Wiring a subwoofer to a HiCap

Flashback sold a subwoofer cable with a resistor installed specifically for Naim gear. But alas Flashback are out of business now.

It does have a sub output but never tried it. Also have an Atom where I did try the low-level sub output, and the high level connections sounded noticeably better.

Each sub is next to the speaker so I got my own, short, high-level cables made up and they’re connected via spades to the speaker terminals.

All quite neat - but was interested in what you’re looking to do and whether there’d be some benefit in that approach.

Yeah it was just a case of trying to understand what benefits/value there might be in connecting to the Hi Cap.

Though I’m still confused as to how a power supply can output an audio signal.

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Now I know.
That plains why I’m driving a REL - thanks.

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It’s an oddity of Naim amps that the audio signal goes from preamp to power amp via the Hicap, so the signal output to any power amp, including the one in your subwoofer, is taken from the Hicap. The reason for this is explained in the FAQ in James’s post above.

Thank you. Still a bit confused despite the explanation :slight_smile:

Thank you James, after 30 plus years of ownership, i’m just leaning about the audio signal passing through the HiCap :rofl:

I’ve always had my HiCap connect to socket 4 of my NAC 72 pre amp with a SNAIC 5 and NAP 160 to the output of the NAC 72 via a SNAIC 4.

This may well be a naive question, but am I better off connecting the power amp to HiCap? Also via SNAIC 4.

The manual seems to show both options, but doesn’t say which is better so always had connected via the NAC 72.

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The only time a power amp such as the NAP160 is directly connected to the pre-amp is when there’s no dedicated power supply being used - the pre-amp instead being powered by the power amp’s internal supply. The correct way to connect the NAP160 when powering the pre-amp with a dedicated power supply is via the power supply, as per the manual (see below).

Screenshot 2023-08-28 at 08.55.10

Otherwise, quite apart from impaired performance due to sub-optimal system earthing, you end up feeding the pre-amp with both dual rail power from the power supply and also single rail power from the NAP160, which can over-stress the regulators. Not a good idea!

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Thank you Richard, that’s so helpful. Don’t recall the dealer ever expaling this, but a long time ago.

The image you shared doesn’t seem to be in the 1989 manual that I have and the NAC 72 has RCA aux inputs on mine.

So I connect the 4 pin snaic to HiCap socket 2 to 160 and socket 4 to the 72 using the 5 pin snaic?


Yes, exactly.

This extract from the '89 manual explains the connections;

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Thank you, much appreciated

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