Supernait 3 - Addition of HiCap DR

What if you can’t stop?

depends if you want to or not? It’s not a bad thing to be into, but don’t forget to enjoy it

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That’s what I’m set up with currently as in SN3 + NDX2. I’ll add PSU’s as and when but so far and compared to the SN2 + HiCap + ND5 XS2 it replaced, I’m enjoying what the new 2 box setup is delivering and enjoying it overall. Few tweaks planned in the short term like new slippers (feet) for my speakers and maybe getting an Atom for the kitchen. Being trapped at home has had the benefit of me getting a lot more time than usual to sit and listen. I typically get little pockets of time to actually shut the door and enjoy all this expense and effort!
I looked back through the photos on my phone the other day and saw various versions of the system in my home office, it’s nice to get it to the level its at now and know I’m happy being there!
Do come back and report on how you get on when the new kit arrives btw!
I did start this thread to better understand if a HiCap was essential moving from a SN2 to a SN3 and now having done that and also traded in my HiCap I can say it’s doing a decent job. XPS would seem to get almost universal thumbs up from those with same setup as well, more so than HiCap which seems less important overall
interestingly enough.

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I have an identical setup. What speakers do you use?

Perform a mouse click on JohnF’s icon and his profile will appear with his system detail.

Sorry I’ve only just seen your request. My speakers are Dynaudio Evoke 50.
Very happy with them as I previously had the special 40s and enjoyed the sound.
The Evokes in comparison have greater range, soundstage, more pronounced bass and really fill the room. I think they are very good value.

Thank you. I’m investigating speakers and will listen to the ones you chose!

I’ve been following this thread with interest as I have gone down a similar path myself swapping a 272/250 system for an ND555 with SN3. Like the NDX/SN3 system, music just sounds right, but I’m still wondering whether a HiCap would add something special to the mix.
I have owned every Supernait at one point in time, and enjoyed them all, although the 2 and 3 are far superior to the first in my view. Having said that, the original Supernait was transformed by a HiCap DR. I understand that the HiCap DR isn’t quite as important for the SN2 and 3? Anyway, all this time in lockdown is making me wonder whether a HiCap would allow me to extract a lot more goodness from my source?
I have imposed a box limit for domestic acceptability, so a pre-power solution is not on the agenda, but a HiCap is so small…:upside_down_face:
I wonder. Anyone with any thoughts on what the HiCap is likely to add? I know a number of people with SN2s used to prefer the amp without the additional PSU, but what about the 3?

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As a SN3 owner, I, too, would be very interested in opinions and experience on what the hicap Dr brings to the party.

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The Hi Cap DR is a power supply for the pre amp section of the SN2 - i guess its a dual rail power supply as compared to the bare SN2 single rail power supply for pre amp

can you audition at home maybe ?

Thanks mpw
At some point I’ll audition, for sure. Home auditions are difficult to arrange, but if the addition of the HiCap is a Marmite affair, as it seemed to be on the SN2, I’d probably leave it a while. That’s why I was hoping for some thoughts from those that have tried the HiCap DR with the SN3. But you’re right, no substitute for my own ears, system and room :slight_smile:

Am on the same boat

SN2 here but I run a large sealed sub

So even if the HiCap DR is installed it might impact my 2 way standmounts fronts the most

I hesitate as the subwoofer covers a lot of the low notes for me and it’s independent of my SN2.

But if I didn’t have a sub and had a smaller room I think it stands a better chance of proving itself over a fuller range of freq.

Do Let us know if you manage a home audition.

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At home auditions extremely difficult, often impossible, for most in the USA. We rely a lot on what UK listeners, with lots more access to the gear, tell us on this forum.

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I have a SN1 and a Hi-Cap DR, so your saying the jump to the 2 and ultimately the 3 is a big improvement? Actually love the SN1, mostly because I can connect stuff to the built in DAC, even tho I understand it’s not seen as the best DAC out there.

