Hi-Cap DR - For Supernait 2 - Damn It !

[Ninanina]

I have mentioned before that I would never add a power supply to anything Naim.... I just didn't like the idea of it and it all sounded a bit of a 'con' to me :doh:

However I was just too curious so I've just purchased a like new and lightly used Hi-Cap DR to try out on the Supernait 2

Some people actually prefer the SN2 by itself but others have mentioned it does wonders for it so we will see

I don't normally change my mind but who knows

I got the Hi-Cap DR at a super price so if I don't think it adds anything to the SN2 then it'd be no problem selling it on so nothing to loose by trying it I guess

[hifinutt]

Sn2 was my first naim amp and very impressive holographic sound I must say. Be interesting to see is psu makes much difference

[Ninanina]

Sn2 was my first naim amp and very impressive holographic sound I must say. Be interesting to see is psu makes much difference

Thanks Phil

I also love how the SN2 sounds. I reckon that it probably doesn't sound like Naim of old as there is absolutely no harshness to it's sound like I remember previous Naim amps

I know a lot of people on the Naim forum prefer the SN2 without the Hi-Cap but I just could not resist the temptation to try it out

I will report back next week once I've tried it out, can't wait... how sad is that :doh:

[Riislingen]

Good call I think. I run a SN 2 with a Teddycap and the Naim DAC with Teddycap XPS.

I like the addition of External PSUs very much. Tighter, deeper and more calm, along with increased and very smooth resolution.

Curious how you'd find it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sherwood]

I have mentioned before that I would never add a power supply to anything Naim.... I just didn't like the idea of it and it all sounded a bit of a 'con' to me :doh:

However I was just too curious so I've just purchased a like new and lightly used Hi-Cap DR to try out on the Supernait 2

Some people actually prefer the SN2 by itself but others have mentioned it does wonders for it so we will see

I don't normally change my mind but who knows

I got the Hi-Cap DR at a super price so if I don't think it adds anything to the SN2 then it'd be no problem selling it on so nothing to loose by trying it I guess

If it improves on current delivery and power output it will be worth it when you get your new Maggies!

Geoff

[Ninanina]

Good call I think. I run a SN 2 with a Teddycap and the Naim DAC with Teddycap XPS.

I like the addition of External PSUs very much. Tighter, deeper and more calm, along with increased and very smooth resolution.

Curious how you'd find it.


Hi Mikkel
I've just looked at the prices for Teddy Pardo PSU's and they are much lower than the equivalent Naim version. The Teddy version of the Hi-Cap is only £350 compared to the Naim at £1,400. I have no idea how the Teddy would compare to the Hi-Cap though but there is certainly a big difference in their weight as the Teddy is about 2kg compared to the Naim at about 7kg

I also own the Naim Dac and hadn't thought about a PSU for that

[Ninanina]

If it improves on current delivery and power output it will be worth it when you get your new Maggies!

Geoff

I actually don't know if the Hi-Cap improves on current delivery etc but I'm sure it can't hurt

[Riislingen]

Hi Mikkel
I've just looked at the prices for Teddy Pardo PSU's and they are much lower than the equivalent Naim version. The Teddy version of the Hi-Cap is only £350 compared to the Naim at £1,400. I have no idea how the Teddy would compare to the Hi-Cap though but there is certainly a big difference in their weight as the Teddy is about 2kg compared to the Naim at about 7kg

I also own the Naim Dac and hadn't thought about a PSU for that

Hey Bev,

Yeah, he is aggressively priced. Teddy's PSUs were always built with DR technology, where Naim only started implementing that over the recent years.

There are folks that prefer either, as well as preferring no external PSU. I believe they perform at par and add similar changes to the sound signature.


