Supernait 3 - Addition of HiCap DR

I’m still not convinced about the HCDR benefit to the SN3, but I don’t want to be as I don’t have the $$$ to spend during the world’s worst economic disaster. I’d rather spend it on food for friends who have lost their jobs.

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Just to report back on my new HiCap, added on August 6th. The HiCap added resolution and hifi benefits from the get go, but somehow it didn’t tug at my heartstrings. Well now I know why. My SN3 is plugged into the wall and the HiCap plugged into an 8 way powerblock with the other items in my system. Plugging the HiCap into the same double socket as the SN3 brought back all the verve and coherence and joy the SN3 had before the upgrade, but now with added resolution. Now I am very happy and I learned a lesson. A few late nights are in order. :monkey_face:

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This is interesting. I have all my components (SN2, NDX2 etc) plugged into my powerblock, do you find having the SN3 on the wall socket better?

I tried both ways and they were different, one wasn’t obviously better. I thought the wall socket just sounded a little more enjoyable in the end, even thought the power block had a more poised and precise performance. Honestly there wasn’t a huge difference, but plugging the HiCap into one and the SN3 into another just seemed to unbalance things and some of the lovely flow and rhythm in music was lost. When I get a chance I may plug both into the powerblock and see how that goes.

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Appreciate your thoughts and insights as always @Monkey_Jim

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Mmmm … Linn Klimax DSM … very, very nice from what I’ve read.

I just received and installed a Hubbell 5362 heavy duty, audio grade, deep Cryo treated wall receptacle. I was very skeptical, but for 60 bucks I gave it a shot. The deep Cryo treatment from Take Five Audio is about a 48 hour process and it was a $10 add-on.

I had just installed two dedicated circuits to a split plug for my two Naim black boxes, and two excellent 10 awg, 100% copper tip to tip, power cables; but the split plug that connected then was a $2 piece of crap.

Now that the Hubbell is in the circuit, it all came together and the SQ improved impressively. Highly recommended.
All the reading and research I’ve done over the last bunch of years, and I only just came across this upgrade.

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Did you ever try a 555DR with your 272?

Or just the XPSDR?

Monkey_Jim, do you have dedicated line to the wall socket ? What kind of cable you have on distribution block ?

It’s very easy to live with and sounds lovely. It’s also capable of a whole lot more than a Nova and isn’t massive and ugly like almost all AV amps!

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Hi @Andre1
I have Russ Andrews powerblock and cable to the wall but the powerblock has TV and network switch power supplies plugged into it, so that’s possibly the reason I preferred the system separate? I use a Russ Andrews cable from the SN3 to the wall too. That was a nice improvement over the stock cable to my ears.

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Hello to everybody.
I am thinking to add a HC dr to my SN3.
I would like to drop a few questions to the hicap dr owners.
As I know the SN3 will benefit in the preamp stage,correct?
Does this mean more gain in lower volume levels?
What about the heat of the SN3 when working in high volume?
Will the SN3 work cooler with HC dr?
Thanks to everyone in advance.

Yes.
No.
?
No.

Are you driving the SN3 beyond it’s limits? If so then maybe worth looking at some of the more powerful pre-power combos, or even consider going active with multiple power amps. In which case one will need to match with a specific pair of loudspeakers.

I like to listen my music loud.
Since now the highest volume level I reached on the SN3 is turning the volume knob to 11 o clock.
Would this be considered to be close to the limit?

What’s the rest of the system made up of?
I notice you have Ovator 600’s, no idea if they’re considered a good match for a SN3, probably happiest with a beefy power amp I imagine.
How big is the listening room?
11 O’Clock on the volume pot is on the loud side even in a big room with big speakers.
I can’t say I have a heat issue with mine, but then I don’t listen to it anywhere near close to that volume!

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I run my SN2 with a HiCAP DR quite loud (up to about 10 o’clock), but it never even gets warm, which is almost disappointing as I always enjoyed feeling my Cute2 get hot :sunglasses:

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I found that adding the HiCap really gave the overall performance a lift, once I got the set up correct. Pretty sure it won’t really improve the loudness and heat situation you face, but I do find that I prefer the volume slightly quieter with the HiCap. Maybe because the resolution is better? It’s a happy place for me, but I can say the NAP250DR is a big improvement at quite a big additional cost. Normally you’d pair it with a NAC282, just to add to the cost, and you’ll still need the HiCap, but if your goal is to reduce the heat output you could try the 250 with the Supernait. Some report good results.

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My room is about 30 square meters.
Distance between speakers & listening position is equal at 2.8m.
My gear is exactly what you see in the system pictures thread.
I wouldn’t say I have a heat issue with the SN3.
It gets a bit warm when I am playing at this volume levels for 1.5 hours or so,but I believe is normal for any amp.

PS Honestly guys,do you believe is 11 o clock too loud for a room this size?
Is there a chance I end up damaging my gear?

Just took delivery of a used/mint/young Hicap DR to use with a SN3 so will report back on what it brings to the table in a few days.

First up though the electrician just finished running three radial circuits just for the HiFi so going to run without the HiCap first to get a sense of the impact that’s had.

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Happy days, sure to bring some nice improvements.