CD5 vs. CD5i

I have a CD 5 and I created two CDRs last year and had trouble with one of them, it might have been copy protected. It did that weird CD repeat thing (it wouldn't stop) so I threw it away.

Then I got a travel case from my sister, full of CDRs for Christmas this year. Illegal I know, but she innocently said I bought them can't I do this? A couple of them have wierd digitizing problems, but they don't get stuck in that mode. Mostly I have no problems with them.

glenn

Life is analogue

Just a thought but why not wait till the new DVD/CD player comes out this year and decide then? Check out the reviews at that time. that's what I'm gonna do instead of upgrading to a CDX. If it's not what I want then I'll get a cheaper DVD player to sit on the side.

glenn again

Life is analogue

I have a cd5i and have had no problems playing cdrs. I don't normally listen to many cdrs, but I have some rare records recorded on cdrs. No problems yet.

My CD5 plays CDRs fine. It has not had the PIC upgrade.

Cheers

Harry

No probs with my CDR's compilations on my CD5 just can't play some CDs (But they arn't) that I've bought as no PIC update yet. But I do know software that can copy these to CDR so I can play without problem - how silly is that!

It's very silly indeed Stuart. But what do you expect?!

I didn't realize there was an internal computer upgrade for the CD5. Is it for CDRs or something else?, and would a new CD5 have it already installed?

thanks for the many replies.

The CD5 will ONLY play CDR
The CD5i will play CDR/CDRW

Based on what I heard at dem, the CD5 trades CDRW off for decent sound - the 5i seemed to be very veiled and shut in. Mind you, it wasn't fully run in so that won't help.

The 5i takes longer to catalog discs as well - due to the RW compatibility.

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What would have followed if you had.

I've got an other question about the CD5 and CD5i

Who knows the specific difference between these twon CD players?

Is it only the technical aspect, for upgade with an flatcap. Or is there someting else?

Who got the experience with these two players

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE (i want save some money )

NAIM: NAIT5 / REGA:Radio,Planet / Siltech:Chord Cobra 2 / Dynaudio: Natural One

Robbert,

You can't upgrade the CD5i by adding a Flatcap, whereas you can with the CD5.

I have a CD5 and a FC2 which sounds excellent. I haven't heard a CD5i but it does get good write-ups (there's one in the latest issue of Hifi World which gives it 5/5) so if you are not keen on upgrading it would seem ideal.

Regards,

JonR

Could you say:

CD5i = PLANET
CD5 = JUPITER/IO

Or is the difference between the CD5/5i more less than the REGA's?

NAIM: NAIT5 / REGA:Radio,Planet / Siltech:Chord Cobra 2 / Dynaudio: Natural One

I'd go along with 5/Jupiter, but the Planet was better than the 5i I heard (yep, I DID try all four players on the same dem!).

I WANT to hear a run-in 5i though My FC'd '5 sounds excellent now.

I've had some problems with CDRs on it now - all traced to greasy centres on the CDrs (I play them in this Dell PC at work, and it has one of those crappy laptop-style CD drives, and since the unit's under the desk, you have to feel for the disc hub with your fingers - nice grease = nice slippage with the puck; blu-tak solved the problem ). RWs don't bother me - I master to them and then run a low-ish burn (ok, so it's 20x but that's as slow as my drive'll go) and they sound fairly reasonable.

After all, it's only Corrupt Disc - Derisable Audio, and vinyl's infinitely better IMHO

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I've recently done a dem between a CD5/hicap and a CD5i.

The CD5/hicap combination IS better, but not quite as you might expect.
The CD5 was more natural, had better control etc etc. However, I felt that the CD5i "grooved" better and was generally more fun to listen to.

Having recently done a comparison with a CDX2 and the CD5i, I'd say the following:

- The CD5/hicap is a great combination, but not amazing value for money. Well controlled.
- The CD5i is all groove. Don't buy it for absolute accuracy. It's not that it's inaccurate, just not as natural as the 5 or say a Quad 99.
- The CDX2 seemed to me to have very similar "groove" levels to the CD5i, but also had the accuracy and naturalness that outperformed the CD5.

domfjbrwon, it wasn't a fair comparisson then. The 5i takes some time to sound it's best, as I've heard and read. It sounded awfull the first hours I've heard it, but it improved rappidly. It was just the tip of the iceberg really, as it had been playing for just 3 hours.

The real difference should be therem I think. I haven;t had a chance to compare the two, as the CD5 was sold in the shop, and the 5i was brand new. Hopefully I'll be able to compare them someday, but it probably won't be anytime soon.

I'd say the CD5 does have to better in sonical terms, as Mr_Sukebe stated. In his experience the CD5i was more musical however. Only way to find out which you prefer is to do a demo, not forgetting to Cap the CD5, so you can hear if you'd go with a bare 5 and upgrade in a later stadium. And don't demo the CDX2, you'll be very sorry. I'm getting mine tonight.
*Jumping happily through the room*

I think a problem people are having with the 5i is that in most cases it seems that they are demoing players that are not fully run-in. It makes a huge difference. Before I bought my 5i I demoed it against the cd5 extensively. The differences are minimal. Of course, if you have the funds for an external power supply you might want the cd5 - of course, the cd5 is about $600.00 us dollars more than the 5i.

Break in: It took about a week of nearly constant playing for the player to start to really sing. I was recently reminded of this because I replaced my previous 5i with a brand new 5i and had to go through the whole break in process again. It was replaced because there is a pic upgrade for the 5i and instead of installing it, they just gave me a new player. The pic upgrade allows the 5i to play cds that do not comply with the red book standard - many of these cds are released by Rhino who re-release many recordings that were initially released on Atlantic. I only had a few cds that would not play: Coltrane "Giant Steps", Mingus "Blues & Roots" and Television "Marquee Moon". The player plays these cds fine now.

Mr. Sukebe,

That was a great write-up, thank-you very much! It sure helped me.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr_Sukebe:
I've recently done a dem between a CD5/hicap and a CD5i.

The CD5/hicap combination IS better, but not quite as you might expect.
The CD5 was more natural, had better control etc etc. However, I felt that the CD5i "grooved" better and was generally more fun to listen to.

Having recently done a comparison with a CDX2 and the CD5i, I'd say the following:

- The CD5/hicap is a great combination, but not amazing value for money. Well controlled.
- The CD5i is all groove. Don't buy it for absolute accuracy. It's not that it's inaccurate, just not as natural as the 5 or say a Quad 99.
- The CDX2 seemed to me to have very similar "groove" levels to the CD5i, but also had the accuracy and naturalness that outperformed the CD5.

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Mr sukebe

Check your privite topic.

NAIM: NAIT5 / REGA:Radio,Planet / Siltech:Chord Cobra 2 / Dynaudio: Natural One