CDP 3.5 & Flatcap
Posted by: MJSM on 15 September 2003
I've been looking for a S/H CDP for a while now, and I'm almost ready to buy the above combination, but before I take the plunge and hand over the readies, I need to know from people who have tried the 3.5 with a flatcap and hicap, is the flatcap a worthwhile upgrade, or more of a waste of money ??
I don't have a hicap just now, and to get one is going to cost about 300GBP on top of the price of the 3.5/flatcap, so it's really a hard decision - need help here.....
Posted on: 15 September 2003 by Markus
Geoff,
You may get some responses here from the Forum but ultimately you will have to decide. Part of this may depend on your partnering equipment, in particular your preamp. I have owned a CDS (sold for financial reasons), replaced it with a cd3.5 to which I added a hicap for some time.
At present I'm running the 3.5 "bare" and enjoying it plenty, but this is via a 72/hicap and I believe with a higher performing preamp I would be either better able to enjoy the advantages that a power supply would provide or more troubled by the level of performance I'm at right now. I seem to find that those who run 32.5's/62/72 are quite tolerant of cd players that those who run higher-spec equipment like 102/82/52/etc find a little harsh. I find I don't miss the help the hicap provided to my cd 3.5 but perhaps I'm not as particular as others about the sound of my system. Eventually I'll own a different cd player but I find the 3.5, by itself, to be quite competent.
If the price for the flatcap is fair, then I suggest you try it and if you don't feel that it makes a big enough difference, then sell it off.
Markus
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Posted on: 15 September 2003 by Brighty
Hi MJSM,
I have a CD 3.5 and a Hi-Cap sounds very good to me !! The Hi-Cap does make a big difference to the 3.5, better bass, bigger soundstage, vocals fill the room with more easy, sounds not to far off a CDX,
With a s/h Hi-Cap you will never lose money on it, and you can always move it to the pre-amp when you upgrade the CDP.
Go for the Hi-Cap...
Posted on: 15 September 2003 by MJSM
Markus,
Many thanks for the quick response, I've decided to go for the 3.5 on it's own, and hold out for a hicap when I can afford one.
Brighty, thanks to you too, just needed some experienced advice.
Posted on: 16 September 2003 by Rasher
I have a 3.5/FC and it is a great improvement over the bare player. You are right to hold out for a HiCap though, as its only £100 more and will have other uses. You would probably have to sell the FC with the 3.5 when you move up, which is more hassle, and the improvement over the FC is well worth the extra 100GBP.
Posted on: 16 September 2003 by andy c
I used to have a 3.5, and was able to try it with both flat cap and hi cap at various times during ownership. Both make a beneficial differance and improve the 3.5, but the hi cap is the way to go... no worries.
I agree with the comments above re cost of a hi cap tho. best way is to do some research with the seial number to gauge the age of the 'cap. You may well have to figure in a service if you buy an old one.
