DVD5 audio rating
Posted by: Scott Ryan on 20 July 2005
So, if you've had experience listening to two channel audio, either with a DVD or CD in the DVD5, how would you rate it's performance? How would it stack up in this regard compared to the CD5i, CD5x, CD5? Thanks, Scott
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by niceguy235uk
Scott,
Having been a simultaneous owner of a dvd5 and cd5/fc2x i have to say the dvd5 was very very close indeed.
I then demoed a cdx2 against the dvd5 and... well....you can guess the results!!!
Having said that, if you are after a 'universal' machine i couldnt recommend the dvd5 enough. Superb.
Food for thought... make sure if you purchase a dvd5 it has had the firmware update. It will save you the trouble later.
Regards
Jason
Having been a simultaneous owner of a dvd5 and cd5/fc2x i have to say the dvd5 was very very close indeed.
I then demoed a cdx2 against the dvd5 and... well....you can guess the results!!!
Having said that, if you are after a 'universal' machine i couldnt recommend the dvd5 enough. Superb.
Food for thought... make sure if you purchase a dvd5 it has had the firmware update. It will save you the trouble later.
Regards
Jason
Posted on: 02 August 2005 by PatG
Hi
Last week I demoed the DVD5 at a Naim Dealer, mainly for DVD watching but also for CD replay. (I have a CD3.5 + hi Cap + 102). Also in the demo rig was a CDX2 (but without the XPS power supply).
I was also considering the ARCAM DVD 79 as it was well reviewed both as a DVD and CD player and was less than half the cost.
I bought the DVD5.
On DVD replay the DVD5 was marginally better than the ARCAM. Both fed a SIM2 20H projector with HDMI connection. There was perhaps a greater depth in the picture with the Naim.
On CD replay, the ARCAM was way back on the Naim with a much harsher presentation. (almost unlistenable)
The Dealer also demoed the DVD5 connected via Coax to a LINN UNIDISK. The presentation was different but not superior to the DVD5s onboard DACs.
Finally I listened to the DVD5 on cd replay against the CDX2. The CDX2 had a slightly deeper soundstage and vocals were a tad softer. However, the DVD5 was nof very far behind and certainly not out of that league completely.
I will give the DVD5 a careful listen as against my CD3.5+ HiCap when it warms up and post comments.
[LIST]
Regards P
Last week I demoed the DVD5 at a Naim Dealer, mainly for DVD watching but also for CD replay. (I have a CD3.5 + hi Cap + 102). Also in the demo rig was a CDX2 (but without the XPS power supply).
I was also considering the ARCAM DVD 79 as it was well reviewed both as a DVD and CD player and was less than half the cost.
I bought the DVD5.
On DVD replay the DVD5 was marginally better than the ARCAM. Both fed a SIM2 20H projector with HDMI connection. There was perhaps a greater depth in the picture with the Naim.
On CD replay, the ARCAM was way back on the Naim with a much harsher presentation. (almost unlistenable)
The Dealer also demoed the DVD5 connected via Coax to a LINN UNIDISK. The presentation was different but not superior to the DVD5s onboard DACs.
Finally I listened to the DVD5 on cd replay against the CDX2. The CDX2 had a slightly deeper soundstage and vocals were a tad softer. However, the DVD5 was nof very far behind and certainly not out of that league completely.
I will give the DVD5 a careful listen as against my CD3.5+ HiCap when it warms up and post comments.
[LIST]
Regards P
Posted on: 03 August 2005 by tonym
Mmm. I've got a Naim system (Active SBLs, 52 preamp, 2x250s, various other Naim amplifier stuff for the 7.1 channels of surround). I've also been the fraught owner of a TAG McLaren 32DVDR, which feeds a TAG 32R sound processor. The DVD player has proved less than reliable, and now TAG have been taken over by IAG their previously excellent service has become less so. Incidentally the processor has been fine, and sounds superb.
After the last episode of sending the blessed DVD player off for repair I thought I'd investigate biting the bullet and going for the DVD5, given my excellent experiences with the brand.
To cut a long story short, having finally demo'd the DVD5 at home, I loved its picture quality which wasn't much different to the (much more expensive) TAG, but unfortunately the sound with CD wasn't nearly as good.
No doubt when the TAG finally bites the dust I'll go for the DVD5, but I'm hoping by then there'll be a whole new technology in place. More blasted expense!
After the last episode of sending the blessed DVD player off for repair I thought I'd investigate biting the bullet and going for the DVD5, given my excellent experiences with the brand.
To cut a long story short, having finally demo'd the DVD5 at home, I loved its picture quality which wasn't much different to the (much more expensive) TAG, but unfortunately the sound with CD wasn't nearly as good.
No doubt when the TAG finally bites the dust I'll go for the DVD5, but I'm hoping by then there'll be a whole new technology in place. More blasted expense!
