I’m hoping someone can clarify the correct connection for my system.
My system consists of:
NAC 102
HiCap
NAPSC
NAP 180
At the moment I’m connecting it like this:
NAPSC → NAC 102
HiCap → NAC 102 (5-pin SNAIC)
NAC 102 → NAP 180 (4-pin SNAIC)
This is also how the previous owner had the system connected.
However, I’ve read that the official connection should be:
NAPSC → NAC 102
HiCap → NAC 102 (5-pin SNAIC)
HiCap Socket 3 → NAP 180 (4-pin SNAIC)
Is that the correct and recommended connection?
I also have a question about HiCap Socket 3. I understand that Socket 3 carries a 24V supply on one of its pins. Since the NAP 180 has its own internal power supply, is it still safe and correct to connect the NAP 180 directly to HiCap Socket 3 with a standard SNAIC 4 cable?
Or is the 24V pin ignored by the NAP 180, with only the audio signal and ground being used?
I’d really appreciate it if someone could explain how this is designed to work.
You have it incorrectly connected. You need to take signal from the power supply (see FAQ on why) to the power amp - i.e, HICAP DIN4 to NAP180. If you have an earlier HICAP then I would avoid the DIN4 with single rail 24V power and use the next available one instead.
I reckon, it’s probably more about clarification of which socket to use on the HICAP. On the pre '93 HICAP there are three DIN4s and a DIN5. All are signal in/outs, but the DIN5 (socket 4) also outputs a 2 x 24V DC to power a suitable dual-rail pre-amp, or Prefix, Stageline, Headline etc.., and the DIN4 on socket 3 also outputs 1 x 24V DC to power a legacy single-rail pre-amp. During a service, many earlier HICAPs have the voltage output on socket 3 removed, as it was only really for compatibility sake with the earlier single-rail pre-amps, and removing it gives a small but worthwhile performance boost to the dual-rail output.
To test the power routing on my own setup (NAC 102 / HiCap / NAP 180), I performed a quick experiment: I completely disconnected the 5-pin SNAIC cable from the HiCap to the NAC 102, leaving only the 4-pin SNAIC cable running directly from the NAP 180 to the NAC 102. I expected the NAP 180 to power up the preamp on its own.
However, when I switched on the NAP 180, the NAC 102 remained completely dead—no lights, no response at all. The NAC 102 only powers up and functions normally when it is connected to the HiCap via the 5-pin cable.
Looking at the back diagram of my NAP 180, it clearly shows the +ve and -ve power rail configuration on the input socket. Since the 102 stays dead without the HiCap, does this definitively prove that the internal +24V power supply section inside my NAP 180 is faulty/blown? Or is it possible that the internal circuitry was modified by a previous owner to disable the power rail entirely?
Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!
