Bare Supernait 1 v bare supernait 2

Hi, I've had the supernait 1 for a while, and have recently heard the supernait 2, both very involving, both engaging, differences...possibly incremental is the word....maybe the 2 has a little more bite, but the supernait 1 has been driving my Sopra'2s with great efficency and I have been extremely impressed with it, obviously the Sopra'2s need more drive hence the upgrade for me ...as regards hi-cap, I think it's all about personal choice....

Sorry but the SN1 is in no way more involving to listen to than the SN2. I owned a SN1, then XS, and now SN2. My order of preference is the same as my order of ownership. 

I did say they were both involving, both engaging, the difference incremental...therfore SN2 better....

What did the hi cap do for the SN Clintyboy? 

Hi Gary, your order of ownership is the SN1 first, yes? so is it your preferred amp ?

Regards

clintyboy posted:

Hi Gary, your order of ownership is the SN1 first, yes? so is it your preferred amp ?

Regards

Yes the SN1 was the first, which i tried to like for 6 months and didn't like at all. I ordered one of the first ones when it was introduced without hearing it. I then replaced it with an XS which i loved for some years before finally buying a SN2 which by my reckoning is better by some margin than a bare XS, XS/FC2X and XS/HCDR. I actually prefer a Nait5i over the SN1, but i have not heard the SN1 with HCDR, which some users say is a good step up, and i can imagine it is.

wenger2015 posted:

I did say they were both involving, both engaging, the difference incremental...therfore SN2 better....

I was replying to the OP.

Agreed Wenger. It would be interesting to hear the two of them side by side 

There will always be some number of people who enjoy a particular product that is not the favorite of the majority. No problem. Choice is a nice thing to have. However, IMO most people exposed to both a Supernait 1 and a Supernait 2 in their own system will clearly hear the difference and prefer the Supernait 2 by a considerable margin. It is not subtle. In most circumstances it is a very significant upgrade.

And that's the key with all these things, hearing them in your own system. I'm at least an hour and a half from my nearest dealer so it's not so easy for him to drop boxes round for a home demo. 

I did a direct comparison just once, with a CD5XS and Ovator S-400s. It must be remembered that both amps were cold at the beginning, and the SN2 was new. My personal impression (I have a SN1 with HC DR) was of the SN2 having a smoother, more refined voice with as much detail though, or perhaps more, and a better rendering of the general 'ambience'. All in all, it sounded like a very good 'universal' integrated without, perhaps, some of the mild edginess and the mid/high bump that characterises older Naim amps.

I'd say they are different enough that a direct comparison has little meaning to me. A SN1 with a HCDR comes close to a 2, but to me it retains the best of the SN1 while gaining some richness from the DR psu to the preamp. If I had to choose, and it only had to be one box, or max one and half, I'd take a SN1 and a 2nd hand HCDR, but I understand why the SN2 is so well regarded.

(For some reasons, I can imagine the diffusion of the new amps renovating interest and perhaps cult in the olive series.. in some people)

Hope it helps.

Granted the OP is about comparison of sound between the two but utilitarian differences are the SN's DAC versus the SN2's DR'd pre and built-in HP. Don't these as well as price have to factor into the choice? Each unit offers potential elimination of a different box. A pragmatic choice for me; the SN2 was obvious as I listen to HPs while having no use for a DAC. That said and FWIW, I've been happily listening to my bare SN2 for two years now.

Thanks guys for all your replies, certainly a lot of varying views etc, As with all hifi/ music it can be down to personal taste and trying to hear a SN2  in my own system,  Out of curiosity what mains cable do you`s  guys use on your supernait ? and gary, yes I also tried a Nait 5 i italic and loved it , fast, exciting and always put a smile on my face.... but just lacked power when pushed. Did also try the new 5si which did have slightly more power but definitely not as fun or musical than the 5 italic.

Clintyboy

Hi, I've been using a naim powerline, which I have been very impressed with.

I'll be demoing TQ mains cables when I get my SN 

Yeah I've heard the Powerline on the SN too Wenger. It is impressive what they do

Finkfan, likewise with TQ...apparently they are exceptional 

Got to be worth a demo 

clintyboy posted:

Thanks guys for all your replies, certainly a lot of varying views etc, As with all hifi/ music it can be down to personal taste and trying to hear a SN2  in my own system,  Out of curiosity what mains cable do you`s  guys use on your supernait ? and gary, yes I also tried a Nait 5 i italic and loved it , fast, exciting and always put a smile on my face.... but just lacked power when pushed. Did also try the new 5si which did have slightly more power but definitely not as fun or musical than the 5 italic.

 

 

Clintyboy

Smiled when I saw your comment on the Nait 5i. I had and still have an original 5i non-italic. It was the little 5i that blew the Supernait 1 into the weeds for musical involvement when I had the latter home for an extensive in house demo into my Naim Allaes. The Supernait 1, on its own without HiCap, did all the hi fi stuff very nicely but it had no boogie compared with the little 5i. The Supernait went back to the dealer though, in fairness, these are always personal choices.

I'm using the standard power lead on my SN2 and its Hicap DR.  I intend having a listen to power lines at some point this year, would also be interested in TQ, because I have a TQ loom which is brilliant, but the price is just too high and they rarely come up on the used market

Hi Dayjay ! Did the HCDR  make a significant improvement to the SN2 ? What way did it affect the presentation etc .

Regards

clintyboy

It's hard to explain, not an instantly recognisable night and day difference, but it adds a solidity to the music, especially the lower registers, and just makes things more realistic in a way that is quite addictive. To me it just makes it the amp it should be.  I wouldn't want to be without it but I'd recommend that you have a listen first if you are interested.

I owned a SN/HC combo.

Bought the SN2.

IMHO, the SN2 wins over the combo.

Hi Thorsten, in which way was it better ?

Stephen

Just upgraded my 5i to SN. What an improvement!