CD5 or CD2 against Rega Planet 2000 or Rotel 991 AE

Back in 2001 I did similar, don't know if the Planet has changed since then. Also listened (amoung other things) to the Jupiter 2000. Both surperp players at their price points but to my ears and in my system the CD5 walked it. More tuneful, more detail and more bass.

Planet and Jupiter sounded like very different beasts to me and if I had to choose one to listen to for hours on end, I'd go for the Planet. It's got a lovely presentation but doesn't get as much information out as the Jupiter, which is stunningly fast and detailed - but relentless. CD5 sounded more "grown up". The later addition of a S/H Hi Cap was like getting a brand new player all over again.

Cheers

Harry

I compared both Jupiter and cd 5.In the end I bougth the cd 5.Don´t compromise your system with the source,buy the best one

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

I compared the Planet 2000, Jupiter and CD5 at some length in my system in 2002. I would summarise them as:

Planet 2000: Fun, but a bit on the lightweight and thin side.

Jupiter: Very smooth, almost valvelike, but lacking in drive and impact.

CD5: Much better drive and all-round definition, particularly in the bass.

I bought the CD5 and later a Hicap to go with it, but the Jupiter certainly has its good points, especially the midrange, and I could have lived with it.

The downside for the Rega players is that they can't be upgraded with an external power supply. Put a Hicap on the CD5 and it's no contest.

When I bought my PLanet 2000 it was the best thing I could find ffor the money, mine was a 2 month old ex-dem machine that had only been used twice and I picked it up for £425.

After I bought it I asked the dealer to put on the CD5 just to hear the difference, (I could not afford it so it was just out of interest) the CD5 is much better in all arears, but is more than twice the price so it ought to be.

If I could have affoded the CD5 I would have bought it, so if you can streach to it then go for it.

In context though, I do not think anything can deliver the music like the PLanet 2000 at its price point. Its limitation though is it sounds like a realy good mid-fi CDP, the CD5 sounds like a proper grown up HiFi CDP - different league, but I could not afford it at the time.

Simon

I compared a Rega Planet (presumably a 2000) and a CD5 three or four years ago.

Although the Planet did some things well [e.g. attack and tonal colour] and could convey a sense of great beauty, the overall effect was mostly too boring for me to consider buying one. Its timing at low frequencies was poorer than the CD5s but this may not be noticeable with many speakers - the problem was not even evident with Kans, for example.

I found the CD5 so much better that I didn't really spend any time thinking about difference between them. I would have bought a CD5 had I not decided to upgrade my arm and pre-amp instead.

2 weekends ago I dem'd the Planet 2000 (if it's the central load one it's the 2000, Jeremy, and it has had a rethink to the lid since launch), a Jupiter, a CD5i and a CD5, using a NAIT5/Dynaudio Audience 42s (I LOVE these speakers but my Elas are faster)

The Jupiter and CD5 were cold, the 5i/Planet had been warming up, as I own a Planet Mk1 and wanted to hear the nearest thing to it. The CD5i probably wasn't run in fully, but it sounded VERY messy and jumbled together - but with good PRaT. The Planet was clearer by a country mile, and not as relentless.

We then stuck the Jupiter in, and it was better detail-wise than the Planet, but as described, relentless.

Onto a frozen CD5 - and right from cold it was better than all the others - maybe not as ultimately groovy as the 5i, but at least you could hear frequencies over 1kHz on it properly (like I say, it wasn't fully run-in, so not fair to judge too much!).

In my own system (after a home dem) the CD5 is sounding pretty good; bass IS controlled but fairly thin. I guess this is down to running in perhaps? Either way I'm going to Flatcap it sooner rather than later. Via headphones though it sounds fantastic, so maybe my Elas should be retweetered?? They only cost me £50 so I'd not be too worried about the cost of new tweets

Certainly though, when I put the Planet back in after the home dem (before I got the CD5), the system sounded broken - the Planet's top end is nowhere near as civilised, and the bass is quite bloomy.

