Naim PSU upgrades

PSU upgrades are a big part of the Naim ecosystem. But what do they actually upgrade?

I assume that as you go up the psu ladder the components are better quality and having the psu separate from the thing you are powering reduces one interfering with the other.

What other effects does an upgraded psu bring?

Why would one upgrade?

Dors it depend on the type of device being powered, eg preamp, poweramp or dac etc

Note: this is just a general question on psu upgrades. I dont have anything specific in mind. It could also apply to non Naim systems that have psu upgrade options.

With better PSUs you will get better sound quaility.

For example more detail, more refinement, wider soundstage, better control of bass, sweeter highs, better separation, clearer presentation, lower noise floor.

Naim systems have PSU hierarchies and suitability of power supplies for their products.

With the new classic series they have simplified this with one main PSU the 300NPX.

So with the Supercap DR it has a larger transformer than the HiCap and has more power rails. It will provide more refinement, greater detail, improve separation.

I had 82 and had Hicap then 2 Hicaps, then went Supercap 2. Each upgrade was an improvement, although the 282 and 82 cannot make use of all the power rails.

For original classic and Olive gear there are many different power supplies.

For preamps: HiCap, Supercap

For sources: XPS and 555PS

There is also the Flatcap that can be used on some preamps and some sources. The HiCap can also be used on some sources.

There are also different versions such as version 2 and DR.

The 500 series preamp and power amp comes with it’s own separate power supply. As does the 300 power amp.

Naim separates power supplies so that the sensitive signal stages are kept separate from the large transformers and power lines.

With racking of equipment it is advisable to keep power supplies separate from sources and preamps for best sound quality.

I have had most power supplies including HiCaps, Supercap 2, XPS and XPS2, 555PSDR and then the power supplies that come with the 500DR and 552DR.

Likewise with the Linn LP12 they use power supplies to improve sound quality from Majik, Lingo 4 to Radikal 2.

So with your system you could add an additional HiCap DR to your 282 or go Supercap 2 or DR. The benefits other than an improved sound quality would it makes way for a 252.

With your source an XPS2, XPSDR or 555PS or 555PSDR added to your NDac would take things to a very high level for a 3 box streamer.

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I think Dan_M has given a fair summary, however it is worth bearing in mind that in some cases upgrading(changing a different component can bring greater benefit or sound value for money than adding or changing a PS,

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I see you have a HiCap. Adding another HiCap can be an improvement, but going 2 HiCaps to a Supercap whilst is an upgrade, it has been said by some that they didn’t like the change. Of course getting a Supercap can then lead to a NAC 252 upgrade later.

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I once added a second Hicap to my 82, without listening but guided by people saying it made a worthwhile difference, and got diddly squat improvement. The biggest waste of money upgrade ever. It’s reputed to mess up the signal earthing too.

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Thanks for all the replies.

My question is technical and about power upgrades in general. Not specifically how i can upgrade my own system but more how a power upgrade works and what makes the sound better.
Is it just cleaner power delivery thetefor cleaner sound/lower noise. Or does give more power. Is it more efficient……

Would like to understand a bit more on how it works without getting down and dirty with graphs and equations.

A dangerous question on this forum. Excommunication is near.

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I am not an electronics expert but Naim use different components in their power supplies depending on what they are powering.

Naim use toroidal transformers to step up or step down the voltage supply. Rectifiers to convert AC to DC current. Then capacitors to store and release the energy. And regulators to maintain stable voltage.

Anyone with an expert knowledge of power supplies please correct me if I am wrong.

These components will vary depending on what power requirements are for a piece of equipment.

A separate power supply will generally provide a clearer sound. It won’t be louder. The quality will be improved. You need the right power supply for the level of equipment you are using.

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Naim invested alot in the Discrete Regulators which lowered the noise floor. These started in Statement amps and the technology was trickled down to the DR range.

The quality of components affects the quality of the power supply. This is why Naim use the best components they can source.

A related if naive question; if using an innuos or equivalent, effectively turning a nds into a dac only, what is the sonic contribution of the power supply?

:smiley: ol.
Just for the “upgrade” wardens who may be getting ready to put me atop of their local bonfire next Tuesday night. I have a clear upgrade path for my system over the next however many years: XPSDR for the ndac, supercapdr for the 282. Then possibly move to 252 and 300dr.

Am i safe now ?:smiley:

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@Dan_M thanks for the reply. This is the sort of info i am after.

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@Dan_M describes it better. I can add a more naive description :slight_smile:

You have ground and you have the voltage of the power supply. They are the reference levels, both must be absolutely stable relative to the music, the distance between them cannot move because that would change the distance to the music signal - which means distortion.

So the power supply voltage must stand and hold its level despite sudden short power-requests from the amplification stages. So basically the power supply must be more powerful than the amplification stages will ever need. And it must do it over the audible frequency range.

Take a constant bass-drum whack, add a constant hi-hat. If the bass-whack cause the power-supply voltage to duck that would hide any hi-hat at the same time. And boom there
goes your pace-rythm-and-timing that your Naim is so famous for. It will be harder to hear
what separation of instruments because a bad supply interferes and mush them together.

So the other components may add some coloration, who cares if you have a weak power-supply that hides and changes the musical content. A better power supply always improve your system … to a degree of course.

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It might be worth looking at some pics of the insides of these power supplies. For example, inside a Flatcap there’s hardly anything inside it. Inside a Supercap is a massive toroidal transformer and banks of capacitors and regulators and full on wiring loom.

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In a DAC we deal with very tiny levels for the least significant bits. A DAC often also receive high-frequency garbage from network components. So the demands in a DAC is both precision and a very wide frequency range. So dont just use any linear power-supply, it must also be very fast, With an NDS you dont need to worry, the Naim ones are very good.

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The NDS needs a power supply to work. It means the 555PS won’t be using all of it’s circuitry as part of it is for the streaming platform.

Good thread that!

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These will be two top power supplies.

It may also be worth looking at a 555PS and some prefer the non DR version with the nDac. But the XPSDR is very good.

And of course if you get the Supercap DR it will make way for the 252.

The 252 makes use of all the power rails in the Supercap DR.

HiCap has 2 power rails.

With two hicaps 282 uses 4 power rails.

With Supercap DR 282 uses 4 power rails of the Supercap’s 12.

So with a 252 you will get greater separation of voices and insruments, and more refinement.

These things get quite complicated.

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Hopefully it helps to see what you get with the different power supplies and helps identify the critical components.

I am no expert on electronics but find it interesting how the power supplies work and what goes into the them. There’s been great work from Naim in the design and engineering of power supplies. Alot has been relatively unchanged for 30 years. The discrete regulators are one of the biggest changes in that time.

A box of a Flatcap (of any description) has a good deal more air space than a Supercap and it is true the Flatcap is a more minimalist design but the components that are there (including a toroidal transformer) such as caps and power management circuits (not DR though) are of good quality and do make a positive difference to what you may use it for such as a CD5 player power upgrade. In short a flatcap is still a high quality power supply but of course a HiCap and Supercap are superior improvements on the tech tree but they should be given the extra expense of them.

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