cd5i vs. arcam-cd

Welcome Johnny Boy,

This being a Naim forum, chances are most of us would say the Naim cd player sounds better than an Arcam.

I have a regular CD5, but a friend of mine has an Arcam 82. I prefer mine. But I could live with his sistem, I guess.

However, this is all irrelevant. My advice is you go to a dealer and check those cdp's through identical amplification and let your own ears decide.

Herman

i echo the above comment, what we perceive as quality is subjective, but i had a arcam cd, pre/power combination, it died to after many years of good service then i demo'ed arcam naim cyrus and pink triangle cd players and the naim shone out like the brightest star.

enjoy the demo-ing but NAIM IS THE BEST

Anselm

all art is contemporary; it is the way we look at it that changes...

I have the CD72T (now converted to 82T) my thinking at the time as this was a replacement for a dead Denon CDP, was to buy new. That ruled out a Naim CDP on price. I have not been able to do a direct comparison but after hearing a 5i amp and CDP my system was not that bad. I would welcome some constructive comparisons by any one who has done a comparison. Naim will almost certainly come out on top but not just because it has a Naim badge on it and other product does'nt.

Howard

I had the 72T it was great in my system - strong bass and smooth (rolled off) highs. I was surprised how little difference existed between the 72T and the FMJ23. Storeowner then introduced a CD5 and the system (all series 5) sprang to life. I found the FMJ considerably lacking in dynamics much like the old Arcam stuff. CD players are a case of own what you like, critics rave about the resolving ability of one player, only to warn that it reveals bad recordings ruthlessly

2 or 3 years ago I was on the market for a CDP and listened to the 92 and the full metal jacket version with the ring DACs.

I was surprised to be as disappointed as I was. I had a Sony X*7* ES CDP and I had heard the Naims. The Arcams sounded dull and very veiled to my ears. Maybe it was the shop, but the shop has been in business a long time.

Anyway, I didn't enjoy the Arcan dems.

I also haven't enjoyed the Naim CD3, CDi, CD 3.5, or CDX, either. I have enjoyed CDS, CDS2, CDX2/XPS2.

I have an LP12 with an ARO, so I naturally perceive some basic problems with CDs.

Regards.

Phil

Phil

cd5i is better then any Arcam

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

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nuno Baptista:
cd5i is better then any Arcam

---

Interesting. Have you demoed a CD5i yet?

thanks for sharing your thoughts, I hope there will be a serious review out on the cd5i soon! I think arcam is a great value-for-money product, but on the other hand, why should naim ruin their reputation by making a bad product? Just because it´s (relatively) cheap (so to naim speaking) doesn´t mean it will sound cheap? There is no reason for it, maybe we can expect a more aggresive price politic from naim to fill the "gap" between entry-level hifi and the more "serious" stuff. I don´t know, what do you think?

Johnny:

what would that review have to do with you? It's bound to be good anyway because (1) most reviews are and (2) this product is good VFM.

If you really want to know go and listen yourself.

Herman

quote:

---

Originally posted by john_e_boy:
why should naim ruin their reputation by making a bad product? Just because it´s (relatively) cheap (so to naim speaking) doesn´t mean it will sound cheap? There is no reason for it, maybe we can expect a more aggresive price politic from naim to fill the "gap" between entry-level hifi and the more "serious" stuff. I don´t know, what do you think?

---

The CD5 sometimes gets a bashing because it's at the foot of the range and therefore inferior to the more grown up Naim CDPs. But it's one of the best CDPs available at its price point. I didn't want to spend more than £1200UK on a CDP, and in that context the CD5 was and is a cracker. I expect the 5i will also kick the competition at its price point. It may even stopm on the toes of the 5. I would expect nothing less and I certainly won't be gutted or feel cheated.

Cheers

Harry

cd5 vs Arcam FMJ
cd5 wins for a great advantage

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