CDX chez Toy
Posted by: Steve Toy on 06 December 2001
I have just returned from my dealers and installed the new CDX (I'm listening to it as I type this, BTW)
Does it sound like a pile of poo cos it's new out of the box?
In a word, no! 
At my dealers we had a quick 15 minute test listen, and a tune dem using Madonna's Ray of Light album. It passed that test with flying smilies!
In fact, my dealer jokingly told me that I couldn't have it, as it was going to be his new demo model! 
"Now I must make a note of that serial number!" he said.
It is even more tuneful than his demo model which is fully run in.
Anyway, I must go and do some more "serious" listening:
Things can only get better by D:ream.
It's always a nice day for it Have a good one! 
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Hammerhead
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Toy:
_ Things can only get better _ by D:ream.
As long as you don't play the above, it will only get better (brings back memories of Two Jags strutting his 'stuff' - shudder)
CDXs - almost as contagious as smilies
Steve
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Steve Toy
Salut Jean Christophe, ca va?
The IKEMI doesn't even cut it against an entry-level Naim CD player IMHO.
When I last heard it in my system, it couldn't do bass, and it had a small soundstage.
The CDX is just bigger, bolder, smoother, more dramatic, more airy.
It blows the IKEMI into fine particles of dust! Sorry.
It's always a nice day for it Have a good one!
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Alex S.
quote:
Anyway, I must go and do some more "serious" listening:
Take your time Steven.
Alex
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Steve Toy
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by graeme w
Congrats on new box!!!
I am considering a CDX in the next yr, if I can scrape the cash together. Just wondering tho', why you thought CDX was better than others you could have chosen. Basically, (having not listened to a CDX yet, - can't bear the idea of liking it and having to wait ages to get one) what makes it so good that you bought it? How did it improve on the CD5/FC.
I've read about the CDX in various mags/naim lit etc, but am looking for the subjective view from a new purchaser ie you!
I would also welcome negative views too, so I can mull things over at liesure.
Enjoy yerself!
Graeme
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Steve Toy
The CDX (mine anyway
) sounds very spacious, warm, layered, textured. The bass has real authority. To quote Jonathan Ribee, it times like a bastard, and the dynamics - notably on Russel Watson's voice just bring tears to your eyes.
It also plays tunes so incredibly well - even better than my old CD5/FC2 combo, which sounds more than just a bit weedy in comparison.
Rather than making this box upgrade, I could have just stuck my CD5 on Mana Phase Four for less money, and completely wrecked the tune it already had... 
( )
It's always a nice day for it Have a good one! I'll have a "nice" evening at work while my CDX plays to itself on auto-repeat!
Steve.
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Alex S.
What I should have said is 'Congratulations!'; but I must issue a small warning. Paul Stephenson has informed me that if you introduce a Bryan Adams CD to a CDX it blows up. Just thought I'd better mention it.
Regards,
Alex
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Thomas K
Was the Kairn powered from the same mains as the CDX? If so, the "comparison" is absolutely useless.
The way Linn have managed to get a handle on switch-mode power supply technology is quite amazing, but the switch-modes will always have an extremely detrimental effect on any transformer-powered gear anywhere near it (in terms of mains).
Thomas
(Jonathan, Seismic Pussy?)
[This message was edited by Thomas K on THURSDAY 06 December 2001 at 19:39.]
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Thomas K
Dave, why "screwed up"? Linn will probably not be producing anything with a transformer in one or two years from now, so it'll only make other manufacturers' gear (such as the CDX in JC's CDX-Ikemi dem) sound screwed up. Clearly a good thing for Linn.
Thomas
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by sceptic
If it sounds good out of the box, it isn't a proper CDX and you've been conned.
Open the casing and you will find a Cambridge and 4 sheets of glass.
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Steve Toy
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by dave simpson
Enjoy the new toy !
regards,
dave
Posted on: 06 December 2001 by Steve Toy
Cheers!
I believe that I now have a balanced system.
During the 15 minute test dem at my dealer, we used 82/180/Rega Ela 2000s on QS Ref.
My dealer wanted to use a 102, but I said that the 82 was closer in sonic characteristic to my Densen B200. The CDX is an airy and focussed beastie, but not through a 102, IMHO.
The set up was good in the shop, but I wondered if the 82 was actually better than my B200 - too many variables...
When I got home, it sounded just as tuneful and dynamic, so this source-first thingy really does work!
It's always a nice day for it Have a good one!
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Jay
Glad to have you in the CDX supporters club, your commerative tie is in the post.
Now if we could just get you saying nice things about the 102 and dumping your Densens I'd be even happier
Jay
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Jay
Thomas
quote:
The way Linn have managed to get a handle on switch-mode power supply technology is quite amazing, but the switch-modes will always have an extremely detrimental effect on any transformer-powered gear anywhere near it (in terms of mains).
Umm, Linn are to be congratulated for making other brand equipment sound under par? I don't understand? Did they go to the MSoft school of product development?
Jay
[This message was edited by Jay on FRIDAY 07 December 2001 at 09:17.]
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Malcolm Davey
Steven I am deeply,deeply envious, and I have the 82!! What does Mary Black sound likw |(in particular Columbus?).
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Peter Stockwell
I'll bet you did your Ikemi/CDX demo at Audio Synthese. They never leave their gear powered up. For a 'passionate' demo of a CDX go to the 'Choukroun' show in Paris.
Peter
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Peter Stockwell
JC,
Hmmm, I see the problem. If you want to buy Naim then you'll pretty much have to go on faith with them. It'll be a while before I get a CDX. Because I just used the beginnings of the fund to buy a used HiCap and get the dedicated line installed (coming Friday the 14th 
).
