Upgrade to 5 series

I haven't yet demo'ed the CD5 against the CDX2 to judge for myself how big of an improvement the latter is over the former. However, I can say unequivocally that the 200/202 combo is far better than the 150/112 combo. Although source first usually prevails, you might get more bang for your buck upgrading amplification. Needless to say, a demo probably is in order.

Good luck.

MBM

Thanks for your thoughts. Actually I'm not quite sure I am totally happy with whta the CD5/112 is doing. As I implied, I find my anologue source more attractive and lively performer.

Could I actually need more power? The room I am using is only some 11 foot by 9 foot.


JR

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Alves:
Normally I'd say source first but if you are happy with what the CD5/112 are doing I would suggest you get some more power behind those SBLs. A new 250 would be just the ticket.

Tom

Actively enjoying it all

---

Point of interest Tom because right at this moment I can't rush off and do a demo. You're a celebrated fan of the classic Naim sound yet the 200/202 is part of the new smoother order? What do you like about it? Have they managed to please all the people with this one? I haven't heard a word said against the 200/202, regardless of where the listener was coming from.

I'm getting itchy feet (subject to funds). It may pass (but it never usually does).

Cheers

Harry

I have actually demo'ed a CD5 against a CDX2 (inculding the FlatCap2) and the CDX2 is a huge improvement over the CD5, even on a smaller system like yours. It can handle the CDX2, but the player will start to show limitations of the set. I heard both players through a Nait5, and was very pleasantly surprised of the capabilities of the CDX2. Althoug I haven't yet heard a NAP250, I think you should stick to sou4rce first. Geoff P on the forum has strated out with a system like yours. I think his comment will prove most valuable, since he has done lots of similar upgrades. He did, however, keep his 150 till the end. It survived both player and pre. Not a bad lifespan, so to say.

Hi,

I am in a similar position with the same kit. Although I've been in the Naim world for only a few months I am hungry for more. Due to cost restains I plan to replace 112 with a 202+napsc and keep the 150 only later to replace the 150 with a 250 skipping the 200. Would you think this (esp. 202+150) would be logical?

Yaman

Yaman

Sounds reasonable. I love my 200/202, and can confirm that the NA PSC2 upgrade definitely is worth the money. I think many would agree that upgrading the preamp usually will result in bigger benefits than the power amp, so, if you have cost constraints, a 150/202 probably would outperform a 200/112 (although only you can make that decision for yourself after a proper demo, and it also probably will depend in part on your room and the rest of your system). With regard to your longer-term plan, by all accounts the 250 is an awesome amp. However, my understanding is that whereas the 150 or 200 can be used to power a 112 or 202, the 250 cannot power a preamp and, therefore, you would need to get a power supply (e.g., Flatcap, Hi-Cap) for your 202 if you went with the 250. Perhaps someone else can confirm this?

Good luck.

MBM

Although I have no experience of the NAP150 it appears to me to be a less powerful NAP200 (circuit boards look very similar if not the same).

The limiting factor is your NAC112. The CDX2 is better than the CD5 and well worth the extra if you can afford it but I feel that you will get a greater improvement in overall system performance if you change the preamp first to a NAC202 (with NAPSC at least). A Hicap would be preferable as well though you may find that in the short term the Flatcap2 can help out in this respect powering both the CD5 and the 202.

It may be if you are going to eventually go the CDX2 route it might be better to have a 282 instead of a 202 - remember that a 282 comes with a NAPSC in the price, it is an extra to the 202. I'm not sure if a NAC202 with Hicap sounds better than a bare 282 though I expect that it will, power supplies being crucial to performance.

The CDX2 is remarkable but the CD5 is very good indeed and capable of a virtuoso performance.

Bottom line - change the preamp.

This year i upgraded my sistem (Keeping CD5) from Nait 5 to 282 + 200.

It's interesting that usually on the forum it's the "source first" argument that takes precedent, but i have been amazed and delighted at the improvement in the whole sound that i have now with improved amps. I still think that it is the pre-amp that provided the most notible part of the upgrade, with the amount of detail that i now hear.

Similarly, i'm not too much of an upgrader, and i will be happy with the CD5 in the new set up for some time to come.

ricardo

Jayarr,

The options seem to be:
1) upgrade CDP
2) upgrade preamp
3) upgrade amp
4) upgrade power supply.

My understanding is that you listen to both vinyl and CD and that you think you'd be happy if the CD matched LP quality, but that currently your CDP sounds a bit 'glassy'.

My experience was that I needed a CDS to get rid of teh glassiness, but recently I've been very moved by both a CD5 + FC2 and CDX2+XPS. Of course, both cost more than a CDS does now....

You can reduce the glassiness by adding a PSU to CD5 or by upgrading to a CDX, CDX2, CDS, CDS2, CDS3, or even a non-Naim player(!).

A PS (Hicap, Hicap2, maybe a FC or FC2 - but better a used HC than a new FC) will improve both sources and reduce the glassiness. Also, it prepares you for a 250 if you want to go that route.

The improvements wrought by a hicap must be heard to be believed, but all the aspects of hifi that I can think of our improved by a good PSU, though I think a few people have not liked the changes. Sure, their ears are made of tin, but that's not criminal...yet. :-)

A 250 will probably make you grin, too, even in your small room, but I think the PS or CD upgarde will give more satisfaction, either as first or only step in an upgrade path.

Regards.

Phil

The NAC202 is a completly different beast to the NAC112 - just take the lid off to see that.

The 112 is based on the Nait 5, the 202 on the 102 which in itself was based on the 72 (which came from the 32.5).

I've tried a Hicap on the 112 and it still sounds inferior to the 202/102

I stand corrected.

Certainly looks and sounds completely different....