Flatcap 2, 2x & 2xs

Posted by: Perol on 15 October 2017

During the time I've had some Flatcaps, most recently in combination with my 152xs and CD5x

Indeed on the latter its making large improvement imo, even the cabinet seem quite empty inside

Not so sure about it used with the preamp compared to my Hicap

But my query is: whats the main difference these three FC inbetween ? and would I benefit getting the fc2 or fc2x only for my cd5x ?

Or will there be no difference running cd5x on either of these flatcaps (thats my guess anyway)

I have tried my HC on the cd player, but as others have pointed out its maybe too boosted or forced in that situ.

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Richard Dane

Per, the flatcap2 had 2x24v and 2x22v, the latter supposedly optimised for the analogue output stage of the CD5. The Flatcap2x brought the simplified casework introduced with the i series and had both supplies as 2x24v DC. 

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Christopher_M
Perol posted:

But my query is:...... would I benefit getting the fc2 or fc2x only for my cd5x ?

I think so, yes. You would be taking your system to the nth with both the outputs from another FC2/2x/ XS on your NAC152XS. At least, that's my understanding. So the question is, are you a Two Flatcap Guy?

Worth condidering the age of any of these FCs though.

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Perol
Richard Dane posted:

Per, the flatcap2 had 2x24v and 2x22v, the latter supposedly optimised for the analogue output stage of the CD5. The Flatcap2x brought the simplified casework introduced with the i series and had both supplies as 2x24v DC. 

So the original FC2 has 22v optimised for cd players

Would I gain anything replacing my recent FC2xs with the older FC2 ? 

I am a novice in tech and volt speech but I guess answer is no

Using Hicap on my preamp

 

 

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Perol
Christopher_M posted:
Perol posted:

But my query is:...... would I benefit getting the fc2 or fc2x only for my cd5x ?

So the question is, are you a Two Flatcap Guy?

 

No, I' m not

Using hicap on preamp and planning to upgrade the 152xs at a later stage

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Christopher_M
Perol posted:

Using hicap on preamp and planning to upgrade the 152xs at a later stage

Worth including in the original post.

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Perol
Christopher_M posted:
Perol posted:

Using hicap on preamp and planning to upgrade the 152xs at a later stage

Worth including in the original post.

Jep, your right my faulth, was mainly thinking relation fc to cd

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Christopher_M

Thanks.

C.

Posted on: 15 October 2017 by hungryhalibut

When the CD5x was made, its ideal partner was the Fc2x. The FcXS is a slightly better version and is perfectly fine for the CD player. I’d just leave things as they are. 

Posted on: 16 October 2017 by Christopher_M

With apologies to the OP, I'm surprised about how little we ever hear of the NAC152XS. I suspect it's incredible vfm when supplied by both outputs of a FCXS.

Posted on: 16 October 2017 by Perol
Hungryhalibut posted:

When the CD5x was made, its ideal partner was the Fc2x. The FcXS is a slightly better version and is perfectly fine for the CD player. I’d just leave things as they are. 

I thought rightly so Nigel

The fc2 for cd5/112, the fc2x for cd5x/122x and fc2xs for cd5xs/152xs 

No real gain for me replacing the fc2xs for an earlier version apart from the cash profit

I think I'll stay put for the forseeable future with my cd5x/fc2xs source

Thanks for your attention

Posted on: 16 October 2017 by Richard Dane

I always found the CD5x, NAC122x, Flatcap2x, and NAP150x a wonderfully well balanced and enjoyable system when partnered with suitable speakers. 

I agree that if you already have a CD5x and a Flatcap2x there seems no sense in going backwards to a Flatcap 2. 

Posted on: 16 October 2017 by Robiwan
Hungryhalibut posted:

When the CD5x was made, its ideal partner was the Fc2x. The FcXS is a slightly better version and is perfectly fine for the CD player. I’d just leave things as they are. 

In my experience the 2x is best sounding, the XS has a leaner/thinner sound.