Superline powered by an "spare" Hicap-DR

Do you have the big Burndy link plug fitted to the back of the Superline?  

Hi Richard,

Yes. I have this plug fit to the back of the Superline...

I wonder if it is possible to make this connections with 2 Hicaps, one por the XS and the other for the Superline.

I have tried this combination yesterday with a pair of Dali Epicon 6, and a MC Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge.

Yup, shouldn't be a problem having one Hicap on the Nait xs and one on the Superline - should be rather good actually.  I take it the Nait is fine on other sources? Have you tried swapping the Hicaps around?  Then try all sources to see whether one hi cap has a problem.

You are right. I will try the newest HICAP with the NAIM XS to ensure that it works fine.

Maybe the original problem is that my NAIM Superline is a second handed unit that I bought this week. I have detected some noisy problems when I change the load plugs of capacitance. This afternoon I will test all the equipment with a friend of mine. See what happens and I will tell you later.

Another question Richard, I've tried to find in the manual the correct way to change the load plugs in the Superline, but I didn't find how to connect. May I connect them with all the equipment turned off? Or simply muted?

Thank you very much Richard!!!

Hello Richard,

I have just tested the system again, trying the two hicaps alone to ensure that they work ok separately.

Then I try the connections as I explained above, and.. turned on first the hicaps, then the amplifier and the Superline, selected the Tuner button, and raised slowly the volume. A constant noise in the speakers, whether the Turntable was turned off.. 

Could be the problem the NAIM interconnect 4 pin to 5 pin (NA-0127) ? I've recently bought it  and it is the first time I use it. Maybe it is damaged.. Is it the right cable to send the signal from one of the HICAP (from socket 3) to NAIM XS input (Tuner ir)?

A constant noise doesn't sound good.  It could be the 4-5 interconnect  or it could be the SNAIC (you could check this one easily) or the Superline.  I'd ask your dealer to take a look.

Dear Richard!!!

I have found the mystery!!!

The noise was produced by one of the HICAPS. The vibration that generates was communicated to my DALI speakers, and when I raised up the volume this noise increased. I've turned on the turntable and it played well the sound, but the noise too    When I put a hand over the Hicap, the noise reduces...

Now I have to discover how to reduce that vibration (without having to put my hand up ) . I will try to swap the other hicap. Maybe this don't vibrate so much.

Do you recommend me some action to reduce this vibration that conduce to the speakers?

Thank you Richard for your time...

Ramón Cabezas from Spain.

ramoins posted:

I have detected some noisy problems when I change the load plugs of capacitance. This afternoon I will test all the equipment with a friend of mine. See what happens and I will tell you later.

 

The resistance and capacitance values depend on the cartridge you use. For example, I use 576R and 1nf plugs with my Kandid.  Some don't use the capacitance plug but it does reduce the possibility of RF interference that some experience.

Steve

Ramon, I'm not sure I understand you here; your Hicap is making a noise and when you put a hand over it, the noise reduces?  This noise plays through the system?  

This seems to indicate a faulty Hicap.  I've come across Hicaps where the transformer can get a bit noisy, usually from some pollution artefact on the mains, but this should not be audible played through the system, and doesn't necessarily indicate a faulty unit.

Hello Richard and Steve.

You understood perfectly what I told you. Any of the HICAPS (because I have tested now the two units) produces the same vibration that plays through the system. And when I put a hand over the HICAP the noise reduces noticeably while the noise is sounding.

It was very strange that two HICAPS were faulty, really? I am trying to put some material behind them to attenuate the noisy effect. Maybe I would move them away from the Superline and the NAIT XS. I don't know. I can try this...

That fact is that all my system is over a furniture that is empty inside, maybe it is acting like a sounding board....

Now I solve the problem, but only half of it

I've make a video to illustrate this, but I don't know how to insert in this chat.

Kind regards.

Ramón.

I've forgot to say that I test the two HICAPS alone with the XS and the SUPERLINE powering by the amplifier through the AUX2, and I could hear the noise only putting my ear close to the HICAP, but except that, the noise never passed through the system, so, is it possible that the HICAPS are faulty?

Thanks Richard.

Hello Richard and Steve..

I have discovered some interesting things...

When I put the NAIM interconnect 4 pin to 5 pin close to the NAIM XS, any of the HICAPS or the NAIM SNAIC 5pin to 5 pin, the noise increases very much!!!, especially with NAIM interconnect 4 to 4 pin.

Only happens when I select the input of the amplifier..

And I have to say that during the night, if I put my ear very close to the speakers, I can hear a radio program...

It seems to be a problem with interferences...

Could anyone advice me to reduce them? maybe buying other cables...

Thank you.

It sounds like a combination of RFI and perhaps microphonics.  An MC phono stage can be prone to both so siting is critical.  RF can be reduced through adding a little bit of capacitance but much will depend on your Turntable/arm/cart wiring setup.  I have to ask - was your dealer happy with the setup??  I would ask them to come and check out the installation.  This sort of thing is best dealt with where you can see everything and hear what's happening.  

Hello Richard and Steve,

After many try outs this afternoon, I've found a possible solution to attenuate the noise. I've discovered that putting the 1nf load plug of capacitance of in the Superline reduces quite the noise. I also think that substituting the NAIM interconnect 4pin to  5pin may reduce the noise effect, by other better cable (this cable appears to have poor quality). When I receive it, I'll tell you what happens..

By the way, trying all the possible combinations with the 2 hicaps, Superline and Nait XS, the best combination (talking in terms of less aggressive, I mean, not in your face..) for me is the Nait XS powered by one HICAP, while the Superline is being powered by the AUX2 input of the NAIT XS. 

When I test the new SNAIC 5 pin to 4 pin or the 4 pin to 2RCA I will tell you if this improvement remove the noise definitively.

Thanks Richard and Steve for your nice suggestions.