282+SCAP connection to SN2

You will need a SNAIC4.  First ensure all is switched off.  Then remove the link plug on the rear of the Supernait. Connect from the DIN4 pre-out (there are 3 to choose from) on the Supercap to the POWER AMP IN DIN4 socket on the Supernait 2.  Make sure the white band is closest to the Supercap.  Switch all on, ensuring the Supernait is powered up last.

Thanks Richard!

Best regards,

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the new addition(s) PZ

Mayor West posted:

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the new addition(s) PZ

Me too, interested to hear what 282 + SC brings to the table with SN2. 

me too..

Will get 282/SC in a few days and  connect them to my SN2. Intend to share my (hopefully positive) experience/report back.

Cheers,

analogmusic posted:

me too..

Me three...

Finally I got NAC 282 preamp with its NAPSC power supply. (SCAP-DR + 250-DR are still on order.) I linked up 282 using the power amp section of my SN2. The components now as follows:

NDS+555PS

282+NAPSC+HICAP-DR

Supernait2 as power amplifier

Double fraim

Hiline + power lines for all boxes

Harbeth C7-ES3 speakers on Skylan stands

My first impressions:

Adding 282 to the system significantly changes the sound.  Now the it has much more 'energy' and weight. 282 goes deeper. Clearly more details, bass is more defined and better controlled, It sounds more open and lively. 282 images very well, more precise 3D soundstage.  These properties could especially be evident when switching back to the preamp section of SN2.

I could not imagine what else SCAP + 250  can add to the sound.

250 DR, more control, more refinement, more musicality, speed, bass articulation.

Supercap DR, well, please let us know.... But apparently even better bass control and articulation, even better soundstage and image...

pz posted:

Finally I got NAC 282 preamp with its NAPSC power supply. (SCAP-DR + 250-DR are still on order.) I linked up 282 using the power amp section of my SN2. The components now as follows:

NDS+555PS

282+NAPSC+HICAP-DR

Supernait2 as power amplifier

Double fraim

Hiline + power lines for all boxes

Harbeth C7-ES3 speakers on Skylan stands

My first impressions:

Adding 282 to the system significantly changes the sound.  Now the it has much more 'energy' and weight. 282 goes deeper. Clearly more details, bass is more defined and better controlled, It sounds more open and lively. 282 images very well, more precise 3D soundstage.  These properties could especially be evident when switching back to the preamp section of SN2.

I could not imagine what else SCAP + 250  can add to the sound.

 

So you have also upgraded to the NAC 282. I have also got the NAC 282 into the system not too long ago, and similarly I am still waiting for the NAP 250 DR but for the power supply, it's a Hicap DR. That's quite a big upgrade you have got there with the Supercap DR included. I am sure the transformation would be a huge one.

Most of the improvements you have described with the 282 mirror mine as well. Basically a more refined and composed sound top to bottom. More energy in everything, voices, sound of instruments. A caveat, my Harbeth SHL5 now sounds slightly warmer and rounded in the highs although there is more energy in the overall presentation. The NAC202 although not as refined and sophisticated as the NAC282 has an overall leaner sound.

I am trying to figure out if a different source or speaker will produce a more extended top end. I am now looking at the Naim DAC and Harbeth SHL5 Plus. I think I may eventually end up with both.

I think I will get the NAP250 DR and Hicap DR into the system before I look at further changes to the system. At any rate, I think I know where I am headed next, and it's just a matter of time.

Somehow I have also felt that SHL5's top end is not extended 'enough' when I played with them not too long ago.  But the main factor against them have been my listening room size. My C7 behaves better in this respect imho.

The C7ES3 is certainly more extended in the highs when I listened to them next to the SHL5 at the dealers many years ago. I chose the SHL5s as I wanted a bigger box speaker.

I hope the SHL5 Plus will be more extended. If it sounds exactly like a larger C7ES3 it would be perfect. I will be visiting the dealer soon to compare all SHL5, SHL5 Plus and C7ES3, once again. It will be a déjà vu all over again when I listen to the speakers.

Please be so kind to report here your findings. Some of us certainly be interested.

I also tried my new 282 with a power amp of my existing Supernait2.

This combination is excellent even I do not have a SCAP. Soundstage is wide and every music sounds good. I have PC + DAC V-1 + reasonable third party PSU. My speakers are big with 10 inch bass drivers. SN2 runs easily these speakers.

Plan was to use 282 with my existing 200, but for my taste with my speakers sound is rather thin.

Plain SN2 is fun and strong. However, I thought that with about the same cost I could change my SN2 to s/h 282. Now I have to keep my SN2 as a power amp, or I may change it to 250 and sell also 200...

