Supernait 2 with Hicap DR

Posted by: tonycurran1 on 12 December 2016

Hi  have a supernait 2 with Hicap DR

CD5 XS with Hicap DR

I have been looking at the 202 with using one of my Hicap DR and 200 amp

and return one of my Hicap DR good or bad move

cheers Tony.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by GraemeH

My experience of moving from SN2/HCDR to 202/HCDRnapsc/200 is...Slightly more revealing but less muscular. The latter is just a bit more nimble and transparent but this can be read as lightness compared to the gutsy SN2.

Plus, you'll hanker after a 250...You will.

G

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by Christopher_M

Tony, you've a fine amplifier. I'd be looking to front it with a CDX2.2

Chris

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by JoexNaim

202 200 combo is hard work, I way preferred my Supernait 1 with HiCap DR, and I've heard a bare SN2 and that's better than SN1!

Seriously, I had 202, 200 napsc and hicap and found my extending listening sessions very tiresome, there's a rawness and thinness to this combo that really grated on me. But you might be looking for that speedier, clinical sound?

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by badlands
tonycurran1 posted:

Hi  have a supernait 2 with Hicap DR

CD5 XS with Hicap DR

I have been looking at the 202 with using one of my Hicap DR and 200 amp

and return one of my Hicap DR good or bad move

cheers Tony.

I did a recent home demo, if it's any help, I bought the SN2.

 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by hungryhalibut

It would be different but not necessarily better. I'd follow Chris's suggestion and get a CDX2, ideally with an XPSDR. Or swap the CDP's Hicap for a Flatcap XS, which will sound a lot more balanced. Or just do nothing.

To substantially beat the SN2 you are looking at a 282/250, and that would certainly want the CDX2/XPS, which of course is lots more money. 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by Ardbeg10y

What about squeezing in an nDac between the CDPlayer and the SNait?

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by tonycurran1

thanks members i will take your advice

I agree my next move should be the CDX 2

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by hungryhalibut

You don't show in your profile what speakers you have, so hopefully they are ok. And don't forget about the importance of a good stand and mains arrangements, as well as ensuring that your cables are compatible. A system will work so much better if it's really well set up, and these things don't have to cost a lot. 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by tonycurran1

Hi I am using Kef LS 50 on good stands and i love the speakers which are connected to the SN2 using Chord Epic speaker cable

i am using the snaic cables that came with the Naim CD/Amp/Hicaps

all sitting on a old sound organsiation table i have had from my Linn days.

 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by tonycurran1

sorry just wanted to ask on this post and another some members are saying i should have gone for a FC instead of a HC-DR? on the CD5 XS.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by hungryhalibut

That sounds like you are pretty well sorted then. You might want to think about a dedicated mains though. There are loads of threads about it, which the search will throw up. 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by hungryhalibut
tonycurran1 posted:

sorry just wanted to ask on this post and another some members are saying i should have gone for a FC instead of a HC-DR? on the CD5 XS.

Some people like the overhyped, on steroids, effect that the Hicap provides. Others prefer the more natural balanced sound that the flatcap provides. I personally would choose a CD5XS with Flatcap XS over a bare CDX2, and only really like the CDX2 when powered by an XPS. But that's just my view, and others will beg to differ. 

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by tonycurran1

yes i have the hi-fi on its own spur.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by tonycurran1

I am using the Russ andrews block ?

I kn ow i should be going stright into the wall sockets.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by Massimo Bertola
GraemeH posted:

My experience of moving from SN2/HCDR to 202/HCDRnapsc/200 is...Slightly more revealing but less muscular. The latter is just a bit more nimble and transparent but this can be read as lightness compared to the gutsy SN2.

Plus, you'll hanker after a 250...You will.

G

All this is sensible and true. I have moved from SN1/HCDR to 202/200, and I totally agree with Graeme's description. Plus, I also second Chris's suggestion for the CDP.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by ChrisSU
tonycurran1 posted:

all sitting on a old sound organsiation table i have had from my Linn days.

I bought one of those in the '80s for my LP12, and only replaced it last year, when I picked up a used Isoblue rack for a decent price. The improvement was bigger than I was expecting.

Posted on: 12 December 2016 by joerand
Christopher_M posted:

Tony, you've a fine amplifier. I'd be looking to front it with a CDX2.2

I agree on the surface, but as far as I read Tony is a dedicated CD listener with no need for digital-out on a CDP in which case I'd go for the CDX2. Second hand obviously, but half the price of a used CDX2.2 on that market. Get a CDX2 post 2006 production that has transport replacements still available.

Posted on: 13 December 2016 by stuart
Ardbeg10y posted:

What about squeezing in an nDac between the CDPlayer and the SNait?

+1

This will improve SQ considerably rather than adding a psu to your cd player. I added the ndac to my cd5xs and it made a significant improvement. It may give you more flexibility in the future depending on what you decide to do. 

Posted on: 13 December 2016 by Antonio1
tonycurran1 posted:

Hi  have a supernait 2 with Hicap DR

CD5 XS with Hicap DR

I have been looking at the 202 with using one of my Hicap DR and 200 amp

and return one of my Hicap DR good or bad move

cheers Tony.

It would be a superb move Tony if along with one HCDR swap for nDAC on CD5XS.

 

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by tonycurran1

Thanks for your advice guys/girls

I took my 2 week old CD5 XS and Hicap-DR back to my dealer yesterday and got their ex dem CDX 2.2 with XPS-DR

will let you know in a week of running in how it all sounds.

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by hungryhalibut

That sounds great, and I'm sure you'll love it. With the SN2 it will be terrific. Make sure you install the burndy so that its plugs aren't stressed, and so that it can hang without touching the rack, wall, floor or other cables. It makes a very worthwhile difference. There are various threads on burndy dressing and massaging for you to read at your leisure. 

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by Adam Zielinski
tonycurran1 posted:

Thanks for your advice guys/girls

I took my 2 week old CD5 XS and Hicap-DR back to my dealer yesterday and got their ex dem CDX 2.2 with XPS-DR

will let you know in a week of running in how it all sounds.

Good decision! As far as an interconnect is concerned: I strongly recommend HiLine for the CDX2.

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by hungryhalibut

Let poor old Tony's wallet recover!

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Hungryhalibut posted:

Let poor old Tony's wallet recover!

No mercy... 

I recently pickeup a re-furbished HiLine from a well know UK dealer for £300

Posted on: 14 December 2016 by ChrisSU
tonycurran1 posted:

Thanks for your advice guys/girls

I took my 2 week old CD5 XS and Hicap-DR back to my dealer yesterday and got their ex dem CDX 2.2 with XPS-DR

will let you know in a week of running in how it all sounds.

That is so Last Century!  But seriously, I'm sure you will love it......