Audio Synthese has nice dem rooms but the staff just can't help wanting you to buy Linn.
Peter
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Thomas K
Hi Jonathan,
I'm fine, thanks. Might be a while, but yes ... We should also try to find some *real* food next time (I vow never to eat in China Town again).
Thomas
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Thomas K
quote:
Linn are to be congratulated for making other brand equipment sound under par?
Err, no.
1. AFAIK, switch-mode power supply technology is hard to master; AFAICT, Linn have done a good job at it.
2. Switch-mode PSUs make transformer gear (e.g. Naim) sound under par if powered by the same mains.
The praise in 1. has nothing to do with 2. (as long as you don't mix your gear - hence my use of the word "but" in the original sentence and my advice to JC not to judge the CDX if it's plugged in the same mains). If Linn explicitly stated that their equipment was designed to work well with Naim gear, there would of course be a fault in the system.
Thomas
[This message was edited by Thomas K on FRIDAY 07 December 2001 at 13:30.]
[This message was edited by Thomas K on FRIDAY 07 December 2001 at 13:52.]
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Paul Ranson
quote:
2. Switch-mode PSUs make transformer gear (e.g. Naim) sound under par if powered by the same mains.
I don't believe this is a universal truth. And surely given the prevalance of SMPS in all types of gear the onus is on those whose equipment is alleged to suffer to fix their equipment?
This is an instance where a blind test would be relatively trivial, and extremely interesting. I can supply a mains polluter if anybody is interested....
Paul
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Greg Beatty
quote:
the onus is on those whose equipment is alleged to suffer to fix their equipment?
We've been 'round on this before. Naim require clean mains for their kit to work best. They make the requirement known. They have chosen *not* to bugger up the sound with filters and such because someone might have Linn, computers, or their laundry machine on the same mains.
Hey - Does anyone know if an Andrew Weekes Modified Lingo is negatively affected by switched mode supplies on the line? Or is the Lingo a switched mode device?
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Thomas K
quote:
I don't believe this is a universal truth
Granted, Paul, it may not be a universal truth. I've been told so, but I only ever tried this with Naim gear. You don't need a blind test BTW - it's fairly obvious.
There have been loads of discussions here on the general susceptibility of Naim gear to "bad mains". Where I live, there is a decline in the system's performance on Saturdays, but it still sounds like a damn fine system. I think you just get used to a certain level of performance and end up calling these differences "huge" when really they're not.
In one of the discussions the very knowledgeable BAM suggested, as you did, that the susceptibility to bad mains might be a "fault" of the equipment (or something to that effect). However, if this "faulty" equipment blows the price-point competition into the weeds even on a bad mains day, I'd say there's nothing to worry about. (Couldn't say whether this is the case with our trusted Naim gear, though - never did much A/B comparing.)
Thomas
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Thomas K
JC, I’m tempted to pop round my dealer’s and do the CDX/Ikemi dem, both with and without the mains complications.
I rate Linn gear highly and I am often well impressed by it, but also happy to come “back home” to my Naim system, it just suits my taste more. My mate has an active Linn setup – we plugged my CDX into it for a laugh once. The CDX was much better than his player (which wasn’t surprising as his is an old entry-level player – a Mimik, I think). We were astonished at how much the CDX influenced the overall presentation of the Linn system; it was like injecting a good dose of Naim into it, and again goes to show how important the source is. The Ikemi is definitely a fine player – with your gear it might well be the better choice.
quote:
I have the overall impression that the CDX should be a pretty damn good player
It MUST be a damn good player because it's managed to shut Steven Toy up for several hours now ...
Thomas
Posted on: 07 December 2001 by Tony L
JC:
quote:
I have the overall impression that the CDX should be a pretty damn good player, but that it it relatively demanding as far as setting up is concerned (mains, needs to be permanently swichted on, needs a good support), whilst the Linn is a no-brainer, working cold, on whatever mains arrangement, and on standard support.
I am really having difficulty in understanding the perceptions that many people have about the CDX. I have never heard one yet sounding unpleasant, and on the whole the CDX based systems I have heard really work. As for complex setup, well again I fail to see what all the fuss is about. Shortly after getting my second hand CDX I found myself standless, the Mana had all been sold, and my QS Reference had not yet landed at Audio Works, so I ended up with the CDX and Nait 2 just sitting on the hardwood flooring in my living room. It worked fine, there was absolutely none of the hardness or edgyness that many have described. I really enjoyed it.
My previous CD player was the Marantz CD17KI, a big, weighty, sumptuous sounding machine. Replacing it with a cold (but obviously run-in) CDX was a revelation, everything was just clearer and cleaner, and most significantly made far more musical sense. The CDX lost out absolutely nothing to the Marantz in hi-fi terms at all, it was more refined in every area to my ears. The CDX is the cheapest CD player that I like without reservation (other than price!).
I have however not heard one directly in competition against a Ikemi, though… I have heard the Ikemi up against a Karik III, I thought the Ikemi trashed it. I tried the Karik III against my CD17KI, and I definitely preferred the CD17KI in most areas. So, IMHO the Ikemi trashes the Karik III, and the CD17KI betters it in many areas, and the CDX trashes the CD17KI, and this is all getting stupid and I need Mike Hanson to draw a bloody graph. My gut feeling is that the CDX is definitely the better player out of the two, but my means of assessment are as you can tell not that great. The bottom line is that the CDX can play music in a way that I have very seldom heard from a digital source component.
Is the CDX a real dog straight out of the box? I suspect all the ones I have heard were nicely run in, mine was about a year and a half old when I got it so was well burnt in.
Tony.