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Hi Pootle
It depends what you want. For me the SN1 was like a comfortable pair of slippers, lovely and comfortable and, in retrospect, a little bit woolly. The HiCap DR tightened everything up, but the SN2 was a much more detailed and energetic in its approach to music making. With my DeVore speakers the 2 was better the the 1. It’s a while since I had the 1 and 2, but to me the 3 is much more like the 2 than the 1, but the most accomplished of the three.
I have to say that I never felt short-changed by any of my Supernaits. I know there’s more to be had higher up the naim ladder, I once owned a NAC552 and 500.
I loved my 1 and I think it can still be great in the right system, but for me 2, and 3 are better. Not sure if that helps you?

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I originally added a HiCap DR to a NAIT XS 2, it also was used on a SN1 and SN2 and very recently I traded in my NAIT XS 2 + SN2 + HiCap DR and now have a SN3 + NDX2.
What I found it added to a bare NAIT was tighter grip and cohesion on the bass frequencies and it opened up and removed a little of the congestion in the upper mids.
I’ve actually never run my SN3 which is still new and running in, with a HiCap DR. In fact when I started this thread I wasn’t planning to move from an ND5 XS2 to a NDX 2 quite as quickly and originally just planned a move from a SN2 to a SN3 but some demo kit came up at my dealer and we did a deal, and here I am!
Short answer from my perspective is that trading in my HiCap DR for a better source was a better improvement overvall. I could add a HiCap back in later but I’m more likely to add an XPS DR to the NDX2 first tbh, there’s a few others with identical systems on here that can testify to the changes the PSU’s make.
I’m prepared to say that the design improvements of the SN3 over the SN2 make the HiCap a nice to have rather than a must have.
I found it made sense having it when I used it on other NAIT’s including a SN1 and SN2, but having run it as a 2 box system for a little while now I’m finding it working really well and certainly not lacking vs the system it replaced and with a better sense of synergy and balance overall.
I had an ND5 XS2 for a year from new, I’d also previously owned a ND5 XS and got rid of that and moved to a Chord DAC setup for quite a while so I wanted to dabble with the ND5 first and then move to an NDX2 once I was happy it was an improvement over my Hugo2 based approach.
I liked the ND5 XS2 and it convinced me enough the latest Naim steaming platform was going to work for me. I’d say I found it’s limitations though and whilst it is a good product it’s better matched with other XS kit as you would expect.
The NDX2 is a better match from what I’ve experienced so far at least.

I have the SN3/NDX2 combo and quickly upgraded with a hicap-dr. It improved things quite a bit—transparency and articulation and realism. At this time, the hicap was a far easier upgrade to make vs the XPS. The system sounds awesome.

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Always good to hear insight from others with similar systems and certainly expected results. I doubt you’d find anyone having added a HiCap that then disliked what it added enough to send it back and get a refund!
There are a few others that have taken the same 2 to 4 box journey around a SN + NDX2 and there seems to be a consensus that the XPS DR adds more gains overall to the system vs adding the HiCap, but ultimately, a lot of folks will end up with a 4 box system incorporating a SN2/3 + HiCap DR + NDX2 + XPS DR.
The temptation of adding the HiCap first is mostly economic as it’s a lot cheaper than an XPS PSU either new or used. Ideally you’d just add both at the same time and be done with it of course, but as is often the case you add and improve incrementally, I’m sure that’s the case for the majority.
I’ve now managed to move to a completely new system with new kit and I’m certainly looking forwards to improvements that lie ahead including adding the PSU’s to both the NAIT and NDX2.
I may change the IC and speaker cables to Super Lumina at some point but I’m not in any massive hurry. I did demo the SL DIN IC and enjoyed it. I’m looking to loan a demo one for a longer home trial to see if I do really like it or if after a few weeks I find it too revealing and a bit on the bright side. It’s certainly different to the Hi-Line which I’ve got used to having used one for a long time now through various Naim CD Players and ND’s. When I was using RCA sources like the Chord DAC’s I was using a Chord Company Reference IC and that did a decent job to be fair.

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I run a SN2, HiCAP, NDX2 and XPS DR. I’ve found that source first is the best approach, with the HiCAP bringing a bit more cohesion and control - I look at it squeezing the best out of the SN2. It also improves the headphone stage, if that is off interest. I’d improve the I/C first though, before the HiCAP. A set of powerlines across the system will also solidify things up nicely.

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I had a Hicapdr with the SN2 as well as with now with the SN3. No doubt - the Hicapdr stays.

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