Nait XS2 upgrade to SN2

Can you demo at home?  Many of the chaps on here love what the HCDR does for the SN2 but the proof of the pudding is in the eating - as they say!!!

Regards,

Lindsay

Thanks...I don't think keeping the FC will offer me anything on the SN2.  Sadly the dealer does not have. HCDR available to demo.

If you're not interested in streaming, how about selling the CD5XS, 2Qute and Flatcap, and getting a CDX2. Nice and simple, 2 boxes (but still plenty of upgrade potential if you want it )

Hi Staffy,

What changes to the sound are you trying to achieve?

I were you I'd do the SN2 move at least, as your D20R's are wanting much more.

It was me , nDAC on CD5XS or perhaps CDX2 too, or whatever, of your liking, helps you maximize the source .

and yes, that FC should result redundant.

I agree with Antonio1: "I were you I'd do the SN2 move at least.."

I have not experienced the Flatcap first hand. But all I can say is; upgrade to SN2 anyway. I have had the XS2 on demo as a possible upgrade from the XS-2. But wasn´t that impressed.. In came the SN2 and I was blown away to be honest. Great amp and a vast improvement over the XS (in any form) IMO.

I run my SN2 bare btw

Go for it. Sell the FC2 now, I'm sure your ProAcs will do just fine with the bare SN2. There's plenty of HCDR's available on used market so you can add one later on. I use SN2 + HCDR and my speakers are quite demanding ATC's. I tried to unplug HCDR recently and the result was a disaster. I lost so much control and punch from the sound that it came unlistenable. But as said, with easier to drive speakers there shouldn't be a problem. Some people even prefer the bare SN2.

Thanks folks.  I dont want to dispose of the CD5XS or 2Qute.....at this point.   As Antonio has pointed out I feel the SN2  will improve the SQ of my speakers.  I hate upgrading speakers as they take ages to run in.

The CDX2 is very expensive, and financially to much for me along with a SN2  and a future addition of a possible HCDR.   The little 2Qute dac has really surprised me with its dynamic yet clear sound.    Im not sure what  SQ my vinyl be like with a bare SN2 but probably no better or worse than with a FC.

So really, its the SN2   and after xmas possibly a HCDR.....then LOL possibly a HugoTT.

Have you tried the FC on the CD5XS and used the analogue out of the CD?  

FC would be nice to have if you added a Headline or NAT05XS later.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Have you tried the FC on the CD5XS and used the analogue out of the CD?  

 

Nick

No, at present I use the FC to look after the stageline and amp.   I use the 2Qute dac for the CD5XS.     I did use the FC to look after the CD  aspect a long time ago but I felt their was not much of a change.

Ah.  Didn't notice your StageLine.  Will you keep it with the SN2?  Or will you power it from the amp?  I wonder if doing so impacts the other sources at all.

I am considering changing my Rega Fono for either a StageLine or Aria for my Planar 3.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Ah.  Didn't notice your StageLine.  Will you keep it with the SN2?  [If you do, will you use the FC,] Or will you power it from the amp?  

Nick

Staffy

I have a SN2 and power stageline directly from it, tried a hicap on stageline and really did not like what it did... neither did the dealer for that matter. LP12 / Ovator 400's  just sing with this combination. Can vouch for a CDX2 with this setup, you can pick up some great deals second hand on these players from dealers.

Just an FYI, I contacted Naim, (Mbx_Sales sales@naimaudio.com Steven Hopkins), and they do not recommend a FC be used with a SN2. I know that the owners manual states that the upgrade to power supplies, it mentions their use, but with the newer SN2, the HiCap or SC should only be used.

 What happened to the LFD? it seems you were so high on it just a couple of days ago.

Just ordered the Supernait2 today.  

Alfa4life posted:

Staffy

I have a SN2 and power stageline directly from it, tried a hicap on stageline and really did not like what it did... neither did the dealer for that matter. LP12 / Ovator 400's  just sing with this combination. Can vouch for a CDX2 with this setup, you can pick up some great deals second hand on these players from dealers.

Always best to demo at home, with your own system .  Dealers tend to use fancy cables you cannot pronounce or afford.   I think I will wait until the

The CDX2XS appears on the horizon before I think of changing my player.

badlands posted:

Just an FYI, I contacted Naim, (Mbx_Sales sales@naimaudio.com Steven Hopkins), and they do not recommend a FC be used with a SN2. I know that the owners manual states that the upgrade to power supplies, it mentions their use, but with the newer SN2, the HiCap or SC should only be used.

 What happened to the LFD? it seems you were so high on it just a couple of days ago.