The SN2s power amp section is very '250 like' in its signature. I have used my SN2 with a CB250 and it is a big step up, albeit of a similar flavour.

pz posted:

Please be so kind to report here your findings. Some of us certainly be interested.

Just came back from the dealer. Listened to SHL5, SHL5 Plus and C7ES3. The dealer said don't bother with the M30.1 if I don't want warm.

I'll try to keep this brief and to the point.

My preference in the following order :-

1. SHL5 Plus

2. C7ES3

3. SHL5

Setup is old-school Quad. Due to the dealer's request, I cannot post setup photos here. We listened to the SHL5 first. The system sounded very different from my system at home. As always, the setup and room play a major role in shaping up the sound. The treble did not sound warm or rounded at all but very extended. There is a bit of glare or hardness in the highs. The overall sound is very live due to the setup and acoustics of the room. Although the highs sounded more extended than my setup at home, I prefer the overall presentation of my Naim-based system. The bass and midrange of the SHL5 in the dealer's system sounded loose and diffused. The system was voiced to sound live instead of controlled. Perhaps the Quad amps play a part in the diffused sound. My system sounds more defined and coherent with a tauter and controlled bass.

After we switched to the SHL5 Plus, the difference was quite obvious. The SHL5 Plus is a much leaner (and cleaner) speaker with improved coherency from top to bottom. The 5 Plus made the SHL5 sound congested in the midrange and bass. Separation in the midrange is better with the Plus and as a result, the mids sound clearer and more defined, and the bass tauter and cleaner. In comparison, the SHL5 showed a certain fuzziness in the mids and bass. The Plus is also very quick and agile.

Finally, we switched to the C7ES3. I didn't expect the C7ES3 to sound warmer than the 5 PLus but my ears tell me this is the case. The dealer confirmed that too. The C7ES3 did not sound as warm as the SHL5 but it did sound warmer than the 5 Plus especially in the midrange. The high frequency extension of the C7ES3 and 5 Plus was very close, perhaps the 5 Plus sounding slightly brighter. One thing is for sure, the 5 Plus sound leaner (a bit brighter) than the C7ES3. This is not to suggest that the C7 is not as good. The C7 is still a very quick and dynamic speaker. But the overall tone of the speaker is warmer than the 5 Plus in the mids.

Personally I think the 5 Plus is a winner. In my opinion it is an improvement to the predecessor from top to bottom. All the weaknesses of the SHL5 had been addressed with the 5 Plus. The C7ES3 is very good too. Sadly, my SHL5 now sounded the worst out of the lot for my listening taste and preferences mainly due to the (overly) warmish sound in the mids and fuzziness in the mids and bass.

Thank you Ryder.  Your post confirmes me that my C7 is a really nice speaker and one of the best in Harbeth's range.

pz posted:

Thank you Ryder.  Your post confirmes me that my C7 is a really nice speaker and one of the best in Harbeth's range.

No problem Pz. Both C7ES3 and SHL5 Plus are my favourite speakers in the Harbeth range. I didn't spend much time with the rest (P3ESR, M30 which is my least favourite and 40.2) but i think they will all sound equally great. Nonetheless, the sweet spot in my view is the C7 and 5. Not too big and yet not too small. Sufficient scale and bass for most listening environment.

Do update on the transformation of your C7s once you manage to listen to them with the 250 and Supercap DR.

Tuomo posted:

I also tried my new 282 with a power amp of my existing Supernait2.

This combination is excellent even I do not have a SCAP. Soundstage is wide and every music sounds good. I have PC + DAC V-1 + reasonable third party PSU. My speakers are big with 10 inch bass drivers. SN2 runs easily these speakers.

Plan was to use 282 with my existing 200, but for my taste with my speakers sound is rather thin.

Plain SN2 is fun and strong. However, I thought that with about the same cost I could change my SN2 to s/h 282. Now I have to keep my SN2 as a power amp, or I may change it to 250 and sell also 200...

Hi Tuomo,

Correct me if I'm wrong. I just noticed you have compared the following in your system:-

1) SN2

2) 282 + SN2(as power amp)

3) 282 + 200

*Hicap DR with all combinations above

As I understand it, you prefer the 282+SN2 combination over the 282/200 with your speakers. You mentioned the 282/200 sounded a bit thin when compared to 282/SN2. The term "thin" can relate to several scenarios. Do you mean the 282/SN2 is more powerful sounding with better macrodynamics, or is it fuller sounding thus warmer across the whole frequency spectrum when compared to the 282/200 ?

