Nait XS 2 - Next steps...

Posted by: ratrat on 20 January 2018

Just adding an update since my first post a few months back..

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...75#71539985854479475

I visited my friendly local Naim dealer yesterday, relocating my hi-if in the process, to try a few things. So, here is an update on my hi-if journey. Three things to report on: (1) Rega NEO turntable power supply; (2) FlatCap XS; (3) HiCap2 

In recent months, I have read a lot about the Rega Planar 6. Lots of reviews and recent user comments are now published and the NEO turntable power supply was of particular interest to me. So, I arrived at my local dealer, with my Christmas money in hand (under £500). My brief was to try out the new NEO power supply and any other upgrade ideas that might be of interest....

Rega NEO turntable power supply

First, we added to NEO to my RP6. Swopping existing TT PSU for the new NEO. With no real expiation, I was pleasantly surprised with what I heard. More control. Better sound stage. Some instruments sounding more detailed, especially with  bass notes. My dealer explained about better stable speed control affecting pitch, which in turn has this type of effect of the reproduction of vinyl recordings.

The current price of this little gem is £225. IMHO, for just over £200 this represents a small, but very solid upgrade to any RP6 turntable, or indeed probably any Rega turntable that can be matched to the NEO . I'm probably going to do this very soon. Maybe next pay day. Only didn't do this immediately as other options unfolded. Read on...

Curious to see what other innovations come with the Planar 6, we then did A/B testing, comparing my RP6, c/w Ania & NEO, with a demo Planar 6 c/w Ania & NEO. Again a nice, but relatively small improvement is noted. More control, more clarity across the recording. I concluded the Planar 6 was a slightly better package, as a whole. But the most significant upgrade was available from just adding a NEO to my RP6. Cost is always a factor. Adding a NEO costing just over £200. Upgrading to a Planar 6 probably costing around £450-£500, (if allowing for selling my RP6 as part of the equation). So thinking about that too.

Naim FlatCap XS

So, at this point, we decided to look at other options to improve my hi-fi. Adding a power supply - FlatCap XS - was discussed. So,  a demo model was added to my system for a listen.

Added to both my Nait 5 XS and CD5 XS, it required 2 extra Snaic cables. So represents a spend of £939 + £180 + £180 = £1299. So a rounded £1300 at current RRP.

To my ear, both sources, CD and Vinyl records, suddenly came to life in a much more colourful way. Better soundstage, tighter notes, so much more control and more musical. This is the first time I've heard a FlatCap and really liked it in my system. And, obviously effected both the CD player and Amp in a positive way.

Cost is a factor and even with both dealer and myself doing some some creative accounting, I couldn't make my finances work. Even an option on an ex demo model wasn't really helping with the restricted budget here. A best solution being the ex demo FlatCap XS and just one Snaic, adding to my Nait XS 2 only at first. 

Naim HiCap2

By chance, my dealer had a "pre loved" HiCap2 available, (good condition 2011 build), from another customer upgrading earlier in the week. So, at this point in the process, they installed it into my system for a listen...

What a transformation. Similar presentation to above, but much, much more significant. Even though it only adds to one source, in my case, I opted for the Nait XS 2, it still adds something to both sources, both CD and Vinyl. Overall, I felt a bigger gain was noted.

Added to the Nait XS 2, it required an extra Snaic cable. A spend of around £650. In the end, I reasoned this represented the best upgrade option in front of me. And affordable (to me).

Later, at home

Having got home from the dealer, it took me an hour to re-instate my h-fi, then install the HiCap2. So, then I sat back, (glass of wine in hand) and started to listen to records.

Records played:

London Grammar - 'If you Wait' and 'Truth is a Beautiful Thing', both on vinyl

Adele - '19' and '25', both on vinyl

Nick Mulvey - 'Frist Mind, on Vinyl

Damien Rice - 'O', on CD

Absolutely amazing - can't really use words to explain how much the music was enjoyed. My partner came into the room, curious to know what I had been doing?  (She had been in another room, doing something elsewhere in the house). So the two of listened to these records together.

Interestingly, without the benefit of the afternoon doing A/B testing in the dealer demo' rooms, my other half quickly picked up on the difference in presentation and was astounded at the progression. Getting excited at the point Adele's 'Cold Shoulder' played. Hearing things in the recording not noticed before - the timbre in Adele's voice, the rhythmic percussion, (particularly the pedal bass drum), the accents of the electric guitar, the string section. All outstanding, she remarked "was that always in there, never heard all that before". That sums up the experience nicely.

Bed time was 3 hours later. But finished the night very happy. Big grins.

