Hicap Warm Up Period

Posted by: PRaT Rat on 04 June 2018

Hello,

This is my first post. I hope everyone is doing well! I recently purchased a preowned HICAP that had been recapped at AVOptions 6 years ago to use with my cb 42.5. Well I hooked it up and waited approx. 30 min. then gave it a listen. My initial thoughts were this thing just sucked the life out of my precious preamp, I mean it just sounded so bland and lost it's PRaT and musicality. So I figured I would leave it on for the rest of the evening, so the next day I listened and just heard more of the same, so I repeated the same process for most of the following day and still the sound did not improve. I emailed the seller and told him what I was experiencing, and his reply was "it has to be on for about two weeks to sound better".

I keep my cb 42.5 and Olive NAP140 powered on 24/7. So my question is, does it really take two weeks for a HICAP to start working it's magic?

Thank you for your input.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by Richard Dane

What you are describing sounds remarkably like what a Hicap does when it's in need of a service. As AVOptions supposedly serviced it, albeit a while a go, I'd give them a call to see what they think.

Out of interest, what SNAIC5 are you using - an up to date black one, or the original grey?

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by feeling_zen

I don't think you will get consensus on the forum. You will get everything from 1 hour to 2 weeks.

In my view, a power supplies and power amps take 1 hour to warm up once already run in. But here is the caveat, the unit that they are powering takes more. So yeah, switch on a 250 power amp after it has been run in properly but off for a week and it will be fine. But your preamp has no toasty warm PSU in it. So the HiCap may be cruising nicely after an hour but your preamp will take a few days to warm up unless you immediately swapped in the HiCap with minutes of downtime on the preamp.

You could also send Naim support the serial numbers and see of they confirm it was recapped officially or not. Just as a sanity check.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by Perol

A few half hours warm up should be enough

Our ears might need more time getting used to new performance hence someone believe in weeks warm up period.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PSAN

Perol posted:
A few half hours warm up should be enough

So about one hour then?!

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by Guinnless

Are you using the correct socket on the hicap? Early Hicaps need to use socket 2 for the SNAIC4 to NAP.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

Actually the more I listened to the HICAP I realize that the sound is more refined and a little less involving, but a bit smoother and I'am getting used to it and my ears are starting to adjusting to the change in a good way.

Thanks to all your help.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

Richard Dane posted:
What you are describing sounds remarkably like what a Hicap does when it's in need of a service. As AVOptions supposedly serviced it, albeit a while a go, I'd give them a call to see what they think.
Out of interest, what SNAIC5 are you using - an up to date black one, or the original grey?

I'am using the newer black SNAIC5 cable that the seller provided. I've emailed Chris West of AVOptions and he is being very helpful. He reaped the HICAP, but I'm sure it could use a full rebuild, which I will persue as funds permit.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

Perol posted:
A few half hours warm up should be enough
Our ears might need more time getting used to new performance hence someone believe in weeks warm up period.

I see your point. I think my expectations of what I was supposed to hear and what I heard were confusing, but I'am adjusting and liking it now that I realize the refinement of the sound is what is improving.

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

Guinnless posted:
Are you using the correct socket on the hicap? Early Hicaps need to use socket 2 for the SNAIC4 to NAP.

My HICAP has a high serial number. I have it connected correctly. Thanks for the head-up!

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

feeling_zen posted:
I don't think you will get consensus on the forum. You will get everything from 1 hour to 2 weeks.
In my view, a power supplies and power amps take 1 hour to warm up once already run in. But here is the caveat, the unit that they are powering takes more. So yeah, switch on a 250 power amp after it has been run in properly but off for a week and it will be fine. But your preamp has no toasty warm PSU in it. So the HiCap may be cruising nicely after an hour but your preamp will take a few days to warm up unless you immediately swapped in the HiCap with minutes of downtime on the preamp.
You could also send Naim support the serial numbers and see of they confirm it was recapped officially or not. Just as a sanity check.

I see your point. It appears everything is syncing up nicely now and the sound is coming together. Thank you for the heads-up!

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by PRaT Rat

Guinnless posted:
Are you using the correct socket on the hicap? Early Hicaps need to use socket 2 for the SNAIC4 to NAP.

My HICAP has a high serial number. I have it connected correctly. Thanks for the head-up!

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by Christopher_M

I'm pleased it's starting to come good. What's the rest of your set? And when was the NAP140 last serviced?

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by Edward Hattersley

Hi Andrew, glad it’s working out for you.

Ed (the seller)

Posted on: 04 June 2018 by trickydickie

I bought a used HiCap2 a few years ago. It hadn't been used for a while.

When i put it into the system it didn't improve it, making things sound worse and I posted on here at the time about it. If I recall correctly the symptoms were similar to yours.

It took over a week to come on song but oddly whenever it was powered off for holiday it never needed as long to get back on song when I returned.

I verified it wasn't just me getting used to it by reverting to the pre being powered by the NAP200 that I was using at the time and the upgrade of the HiCap was obvious.

That HiCap was a good buy, I used it for 3 years taking it up to when it needed a service. Then I part exchanged it for a new DR version and got £100 more than I paid for it!