282/200 SuperCap or HiCap DR?
Posted by: Bob the Builder on 30 October 2016
I am in the process of trading in my 202 for a 282 with James at Tom Tom, the 282 is an older model 2003 I believe. I already have a recently serviced CB HiCap that has been powering my 202 and wanted advice on wether I should upgrade my ND5 XS to an NDX first, add another CB HiCap, a HiCap DR or an older SuperCap cost as always is an issue. My other source is an LP12, I have a Nap 200 powering Guru QM10 Mk 1's.
I went from an old Hicap (current black case) to a Supercap DR on my 282 and loved the uplift in SQ. However the main reason to go straight to a Supercap DR was that I knew I was likely to upgrade to a 252 in time.
I am not sure if adding a second CB Hicap would add much and two Hicaps on a 282 have to be well matched in terms of age and use. This might be tricky to achieve. Some say that the optimal PS on the 282 is a Hicap DR and I think that makes sense. Whether you would be best to upgrade your streamer to a NDX first is a moot point and then the question is do you then need a PS to get the best out of the NDX. I certainly enjoyed my NDX (bare)/282/Hicap/200 combo and would suggest that this might be your first target.
I too use Tom Tom, and you could do worse than listen to James' advice and he is likely to have all the equipment you might consider to listen to. You won't go far wrong in James' capable hands.
I would do it in this order:
282 as you suggest with your existing HC
NDX
XPS2
Demo SCDR/HCDR
250 DR
How about selling the ND5, the 202 and the Hicap and getting a 272? If you go the 282 route then you really should be looking at an NDX and ideally XPS to do it justice, which may or may not be affordable.
why not keep your CB HiCap and enjoy the new 282 before planning the next upgrade?
Or keep the ND5 as a renderer, and add Hugo DAC, giving an uplift in quality (many people say more 'organic', even more analogue-like). This could be before or after the 282, though If as I gather that is a deal now in progress, presumably after. If you wanted to upgrade further later, then changing the ND5 for a good combined music store/renderer, e.g Melco, MAcMini/Audirvana/isolator, Zenith, and possibly (though as yet it is an unknown quantity) the new Uniti Core.
p. posted:why not keep your CB HiCap and enjoy the new 282 before planning the next upgrade?
This is good advice the 282 is a game changer.
The Strat (Fender) posted:p. posted:why not keep your CB HiCap and enjoy the new 282 before planning the next upgrade?
This is good advice the 282 is a game changer.
+1
Let it settle in. You mentioned the CB HC is recently serviced, but did I misread that the 282 is not? If not I would definately have it serviced given the age. You may find that you are happy as it is, ot that keeping it simple and powered from the 200 (hopefully a 200DR) is suitable. Having put a SCDR onto a 282 I can attest to the improvement but, I would say this is the icing ont he cake when everything else has been maxed out a bit more (like already on a NDX/XPS2 on the front and 250.2 or 250DR on the back). I think the SCDR on a 282 is worth it even without intending to go to a 252, just definately one of the last upgrades.
With the huge amount of PSU comparisons on the forum, I'm not sure I've read a comparison between a CB HC and the pre power supply from a 200DR. My gut tells me the 200DR may slightly edge out the CB HC but I'd love to hear some evidence.
I reckon wait, get the 282 and enjoy it. Every other suggestion so far is great, perhaps be patient and try the new setup first, you might find the "vibe" of each component compliments the other. Everything seems balanced in the hierarchy and I have learned (the costly way) that when you upgrade one component it creates a desire to then have to upgrade "or match" the other bits to the next level up. What might be a great upgrade is to get a DAC to compliment the ND5XS, my guess is that would hit the spot. Good Luck!
hi Bob, what about your preamp and lp12 specs about?
I suspect the NAC282 will improve your vinyl replay a lot, though.
You are getting a lot of advice on here, and most of it is good as there are a number of alternative, and equally legitimate ways to go.
I would advise you to have a chat with James at Tom Tom. Tell him what it is you want to achieve, what your preference is between streaming vs vinyl and advise him of your current (and future) budget and he will map out the best route and I am sure will arrange for you to audition the component upgrades he suggests, now and down the road.
Antonio1 posted:hi Bob, what about your preamp and lp12 specs about?
I suspect the NAC282 will improve your vinyl replay a lot, though.
I have an ittok tonearm with dynavector 10x5 cartridge on a cirkus LP12 powered by Lingo Mk 1 and my phono amp is a Trichord Dino mk 3 with a NCPSU. Vinyl is my first and primary source which is why I have gone down the route of a 282 instead of a 272 also box count does not concern me. Streaming is mainly for convenience and for listening to new music and to Internet radio however I do not say that Analogue is better than digital only that I prefer the ritual of picking an LP from my collection and playing it. In my opinion although Analogue and Digital can sound quite different they both are equally enjoyable in there own ways. Of course my LP12 could be tweaked and upgraded forever but apart from possibly a change of cart sometime in the future when my 10x5 gives up and fitting the Audio Origami tonearm cable I already have I'm pretty happy there. I think NDX/282/HiCap DR/200 is probably where I will end up.
The NAC 282 is a good preamp. Highly recommended. The Supercap will open up the possibilities for an NAC 252. If you have plans to stick with the 282 for good, it may be prudent to just settle with the Hicap DR. The NAC 282 / Hicap DR / NAP 200 is a very formidable combination. It may not be the best system, but it is very fine indeed.