Yeah the coke wore off.   LOL     I sat down one evening, dimmed the lights and played Lucinda Williams  "Were the Spirit Meets the Bone"    Then I realised only Naim amps could do justice to this singer.     I had not listened to this album for some time, well over a year ago.    With my system well run in, it was a joy to hear every word, every breath she takes and the twanging of those guitars is a joy to behold.

So, bye to the LFD and just ordered a new SN2 .  Traded in my XS2 and FC XS2.    I will think seriously about a new HC after Xmas.       I am sure the LFD is a good amp if you like Maria Callas.  

Good choice. I upgraded to an SN2 from an XS2, the difference is huge to tell the truth, the SN2 exhibits far superior control over the music. The Hicap simply extends the qualities, so its a very worthwhile upgrade as well, and very good VFM as well.

staffy posted:

Just ordered the Supernait2 today.  

Alfa4life posted:

Staffy

I have a SN2 and power stageline directly from it, tried a hicap on stageline and really did not like what it did... neither did the dealer for that matter. LP12 / Ovator 400's  just sing with this combination. Can vouch for a CDX2 with this setup, you can pick up some great deals second hand on these players from dealers.

Always best to demo at home, with your own system .  Dealers tend to use fancy cables you cannot pronounce or afford.   I think I will wait until the

The CDX2XS appears on the horizon before I think of changing my player.

Congrats! You will not be disappointed  Run it bare for a while before considering a HiCap. I´ve had my SN2 a year now and will maybe audition a HiCap in the future..but maybe not since I want to keep the box count low.

BTW, I´m also using a Stageline, powered from the SN2 with great results

NDX-SN2-S-400-Stageline--Pro-Ject 2Xperience Superpack.

with a sn2 there is little reason to upgrade 2qute to hugo tt as you wont need a remote volume control on dac and sq differences will be negligible.

sell the fc if u get sn2. it sounds great as it is so no rush for hicap.

Halloween Man posted:

with a sn2 there is little reason to upgrade 2qute to hugo tt as you wont need a remote volume control on dac and sq differences will be negligible.

sell the fc if u get sn2. it sounds great as it is so no rush for hicap.

Yes, you are right.  Why pay £2245 for a CD5XS, then £3000 for a TT.    When I could trade in the CD5XS and 2Qute. then get a CDX2 .   Mind you I bet members who have the HC will tell me a different story.  

BTW Hugo is widely considered to sound better than 2Qute, provided  that if the USB input is used it need it is fed from a source free from rf noise. It seems the different output circuitry of the Hugo does make a difference to its sound.

staffy posted:

Halloween Man posted:

with a sn2 there is little reason to upgrade 2qute to hugo tt as you wont need a remote volume control on dac and sq differences will be negligible.

sell the fc if u get sn2. it sounds great as it is so no rush for hicap.

Yes, you are right.  Why pay £2245 for a CD5XS, then £3000 for a TT.    When I could trade in the CD5XS and 2Qute. then get a CDX2 .   Mind you I bet members who have the HC will tell me a different story.  

you could and that would make a neat and great sounding two box setup.

however, personally, rather than purchasing a new cd player i would rip (copy) my cds to something like a new uniti core and play them from there into your 2qute/sn2.

Innocent Bystander posted:

BTW Hugo is widely considered to sound better than 2Qute, provided  that if the USB input is used it need it is fed from a source free from rf noise. It seems the different output circuitry of the Hugo does make a difference to its sound.

the 2qute is better if using usb and computer as it has galvanic isolation, hugo doesnt. hugo tt is better still. i compared hugo (optical) and 2qute (usb) into sn2 at same volume levels and could not reliably tell them apart.

some members suggest that by reducing the volume control on the hugo you may improve the sound quality into a separate naim preamp due to synergy between the two. with 2qute you cannot reduce volume as it has fixed output.

Innocent Bystander posted:

BTW Hugo is widely considered to sound better than 2Qute, provided  that if the USB input is used it need it is fed from a source free from rf noise. It seems the different output circuitry of the Hugo does make a difference to its sound.

+1 with apologies to HH

There would be absolutely no point using the FC on the SN2 since that would disconnect the better DR power supply from the pre-amp.  However the FC is optimised for use with the CD5XS, so I'd keep it for that and as your CD source for the SN2.

The SN2 should power the Stageline and since you can't listen to CD and vinyl at the same time as far as I know, that should be just fine.

Resist chasing too many changes too quickly, plenty of us on here will spend your cash for you otherwise... Your ears are your guide, and they can take a while to get used to changes, particularly when you consider the time needed for the new amp to settle in too!