After all, it's just a transformer, couple of caps and a discreet regulator. Considering that, Naim's retail price seems steep indeed - then again that was always the case.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1184/5420/products/hicap_in_large.JPG?v=1470322360

https://upload.review33.com/images/201211/201211291107469268.jpg

[DSJR]

If I read that Naim was possibly to be used with Maggies, I'd say not to unless you play at very low volumes indeed or believe harshness and hard clipping is 'loud.'. All the Maggies I've ever known EAT power amps for breakfast and an experience last year confirmed to me at any rate that nothing's changed here. It's my still current view that the more hundreds of clean Watts you can give them the better - totally the opposite of the Klipsch once owned, which go loud on the end of a transistor radio... Naim NEVER did loud and still don't in my opinion without hard distortion coming in, even the more refined current crop - again as of a year ago...

[Sherwood]

If I read that Naim was possibly to be used with Maggies, I'd say not to unless you play at very low volumes indeed or believe harshness and hard clipping is 'loud.'. All the Maggies I've ever known EAT power amps for breakfast and an experience last year confirmed to me at any rate that nothing's changed here. It's my still current view that the more hundreds of clean Watts you can give them the better - totally the opposite of the Klipsch once owned, which go loud on the end of a transistor radio... Naim NEVER did loud and still don't in my opinion without hard distortion coming in, even the more refined current crop - again as of a year ago...

I am using 290w per channel monoblocks with my Maggies and that works well though they could clearly take twice that output without difficulty. I agree with your "current view". :)
Magnepan have gone for a numerical naming system for their panels. They should consider naming them as the Audrey series. Mine are definitely as hungry for "juice" as Audrey II! :cocktail::cocktail:

[Ninanina]

I do not listen at high volumes and I've certainly never heard any harshness using the Supernait 2 and Maggies, quite the opposite ;)

[Manicatel]

I’ve heard the difference adding a DR HCap can make to a SNait2 & for me it was pretty substantial. Soundstage opening up & bass control in particular were improved.
Going back to running just the snait2 really highlighted the difference.
In isolation the snait2 is a great amp, more than enough for most people, but adding the hcap was a pretty obvious upgrade.

[hifinutt]

Wish I had known about these teddie pardoe psi when I had my sn2

[Ninanina]

After all, it's just a transformer, couple of caps and a discreet regulator. Considering that, Naim's retail price seems steep indeed - then again that was always the case.


It may be "just a transformer, couple of caps and a discreet regulator" but like most things Naim it is very well made, and heavy, and it does add 'something' to the SN2 's sound..

Whether I prefer the SN2 with or without the HC I have no idea yet until I swap back to the SN2 by itself but I will give it a couple of weeks before I do that and will report back with my thoughts :)

[Riislingen]

It may be "just a transformer, couple of caps and a discreet regulator" but like most things Naim it is very well made, and heavy, and it does add 'something' to the SN2 's sound..

Whether I prefer the SN2 with or without the HC I have no idea yet until I swap back to the SN2 by itself but I will give it a couple of weeks before I do that and will report back with my thoughts :)

I most certainly agree. The content of a PSU is the same across Naim, Pardo and others. I use external PSUs for my Naim components and feel they add a lot for me. So all in favor here.

[Yomanze]

I most certainly agree. The content of a PSU is the same across Naim, Pardo and others. I use external PSUs for my Naim components and feel they add a lot for me. So all in favor here.

Yes, one thing you can’t really have enough of in audio is separated power supplies.

EDIT: oops keep forgetting Naim now also use discrete regulators like the Teddy Pardo units.

[Riislingen]

Yes, one thing you can’t really have enough of in audio is separated power supplies.

EDIT: oops keep forgetting Naim now also use discrete regulators like the Teddy Pardo units.

Yes, they do now. I think Teddy pioneered that space years back with his units. Either way, have not heard a Naim DR but are very happy with the Pardo boxes. He offers excellent customer service as well - very responsive.

