SN3 + HiCap DR = less noise?

Hello folks. I am brand new to this forum, please forgive any social missteps that I’m not yet acquainted to!

I little while ago, I bought a Supernait 3 for my B&W 705s3 Signatures. The pairing was phenomenal, the SN3 brought out what I have to believe is the best of the speakers. However - there was always some noise with the SN3 - both as a hiss from my speakers as well as humming from the actual SN3 itself. Bitten by the “grass is greener” bug, I moved on to a Luxman L-550ax ii. I love the quality, love the soft romantic look of the meters, and the completely quiet background, but …. I miss how the SN3 made my speakers come alive.

I am strongly considering picking up another SN3, despite my first experience. My question is about the external power supplies; would something like a HiCap DR help with the noise floor / level at all? I don’t necessarily need it to make the SN3 sound any better, but it would be nice to have it quieter.

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If you were using a non Naim source with your SN3, the noise could be earth related.

Have a look at this thread.

https://community.naimaudio.com/t/nait-xs3-adding-dac-to-reduce-background-noise/35839

If your Supernait hums, there’s every chance that the Hicap will hum too, making the problem worse.

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The low level hiss from speakers is normal when no music/voice playing. It cannot be heard when something is playing.

The hum from the amp case itself is from the internal transformer.
Adding a HiCap will do nothing as the HC separates the 1-rail supply from the internal transformer and provides a cleaner 2-rail supply to the pre-amp section, leaving the internal transformer to supply the power-amp section. So sorry to say your transformer will still hum.

If the hum noise varies in volume or tone and at different times of day, that might be DC Offset on your power supply, try a search on the forum for lots of info on that.
Otherwise sorry to say transformers do hum.

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Mechanical hum is part of the power supply the way it works.
The slight noise from tweeters is normal.
Just turn down the volume when not using it.
Just put the SN-3 back in and enjoy I do. :+1:t2:
If the SN3 hums now then adding another Naim box will add to the hum.
The hum is caused by the quality of mains power it’s receiving some power supplies are more susceptible to this but it’s a compromise to avoid using more evasive types such as SMPS

Thank you all for the information. Reading through that first link, this is my exact setup: Node 2i → RCA/DIN → Stream input. Did not occur to me that this might cause the SN3 itself to hum.

I miss the SN3, and the noise itself was not noticeable while listening to something, and seemed to recede the longer I left the unit on (usually daily while I work). I’ve been thinking about getting a ND5 xs2 while I’ve been searching for another SN3 anyway … yes I do think that’s the route I’ll go.

Thanks!

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If you are in the U.K., Pink Fish is always a good place to look. Lots of Forum members sell stuff there. Then there’s eBay and of course Naim dealers.

Thanks for the recommendation but I’m in the US. Hifishark has been my enabling go-to for the past couple of years. I’m also tempted to look at a4l and pick up a refurbished unit with warranty since I’m completely new to the Naim family and have no experience to speak of regarding longevity, reliability etc.

If you’re in the US, then USaudiomart is the goto place. Several SN3s for sale there.

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There is no guarantee that changing your earthing arrangement, or even swapping the Node for a Naim streamer, would reduce the mains hum from the transformer in the Supernait.

Yep, I understand that. I wanted a ND5 XS2 regardless, and am willing to accept the low-level hum/noise if it persists. I wish I had been of this mind a few months ago before I sold off my first SN3 :man_facepalming: but live and learn? The SN3 sounded great, and I’m just tired off the big, heavy amps that I’ve been otherwise drawn to that put out a small space heater’s worth of heat into my relatively small home office.

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Welcome to the forum, and welcome to the quirks of Naim ownership. It’s like you have a car that you can only get in and out of through the sunroof, but you put up with it because it’s so fun to drive. Then every once in a while, some guy will come along and suggest you simply build a slide from your second floor to make your life “easier”.

It’s either all Naims hum some of the time or some Naims hum all of the time. Pick your poison and enjoy the ride.

Andrew

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Not one of my Naim boxes has hummed for the last 20 years.

I had no humming Naim boxes either.

My SN2 transformer doesn’t hum that much. You would have to put your ear right up against the case to hear it. My Leema Hydra has a bit louder transformer hum that you can hear a couple feet away.

If you want to consider addressing your humming issue, have a look here to get started:

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Thank you all for the feedback, input, and links to posts specifically about noise. I am now listening to my new-to-me SuperNait 3 and the magic is back. This one, incidentally, hasn’t started exhibiting the noise I heard from my first one, but I am glad to have these references if it does show up.

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