Where is best?

WYWH - you probably need to explain what you like about the current system so we can attempt to suggest what will give you more of it

I would do the amp first, then the HiCap next, I feel the amp makes the biggest difference to the overall sound quality more than anything else.  I had owned a 180 for several years and have great memories of that amp, I also owned the 150 for a time, the 180 is a much improved amp in my opinion and well worth the investment.

[@mention:47042143605551932] - I had a similar system - featuring a 102 and Royd Doublets. But - I already had a 250 and a HiCap.

So my answer is - both. Yes, a HiCap - get it recapped if unsure and/or more than 8 years since last recap. Get a bigger power amp - 180 or 250 - again get it recapped.

If one thing only - then a Hicap. 

Add a HiCap they add a lot of detail, get it serviced as suggested previously but be aware the sockets changed at serial no 105469 so get your supplier to confirm correct connections.

Super thanks for all the suggestions. I like the drive, controlled bass and vocal clarity that I get now, in fairness I could live with what I have but want to hear if I can get more of what I like. 

I would keep the power amp and replace the 102 with an 82, when funds recover then look for a HiCap.

Hey yeah that had crossed my mind, I assume the 150 could power it in the interim? 

Nowadays servicing an olive hicap would cost you a lot and it wouldn't open up to the DR upgrade which I reckon is a great addition. 

I was you I would't do any olive hicap,it's false economy. Just get that 102 serviced and swap 150 for 180 if you  really into that olive stuff and want to improve.

Wishyouwherehere posted:

Hey yeah that had crossed my mind, I assume the 150 could power it in the interim? 

Correct, the 150 will not have an issue powering the 82.

Also if your 102 has phono boards installed these can be moved to the 82.

Antonio1 posted:

Nowadays servicing an olive hicap would cost you a lot and it wouldn't open up to the DR upgrade which I reckon is a great addition. 

I was you I would't do any olive hicap,it's false economy. Just get that 102 serviced and swap 150 for 180 if you  really into that olive stuff and want to improve.

New models increase the availability of perfectly good secondhand at good prices, Ive seen recently serviced Olive HiCaps from around £450-500 mark.

The DR upgrade is available for HiCap2 at around £450 as not everyone has £1300 for a HiCap DR & provides a marginal imporvement over the non DR version.

For what it's worth, I'd get the hi cap first. It will make the 102 much better, whereas going from a 150 to a 180 would be a smaller improvement. A move to an 82 and then a 250 would then be possible if you fancy it. The 82/250 is very much better than the 102/180. 

NFG posted:

Antonio1 posted:

Nowadays servicing an olive hicap would cost you a lot and it wouldn't open up to the DR upgrade which I reckon is a great addition. 

I was you I would't do any olive hicap,it's false economy. Just get that 102 serviced and swap 150 for 180 if you  really into that olive stuff and want to improve.

New models increase the availability of perfectly good secondhand at good prices, Ive seen recently serviced Olive HiCaps from around £450-500 mark.

The DR upgrade is available for HiCap2 at around £450 as not everyone has £1300 for a HiCap DR & provides a marginal imporvement over the non DR version.

 

 

An exdem or used  Hicap DR can be sourced for 700-800  £ even less ,what you get is a newer electronic ,and a much better one, and at least a 5 years left  performing at its best before service . When time comes, I think I'd much more relieved to know where money is going to be spent. Notwithstanding that would make a possible move to 82/250 even greater. Naim preamps have not yet revamped, for what its worth improvements have been directed twards power amps and digital domain ,good news being new DR technology allows preamps to take a huge leap performance wise.

As for those olive hicaps ,apart from the service , we're talking of a 20years old electronic. What seems profitable usually isn't.

Antonio1 posted:

NFG posted:

Antonio1 posted:

Nowadays servicing an olive hicap would cost you a lot and it wouldn't open up to the DR upgrade which I reckon is a great addition. 

I was you I would't do any olive hicap,it's false economy. Just get that 102 serviced and swap 150 for 180 if you  really into that olive stuff and want to improve.

New models increase the availability of perfectly good secondhand at good prices, Ive seen recently serviced Olive HiCaps from around £450-500 mark.

The DR upgrade is available for HiCap2 at around £450 as not everyone has £1300 for a HiCap DR & provides a marginal imporvement over the non DR version.

 

 

An exdem or used  Hicap DR can be sourced for 700-800  £ even less ,what you get is a newer electronic ,and a much better one, and at least a 5 years left  performing at its best before service . When time comes, I think I'd much more relieved to know where money is going to be spent. Notwithstanding that would make a possible move to 82/250 even greater. Naim preamps have not yet revamped, for what its worth improvements have been directed twards power amps and digital domain ,good news being new DR technology allows preamps to take a huge leap performance wise.

As for those olive hicaps ,apart from the service , we're talking of a 20years old electronic. What seems profitable usually isn't.

I'd love to buy a HiCapDR for £800 the last ex demo I saw was £1129.

My olive HiCap about 27 years old & works very well, it will be serviced soon theres plenty of older stuff still delivering fine music.

funnily enough you're good at sourcing very cheap older units( mind you the service would cover more than half the figure you mentions,  not bad) and you stumbled into that ridiculous DR offer? It takes a click to find a better offer from a reputable seller ATM .

Antonio1 posted:

funnily enough you're good at sourcing very cheap older units( mind you the service would cover more than half the figure you mentions,  not bad) and you stumbled into that ridiculous DR offer? It takes a click to find a better offer from a reputable seller ATM .

 

 

A quick look at the website of a Naim approved service agent tells me that I can get a Hicap serviced for £199, which is what I paid earlier thsi year.

Antonio1 posted:

funnily enough you're good at sourcing very cheap older units( mind you the service would cover more than half the figure you mentions,  not bad) and you stumbled into that ridiculous DR offer? It takes a click to find a better offer from a reputable seller ATM .

 

 

I consider £1129 for a 1 year old HiCap DR an acceptable price from a reputable dealer with a warranty, each to their own.

No prob. whatsoever, if you're happy to pay that figure.

If it was me? I would not even consider such a ridiculous reduction I'd buy brand-new.

Just trying to let our OP know good bargains  are out there.

right thanks everyone I now have a clear battle plan. This will be over a few years but here goes;

buy hicap for 102 first, see how/if that improves things.

Then depending how that sounds over time, replace 150 with olive 250

and finally replace 102 with 82  

i will try and source serviced items, or book that in with naim after purchase. 

the olive range really appeals to me because of the great sound to price ratio, also I really like the look   

Wishyouwherehere posted:

right thanks everyone I now have a clear battle plan. This will be over a few years but here goes;

buy hicap for 102 first, see how/if that improves things.

Then depending how that sounds over time, replace 150 with olive 250

and finally replace 102 with 82  

i will try and source serviced items, or book that in with naim after purchase. 

the olive range really appeals to me because of the great sound to price ratio, also I really like the look   

Remember Naim have some authorised service agents, who use Naim-supplied components and are often quite significantly cheaper than Naim's own service team. I had my 82 Hicap 135s serviced by one in April and the amps sound stunning.

Indeed. Class A in Sheffield are cheaper than Naim, and take days rather than weeks. Darran is a top man. 

I wasn't sure whether I could name him, but it was Darran who turned around my 5 boxes, 82, Hicap, NAPSC, 2*135, in a day while I wandered around Sheffield, and had me off with a loaded up car by about 4pm. Great bloke, and the amps sound fantasticc.