Posted on: 03 August 2005 by Greggles
It would appear that IAG will be continuing the TAG brand (as well as relaunching the Audiolab one) but the products seem to be at the lower middle end of the market. It would also seem that they intend to push the Quad brand in the higher end of the market
Posted on: 08 August 2005 by Richard Dane
Tonym,
an interesting post regarding the your impression of the DVD5 on CD compared to the Tag Mclaren DVD32. One thing that occurs to me though; the Tag is a transport, if I'm not mistaken, and as such uses the processor as a DAC when replaying CDs. You can also use the DVD5 this way but if you do, make sure you change the digital output from Multichannel to Stereo PCM. This gives much better sound on CD. If you hadn't made this adjustment then it could account for a less than optimum result from the DVD5. Overall though I tend to prefer the sound using the DVD5's internal DACs although without access to a huge range of external DACs this could in no way be considered definitive.
an interesting post regarding the your impression of the DVD5 on CD compared to the Tag Mclaren DVD32. One thing that occurs to me though; the Tag is a transport, if I'm not mistaken, and as such uses the processor as a DAC when replaying CDs. You can also use the DVD5 this way but if you do, make sure you change the digital output from Multichannel to Stereo PCM. This gives much better sound on CD. If you hadn't made this adjustment then it could account for a less than optimum result from the DVD5. Overall though I tend to prefer the sound using the DVD5's internal DACs although without access to a huge range of external DACs this could in no way be considered definitive.
Posted on: 16 August 2005 by tonym
Not entirely sure about this one Richard, but I'm pretty certain this was done during the "fiddling" stage by the demo man.
Posted on: 16 August 2005 by Alf Pilgrim
Tonym,
I have a similar setup to you but I feed AV only through the TAG AV32R and CD through a Chord DAC64. The difference is chalk and cheese.
As a matter of interest are you comparing the picture quality of the DVD5 with the TAG including the progressive scan board or without?
cheers
alf
I have a similar setup to you but I feed AV only through the TAG AV32R and CD through a Chord DAC64. The difference is chalk and cheese.
As a matter of interest are you comparing the picture quality of the DVD5 with the TAG including the progressive scan board or without?
cheers
alf
Posted on: 24 August 2005 by tonym
Hi Alf. My projector is a Sim 2 HT 300 Xtra with HDMI digital input, which has inbuilt Faroudja progressive scan.
Last time the TAG DVD went away for fixing I took the opportunity of having the PSM 192 prog. scan module fitted which has a DVI output. In retrospect this was a bit unnecessary, although I do currently feed the "S" video from my Sky+ box into it and the picture's really great, but then I'm toying with the idea of using RGB instead. Ho hum.
The wife bought me an X-Box for Christmas which I've soft- modified to NTSC high definition output which feeds into the Component inputs on the proj. Now that really is something!
Last time the TAG DVD went away for fixing I took the opportunity of having the PSM 192 prog. scan module fitted which has a DVI output. In retrospect this was a bit unnecessary, although I do currently feed the "S" video from my Sky+ box into it and the picture's really great, but then I'm toying with the idea of using RGB instead. Ho hum.
The wife bought me an X-Box for Christmas which I've soft- modified to NTSC high definition output which feeds into the Component inputs on the proj. Now that really is something!
Posted on: 15 September 2005 by PatG
The recent announcement from Naim concerning the Upgrade for older CD players is going to push me back into the investigatin of this issue.
I have a CD3.5 which I bought 4 years ago (2nd hand p/x with a guy who wnated my CD3) so it may be approx 6 years old.
I can "upgrade" this to a Brand New CD5x by paying my dealer £1,000 (rather than the normal RRP of £1,450) or I can maybe jump up to the CDX2 and save the £450 against the CDX2 list price.
Any recmmendations, pros or cons?
I have a CD3.5 which I bought 4 years ago (2nd hand p/x with a guy who wnated my CD3) so it may be approx 6 years old.
I can "upgrade" this to a Brand New CD5x by paying my dealer £1,000 (rather than the normal RRP of £1,450) or I can maybe jump up to the CDX2 and save the £450 against the CDX2 list price.
Any recmmendations, pros or cons?
Posted on: 15 September 2005 by Tam
PatG,
Your question is probably better answered over in the hi-fi corner. The debate about the merits of the 5x vs the cdx2 have been done to death over there, so do a quick search and you should find a number of long threads.
Personally, I think the 5x is great (I love mine), but then I haven't heard the cdx2. Probably the only way to know for sure is to demo both options.
regards,
Tam
Your question is probably better answered over in the hi-fi corner. The debate about the merits of the 5x vs the cdx2 have been done to death over there, so do a quick search and you should find a number of long threads.
Personally, I think the 5x is great (I love mine), but then I haven't heard the cdx2. Probably the only way to know for sure is to demo both options.
regards,
Tam
Posted on: 15 September 2005 by Guido Fawkes
PatG
I auditioned both CD5X and CDX2 and bought a CDX2. Be warned unless you are prepared to spend the extra just audition the CD5X, it was the best CD sound I had ever heard until my dealer plugged in that CDX2. I told him no when he said would I like to hear a CDS3.
As Tam says, hi-fi corner is packed with views on the different players. One thing is for sure, the CD5i, CD5X and CDX2 are all well worth the asking price.
If you want to know just how good a CD5X is then audition it against a Shanling or Musical Fidelity CDP - both cost more than the naim - but the CD5X would be my choice by a distance. The CDX2 is something else - very special.
Rotf
I auditioned both CD5X and CDX2 and bought a CDX2. Be warned unless you are prepared to spend the extra just audition the CD5X, it was the best CD sound I had ever heard until my dealer plugged in that CDX2. I told him no when he said would I like to hear a CDS3.
As Tam says, hi-fi corner is packed with views on the different players. One thing is for sure, the CD5i, CD5X and CDX2 are all well worth the asking price.
If you want to know just how good a CD5X is then audition it against a Shanling or Musical Fidelity CDP - both cost more than the naim - but the CD5X would be my choice by a distance. The CDX2 is something else - very special.
Rotf