageline....

Hey Andy - Did you have the 3.5 flatcapped before the HiCap, and if so, how much difference did the HiCap make?
282 coming too eh?! Very nice

Rasher,
you need to look at this in context of my system. I had a 102 flatcapped, 3.5 hi-capped - 180 - sbl's.

I did quite a bit of experimenting, and actually found that I got more out of the system with the HI-cap powering th 102! I tried the 102 being powered by the 180, then tried living with the 3.5 flat capped then hi capped, and there was no doubt the hi-cap was the better option - better bass and separation of instruments/voices etc.
But then when I tried the power supplies as above (3.5 flat and 102 hi) it just seemed to sound better rather than hi'ing the CD.

Strange I know!

the other thing was I had a Linn TT and was powering the surround left and right front channels via the 102 too, so It seemed the better compromise to me.

But, to answer your question, I felt that in isolation the 3.5 performed better with the hi-cap than the flat-cap, and noticeably so too.

The right thing to do would have been to get a 2nd hi-cap, but then my wife agreed to the CDX2 and the rest is history.

PS Am getting the XPS2 as well
PPS i don't think you are too far away from me location wise are u?
PPPs You really need to do your mains If you haven't done so yet...

Do you need another hicap?
No you need a CDX.

Joe90

Thanks Andy. Mains has been done. Brighton.
Joe - CDX or CDX2? For the price of a CDX2 it could be used CDX & 82. But CDX2 would be nice.

Rasher

It does'nt look like you are planning to do it but for info, putting 2 Hicaps on an 82 (or 282) is a bit tricky. Consensus is that they have to be closely matched in age else the subtle difference in perfromance between the 2 HiCaps shows up in the sound of the pre-amp.

I tried running my 282 off of a 1995 HiCap & a 2000 HiCap. When I switched to just using the 2000 HiCap the sound IMPROVED. Using the 2 HiCaps had been giving me a slightly "muddied" sound.

I have now got a Supercap and boy oh boy as James says that IS a good upgrade.

GEOFF

Hey Rasher

Hell, yes CDX2 if budget allows.
But CDX and 82 would be awesome too.
And CDX is the same sound as your other kit, and that counts for a lot too.
CDX2 is the 'new' Naim sound and smoother than the olive kit, and I think better timed and overall just plain better. But the cost is more and priviledge has to be paid for.

If you were planning to recycle you olives into new stuff over time, buy the CDX2 now and lay the foundation for future upgrades. if you love the olive stuff, stick with a CDX and 82 combo. Will sound awesome matey.

Either way, source first I say.

Joe90

That is the clincher then. Thanks guys.
I can see that the 32.5 pre will be a real bottleneck, so maybe CDX/82 beckons.