HDX magazine review.

I also did not say you spouted any conjecture, in fact you gave no opinion on the product at all.

kenm, I really think you need another listen as this is really not the case, not sure of the circumstances of the dem, when etc but I would think you heard a prototype or the hdx was not working or set up as it should be.

quote:

Originally posted by gary yeowell:
I also did not say you spouted any conjecture, in fact you gave no opinion on the product at all.

i gave no opinion,make that a 100 lashes.

I'm sure ritual humiliation Naim forum style, is punishment enough for you 151.

From the reviews on the DA Forum and that of my dealer, the production model of the HDX is very different than the prototype heard at the road shows. The initial impressions from the production model areso far--CD playback at CDX2 level and ripped playback between CDX2 and CDS3. If one chooses to look at pricing for comparison in relation to the "Naim CDP line-up" this is where one should expect the HDX to fall.

Ok 151, but i don't want to administer them

Interesting assesment Gary; do you know how using an XPS or 555 PS affects this?

P.S. I'm refering to the HDX, not 151's punishment.

I did wonder for a second....

quote:

Originally posted by gary yeowell:
Ok 151, but i don't want to administer them

o.k i'll get my wife on it tonight,cant wait,thank you gary.

quote:

Originally posted by 555:
I'm sure ritual humiliation Naim forum style, is punishment enough for you 151.

You are of course absolutely right 151, they are a complete waste of time, enough said. I should administer myself a chill pill.

I don't buy hi-fi mags any more but I flick through them occaisonally in Smith's. In the past I've enjoyed Malcolm Steward's reviews, which always seemed sane and balanced. When the Supernait was introduced, I happened to see a review of it by MS in Hi-Fi Choice. I remember in that review that he said his own system had remained essentially un-changed for about 20yrs (I think). OK, nothing wrong with that at all for his own personal enjoyment, but it does seem to be an odd point of comparison for judging the merits of a present-day design. In general terms, I regard all magazine reviews with deep suspicion after buying a pair of budget speakers many years ago. These were highly recommended by a very well respected reviewer, who still writes frequently for several magazines. In his absolutely rave review he declared them to be one of the best 5 speakers in the world, regardless of price. Since they cost about £60 I rushed out to get a pair. Well, they were without doubt the very worst budget speakers I have ever heard, and very shoddily made and finished. Back to the shop they went and I ended up with a pair of small Castle speakers (can't remember the model). I now take all reviews with a large pinch of salt. Has anyone seen the one of a new Cyrus CD player (What Hi-Fi? I think) costing about £600, declaring it to be better in some important ways than the CDS3/555ps? Let's all go and buy one then!

Regards,

Peter

what hi-fi,w----rs.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
kenm, I really think you need another listen as this is really not the case, not sure of the circumstances of the dem, when etc but I would think you heard a prototype or the hdx was not working or set up as it should be.

Paul,
I listened to the HDX model which was demonstated at your Roadshow, held at Audio Counsel, Cheadle. If there is another demonstration in my area using a better version of the HDX, then I would be most interested in listening to it.
The particular machine I heard was the one Naim was using to promote the HDX. It was set up by the excellent Dave Fitton so I have no doubt that it was performing properly. I can only say what I heard under those circumstances.
Was it (like the Powerline demonstrated on the same occasion) released too soon?
Ken

Paul,

There does seem to be some strange comment from you guys on this item. I went to the Tom Tom demonstration and I'm inclined to agree with Ken.

To be fair, when asked by a member of the audience, Mark Raggett stated that he felt the HDX's sound quality was slightly better with a ripped CD than playing a disc. When asked where he saw the HDX's sonic performance as compared with the CDP range - he said around bare CDX2 level.

That seemed a pretty accurate assessment when the demonstration took place. Of course taking a bare HDX and comparing it with one powered by an XPS2 and then Powerline merely points out that it can be improved - albeit at significant cost. It doesn't do much to help people understand where it sits compared to the CDPs.

Ever since this feedback, there has been rumour and comment that somehow the units that were being demonstrated are some way short of the quality of production units. Unless my dealer lends me one, I won't be able to tell. But it seems a pretty flawed strategy to rush out a box that isn't as good as you intend it to be. It's not an approach I recognise from previous Naim product launches.

I appreciate the chance to give honest feedback on a forum like this. I had looked forward to hearing it because I already have positive experience of the advantages of "distributed audio".

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Steve S1:
Paul,

There does seem to be some strange comment from you guys on this item. I went to the Tom Tom demonstration and I'm inclined to agree with Ken.