[Ninanina]

I've no idea if the Hi Cap DR is improving the SN2 or not but I am certainly loving the sound with the Maggies at the moment

I won't know for sure if the Hi Cap will stay or not until I swap back to the bare SN2 but will probably not do that for a couple of months or so :)

[MDS]

My experience source is important before adding a sep PSU to SN2

Can't recall I ever tried Naim amplication with Maggies, lovely speakers anyway.

[southall-1998_mk2]

How are you getting on with the SN2, Bev?

I sometimes get thoughts of owning one someday.

S.

[hifinutt]

beautiful amp , get one sometime .

[southall-1998_mk2]

beautiful amp , get one sometime .

Might get one in the next year or two. I've had a few Nait 5i's and quite liked them.

S.

[Ninanina]

How are you getting on with the SN2, Bev?

I sometimes get thoughts of owning one someday.

S.

I love it Shane.... and the Hi-Cap DR does add 'something'...

I will remove the Hi-Cap from the SN2 in the future just to see whether I prefer the SN2 by itself or not but I'm in no rush at all as I love both together at the moment

I can highly recommend the SN2 Shane. In my experience it sounds absolutely nothing like 'Naim of old'. It took me about 20+ years to like anything Naim, amp wise

On a side note..... I thought you were 'off' AoS ;)

[southall-1998_mk2]

I love it Shane.... and the Hi-Cap DR does add 'something'...

I will remove the Hi-Cap from the SN2 in the future just to see whether I prefer the SN2 by itself or not but I'm in no rush at all as I love both together at the moment

I can highly recommend the SN2 Shane. In my experience it sounds absolutely nothing like 'Naim of old'. It took me about 20+ years to like anything Naim, amp wise

On a side note..... I thought you were 'off' AoS ;)


Thanks, Bev.

How does the SN2 compare to the XS-2? (You owned prior)

S.

[Ninanina]

Thanks, Bev.

How does the SN2 compare to the XS-2? (You owned prior)

S.

The XS-2 is a fantastic sounding amp Shane and if it's within your budget you will not be disappointed and I don't think you will better it for the outlay

I owned the XS-2 at the same time as the SN2 and had a hard time deciding between them

In the end the SN2 just sounded a bit more 'grown-up' if that makes sense

However for about £1K used you simply have to try an XS-2

A used SN2 is about twice the price of a used XS-2 and I don't think the SN2 is twice the amp

Luckily I kept the SN2 which was probably wise for the little extra power I now need for the Maggies but the XS-2 is a terrific amp for the money

The XS-2 is an amazingly musical sounding amp and if you have only owned 5i's you will be amazed by the XS-2 :)

Get an XS-2 Shane you will not reget it... ;)

If you have the extra funds for a SN2 you won't regret that either...

Hope that helps Shane..

[southall-1998_mk2]

The XS-2 is a fantastic sounding amp Shane and if it's within your budget you will not be disappointed and I don't think you will better it for the outlay

I owned the XS-2 at the same time as the SN2 and had a hard time deciding between them

In the end the SN2 just sounded a bit more 'grown-up' if that makes sense

However for about £1K used you simply have to try an XS-2

A used SN2 is about twice the price of a used XS-2 and I don't think the SN2 is twice the amp

Luckily I kept the SN2 which was probably wise for the little extra power I now need for the Maggies but the XS-2 is a terrific amp for the money

The XS-2 is an amazingly musical sounding amp and if you have only owned 5i's you will be amazed by the XS-2 :)

Get an XS-2 Shane you will not reget it... ;)

If you have the extra funds for a SN2 you won't regret that either...

Hope that helps Shane..


Thanks again, Bev.

Gulliford Hi-Fi in Exeter stocks both the XS-2 & SN2. Must pop down there for a listen sometime next year.

S.

[Ninanina]

Thanks again, Bev.

Gulliford Hi-Fi in Exeter stocks both the XS-2 & SN2. Must pop down there for a listen sometime next year.

S.

No problem Shane

Just buy a used XS-2 and see how you get on but if you have the funds buy a used SN2 you won't regret that either :)