I am curious to know if there is anyone here who found the NAPSC2 to bring a noticeable effect on a 282/250DR setup when connecting it right. What I meant by that remark is not connecting the NAPSC2 to something like the device shown below.
Also, replacing the standard Naim mains power cable on the NAPSC2 with something else.
For the past 10 years or so, the NAPSC2 was the most neglected component in the system. I recently decided to remove the NAPSC2 from the APC strip as shown in the picture above, connected it to an old audiophile strip and replaced the stock mains power cable with a cheap but well-made cable from China. For the first time Iām getting the best sound quality from the 282/250DR/HCDR. Iām rather shocked.
Iāll be reverting to the standard mains power cable on the APC sometime to see if Iām imagining things but itās sounding shockingly balanced and great at the moment, and the Naim amps are still not optimised at the moment. Perhaps Iāll consider a Furutech power distributor for the Naim in the near future.
That would be a very wise decision, that APC is great for computers, not Hi-Fi. Itās quite a bottleneck, IMO it kills detail, clarity, airiness, etc. And if you donāt want to spend big money, just get a Hi-Fi dedicated power distribution unit, youāll still have a noticeable improvement.
The Napsc only powers the control circuitry on the 282. Itās completely separate from the audio circuitry. I donāt see how it could make any difference to SQ.
The NAPSC likes to be located physically as far as practicable from the rest of the kit and connected to a separate outlet if possible, Iāve found. I suspect looking at the unit (Iāve a NAPSC 1 used with my 82 on the 2nd system) that radiated and conducted EMC emissions from the supply might be the issue.
There are other threads on this issue if you do a search on this site and the old one.
Thatās what I thought and the reason itās the most neglected component in the system. Iāll stick it to the APC with the stock cord in couple of weeks time.
One of the biggest surprises Iāve ever had was trying a Naim Powerline on my NAPSC2 when I was running a 282/SC/250. At the time I had no Powerlines in my system when my dealer (more friendly) suggested popping round one evening to try the Powerline. Heād got this tip from Salisbury and wanted to try it in my system. I was deeply skeptical and, if was going to get a Powerline would have put it on the 250 or source. Anyway, we did a quick demo and seconds into the one with the Powerline installed was a āwow!ā moment for both of us. Needless to say, the Powerline stayed.
Yes, I understand the argument about the NAPSC not being in the signal path, but it controls the relays and those can affect sound-quality. Whatever the reason my ears told me very clearly that enhancements to the NAPSC pays dividends: a Powerline was the big one but placement is another.
I canāt comment on that but I can tell you Iāve installed a surge protection in my plug to make things a bit safer. Then Iāve used a good quality Hi-Fi power distribution unit (there are some fancy ones from Audioquest, Nordost, etc. too). Hope this helps.
I know from personal experience, powering audio through anything surge protected has a massive impact on the sound.
Iām guessing using a different cable had less impact than powering your NAPSC from a regular outlet. Having said that, Iām powering mine with a 75cm custom-made cheapo cable. Iāll try a Neotech-Furutech cable out of curiosity and report back.
Why does anything with a surge protector impact the sound. I use one. I donāt use any power conditioning units because any amp worth its salt will condition the power within itās mains input stage wonāt it?
SPDs are pretty much fitted as standard now to consumer units.
September 2022 (18th Edition, Amendment 2): This update made SPDs effectively mandatory for almost all new builds, major renovations, and consumer unit upgrades.
You can not have them fitted, but you need to be explicit.
Although I have no idea how this impacts the sound of a NAPSC.
There is absolutely no way that you will getting the best from your system when it is plugged into that power block. Three very obvious things that are a real no-no: surge protection, lights, and a switch. All of these will impact negatively on sound quality in a big way. Not to mention the general construction of the block internals which for hi-fi use will be dire. With these sorts of blocks they always are.
Iām not surprised your system sounded better with the NAPSC2 not in that block, even with a cheap cable. What you need to do is to get a decent quality mains block, without surge protection, switches or lights of any sort and plug everything into it. As @Guinnless has pointed out, the APC power block belongs in the bin. Even if you repurpose it for something else and plug it into another outlet on the same mains as the hi-fi it will still ruin the music. Bin it - the sooner the better.
Possibly because youāve got used to it after using it for so long and have not compared to a decent power block. I tried a Tacima many years ago out of sheer curiosity and to say it sounded cr*p is being very kind to it. I would sooner use a cheap block from a hardware store. It will also be cr*p, but at least it wonāt have surge protection/āconditioningā as in the Tacima which can do nothing but spoil the music. If youāre happy with the sound of your system with your Tacima then I wouldnāt dream of arguing with that but to suggest itās a good solution is just plain incorrect in a very big way.
