hdx better than cdx2 ?

Gregg, absolutely I'm very curious myself as digital playback is the way I want to go. Interesting that there is again even among Linn boxes a difference of opinion. I appears that you did not fall in love with the Akurate DS and that's $6K or was it because it cannot achieve what you already have at home with your Naim CDP with ripped 16 bit?

What's Dave's impression? I did hear that the UI is a bit of a disaster.

The user interface is crucial, and no less so, though not more so, than the musical/sonic function of any replay.

With LP the issue was one of decent sized print and artwork on the sleeve that made up for the relative difficulty of accessing any track except the first one on the side.

With CD it was the easy access to the tracks, but not at all the packaging.

In the digital/server/hard drive world the User Interface hase to have the ease od track access of CD and the library search simplicity of iTunes, IMHO.

Given that a Macbook and Lavry have both the good musical performance and a very easy to use User Interface, I find it compelling.

With the HDX, I would have to append a bigger screen which is both untidy and adds cost to something that is already beyond my possible budget. I am not worried however.

And with a MAC Laptop, I can fold the screen down so that it is no more offensive to my eyes than any other slim black box!

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by Markus S:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
ok its going to be one of those round about answers sorry, in my case I have a full LP12 rig,a 555 with x2 555ps and the hdx with a 555ps, well I would wouldnt I?

Slumming it, eh? Come on, Paul, give that HDX the second 555PS it deserves.

I don't think he can.
Only one Burndy input off an HDX, IIRC.

Posted by GFFJ:

quote:

With LP the issue was one of decent sized print and artwork on the sleeve that made up for the relative difficulty of accessing any track except the first one on the side.

With CD it was the easy access to the tracks, but not at all the packaging.

In the digital/server/hard drive world the User Interface hase to have the ease od track access of CD and the library search simplicity of iTunes, IMHO.

Well stated George. Odd that some have commented about the comfort of liner notes on LP's or CD's. Once a web browser is at hand, you can imagine having access to far more information about the album, artists, composer, recording sessions, etc. No longer the restriction of size and printing cost. Best of all, no more reading glasses at hand.

Charlie

Georges comments regarding the user interface being crucial are right on. For me that is perhaps the main impetus to begin to experiment with computer playback. Maybe it is because I am a Mac junkie however I still maintain that at present the most elegant, easy to use interface out there right now is iTunes. Obviously the approximately 120 million people who have already purchased iPods agree - and the untold numerous numbers of people who have downloaded iTunes for both their Windows and Mac programs are also of the same opinion. And things have just gotten easier with the new Apple Remote application and an iPod Touch/iPhone.

Gary

I did not fall in love with the Akurate DS because: I have a CDS3/555PS ; and I heard a Klimax DS right after it . I did not compare the Akurate to a CDX2/CDS3 (I compared the Klimax to the CDS3) however I think that it would fare quite well - its just not a Klimax DS.

As for Davids opinion I do not want to speak for him - lets just say that people are spending most of their time in the room which has the Akurate player (the Klimax has already been sold) - it really is so convenient to use . The user interface needs improvement however lets see what the Lavry can bring to the party - no need to worry about its user interface - iTunes!

Gregg

Gregg,

I may have to give Dave a call or plan a trip to visit my family and stop by for a demo. I did call him months ago, but that was before everything was released and I know that he was impressed by the Klimax and Akurate. He had not had the gear long enough to evaluate and compare to the Naim line-up at the time, as these were still mostly company demos as you mentioned. I do think that a direct demo comparing the HDX vs. Linn DACs vs. Naim CDPs is important so you can get a real feel for where this is going (Lavry aside). I just cannot believe that Linn developed such a poor UI. While itunes is an easy UI and I agree the new itouch remote -->Mac is really nice. My favorite UI is still Sonos.

quote:

Originally posted by gary1:
Gregg,

I may have to give Dave a call or plan a trip to visit my family and stop by for a demo. I did call him months ago, but that was before everything was released and I know that he was impressed by the Klimax and Akurate. He had not had the gear long enough to evaluate and compare to the Naim line-up at the time, as these were still mostly company demos as you mentioned. I do think that a direct demo comparing the HDX vs. Linn DACs vs. Naim CDPs is important so you can get a real feel for where this is going (Lavry aside). I just cannot believe that Linn developed such a poor UI. While itunes is an easy UI and I agree the new itouch remote -->Mac is really nice. My favorite UI is still Sonos.

The best UI is Sooloos, hands down. Once you use it, you will realize just how lacking the others are. Having heavily demoed a Sooloos, I think the sound is pretty mediocre, but that user interface is just over the top.

quote:

Originally posted by Erik:
Luckily, we live in a free world. I have had the Cd555 for a couple of years in my humble system and so have a friend. I heard the NS01 in his system and was thrilled of the "rightness". The HDX with a PS555 added made me forget about CD-players and realize that HD based players is the future. I have sold my trippel5 and my only concern is if I should wait for a "HDS" or buy the HDX.

/Erik

Was there a perceivable difference between the NS01 and the HDX. I know they are technically the same thing, but WITHOUT the front touch panel (more digital noise). That would be interesting.

cj, not the same thing, the hdx audio board is very different and can also be upgraded with a psu. There is a big sound difference between the two.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
cj, not the same thing, the hdx audio board is very different and can also be upgraded with a psu. There is a big sound difference between the two.

Really! Hmm, so your saying the HDX is better, even without the PSU? Will the HDX work with Netstreams the same way the NS01 would?

Absolutely–up to six streams onto the network.