You are the weakest link goodbye. The further adventures of eek me ears are bleedin'

Posted by: garyi on 18 August 2002

Well here it is, big old heavy hi-cap has today replaced the slim line flatcap, both apparently providing the same function.

Folks they are not providing the same function. In every conceivable aspect of the sound *I know* the hi-cap has moved it forward in ways I was not entirely convinced were possible by a few caps and a transformer.

You need this in you life.

So on the Player:

Big Bud: Infinity Infinity Sounds sooo different, the hicap seems to have opened up the top and bottom registers.
Massive attack: Blue Lines Still sounds like a bag of nails, however I would guesstimate 50% of the treble glare is gone, this album is now fully listenable above 10 oclock.
Bowie: Heathen sounds fine at all volumes, any treble harshness is simply gone.

I will be honest here and say the flat cap never did a lot for me, I got it cheap and was happy to have a glowing jaguar eye staring at me but wondered just what it was that box was doing. The hi-cap has already proved its worth within my system and represents for me one of the best value upgrades I have done to date.

Mr Gary signing off one happy camper.
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by garyi
I take it lee we are missing a post!

Posted on: 18 August 2002 by herm
Congratulations Gary,

looks real pretty. Hi-Caps are cute.

Herman
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by plynnplynn
Gary

My experience would suggest that the value/effect of the Hicap/Flatcap is also related to the item it powers.

My CD3.5 is not improved much by HiCap rather than FlatCap. The FlatCap is however an improvement over no external power supply on the 3.5.

When I used a 32.5 the HiCap was a noticeable improvement over the FlatCap.

On my 82 I use 2 FlatCaps rather than one HiCap. The sound is quite different using the 2 FlatCaps over the HiCap. I am not sure which I prefer. I need to experiment more when I can be bothered.

Terry
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by Ed R
Gary,
Do I detect FZ CDs in the bottom right of your CD rack?

BTW, that is quite neat storage for your discs. Is it something readily available or something bespoke to chez Gary?

Back on topic, aren't HiCaps amazing little f---ers!?

Regards,
Ed.
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by J.N.
"Me ears are alight"

Oh, how we laughed at Mr Decker.
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by Name
Well done Gary,

You had me worried for a moment, happy listening the hi cap is a cool wee animal.
Hopefully the hicap will keep any thoughts of upgraditis at bay for a while..........now about a supercap wink.
Thank goodness it wasn't the SBL's.
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by Steve Toy
Gary,

Just try this and let us know what you think. If you want even more listenability at higher levels, why not remove the unidentified non-Naim box from the bottom, move your power amp and hi-cap down a shelf, move your CD player and pre up a few notches, leaving a spacer shelf beneath your preamp?

I think your preamp will love you for it, and you'll love it back for its sweeter, smoother and more detailed top end. big grin

The improvement should be as significant (if not more so) than changing from the Flatcap to the Hi-cap was in the first place.

Regards,

Steve.

Let your ears do the talking, let your remote control do the walking...
Posted on: 18 August 2002 by Rico
That'll be an AMC tuna if my eyes aren't deceiving me...

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Posted on: 19 August 2002 by garyi
Ed, they are indeed Mr Zappa, I have around 30 knocking about. The racking is nothing more than the billy range from Ikea 70 quid will hold around 300 cds

Steven, I may consider getting rid of the AMC radio, but it is used occasionally, mabye I'll move the naim amps and hicap down and put the radio in the middle.
Posted on: 19 August 2002 by Derek Wright
Last week another topic of yours was keeping us all agog with excitement - was it a case of seen it, bought it, forgotten it..........

I think there is a term for this <g>

Derek
Posted on: 19 August 2002 by garyi
Derek, hope you have seen the increase in my forum picture quality wink

Suffice to say I will be boring you with that little tale later!
Posted on: 19 August 2002 by garyi
That after a day to warm up this is turning into a most significant upgrade.

Played Dreadzones 'A Canterbury Tale' from Second Light. This has for me been another problem 'treble' disk.

All harshness is gone, I can't really stress this enough the sound coming forth is smoother, but at the same time the bass is tighter and deeper, in my expereince tightning of bass enevitably meant loss of depth, not so here.

Am chilling down to Mr Scruffs Keep it Unreal. Comes recommended!
Posted on: 20 August 2002 by Simon B
Gary,
I hope thats a black SNAIC on the Hi-cap if not I think its worth the approx £50 it costs.

Simon
Posted on: 20 August 2002 by garyi
Steve. The 'cheap' range has additional inserts which hold the CDs, there are three in this unit at 12 quid each, the unit was around 30.

The record cabinet is also billy and indeed I could turn it into a CD cabinet which will hold over 700 cds, it really is a cost effective CD rack, mabye not as good looking as fraim, but then again not 700 quid either wink