Short review upgrade SN1 with Hicap 2

Hi-Fi Corner
1

I am sceptical regarding “upgrades”. But i was able to by a mint recapped 2009 Naim Hicap 2 PS for 500 euro as an upgrade for my Supernat 1. I did come with a original snaic 4 cable as well, so happy.

With HC2 i hear more refinement, more control from low to treble and a less “sharp” overall balance but still hear that Naim drive/goodies. And volume can set higher without fatigue.

So happy with this 500 euro Naim PS upgrade!

Anyone else here that has a HC for SN?

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2

I love the HC DR for my SN3. HiCap + Supernait is always a great combo, IMHO.

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3

I auditioned SN1 with and without HiCap and wouldn’t have bought the SN1 without the HC. Subsequently had the HC upgraded to DR … one of the best value Naim upgrades I ever did.

Roger

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4

Love mine as well. HiCapDR or HiCap are one of those versatile products that’ll always be an easy resell.

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5

After 2 days with HC2 connected to SN1 my final review:

Pro’s SN1+HC2 vs bare SN1

  1. SQ overall from deep bass to highest high, even at low volume, is more full, clear and balanced
  2. Soundstage is very stable from left to right and front to depth, there is also some height info
  3. The music has more flow and sounds sweeter
  4. Details are more clear but without being too analytical
  5. Some modern music with loads of bass has awesome oohmp and control. I sometimes wonder how the hell can those small Neats SX2 with 13 cm drivers can produce such good lows.
  6. I can sit down on the couch and just enjoy the music more, ZENNNNNNN

Negatives:

  1. Overall soundstage is somewhat less 3D and open vs bare SN1.
  2. Bare SN1 sounds more bold and “springly”
  3. Another black box to be integrated in the TV/audio cabinet
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6

I believe it is the Naim HiLine & SuperLumina ranges that serve as SNAIC upgrades. Is this correct @Richard.Dane ?

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No, Super Lumina are only interconnects or speaker cables. Stick with the SNAIC4 and SNAIC5, they are just fine here.

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8

Strange you find the soundstage becomes less 3-D and open with the Hicap.
I experience the opposite with SN3 and HCDR.

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9

Nice upgrade at a reasonable price you have there. Enjoy :blush:

10

I’m a tad surprised you had any negatives from adding the HC.
I have an SN2, and powering the preamp separately was nothing short of marvelous.
One of the most noticeable changes was the timbre it added to the violins and such. That lovely vibrating wood sound …

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11

I’m with you guys. Adding a HiCap to my then xs2 and now SN3 has been great all around. Nothing negative IMHO

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12

1 final question. The Hicap can only be placed on a tv/audio cabinet next to the supernait. What is best, to the left or right from SN1?

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13

The Supernaits sensitive signal paths are located on the left side (the volume & balance control side), best place the HC on the right, the transformer side.

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14

I wonder how much it really matters.
Inside the SN is still a big toroid transformer on full power.

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15

I suspect it probably won’t have much of an effect, but the HC is a large traffo (considering what has to power) and if you do have a choice, take the right side.

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16

after more than a week one more negative about SN1+HC2.

  • hardening of tone with less good recordings. Rubbish in is 2xrubbish out with HC2

Hope to receive a snaic 5 today for connecting Stageline to SN1 aux2. Hope this sounds good but not hoping sounddegradation with my Naim digital gear, like with the bare SN1 + SL to aux2.

The most positive about the SN1+HC2 is the better overall balance from lowest low to highest highs, better dynamics and more ease of sound vs bare SN1. Just like an engine with more torque, it just drives better.

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17

To my ears SN1+HC2 sometimes a bit sharp/hellish in tone but with Stageline connected to aux2 just right in tone. But i still have to adjust to the more analytical SN+HC2 sound vs the bare SN warmer but less precise tone. My recordplayer definitely sounds better with HC2, Naim digital sources 50/50. So overall i’m pretty happy now.

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Digital Source upgrade is what you need me thinks.

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19

Yes, maybe the CD5si. ND5Xs is still very good. Probably a Audiolab CDT 7000 to replace the CD5si digital connected to the ND5XS internal DAC.

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That’s pretty much the opposite of what I heard when I had an SN1. If anything the sound tilted towards warm and was why I enjoyed the DR upgrade on the HC so much. Mind you, source was a CD5XS used as transport into nDAC, later with XPS so that likely affected my perception.

Roger