I'm trying to figure out how the 282/250 DR will sound like next to the 282/200. If the SN2's power section is almost similar to the 250DR, I might experience the same when I receive the 250DR. (Currently I am on the 282/200.)

Hi Ryder.

I am listening at the moment 282/200 to be able to answer you. My experience is that 282/200 is powerful enough since SN2/200 works fine with the same speakers. I would not necessarily say that 282/SN2 is warmer across the whole frequency spectrum but meatier and very well balanced. Maybe 282/200 is better with some different PSU or some darker sounding or speakers. 

Would be nice to hear how 250 and 250 DR works with 282 compared to 200.

Tuomo posted:

Hi Ryder.

I am listening at the moment 282/200 to be able to answer you. My experience is that 282/200 is powerful enough since SN2/200 works fine with the same speakers. I would not necessarily say that 282/SN2 is warmer across the whole frequency spectrum but meatier and very well balanced. Maybe 282/200 is better with some different PSU or some darker sounding or speakers. 

Would be nice to hear how 250 and 250 DR works with 282 compared to 200.

 

Hi Tuomo,

Which speakers are you using with your setup? 

Also greetings to another Finnish Naim'ee!

Jenzen ATS. They are very neutral. With my previous speakers I could hear the same difference between different amplifiers.

Tuomo posted:

Hi Ryder.

I am listening at the moment 282/200 to be able to answer you. My experience is that 282/200 is powerful enough since SN2/200 works fine with the same speakers. I would not necessarily say that 282/SN2 is warmer across the whole frequency spectrum but meatier and very well balanced. Maybe 282/200 is better with some different PSU or some darker sounding or speakers. 

Would be nice to hear how 250 and 250 DR works with 282 compared to 200.

 

Hi Tuomo,

Thanks for the response. Good to hear the 282/SN2 is not warmer across the frequency spectrum but meatier and more well balanced. I presume the combination had made the 282/200 sounding leaner or thinner ie. less meatier. FWIW I find the opposite to be true with the 282/200, but that was when the 282/200 was compared with the 202/200. The 282/200 is meatier, fuller sounding and more dynamic than the 202/200 which sounds thinner and flatter in comparison.

Similarly I prefer the meatier and more balanced presentation of the 282/200 (282/SN2 in your case). I have to mention that I also have a PSU connected to all the Naim amps, though it is not a Hicap DR but a third-party PSU. The power supply surely brought a good level of control to the amps. Apart from the 250 DR, I also have the Hicap DR coming in as well. Will compare the following combinations and post my impressions sometime next month.

1. NAC282 + NAP200 + Third Party PSU

2. NAC282 + NAP200 + Naim Hicap DR

3. NAC282 + NAP250 DR + Third Party PSU

4. NAC282 + NAP250 DR + Naim Hicap DR

5. NAC202 + NAP200 + Third Party PSU

6. NAC202 + NAP200 + Naim Hicap DR

By the way, the Jenzen ATS look like some Wilson speakers.

ryder. posted:

Tuomo posted:

Hi Ryder.

I am listening at the moment 282/200 to be able to answer you. My experience is that 282/200 is powerful enough since SN2/200 works fine with the same speakers. I would not necessarily say that 282/SN2 is warmer across the whole frequency spectrum but meatier and very well balanced. Maybe 282/200 is better with some different PSU or some darker sounding or speakers. 

Would be nice to hear how 250 and 250 DR works with 282 compared to 200.

 

Hi Tuomo,

Thanks for the response. Good to hear the 282/SN2 is not warmer across the frequency spectrum but meatier and more well balanced. I presume the combination had made the 282/200 sounding leaner or thinner ie. less meatier. FWIW I find the opposite to be true with the 282/200, but that was when the 282/200 was compared with the 202/200. The 282/200 is meatier, fuller sounding and more dynamic than the 202/200 which sounds thinner and flatter in comparison.

Similarly I prefer the meatier and more balanced presentation of the 282/200 (282/SN2 in your case). I have to mention that I also have a PSU connected to all the Naim amps, though it is not a Hicap DR but a third-party PSU. The power supply surely brought a good level of control to the amps. Apart from the 250 DR, I also have the Hicap DR coming in as well. Will compare the following combinations and post my impressions sometime next month.

1. NAC282 + NAP200 + Third Party PSU

2. NAC282 + NAP200 + Naim Hicap DR

3. NAC282 + NAP250 DR + Third Party PSU

4. NAC282 + NAP250 DR + Naim Hicap DR

5. NAC202 + NAP200 + Third Party PSU

6. NAC202 + NAP200 + Naim Hicap DR

And the winner is going to be  your option 4.