How to improve my naim system

Hello to everybody I have Supernait 3 + HICAP DR and ND5XS2. I would like to improve the system with one extra step with two option 1 to replace HICAP with Supercap DR or to replace the ND5XS2 with the NDX2 + XPS DR. Of course the second option is much more expensive but which is according your experience the best move in ? Thanks your your suggestions. Paolo

Source first is normally the way to go, so the NDX2 I think would be the first upgrade.

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I’ll echo paulbysea. I’d go source first. I do hope you realize you have a very nice system as-is.

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I can’t imagine option 1 to be better…

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If you have access to a second hand market, you could do a lot worse than adding a nDAC, ideally with a suitable power supply (XPS or 555).

Roger

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I was going to mention this as well, but didn’t want to come across as a fanboy of this combo. Hint, I am. :grinning:

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If you have the shelf space I recommend the ndac and maybe eventually a XPs (not necessarily dr as some prefer the non dr with ndac) or ndx2 plus power supply. You could demo option 1 at the same time if your dealer has scdr because there is no guarantee you will actually prefer it to the hcdr there are mixed views here on the forum people mostly get a scdr when they are eventually planning to upgrade all the way to a 252 combo.

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Other option is to go 222 with 250 NC used. Plenty out there now. Lots of information on forum about this set up.

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The second option of NDX2 and XPS DR is, of course, more expensive, but the NDX2 does have an internal transformer, so you could get that and add the power supply at a later date. The NDX2 will outperform the ND5XS2 even without the external power supply.

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Hi and welcome back,

I understand the SC on the SN is a real winner but I haven’t heard but can vouch for the NDX2, beautiful musical player.

Good luck,

Lindsay

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As I’ve had all the things you mention, with hindsight, I would not bother with HCDR or XPSDR (they did very little to me) and get an nDAC if you would like to upgrade your DAC without spending anywhere near NDX2 money. The NDX2 adds a screen and saves you an extra box.

The only power supply of those you mention which was really worth it and impressive to me in terms of how it influenced SQ (on SN3), was the SCDR. It takes a shelf for a reason.

All that said, I ended up where @Dan_M suggested:)

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Thanks for your suggestions Paolo

Hi,
I have had a SuperCap2 powering a SuperNait for a while, and cannot say it made a relevant difference to a HiCap.
I also think that an ND5 XS2 is such a good sounding streamer that perhaps an NDX2 may not be such an upgrade…
If I had an ND5 XS2 I’d probably be using it with an XS3 and a FlatCapXS… If anything, to have matching boxes but also because in the end all three SuperNaits are differently but genetically ‘mature’, whilst the XS3 has a spontaneous something that in the end is what makes Naim what it is…

Apologies for the useless reply! :slight_smile:

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Isn’t it strange a little…?

Or add a 282 yo the SN3 and see how incredible a Naim preamp upgrade can be.

It wasn’t on your lost of options but it’s in the price range.

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