Current state of play: LP 12,Pink Triangle PSU, Ekos,Arkiv B,Mana 4,82,Hicap,250,Isobariks,Mana.My question is, would it be best to go for a Supercap next or Prefix and a Hicap? I won,t do both this year. Also If I go the latter route,can I and is there any value in, using two Hicaps to power the prefix after I've bought a Supercap? Finally I've just had a dedicated mains spur and earth put in
(6 mil cable, two unswitched twin sockets,32 amp fuse,dedicated earth spike) Sounds like a Hicap and its cold! It cost 225 UK pounds. No backchat,great service and top Knocker registered spark. K Hughes LTD, Penrith 866451 (wayne)

Mark,

If you got a Prefix first, you'd need to get a second *cap to power it. Better to go for a Supercap and keep your Hicap. In fact, if you are buying a Supercap new, the Prefix is only fractionally more money and you could almost do both.

FWIW, I don't think you could power a Prefix with 2 Hicaps but I have been proven wrong before. If you could have both Supercap and Prefix, it would be interesting to see whether Prefix/Super + 82/Hi sounds better than Prefix/Hi + 82/Super.

James

Resistance is Futile

mark v, i used to have the 82/2xhicap/250 combination, which was completely transformed by the single supercap in place of the 2 hicaps. i rate this as one of the biggest upgrades i have ever made to my system. so i would say go for the supercap, if later you get a prefix, another good move (i did it too) you can power it from the supercap so you wont necessarily need another p/s for the prefix. when you eventually prefix your turntable, do make sure you use a dealer who has done of few of these before...

enjoy...

ken

Ken,

quote:

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you wont necessarily need another p/s for the prefix

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I thought this could only be done with a 52/Super. Have you been able to power your Prefix from the 82/Super? If so, I could sell both Hicaps and get my Super sooner.

James

Resistance is Futile

mark v

Our systems are very similar. Mine is LP12 on Mana Refrence, Lingo, Ekos, Arkiv B, Pre-Fix, HiCap, 52/Supercap, 250, Isobariks

I agree with James. If you buy a Supercap it will free up your existing HiCap to be used with a Pre-Fix (which is relatively cheap as far as NAIM products go).

I recently did what james describes above. I went from 32.5/HiCap to 52/Supercap/PreFix/
HiCap. The HiCap was "free" as I already owned it. All I needed to do was buy a used PreFix which I picked up for $400.

The differnece between using the PreFix with the 52 rail vs with the HiCap was huge (in the HiCap's favour). In fact the PreFix powered by the 52 sounded broken.

The Hicap with the PreFix added foundation to the music as well as flow, warmth and extension on both ends.

Thanks,
Mark

Mark Russell

Thanks all it confirms my thinking; Supercap being the obvious move. I sort of hoped that a Hicapped Prefix would have outperformed the Supercap and no Prefix, which would have been half the cost.
By the way Mark, have you considered Mana stands for your Isobariks? I was on the verge of moving to SBLs as the sometimes slightly ponderous bass(of Briks) was getting to me. The change was in the same league as the Target to Mana Reference move. Also one of the 'Mana men' told me that in his opinion the two products that most benefit from Mana are the LP12 and the Isobarik. Thank god I didnt change,can't wait to hear them with a 52&135s Pip,Pip.

james, prefix powered by supercap in 82 based system --- i dont see why not, but would confirm with naim to be safe.

enjoy...

ken

Mark--

How about Prefix/SC and leave the Hicap on the 82 ?

Cheers,

Bob

Mark V.

Thanks for the recommendation of MANA under the Isobariks. Have you compared MANA Isobarik stands to using the Linn stands sitting on MANA (I think they call them sound sheets)?

On another note, I placed coins inbetween the upward facing spikes on my Linn stands and the speaker boxes and then put pennies underneath the downward facing spikes. While I am sure that does not make as much difference as MANA it makes a very dramatic difference!..... Notes stop and start more clearly, better Prat, better seperation less muddle.

I tried the coins based upon a post that I read about on the old forum. I have been amazed. Never knew that an 8 cent upgrade could sound so good!

Do you have the Isobariks which have external crossovers? If so, do you simply leave them on the floor beneath the speakers sitting inside of the MANA stands?

Cheers!

Mark R.

Mark Russell

mark v:
just checked in the nac52 manual. there is a specific socket for prefix on the 52, designated 2b. so, given that the 82 (as far as i can recall) doesnt have this special arrangement -- you definitely need a seperate p/s for the prefix with the 82. so the suggestion to keep one your hicaps for the nonce is a good one. sorry for misleading you. but do check with naim as well.

enjoy...

ken

Mark,

placing coins between the Isobariks and the stands works well for myself and a friend.

However, when I've tried coins between stands and floor (wooden parquet) it was a disaster.

cheers, Martin

I have recently added these and they transform the speaker in my opinion. I have tried a number of setups (look below) but no one comes close to the Mana Isobarik Stand solution. The improvement was as big as going active in my opinion.

Original stands < Original stands with coins < Original stands, coins and Mana Sound Bases with MDF top < Orignal stands, coins and Mana Sound Bases with glass top << Mana Isobarik Stands

Regards

Anders

Mark I think you are refering to Mana soundstages. No I didnt try Linn stands on these. They are £200 each the Mana Brik stands are £450 the pair. They are however the next move apparently. I also did the coin bit and thought it worthwhile.That said the Mana stands are worth the considerable extra money and I dont think I would be still using them if I hadnt got the stands. Now I can only imagine changing for NBLs or DBLs (in both senses)
My crossovers are inside the speaker.

prefix/hi-cap, then you could try an armageddon. you might find you prefer the armageddon over the pink when you are using the prefix.
ashley