Supernait 3 - Addition of HiCap DR

Sorry, but I have to say… when I went 250/272/XPS to SN3/NDX2/XPS the thing I was missing was drive. So far, a lot of it comes back with the HiCap! Definitely more punch.

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Yes you may experience more “punch” with the addition of the HicapDR.
The HicapDR should lower your noise floor and open the dynamics, add some extra clarity that get muddied/masked using the Supernait bare.
What it won’t do is add drive like a dedicated amp like a Nap 250DR.

:+1:t2:

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I have to wonder what this response aimed to achieve. Congrats on your NAP250. Enjoy.

You can add a NAP to a NAIT if you want to of course. The Naim system design is a double edged sword as we all know with the key unspoken rule being whatever system you’ve built and own, it’ll always be an inadequate version of a Statement system with Focal Grande Utopias in a silk lined listening room.
I think one of the hardest parts of these system journeys is knowing when to stop and make the most of what’s there.
Back to the thread topic, my main interest here having owned numerous NAIT’s including all the Supernaits, was how an additional PSU added to a SN3 compared to the previous SN’s, primarily the SN2 which was what I was going from and too and had run the SN2 for all the time I owned it with a HiCap DR.
I get that it is likely to bring some improvements but personally felt that they were less obvious specifically when compared to adding one to a SN2 where I felt the HiCap gave a noticable and welcome improvement to the system.
I wasn’t perhaps at the time of swapping SN’s at the start of this year but I’m now of the mind to focus on the source PSU first with a mind to add a NAIT PSU later but still with an expectation that it will benefit the system overall whether that’s a HiCap or a Supercap.
Comparing these things to a NAC/NAP system is perhaps of passing interest to the casual reader but it’s not the purpose of the thread. I think it’s fair to say that most peoples systems are chosen based on budget and available time to actually sit and enjoy them!

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I did wonder the same with this one. :thinking::roll_eyes:

You’re still an honorary Supernait owner contributor @popeye, you’ll be back one day…

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I took out my HiCap DR from my SN3 during a session yesterday. It still sounded really good but not as good in that with a HiCapped SN3 it is just even more addictive. Needless to say it went straight back in after a couple of tracks and that’s where it will be staying until i can pluck up enough funds for a XPS DR. My final destination. :sunglasses:

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As expected, and as you had your HiCap already and the means to keep it, what you’ve done and find yourself with today makes perfect sense. Quite the journey from getting your ND5 under control from your NAIT 5SI (or XS?)
It’s certainly a sweet spot in the Naim range and the reason a lot of us end up on this path. There’s certainly some interesting combos built around the SN3 and from what I can tell universal approval of it as an Integrated.
You still got a mind to find some Allae’s to try out?
I’ve got an eye on some Kanta 1’s, home demo in the offing!

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Very nice Mr.M. I do like the look of the Kanta range and i have heard the Kanta 1 driven from Naim, albeit at a show, and in a very noisy environment, so couldn’t really draw any conclusions upon their sound at the time. The room was just too crammed with people, quite annoying really as i wanted to get a feel for them myself.

As you may know, i have also upgraded to a NDX 2 on a trade in for my ND5 XS 2. Yes, i’m still running with Neat Motive SX2’s and all of my bass issues i was having have literally disappeared. The SN3 is a much faster amplifier than my XS 2 and is able to really grab my Motives by the scruff of the neck and put them in their place. For now at least, my speaker search is back on hold.

As for a pair of Naim Allaes? If i see a mint pair come up on the off chance, and are the right coloured and nice grained veneer, well looked after ed by a really appreciative owner? Then hell yeah!

Sounds like a good plan, the NDX2 swap is also a solid move, sure to impress and pairs particularly nicely with the SN3, I’d expect having gone through the changes you have done in recent steps you’ll be satisfied where you are and where you can get to.
If/when the speaker home test happens I’ll maybe fire up a thread.
I’ve got a few changes i’m pondering how to prioritise at the moment, it may be that the main Naim system gets left alone for now whilst I try and sort out the AV setup. I’ve already made some updates to my Rega setup this as well which has been a nice and manageable budget allocation.
Current focus is on a 555PS still, will add that as and when.

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Ah, I see. Perhaps didn’t come across as intended, then. I was merely communicating that I’ve previously owned a NAP250 and was not going back to one.