To be fair, when asked by a member of the audience, Mark Raggett stated that he felt the HDX's sound quality was slightly better with a ripped CD than playing a disc. When asked where he saw the HDX's sonic performance as compared with the CDP range - he said around bare CDX2 level.

That seemed a pretty accurate assessment when the demonstration took place. Of course taking a bare HDX and comparing it with one powered by an XPS2 and then Powerline merely points out that it can be improved - albeit at significant cost. It doesn't do much to help people understand where it sits compared to the CDPs.

Ever since this feedback, there has been rumour and comment that somehow the units that were being demonstrated are some way short of the quality of production units. Unless my dealer lends me one, I won't be able to tell. But it seems a pretty flawed strategy to rush out a box that isn't as good as you intend it to be. It's not an approach I recognise from previous Naim product launches.

I appreciate the chance to give honest feedback on a forum like this. I had looked forward to hearing it because I already have positive experience of the advantages of "distributed audio".

Steve

Steve, I was specifically told b someone in the know that the units shown over the summer as the prototype at the demos was still a pre-production unit and that Naim was re-working the HDX to improve music quality. The unit whichwas demoed by my dealer last week was the final production unit and as I've commented he felt that the final version was as a CD player the "bare HDX" was on a par with the CDX2 better with ripped 16 bit files. 24/96 files a different kettle of fish!!Furthermore, he also said that this is not the first time since he's been working with Naim for about 25 years that pre-production units which were demoed were significantly improved by the time the production units appeared.

As far as the HDX with PS they listened to it with the 555PS, but not an extended listen and needed to really look at the XPS2 vs. 555PS after they receive their unit to really comment further.

I heard the same system as Ken and I have to say I didn't think there were any significant set up issues beyond the fact that the Druids along with other Zu speakers seem to drag out more of what is there. I too would have said CD5 level rather than anywhere near my CDX2/XPS2 and having now heard that same CDx2/202/200 system with Zu Presence I cannot see that a HDX comes anywhere near that.

Interestingly, I was auditioning speakers at another dealer who seems to have elicited a number of HDX sales on the back of Summer Sounds and their view was also that we were at CD5 levels. I am given to understand that such comments were made on the back of having heard at least two HDXs in differing contexts!!!

I'm not likely to be a purchaser and I would certainly like to hear a production model but I do wonder whether those who would be in line to purchase anyway are in danger of getting caught up in the hype. Anyone remember the first CD players. They got incredible reviews too. We know better now though don't we!!!

Mike

I wonder if the introduction of the HDX will turn out to be a similar story to the n-Vi, with many problems in early production units, some of which still persist even now. I previously owned a DVD5/AV2 combination and whilst performance was excellent (particularly sound) I have to say that it was riddled with very annoying software/firmware problems. Some of these were resolved by an update, but by no means all of them. The overall impression was of an under-developed product that wasn't really fully market-ready. Depending on your stance, you could see this as "quaintness", an almost likeable eccentricity of the products, or as totally unacceptable in products at this price point. I am now inclined to take the latter view. I now own a Pioneer DVD player and a Sony A/V receiver. Excellent sound and picture. No operational issues at all - everything works perfectly just as it should do. Absolute performance is nowhere near as far below the Naim set-up as the price differential would suggest and these products feel complete and inspire confidence in use, which the DVD5/AV2 certainly did not.

Regards,

Peter

Hmmm... me not like I read.

So in conclusion, those that own CDX2s and above feel the HDX is not as good, those that don't think it is.

This seems very reminiscent of when the olive range was replaced by the new one.

Haha. Welcome to future.

I haven't heard it, but I don't like hard disks; 35 years I've worked in the industry and we're still using error prone, noisy hard disks.

At least there are signs this changing with the MacBook Air.

BTW does anybody know any music server software I can run on my Amiga computer

Gees.

Maybe I am deaf.

I thought that the HDX was pretty good.

The thing is tho, it depends on which CD you rip from.
An HDX is not going to turn a shitty sounding CD into a pretty thing all of a sudden.

It varies file by file. So, on average, tho, I thought was on par with an *x* series CD player, on a bare form, but on some recording when a 555PS was added it was closer to *s* series machine some of the time. Not all the time.
I didn't even tried a high resolution file.

I don't know the absolute cuz, I haven't lived with it long enough, but I am somewhat relieved that a CD555 still rulz.

munch.

I wish.

I am too busy playing records!

But if I ever decided to get back into the file playing, HDX is definitely the one. Or some Naim DAC down the line.

And God forbid, if there is a good enough Naim ADC, I'm gonna start digitising all my LPs. :x