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

If you are thinking about a planet 2000 v. cd5, I would go for the cd5i. While the 5i does not have the capacity for an external power supply it really does not need one. For $550.00 less than the cd5 it is an absolute bargain. Do not listen to the rubish regarding the "i" series coming from this forum. You must realize that very few people have actually spent any considerable time listening to this player. It has only been available for like a month! I have had mine for about three weeks and it is fantastic. Before I purchased, I demoed it vs. cd5 and rega planet. The planet is really no contest - but if you want a cheaper player it is very nice indeed. A bare (no external power supply) cd5 is a close call with the 5i. I almost pulled the trigger and bought the 5, but ended up with the "i" version. Reason: I need a flatcap for my Nait5 and Stageline. A flatcapped 5 costs about about $1000 more (that is including half the price of the flatcap2) than the 5i. Have yourself a serious listening session with the 5i and you will have a tough time leaving with the planet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by domfjbrown:
In my own system (after a home dem) the CD5 is sounding pretty good; bass IS controlled but fairly thin. I guess this is down to running in perhaps?

---

Similar here. It took a month to settle down. After that, the novelity of tight tuneful bass without much oomph wore off. Speakers were moved about in the room. New cables were installed. Speakers were moved about again. Then I bought a S/H HiCap. Problem solved.

This is not to detract from the wonderful presentation of a bare CD5. Nor in any way a poke at the 5i. I haven't heard one but I can't believe Naim would produce anything other than a world beater at any price point, including that of the 5i.

Cheers

Harry

(I really really wanted to to like the Jupiter, but good though it obviously was, we were not meant for eachother - but it's a damn fine player by any measure).

I totally agree with bazz on this one.
He has hit it right on the head, I demo`d these 3 CD players for ages, and made a huge mistake, that cost me big bucks.
Took Planet home, burnt in, good player but could not live without the excitement of my previous Arcam 6, still very good value for money.
Went back bought Jupiter extra 500 notes, brought home, burnt in, a fantastic cd player beautiful with female vocals, soul music etc that kind of sound BUT with a larger spectrum of musical material it just was not to my taste, it seemed to me that it has been tuned for a vinyl type of fan, which athough I am, it still was just too slow, slightly heavy in the bass, and lacking shear excitement, I noticed this especially with electric guitar-- the Hendrix factor was just not there.
So ended up having to cough up another 500 odd squids for the CD5 where the whole point in the first place was not to go there!
Its all a balancing act.

quote:

---

Do not listen to the rubish regarding the "i" series coming from this forum

---

Yeah, you're completely right. What the hell would anyone here know about what they like and don't like about a Naim product!!! Mmmmmmmm.

The 5i is a great player at the price point so congratulations and all that but I, and a great many others here have done a fair bit of A/B demoing and preferred the bare 5. The addition of either cap to the 5, preferably the Hi, ends the comparison conversation IMO. You and others here may think different and that's not rubbish, that's great, horses for courses and all that. Listened to Jupiter and Planet eons ago and much preferred the CD5. Never heard a CD2 but they get rave reviews from owners and you should should jump at the chance of a listen if there's one around. Easiest to get yourself a second-hander or xdemer CD5 and then you've got the cap option in your back pocket for your birthday present to yourself.

"Yeah, you're completely right. What the hell would anyone here know about what they like and don't like about a Naim product!!! Mmmmmmmm."

Bigmick,
If you read my previous reply carefully you will see that I made no claim that the cd5 was inferior to the 5i. I simply said "it is a close call" between the 5 (bald) and "i". So I am not really sure what your problem is. I chose the 5i because I have other concerns regarding upgrading (fltcap 2 for my nait5 and stageline), and by the time I could get an external power supply for the cd5 I would probably be ready to upgrade the whole player. Regarding your rant about what you like: You can like whatever you want. I have no problem with this. The point of my previous reply was merely to point out that people on this forum seem to think they know what the 5i is capable of with a short dealer demo. If you believe Naim's own claims of break in period, then certainly the player should improve over a few weeks of usage. I have owned my player for 3 weeks and it sings. So enjoy your cd5, and do attempt to read a post before you rant about what you think someone said. Or don't.

