The HiCap was updated in 2012 as a result of a two year project to develop a new discrete regulator (DR) for Naim Audio power supplies. The new Naim Audio DR now features, alongside improvements to the wire routing, mechanical decoupling and internal layout. These enhancements, developed through intensive listening tests, significantly raise performance and make music even more communicative and enjoyable.
1 - sound quality, 2 - general improvement in the use of the system
There are nuances of connection
Recently I purchased HICAP, I use it in addition to the Supernait 3 amplifier and the ND5 XS2 source. I can write quite a lot about the amplifier with the source, but now about Hicap. As it turned out, it is impossible to connect the HICAP to the amplifier from the box, it is necessary to purchase an additional cable - the NAIM SNAIC 4DIN. For me, this was a surprise, the cable costs 10% of the cost of HICAP. And without this cable. Installed, connected - does not play very much. Ok, if you need to warm up, let it warm up. The system played a day in the streaming radio reproduction mode, there were no improvements. I carefully reviewed all the connections - I connected everything correctly, but plays badly. I will not describe all my checks and intermediate conclusions for a long time, but in fact it turned out to be the following - both the amplifier and Hicap itself were sensitive to cables/ bends of cables. I have quite little space in the rack in the depths and the Din inter-block wires were somehow unsuccessful. I figured out the laying of the wires, smashed the power away from the inter -block, fixed the excess intercobenic with rings and half rings (the inter -block wires themselves folded with a ring and half a ring, fixed it with a plastic tape), excluded the creases - and everything began to play. It played very well! Hence the first conclusion - there is definitely an increase in quality, the details have clearly improved. But for me it turned out to be less than the main thing than the second plus of this device, which I did not even know about. The Supernait 3 amplifier plays quite well, but not the entire volume range. With a low volume, the sound quality is not very and in the evening at home to listen to music without frightening the neighbors and their home still that question. Adding HICAP to the system significantly improved the quality of the Supernait 3 amplifier at low volume. For me, this moment was the most pleasant surprise. I was hoping for an increase in quality from using an additional power source, but I did not even suspect such a pleasant bonus. HICAP I recommend.
Translated from pult.ru
Original reviews
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