Second Hi-Cap for the 282 pre-amp

It means that you power each channel separately I believe. This 'upgrade' is largely a waste of time - either stick with one Hicap or (better) get a Supercap. 

SC is the way to go.

Yep - 282 sings with a SC in tow. Second hi-cap is not a good VFM upgrade.

I already had one HC serving on the stageline and would like move it to the 282 for compare.

My concern is I am using the nordost QBase for my naim system, If I use dual Hi-Cap on 282, which Hi-Cap should I connect to the primary earth ? Upgrade 1 or 2 or both ?

http://www.nordost.com/downloa...se_product_pages.pdf

Thanks,

marcobb

i don't really understand what you mean by connecting to primary earth. Naim systems work best when all component mains earths are connected at the same point - one of the reasons hydra type mains arrangements work very well. By the look of it, your Nordost block does this through its normal output socket arrangement but also allows a separate clean earth connection to a external grounding post. 

Edit - i can see what they mean by primary earth now. TBH worth experimenting but to see what you prefer but i'm not sure how useful these type of mains blocks are within the context of a Naim system. 

marcobb posted:

Hi Folk,

Do you know what is the function of the second Hi-Cap on 282 pre-amp ?

Which part will it handle ?

Regards,

marcobb

I'm pretty sure it's not channel separation, but rather different stages of the preamp (pre- and post volume control?) will then be powered separately.

S.

Stefan Vogt posted:

marcobb posted:

Hi Folk,

Do you know what is the function of the second Hi-Cap on 282 pre-amp ?

Which part will it handle ?

Regards,

marcobb

I'm pretty sure it's not channel separation, but rather different stages of the preamp (pre- and post volume control?) will then be powered separately.

S.

Yes, i've never seen a definitive answer on whether it splits the buffer and gain stages or stereo channels (Richard ?). The two hicap configuration strays from the Naim earthing strategy too.

The Supercap is a more elegant (and much better) solution but as the OP has a spare Hi-Cap he may as well give it a go. 

AFAIK, in twin HC mode, the 282 or 82 uses one HC per channel.

The Supercap is a lot more £/$/etc - and is under utilised (output wise) when powering a 282/82. As a stepping stone to a 252/52 though, its is ideal.

Me... I'm just a Lawnmower...

Like many of the previous posts I would not consider 2 nd hi cap on sound quality grounds . Even a non dr supercap would be a big step and there are many used models around. You might be surprised at the prices. The dr version is clearly a bigger step. You could buy a non dr version and up grade to dr later.

Hi! What's the rest of the system?

Stefan Vogt posted:

marcobb posted:

Hi Folk,

Do you know what is the function of the second Hi-Cap on 282 pre-amp ?

Which part will it handle ?

Regards,

marcobb

I'm pretty sure it's not channel separation, but rather different stages of the preamp (pre- and post volume control?) will then be powered separately.

S.

I agree with the above. I've never been convinced it powers separate channels.

I've tried : 1. 282+2 HiCaps. powering Stageline.

                   2. 282+1 HiCap, 1HiCap on Stageline.

                   3. 282+S.Cap, 1HiCap powering Stageline

In order of preference 3 beats 2 beats 1.

The S.Cap on the 282 is by far the best. 2xHiCaps on the 282 is not VFM, IMO

I've had all 3 permutations - the SC being a DR version. The SC is clearly the best but I was happy with the improvement the 2nd HC gave me when I purchased it (admittedly at a good discount as an ex-dem at around the time the DR's hit the shelves).

If you take the plunge on the SC the problem you will face is the slippery slope I now reside at the bottom of - the pull of a 252 to make use of all those lovely dedicated power supplies. Took all of 6 months for my resistance to ebb away!

If you take the plunge on the SC the problem you will face is the slippery slope I now reside at the bottom of - the pull of a 252 to make use of all those lovely dedicated power supplies. Took all of 6 months for my resistance to ebb away

+1 - slope v slippery!!! I started with a 282, thro HiCap then Supercap and now with 500! £££££ but audio nirvana ��

I have two non-DR hicaps on my 282.  The second one I bought used for a good price, and it turns out they were both serviced at the same time - their caps are from the same batch.  The second one brought a worthwhile improvement, but I agree perhaps questionable value for price of a new one.  They are due for service again soon, and I need to find a way to pay for a Supercap, gulp.

Hi. This is an old chestnut, which over the years has been answered many times, and definitively by Naim personnel.

With 2x HC on an 82 or 282, they take one channel each.  That is why it is important to have (relatively) matched HCs.

I had an 82 with 1x HC, 2x HCs, and then SC.  IMHO, 2x HCs does make a difference over 1x HC, but a SC is considerably better again, and of course where the 82 or 282 really starts to sing.  These are NOT exact quantities, but simply illustrative: if 2x HCs is twice as good as 1x HC, then SC (*two SNAICs) is twice as good as 2x HCs, but costs about the same as 3x not 4x HCs.

(*It is possible to use one SNAIC with a SC on an 82 or 282, like 1x HC, which is still an improvement, but not the whole nine yards ... remember that whereas a HC comes with a SNAIC, a SC doesn't, so that's an extra £300 for two.)

With my 82, I went 1x HC, 2x HCs, then SC, because it suited my budget and trading up, despite people saying get the SC. I bought both HCs s/h or x/d, about 4 years apart. I later had them serviced together as a pair. 

At the time I scrimped for the 2nd HC I didn't think there'd be any chance of ever having a SC.  But now having had the SC, on reflection I would say that if you think that if there is any likelihood of you ever having a SC, don't bother with a 2nd HC, save the money and make the SC come sooner.  However, if you're convinced that you won't ever have a SC, then a 2nd HC makes a nice addition, in my view.

Good wishes.

CDS, 82, 2x HCs, 250. Those were the days!

Agree fully with JWM. As you already have the HC, then it is worth doing. Ultimately the Supercap is the way to go. That's the route I took and felt content until I replaced the 282 with the 252. That was the point where I became disillusioned with the upgrade ladder and flogged the lot. Now very happy with a 52/135s/SBLs. No longer wishing to change any of my Naim kit.

Pete