Conundrum: what to do with my existing setup?

Hi-Fi Corner
82

But the nd5xs2 can benefit from an n-dac fed with a cd555psu ( as can a ndx2), albeit as a 3 box source.

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83

So after a lot of research - and legwork this week, I have managed to pick up;

An open-box SN3.

A 5yr old NDX2, in excellent condition.

A Furman power conditioner & surge protector.

Looking forward to setting it all up with my ProAcs, and starting to indulge in some serious critical listening sometime soon.

Thanks again for all the information and encouragement I’ve witnessed here - it is very much appreciated, and valued. :folded_hands:

Happy Holidays!

Dan

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84

Nice! Enjoy. That NDX2/SN3 will be a sweet streaming setup, and you can do incremental upgrades (PSUs, cables) as funds allow.

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85

Congrats for your purchases :+1:
But not sure the power conditionner with surge protection is a good match with Naim.
See some threads about it in the search part.

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86

Thanks, can’t wait to get started. Quick question on upgrades. Do you think I could take advantage of my Olive Hi-Cap - with the SN3? If so, I may have it recapped next year, and implement it.

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Thanks for the tip - will look in the Forums. Worst case, if this doesn’t play well with the Naim components, I can still likely benefit from it with my; TV, DVD, Receiver, and Apple TV. :man_shrugging:

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88

I wouldn’t bother. The SN3 has an inbuilt DR power supply for the preamp. A Hicap DR may be worthwhile, but some prefer the SN3 without it.

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89

Nice one, well done. I’d skip the Olive HiCAP as it’s not DR. It might be worth trying with and without the power conditioner. I used one with my SN2 an digs on the Nova now. In my main system I only use one for the TV stuff and not the music system.

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Hi Mike,

Please excuse my ignorance in this regard, but seeing as you are saying the DR version is a distinct improvement. In essence, how does a standard Hi-Cap differ from a DR equivalent? Also, if you feel this is a solid upgrade path for the integrated amp, what do you think is a fair price for a previously loved one, in good/excellent condition. Alternatively, is there an upgrade for the NDX2, that would be preferable to adding a discrete PSU to the SN3?

Thanks in advance,

Dan

91

The DR versions are the standard, and have been for some time. As the SN3 is DR there is little advantage in adding an old non-DR HiCap. I found a HiCap DR worthwhile on a SN2, but as HH says, some prefer it without on the SN3. For the NDX2, you can add either an XPD DR or 555PS as an upgrade, and I found both worthwhile. I’d start with adding a PS to the NDX2, as it is the source. Maybe don’t rush though and enjoy the new setup?

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92

Correction, it’s an XPS-DR. That’s what I was using with my NDX2.

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93

The standard HiCap uses two off the shelf linear regulators. The DR uses Naim’s proprietary discrete regulators (DR) which perform better.

When you add a Hicap to the SN3, it supplies power only to the preamp. The SN3’s internal power supply now only powers the amplifier. It’s a quasi separates setup.

The SN3 has one DR regulator built in. When you add a non-DR HiCap to the SN3 that internal DR gets bypassed. You still get the advantage of giving the preamp of the SN3 its own power supply, but now with two inferior regulators instead of the one DR built into the SN3.

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94

Definitely! Absolutely ZERO incoming purchases for me in the immediate future! :sweat_smile:

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Actually, someone else in the trade, mentioned the XPS-DR as a great upgrade for the NDX2. Said it elevates the performance significantly.

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Thanks for the detailed explanation - much appreciated. :folded_hands:

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It does. That’s what I was using with my NDX2. When I first auditioned the XPS-DR my wife was skeptical about adding it. So we borrowed it from my dealer. We tried some music she really likes without it. Then we added it in and played her music again. She contributed a $1000 of her own mad money towards the purchase. :slight_smile:

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98

Wowser, that’s a ringing endorsement! :collision:

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My wife is a keeper. :+1:

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100

I wonder whether there are any used ones for sale in the US?

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101

I know for a fact that there is, from the same place he got his NDX2.

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