HiCap the napsc?

Bas,

I can solve your problem for you, I will switch your Hi-cap for my NAPSC. Save you spending £25 on the cable (that really is taking the piss) to connect the Hi-cap to digital circuitry.

Unbeatable offer and all that.

Matthew

That's a very tempting offer Matthew ;-)

Is there such a cable? 25 UKP you say?

Actually, I might even be in Eastern Netherlands at the beginning of June so could do a swap

Yes, it is a 5 pin din to 2 pin screw connection (I presume din), you could even make this up yourself if you have any proficiency with a soldering iron.

Matthew

Good question?

If you can do this then why don't people buy s/h snaps for £50-100 for this job.


I don't think the voltages are exactly the same though:

HiCap 24v. Napsc 18v (I think). I don't know if this matters in the real world.

Has anyone actually tried this? Could it be worthwile? Isn't the second HiCap for the 82 doing the same thing? I wonder, I wonder...

The cable is called a SLIC, and yes it will work. If you can manage a soldering iron, then do it yourself. Otherwise, you'll have to get one from Naim (for too much money).

BTW, I use a SNAPS2 to power my 102's digital circuitry. It takes only one rail, and the 102 automatically regulates it down to the proper voltage. I'm about to make up a cable so that I can use the other rail to power my Headline (which also takes only one rail). My biggest challenge has been to find the NAPSC-style plugs.

Oh, and there's virtually no difference to the sound (compared to an NAPSC). Your Hi-Cap's wasted doing this, unless you don't have anything better to do with it.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

But doesn't the HiCap do the same thing on the CD 5, power the digital circuitry? And then it sounds better than a flatcap...

Matthew, I have sent you a private message. Didn't know this was possible, cool!

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But doesn't the HiCap do the same thing on the CD 5, power the digital circuitry? And then it sounds better than a flatcap...

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No, it powers the analogue output stage / filters.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bas V:
But doesn't the HiCap do the same thing on the CD 5, power the digital circuitry? And then it sounds better than a flatcap...

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There's some ambiguity in this area. The 102 needs power for two sections: audio (exactly what it means) and switching (often misleadingly entitled "digital", e.g. input selector buttons, motorized volume control, remote control reception, etc.). What they call "digital" here is not the same as the "digital" section on a CD player.

As we all know, many Naim power-amps (e.g. 90, 110, 140, 150, 180, but not 250, 135, 300, 500) can power both of these sections via the 4-pin SNAIC. (In this situation, the 102 will have both shorting plugs in place.) Of course, the pre-amp can sound much better with one or two additional power supplies.

If you're adding just one external supply, then you can use a SNAPS, SNAPS2, Flat-Cap, Hi-Cap, or even a Super-Cap. It will sound a whole lot better than using the power amp's feed, for two reasons: it's not leeching power from the power-amp, and it's getting two 24-volt rails instead of the one than the power-amp provides. In this situation (with one external power supply), the 102 will have just the 4-pin shorting plugs in place (the one with the big arm that covers the NAPSC socket). Both audio and switching sections will be powered by the one supply.

As you would expect, there are downsides to this, since the one power supply is forced to support both section, and those sections each "talk back" to the power supply, simultaneously affecting the other section. To alleviate this problem, the 102 can have a second supply for the switching section. Usually this duty is fulfilled by a NAPSC, which provides a single 18-volt supply via a 2-pin plug. The shorting plug with the funny arm is removed to allow its hook-up.

Because the 102 is designed to borrow power like this, the NAPSC socket has regulation to decrease the 24-volt supply down to what it really needs (12-volts internally, IIRC). As a consequence, you have the option of putting a 24-volt supply directly into the NAPSC socket, without damaging your 102. (I'm not sure if the same applies to the 82.) It requires a SLIC cable, which is the cable that can be used between a *-cap and a Headline (which can be powered from an NAPSC or *-cap). In the case of the Headline, I think it's more important to use a good cable, as the supply is for audio purposes. In the case of the switching circuitry of the 102, it's not as crucial, and I have no qualms with using a DIY jobbie.

Now we should address the issue of sound quality. In the case of the audio circuitry, it's important to use the best supply possible. For the switching section, though, the key issue is whether it's leeching its power from the audio's supply (bad), or whether it's separate (good). I don't think it will sound better if you use a Hi-Cap instead of an NAPSC, which is why I said earlier, "Your Hi-Cap's wasted doing this, unless you don't have anything better to do with it."

If you're planning to stay with the 102, then I would probably sell one Hi-Cap, and buy an NAPSC. If, however, you're planning to upgrade to an 82, then use the Hi-Cap as an NAPSC for now. The 82 has it's own NAPSC, and it can make use of both Hi-Caps.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

quote:

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Originally posted by mrbassman:
Anyone know if you can power both digital and analogue sides of a 202 with a flatcap 2 ??

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It might be worth a try. As it is, your Flat-Cap2 is already powering both sections via it's one connector (because you've got the link plug with the funny arm in place). You may find that using the separate supply socket on the Flat-Cap2 might provide a bit more isolation of audio and switching sections. Then again, it might not. You can find out for the price of a SLIC.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Mike,

Agreed that HiCap is probably overkill on a 102 but, it is claimed that the new NAPSC is superior to the old NAPSC when used as a supply for the digital input on naim amps, so maybe there is a discernable difference, and in the world of naim the £300 differential is not that big if seen as an upgrade!

Bas,

Have replied, didn't see this until this afternoon.

Matthew