Gavagai
I think you should read the post that that you're replying to. Bigmick seemed to be finding a problem specifically and uniquely with your assertion that other forum members who had preferred the CD5 to the 5i were talking rubbish. In this regard I have to admit that I too find your statement to be a bit off and your reply post needlessly bitchy. Apart from his concern at your tone, his post didn't appear to contain any rant whatsoever.

FWIW. I have only heard 5i at Heathrow, sounded great but I know what a difference an old Hicap made to my 5. Put off a player upgrade for 2 years. Not rubbish.

Hmmm - the 5i I heard CAN'T have been run in at all as it was all over the place - even losing whole instruments from mixes (well, not literally, but compared to even the Planet...) - would like to hear a properly run-in one though.

My 5's bass is slowly getting deeper - last night it was sounding pretty damn good. I KNOW people say "hold off for a Hicap" but I've got a deal (hopefully) working out on a Flatcap for mine; I'll save up for a Hi for when I either get the NAIT3 serviced/pre/power mod'd - so I can move the Flatcap onto that...

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

If my original post was your idea of a rant I foresee some very difficult times ahead for you outside in the big, bad world.

quote:

---

I made no claim that the cd5 was inferior to the 5i

---

At the risk of descending into a Derek & Clive double header, where exactly did I claim that you did?

My problem with your post was your assertion to the original poster that anyone who had thus far opined negatively on the 5i was talking rubbish. This is unsupportable nonsense as the opinion of each forum member is equally valid. I gave up 2 weekends to accompany a work mate on his auditions. The auditions were lengthy and exhaustive and on both occasions the 5i had been warmed up and auditioned by others. The 5, though obviously run in, was cold, unplugged on the shelf. The 5i was a blinder, but both myself and my friend preferred the 5. He still does. Sure the 5i would get better after a few weeks but so would the 5. After years of auditioning stuff you can frequently tell if something does or does not grab you from the off. Both the 5, the CDX and CDX2 had me saying "get your coat you've pulled luv". Unfortunately the CDX2 is currently beyond my means but I don't have to take one home for a month to know that I want one badly.

quote:

---

enjoy your cd5

---

Thanks, but bit difficult as I sold it on some time ago. Enjoy your 5i, it's still a great player and much more rewarding than a Planet.

I can assure you that this wasn't a rant either. Nor indeed rubbish.

"I think you should read the post that that you're replying to. Bigmick seemed to be finding a problem specifically and uniquely with your assertion that other forum members who had preferred the CD5 to the 5i were talking rubbish."

Harvey,
Please look very closely at my original post. I never said anything about preference between 5 and 5i. I think for the most part, most do prefer the 5 over the 5i. That is not rubbish. Rubbish is trashing a cd player that very few people have actually demoed (extensively) and even fewer people own. I did an extensive demo of the 5 v. 5i and my reasons for taking the 5i was not better sound if you look at my previous post. Like I said earlier, I almost bought the 5, but it was money and upgrade concerns that prompted my buying the 5i. I recommend the 5i for someone possibly interested in the Rega planet because it (5i) is certainly closer in price than the cd5. That is a fact. Of course the cd5 with a highcap will blow the roof off the planet and the 5i. You would only expect that from a player from naim costing more than twice as much.
What I consider rubish is the fact that many people on this forum make claims about seperation, bass response, etc. regarding the 5i which are quite simply not accurate. Many also claim that a bald 5 is vastly superior to a 5i. They are very close, with the 5 having slight merits in a few categories. And of course, the possibility of adding a separate power supply to the cd5 is a huge plus. However the 5i is Naim's version of a budget player (which is kinds funny considering it still costs $1650.00). If money is not an option I would take the 5, but resources are always being divided betweeen, vinyl, cds, and upgrades. Maybe I should consider opening a savings account instead?

Sorry. What was the question again?

quote:

---

Originally posted by gavagai:
If money is not an option I would take the 5, but resources are always being divided betweeen, vinyl, cds, and upgrades. Maybe I should consider opening a savings account instead?

---

Why? Savings accounts have a return of about 1% more than buying second hand Naim and hanging onto it for a bit. That's why I'm blowing some of my meagre savings on a Flatcap. Should have it on Sunday

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.