Naim HI-CAP, FLATCAP 2, SUPERCAP owners manual

O W N E R S M A N U A L

P o w e r S u p p l i e s

1.0 Equipment installation

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Normally your Naim equipment will have been installed by the dealer who sold
it to you even if you live outside their immediate vicinity. Your dealer is
responsible for making sure that the system sounds exactly as it should and
information given here is not intended to reduce this responsibility in any way.

page

1 1.0 Equipment Installation

1.1 cables and
connections

2 2.0 Getting Started

2.1 switching on and off

2.2 running in

2.3 mains supply

2.4 siting the equipment

2.5 if you have a problem

3 3.0 Warnings

4 4.0 Connection

4.1 mains lead

4.2 non-rewireable mains
plugs

4.3 fuse carrier

4.4 plug fuses

5 supercap, hi-cap and

flatcap 2 installation
diagrams

11 Specifications

12 EC Declarations of Conformity

to Appropriate Standards

1.1 cables and connections

Please do not modify the standard interconnect cables supplied with your Naim
equipment. This is important for safety as well as performance. One end of each
cable is marked with a band to establish its correct orientation. The band always
marks the end that connects to the signal source.

Loudspeaker leads are also very important. Naim loudspeaker cable is correct for
your system and your dealer will make up leads to suit your equipment
installation. The leads should each be at least 3.5 metres long and of equal
length. The recommended maximum is 20 metres. Loudspeaker leads are, like
interconnect leads, directional, and should be connected so that the printed
arrow points towards the speakers. Using alternative loudspeaker cable will
degrade performance, and may even damage your amplifier. An exception to
these loudspeaker cable constraints is the nap 6-50 multi-room power
amplifier. The nap 6-50 is designed to be tolerant of both a wide variety of cable
types, and cable runs well in excess of 20m. The loudspeaker connectors supplied
with all Naim amplifiers and loudspeakers have been specifically designed to
make a robust mechanical connection. It is essential that these are used in order
to comply with current European safety regulations.

All the plugs and sockets supplied with your Naim equipment have been chosen
because they make the best possible connection for their purpose. A poor
contact will degrade the signal substantially and plugs and sockets should look
clean and free from corrosion. The easiest way to clean them is to switch off the
equipment, pull the plugs out of their sockets, and push them back in again.
Special contact cleaners and contact enhancers should not be used as they tend
to deposit a film which is very difficult to remove and may degrade the sound.

2.0 Getting Started

2.1 switching on and off

Source components and power supplies for cd players, tuners, preamplifiers and crossovers
should be switched on before switching on the amplifier(s). Always switch the amplifier(s)
off and wait about a minute for its power supply capacitors to discharge before
connecting or disconnecting any leads. Always use the power switch on the product rather
than a mains outlet switch.

2.2 running in

Your Naim equipment will take a considerable time to run-in before it performs at its best.
The duration varies, but under some conditions you will find that the sound continues to
improve for as much as five weeks. Better and more consistent performance will be
achieved if the system is left switched on for long periods. It is worth remembering
however that all electronic equipment can be damaged by lightning. Please read the
warnings section.

2.3 mains supply

Where fused plugs are used 13 amp fuses should be fitted. Fuses of a lower rating will fail
after a period of use.

A hi-fi system usually shares a mains circuit with other household equipment some of
which can cause distortion of the mains waveform. In some Naim equipment such
distortion can lead to a mechanical hum from the transformers. The hum is not
transmitted through the speakers and has no effect on the performance of the system but
is purely local to the transformer itself. A separate fused mains circuit (like that reserved
for electric cookers) may reduce transformer hum. Such a circuit (ideally with a 30 or 45
Amp rating) will also have a lower impedance, supply cleaner power, and consequently
improve system performance.

Do not wire voltage dependent resistors or noise suppressors into mains plugs. They
degrade the mains supply and the sound.

2.4 siting the equipment

Power supplies and amplifiers should be located a reasonable distance away from other
equipment. This separation will stop transformer radiation causing hum audible from the
loudspeakers. The minimum recommended distance is 300mm (12 inches), and that
allowed by the standard interconnect lead is the maximum.

Some Naim equipment is extremely heavy. Ensure than your equipment rack or table can
easily support the weight and is stable.

2.5 if you have a problem

Legal consumer protection varies from country to country. In most territories a dealer
must be prepared to take back any Naim equipment he has sold you if he cannot make it
work to your satisfaction in your own home. A problem may be due to a fault in any part
of the system or its installation so it is essential to make full use of your local dealer’s
diagnostic skills on site. Please contact your local distributor, or Naim at the address in
the back of this manual, if any difficulties cannot be resolved. Some Naim equipment is
made in special versions for different territories and this makes it impracticable to arrange
international guarantees. Please establish the guarantee arrangements with your own
dealer at the time of sale. We are always available to offer help and advice.

It is essential that repairs and updates are only carried out by an authorised Naim dealer,
or at the factory by Naim itself. Many components are made, tested or matched specially
for Naim and appropriate replacements are often unobtainable from non-specialist
sources.

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3.0 Warnings

Naim equipment is designed to offer the finest sound quality that can be achieved,
avoiding compromise wherever possible. This can lead to circumstances that may be
unfamiliar. The material that follows contains advice specifically related to Naim
equipment as well as more general warnings about the use of domestic audio products.
Please read it carefully.

The transformers in Naim power amplifiers and power supplies may sometimes make a
mechanical noise caused by distortion of the mains waveform. Naim transformers are
large in size and have heavy gauge secondary windings making them relatively sensitive
to such distortion. A separate mains circuit for your hi-fi system may reduce the effect
while also giving an overall improvement in sound quality. It may be necessary however
to take account of mechanical transformer noise when siting your equipment.

In some circumstances, depending on where you live and the earthing arrangements in
your home, you may experience radio frequency interference. Controls on broadcasting in
some territories allow very high levels of radio frequency radiation and both the choice
and exact siting of equipment may be critical. If there is a known problem in your locality
it is advisable to arrange for a home demonstration before purchase to find out if Naim
equipment is likely to be affected. Susceptibility to radio frequency interference is related
to the wide internal bandwidth necessary for high sound quality. Systems incorporating
moving coil phono preamplifiers and active crossovers are more likely to suffer. A radio
frequency filter kit is available for some Naim equipment but sound quality will be
progressively compromised as more elements of the kit are fitted. In situations of extreme
radio interference Naim equipment may be unsuitable.

Your Naim hi-fi system can be damaged by lightning. Power amplifiers are particularly at
risk and should be turned off when there is risk of lightning strike. For complete protection
all mains plugs and any aerial cables should be disconnected when not in use.

Equipment must not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled with liquid,
such as vases, should be placed on the equipment.

important

In order to comply with current
European safety regulations it is
essential that the Naim loudspeaker
connectors supplied with amplifiers
and loudspeakers are used.

Do not under any circumstances
allow anyone to modify your Naim
equipment without first checking
with the factory, your dealer, or
your distributor. Unauthorised
modifications will invalidate your
guarantee.

For your own safety do not under
any circumstances open Naim
equipment without first
disconnecting the mains.

The following label is attached to
all mains powered equipment:

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