HDX-555?

Hi,

I have posted about a comparison between HDX and CDX2, and although it hasn't been commented by anyone official, I still am confident about my recall, and in my opinion and memory the bare HDX is not somewhere between a bare CD5xs and a bare CDX2, but between a bare CDX2 and a CDX2/XPS.

This impression was for me reliable, because I expected the reverse, i.e. the CDX2 to be anyhow better than the HDX.

Just to give my 2cents.

Max

Thanks, Max.  It's difficult to conduct a long-term comparison because I traded my bare CDX2 in for the HDX with brief and infrequent side-by-side comparisons.   But, like you, my memory is such that I believe my longer term (2 week) historical comparison would be valid.  Again, like you, I was concerned that the HDX would not be a giant step forward.  The HDX has a different presentation to the CDX2 (much as the CD5x has a different presentation).  To me, it's a bit of a wash but with the my CDX2 (original VAM1250) having the slight edge over the HDX. 

But to the original point, I wonder what the ultimate NAIM digital ripping/storage/serving/streaming solution could be?

> To me, it's a bit of a wash but with the my CDX2 (original VAM1250) having the slight edge over the HDX. 

I prefer the original CDX2 VAM 1250 over the HDX and NDX, but not over my Wired 4 Sound Sonos ZP 90 + Naim DAC/555PS. There is little to choose between Wired 4 Sound Sonos ZP 90 + Naim DAC/555PS and CDX2 VAM 1250/555PS - it is just presentation with a slight preference on my part for what the Naim DAC does.

The HDX has lots of bits I'd never need - a ripping engine, hard disks, touch screen display, a DAC, but it is ideal for others who like one box solutions and the associated convenience. 

That's me, especially since I entered my sixth decade...........................  (anyone got an ibuprofen?)

For CD replay the HDX won't stay with a CDX2. When streaming this is not the case. I ran an HDX and CDX2 into nDAC/555PS for a year and it was not difficult to finally part with the CDX2. Our plan was to go from CDX2/XPS2 to CDS3. To our ears the HDX/nDAC/555PS renders this plan redundant. If the level we are now on can be significantly improved - bring it on! In the mean time we are enjoying a level of performance which three years ago would have been a fantasy.

For ripping and serving duties I don't see how the HDX can be improved. So our interest is in the future of the streaming engine. I expect that will eventually come in a number of forms and my intuition tells me (rightly or wrongly) that we'll likely stay as we are with the addition of a top level streamer as and when. It's nice to have the facility of still playing CDs although to date we haven't used it.

I will just add that if people are comparing the HDX to other Naim CD players when playing CDs in real time, it's not a fair fight.  The HDX comes into its own when streaming ripped material, in particular stuff on its own HDD, in my opinion.

I wouldn't think that for a second. I find your contributions well argued, worth reading and it never feels like you are poking anybody with a stick.

Your want list logical and I think that with all the activity in the middle and lower end of the ranges (where the largest volumes likely are) we are right to expect a no holds barred, we did it because we can, tour de force of traditional Naim engineering. I've heard wispers that this is being considered (possibly being worked on) for a mega DAC, for want of a better description.

For me the most significant jump in server evolution was the HDX-SSD - the unit I wish they had launched in the first place. Saying that the HDX is good enough is merely my subjective vision, based on personal wants. What I want now is a really kick ass streamer, uncompromisingly designed and built with the gloves off. 

I suspect that no matter how high up the food chain a future HDS/HD555 appears, there will at some point be a top level DAC to push it further and I can't see a future where something like that won't be upgradable with external power. If there is a paradigm shift towards lower box counts I will welcome it - if they deliver the musical goods.

But who knows? In the mean time I'm happy to sit and wait. I'd rather save my money and count it than spend it but at some point there will be something compelling enough to kick off the next upgrade. There are still plenty of gaps to be filled, including tightening up what is already out there, like nStream and what from some accounts appears to be a somewhat prematurely launched and occasionally buggy NDX. 

It's going to be fun.

Perhaps I haven't made it clear enough, but my comparison was between CDX2/Live replay and HDX/ripped file replay.

I wouldn't dream of using the HDX as CD player, it seems a bit silly to me: if I had it, I would quit the CDX2 because each time I wanted to listen to a CD I'd simply rip it and postpone the replay of a few minutes.

I didn't even consider that the thread could refer to the HDX's real time CD replay.

Massimo

Personally I would like Naim to rationalise its streaming products.

The nDAC is a great product, as it allows you to upgrade it meaningfully using PSUs.

The nDAC/555PS is the 555DAC.

Perhaps Naim should develop their stand alone renderers along the same model?

I would then scrap the NSx/HDX altogether and just have a server/ripper solution, with NO DAC.

M

This is how I view it based on audition experience.

DAC-less top quality streamer? Yes please.