Interesting what you say looking at your system journey, there’s a lot of fondness for the 272/250 based setup around these parts and always of interest to me to hear from people that have lived with various system configurations, especially the non conventional or “ladder challengers” as I like to think of it!
It’s ok to rib @popeye, we’re all mildly jealous of his latest changes truth be known, but it’s all harmless enough and we need a bit of light relief amongst the serious debating occasionally :slight_smile:

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What makes six boxes too many? If one has the finances, space, time & ear. If there’s an improvement or change, however subtle, who cares? It’s fun.

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I think this is very solid logic, as it will improve the signal that is delivered to the amp, which is preferable to having a lesser signal magnified by better amplification.

Now running my NDX2 bare on a 282/250 Mike I have to say I do feel the NDX2 is due a bit more credit than it receives as a bare unit.
With the 282/250 it’s a bit like what adding the SL interconnect does on the Supernait but on a much grander/broader scale. You get to hear everything it has to give and that is certainly not amplifying an inferior signal.

Having gone this route I am sorry to say but my opinion now is that the Supernait2 is a bottleneck to a bare NDX2. (Haven’t heard the 3, so can’t comment on that). I am not shooting the Supernait2, I have a real soft spot for it obviously.

Popeye

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Glad you’re enjoying your new amplification. I’m sure it sounds marvellous. What you say just cements that adding a HiCap DR to the SN3 is a very good step forward with a bare NDX 2 and not wanting to change the amp for an additional £1,500 sheets. Jason Gould from Naim has it right in that YT video.

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The HicapDR on the Supernait2 was a big improvement in my opinion and audible straight away, you didn’t have to listen for a difference like some changes if you know what I mean.
Never understood those that didn’t like what it brings, but each to there own.

I would highly recommend the SL interconnect also. That was another big audible improvement for me and that was coming from using a HiLine.

Yes, I have spoken about this on many occasions but I never got an XPSDR for my NDX2 as I couldn’t hear enough of a difference to justify it but the HiCapDR was a must and I would have had one even if the cost was the same as the XPS.

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The SN2 and SN3 are somewhat different in characteristics. I’d summarise it from my own experience whereby the SN2 limitations are mitigated to an extent by the addition of an external PSU, in my case that was a HiCap and that’s the most likely that a Supernait owner would chose. The SN3 has clearly been designed to my ears to address some of the inherent constraints of the SN2, the main issue here being an integrated design and the noise associated with that. I’d say it does a better job overall than the SN2 did even with a HiCap added, it’s not just a SN2 with a Phono board anyway, it’s more accomplished and addresses the niggles I had with lack of grip on the bottom end and congestion in the upper midrange on the SN2.
I think it’s easy to also highlight perceived limitations in certain system configurations and it may be in your case that your judgement is somewhat biased with your recent system changes.
Any integrated amp is a set of compromises, overcome to an extent with an external PSU but what the Supernait isn’t is a 282/250 in a single box and it never could be.
An NDX2 and a SN2/3 is in many respects all the system most people would want or need, lets also not forget that a new setup is north of £10k with cables and what not so it’s not a trivial amount of money for a product that can only do one thing, reproduce music.
Adding PSU’s is a logical progression towards further performance improvements but running these boxes without is not a let down experience and also not a mandatory step either, they’re nice to haves ultimately and getting true high end sound from just a few boxes is very appealing to some, myself included hence working around a 2 or 3 box setup as a likely target.
I’ve had NAC/NAP systems in the past but reality and a family curbed that particular trajectory in my case so where I’ve crept back to now is probably a good place to settle for the time being.
How’s the 282/250 running in? Did you get new boxes btw? I’m sure you’ll enjoy what it offers and no question a leap up beyond what the SN2 can deliver.

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I don’t think what you say is at doubt here and adding PSU’s is a given when it comes to living with Naim kit. I would add here though that firstly, Mr Gould is a Salesman, it’s his job to get you hooked on the ladder to the Statement nirvana, a lot of what is outlined in his pitch is on the basis of you owning something like a Supernait as a means to an end to a “real” Naim system based around a NAC/NAP and on and on, as many will be testiment to!
I’d challenge that continuous improvement philosophy, certainly with respect to the SN3 which once it’s been polished off with a PSU gets you a lot of what comes beyond it in NAC/NAP land but with less kit and complexity and importantly less system cost. It’s the best NAIT I’ve owned and there’s been a few over the years. Still want to have a mint NAIT 2 setup somewhere one day having said that.

The great thing about these options is that they all deliver great results at their price points, so it’s hard to go wrong.

Planning for a known end point, well, that’s another vortex altogether :sunglasses:

Given my heavy headphone use, the XPS DR and NDX2 into a dedicated headphone amp with its own large PS has certainly put that itch to rest - end game set up for the headphones.

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