Conclusions

I'm delighted with my new addition. The HiCap2 provides a significant step forward and progress on my HiFi journey. At a price point that I was able to afford at this time. I intend to get it serviced and do DR upgrade (around £500), which is another simple and affordable step at the right time.

I'm also left contemplating the addition of a NEO power supply to my Rega RP6.

Still left with decisions about the bigger steps - for example, upgrading the Nait XS 2 for SN2 or higher - but at least I've now added a HiCap to the journey...

I also learn it's a great idea to involve you dealer in your thinking, and your journey. As you never know what they have, what's around the corner, therefore, what they might be able to do for you...

Happy new year to everyone on the Forum. Hope you all enjoy your music this year.

Posted on: 20 January 2018 by seakayaker

Congratulations!  

Thanks for detailing the journey, an enjoyable read with a happy ending, and informative......

Posted on: 20 January 2018 by Japtimscarlet

You have applied good logic and made a nice step forward in sound for your system...well done

I never gelled at all with a flat cap ...in fact I rate it as my worst naim purchase ...a hicap is to me ..a better bet by far. Forum rules prevent me from saying what I did to my flatcap to get it to work ...but it cost as much as the flatcap xs in the first place to do...

Hope you continue loving your upgrades ...

Posted on: 20 January 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

Well done - always good when the musical experience is enhanced.  

Posted on: 20 January 2018 by ryder.

Congratulations Ratrat. I can surely attest to the importance of the power supply. Although I didn't have the Hicap2 on the Nait XS when I listened to the amp in my system many years ago, I did try various configurations of power supplies on both NAC 202 and NAC 282 in my system. In my experience, the power supplies play a major or crucial role in shaping or enhancing the sound of the system. The NAC 282 can sound very different with the various combinations of power supply.

£650 for the Hicap2 for the Nait XS2 is reasonable money. There are folks who use the 555PS (£6,530) with the NAC 272 (£3,469). To have a power supply that costs twice as much as the preamp, well almost, is a testament to the significance of the power supply in the context of a Naim system.

Posted on: 21 January 2018 by Richard Dane

Great post Ratrat. Just shows how important a well conducted demo is at a good dealer.

regarding the Neo, I visited Rega last year just as they were coming through production and got to literally feel the difference - powered from the standard supply you could easily feel the motor vibrating but with the Neo it was almost entirely banished. For such little money it seemed a no brainier upgrade for any 24v Rega bar the RP10.

Posted on: 21 January 2018 by Huge

I also agree on the PSU with the Nait XS 2, it really makes a remarkable difference.  Powered from the internal PSU, the pre-amp is the weak point of the XS 2, but with a good external PSU, it really shows it's true capability, and the power amp becomes the limiting factor.

The XS 2 is often a bit short of love around here (probably middle child syndrome), bare it's still good, but in my opinion, even better as as a stepping stone to an XS 2 / HiCap; then it really takes off both in dynamics and subtlety (in fact some people find that combination just too much particularly if they use speakers that are, well, less subtle in their presentation!).


(Ah yes, of course, Ratus ratus, the black rat, very subtle!)

Posted on: 21 January 2018 by ratrat

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

To Japtimscarlet - the HiCap2 proved to be the better option for several reasons. First, most importantly, my whole system sounded better compared with the FlatCap XS. Even allowing for the fact the FlatCap powers two items. Second, I reasoned the HiCap can be carried forward on my journey. (I felt the FlatCap might need to go out with the Nait XS 5 if I upgrade to SN2, or 202/200, or higher, at a later date). Lastly, it fitted my budget. But it was chance this option was available and goes to my point about talking to your dealer about your journey, budgets and future intentions.

To Ryder - yep, I thought the HiCap2 looked like a reasonable proposition for less than £500. It is 2011 build, delivered to the same dealer in Nov' that year, so just 6 years old. The dealer had originally sold it and knew its history. It was nice condition, with no obvious marks. Original packaging and accessories, etc, etc. Plus the cost of a new Snaic cable made it £650 ish, which I could just afford.  But most importantly, it sounded right. Also, If serviced and even upgraded to DR spec, it might offer a bit more in time.

To Richard Dane - agreed about a good dealer that knows what they are doing, proper demo's, etc. I've been going into Basically Sound for help with my own hi-if journey? I've experienced others and genuinely think Tony and Graham there are world class and do everything right. I wish them every success.

Also agreed about adding the NEO power supply to a Rega turntable. I intend to add one to my RP6 soon, when finances allow. 

And to everyone else, just trying to pass on some useful information.

Amongst others, today, enjoyed playing Melody Gardot 'Currency of Man', Gregory Porter 'Take me to the Alley' and Mogwai 'Every Country's Son'. Everything sounds just brilliant today...