Supercap, Hicap and Prefix

TC

We are both in a similar position here. I have a Garrard 401 with a new style Prefix fitted inside the plinth and connected directly into the 52.

I discussed this with Richard Dane and to be fair, what he said was perfectly true.

I temporarily fitted a Hicap (taken from my 2nd system) and to my mind there was a better and smoother presentation. My wife, however, preferred it without the Hicap because the sound was punchier. The Hicap does not improve the sound as such, it smoothes it out and only you can decide if it suits you. This is what Richard predicted.

However, the Supercap is evidently a no brainer, it does to the TT what a XPS does to a CDX and that is to transform it. I have not heard it myself, but everyone who has fitted the Supercap, seems to sing its praises.

I will be fitting a Supercap, hopefully in a month or two.

Regards

Mick

Thanks, Mick.

I think perhaps the best idea might be to buy the 52/SC without selling the hicap to fund the upgrade, in the safe knowledge that I should be able to get much the same amount for it in a private sale. That way I can try both, which seems to be what you're implying.

I have to say that I'm very pleased with the sound of things right now, though the HC was only ever a stop-gap on the way to SC, and I suppose if one contemplates 82/SC then it'd be sensible to live on beans for a wee while to go the extra distance and get the 52...

John

TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."

When I was using an 82/Supercap, I powered my Prefix from a Hicap, as there is of course no option to power the Prefix from the 82. I changed to a 252 about six weeks ago and continued to use the Hicap to power the Prefix. Then out of interest, about a fortnight ago I plugged the Prefix directly into the 252's powered socket. The sound seemed to become smaller and less coherent, so I went back to the Hicap.

Your plan to keep the Hicap and then see which you prefer seems to be the best way forward.

Regards

Nigel

As I have a system with both a Hi-cap and a Supercap available to power my Prefix K, I thought I would add a further comment. My system is a bit different, and lower in the Naim food chain than many of the posters above, so my experience may prove helpful. I have a NAC 82 pre-amp, and once I added a Supercap to my system, I kept my Hi-cap, with the intention of using it soley to power my Pre-fix. This is how I actually use the system, however in an experimental mood one night last year, I rebuilt my system to have the Supercap power just the Pre-fix and my Hi-cap handle the rest of the 82. This was a higher performance approach for my LP 12, suggesting that if the funds allow it, even with the best Naim pre-amps, I would expect that a dedicated power supply solely for the Pre-fix is preferrable. In my system, the whole LP front end opened out and became more expansive, there was far better control in the bass, micro and macro dynamics were better, and the whole sense of cohesiveness was greatly enhanced. Tonality was improved, although this was already great with the Hi-cap.

I did not end up with the system left in this configuration for day to day use as I missed the Supercap for my listening on my two other primary souces, both of which I use more regularly than my LP 12. If you are more motivated, and less lazy than I am, or more centered on vinyl, you may find that anything you can do allow the phono stage to shine will be worthwhile.

Obviously, this sort of either or swap is not possible with a 52 or 252, but I would still think that a dedicated Hi-cap would be preferrable on your phono stage.

When I am visited by "Dr. Analogue", he cackles uncontrollably, and suggests that only little girls listen to CD's anyway, and he simply points at the Supercap and raises his little finger up off his forehead, and suggests that for "one Million dollars" he might be able to improve my turntable system. A Supercap is, in those terms, cheap at the price.

[This message was edited by bdnyc on MONDAY 29 December 2003 at 05:41.]

This thread broadly confirms my experience which is that the differences between a 52 and Hicap powered Prefix are subtle. Adding a SC is a significant and obvious improvement.

regards
Steve

I think the 52 vs HiCap debate for the prefix depends alot on your cartridge and how well your turntable is working in the system. I am sure a separate SuperCap is really special but for me a straight into 52 option is better for PRAT and the sound projects out of the speakers more. If you have a rough cartridge (or more accurately one that is not smooth in the HF) you will find that the straight into 52 experience is more unforgiving. I think the Hicap option with the extra cabling is uninvolving, although this was ameliorated somewhat if you use a Mana stand (but other things are worse if you use Mana with the Linn). Also RF is worse with a separate HiCap, but musically and for involvement I prefer teh straight through (this is with a Troika and the Linn on Fraim).

IMHO !

regards

Dev