Naim Supernait vs XS vs Exposure 2010s

It was the 2010S. As I said, it was fine and priced appropriately, but the Naim XS is much better. I will say that Realhifi has more experience than I, since he is a dealer, in comparing the Supernait and the XS. My experience with the XS, 5i, Exposure 2010S, and Destiny were all in my home, but the comparison with the Supernait was in a showroom, so I would have to ad that caveat...
That said, I cannot imagine the XS being "soft". It is smooth, but not soft, and very dynamic. I recently added a Hi-cap XS to mine and it lifts it again, to really a very high standard. I loved it before, still do, but check out a Hi-cap and prepare to be amazed, again.
I know in absoulute terms that my ARC Ref gear is more audiophile-ish. But the Naim gives me a satisfaction that I have not received with any other brand, and I have tried a lot of brands...
On the soundstage front, I would be shocked if you did not find the soundstage acceptable in the XS by itself, with a Hi-cap it is VERY impressive.

Dbarger, please elaborate on the Hi-cap.
Is it the latest model? I am not that familiar
with Naim but I know there is a Hi-cap2.
What improvements do you get in regards to
transparency, inner detail and soundstaging?

Have you tried an after market pc and power
conditioner on the Hi-cap?

By the way, I know what you mean by ARC being
audiophile-ish. I have heard several ARC set
ups on both Wilson watt puppies and top of the
line Theils and I must say that I have never heard
a more holographic and illuminated soundstage like
that ever.

I am still getting used to the Naim vocabulary. It is not a Hi-cap, but a Flatcap XS. They are less expensive than Hi-caps. There are improvements across the board, from soundstaging to drive to transparency, without losing that musicality and nuance of the bare bones unit. Every instrument in a group stands out a little clearer.

Exposure 2010s does run cool or hot?

Dbarger, you have now piqued my interest
in the Nordost pc. I currently have
Shunyata's Python and Anaconda alpha helixes
not to mention an old King Cobra v2. Sounds
like the Nordost is a good match for Naim.
Curious how they compare.

Did you lose any of that Naim musicality?

Were the benefits of the Nordost on par with
the Flat cap?