How near (or far) is a CD5/Hicap to a naked CDX2 ?

Posted by: London Lad on 26 December 2003

How near (or far) is a CD5/Hicap to a naked CDX2 ?

The rest of the system is 112/FC2, SNAXO/Hicap, 2 x 150, Fraim, Allae.

Graham.

Graham.

Be kind, what goes round comes round.
Posted on: 26 December 2003 by Boekster
Don't make the comparisson, I beg you! You'll feel like a murderer! Wink
Posted on: 26 December 2003 by Nuno Baptista
My dealer demo a cd 5 FC2 and a cdx2 In the end the cdx 2 was the winner

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2
Posted on: 26 December 2003 by Colin Ackerman
Hi Graham

The CDX2 is a better player than the CD5 but you need a pre amp upgrade first to make the most of what the CDX2 can do.
For a lot less than a CDX2 you could buy a 202. This upgraded pre amp + CD5 would out perform any CDX2/112 combo IMO.

Colin
Posted on: 26 December 2003 by Steve Toy
I disagree. The CD5 with any PSU is comparatively weak compared to a CDX or CDX2, even into a Nait.

Agreed I'd get up to the level of an 82 or 282 pre before adding the XPS(2) though.



Regards,

Steve.
Posted on: 27 December 2003 by Boekster
And I'd have to agree with Steve.

I demo'd a Nait5/CDX2 into a 202/200/CD5 and whilst the Cd5 combo had more grunt, it couldn't reveal everything as the CDX2 could. Probably depends on the speakers being driven as well, since the ones used in my demo were Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors.

I do reckon the Allae's being very happy with a 202/200 combo. Makes them very lively. But in general i'd go for the CDX2 at first, and then mayby skip ahead tot the 282 and 250 or something in that direction.
Posted on: 27 December 2003 by Colin Ackerman
Sorry guys but £2600 CD player and £600 pre amp does not make a balanced system. Yes the CDX2 is a more detailed player but won't give the same music as an uprated pre amp + CD5. The 112 is the weakest product in the Naim range IMO.
Considering the 202 is £1200 cheaper than the CDX2 it has to be looked at. Do the demo Wink.

Colin

[This message was edited by Colin Ackerman on SATURDAY 27 December 2003 at 20:06.]
Posted on: 27 December 2003 by London Lad
Thanks for the views !

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 28 December 2003 by Stevo
When I did the demo I found them both to be very similar sounding players. If you're familiar with the jump from CD5 to CD5/Hi, the move to the CDX2 was like adding another Hicap. Not actually possible of course, but for me that was the type and magnitude of improvement going to the CDX2.

FWIW this was with a 282 and olive 250. I ran a CD5/Hi into 82/Hi/250 for a while and it was marvellous. The preamp may well be worth trying.

Although having said that, for the last two weeks I've been running a CDS2 into a Nait 1 and it's fantastic!

[Ducking for cover now]

Hope this helps,

Stephen