The CDX - My experiences

Posted by: Stephen Bennett on 15 November 2002

So, my Dealer has his personal, yearish old CDX for sale. 'OK, I'll try it' I hear myself say, and before you can say 'bankrupt' it's in my system being demmed.

Initial thoughts were, as usual, just how good a CD player the CD 3.5 is! However, on furthur listening, the 3.5/FC felt bass boomy, more muddled less spacious - though just as detailed. Interestingly, removing the FC makes the CD3.5 more of a 'CDX lite' - strengthening my suspicion that I prefer the bare CD 3.5 player. OK, so the bass is less extended, but the presentation more balanced - IMHO of course! Both the players do the 'music' thing and are a joy to listen to - the CDX seems to do it better though. But I still think the CD 3.5 is the best player available under a grand.

Just for fun, I blind-demoed the two CD's to Sara, who right away said the CDX was better and explained why in a succinct way - 'It just sounds better'.

The clincher for me was listening to 'Family Life' from The Blue Nile's 'Peace at last'. I was in tears. Paul Buchannan was in tears. My bank account was in Tears. Even the orchestra was in tears.

So the CDX stays. CD 3.5/FC anyone?

Regards

Stephen

PS Stevie Dempster & JN - it's your fault! Graham also had an ex-dem NAP180 - and I know what JN's 180'ed 160 did to my studio system. So that stays too!

Eek! My room is looking like a used Naim dealer, CD3.5, Flatcap, two NAP 140's. NAC 72!

big grin

[This message was edited by Stephen Bennett on FRIDAY 15 November 2002 at 10:18.]
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by NB
Congratulations on the purchase of your CDX. You will find that the more you listen to it, the better it gets.

The best bit of advice anyone can give you is to sit back and enjoy the music.

Regards

NB

smile
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
Anyway, enjoy rediscovering your collection until that XPS bargain comes along!


That'll have to fight with the Prophet 5 Synthesisier I really want!

I didn't want the CDX to be better, I really didn't. cool

Regards

Stephen


cool
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Hammerhead
Stephen,

The CDX will easily reveal itself to be head and shoulders above the 3.5, just you mark my words! It was apparent within the first few bars when I did the dem!

Glad to hear you're both enjoying it all. smile

Steve
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
My fault??


You sold me the NAC 102 that got me into upgrade mode again..

'I wonder if that CDX would be better throught the 102....'

Kinda stuff

wink

Stephen
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by rocketeer
Hi Steven

I also went from CD3.5 to CDX two weeks ago. I'm glad to hear from others that it could still improve over the next few weeks.

I think of the CDX to be far more than just a better player than the CD3.5. I had the chance, before upgrading, to compare the two players in two relatively long audition sessions. I agree that the CDX does some "technical" stuff, such as bass, noticeably better and that his richness in detail is absolutely comparable with the CD3.5. But only for this improvement in preciseness, i would not have gone for the CDX. Much (much!) more of a decisive factor for me was the absolutely amazing increase in sound stage and imaging. In these disciplines IMHO the CDX leaves his entry level counterpart far far behind.

By now, listening to the CDX at my home, i mainly noticed two very relevant changes to prior: a) The sound does not come from the speakers anymore, rather from the direction where the speakers stand. b) The listening position can substantially (!) vary from the ideal "stereo"-position without loosing the perception of this wonderful sound stage and 3-dimensionality the CDX produces.

As good as the CD3.5 is (and it really is for its cost), i could not live with it happily today, after having experienced the capabilities of a CDX. And guys, am i really only at the beginning of exploring it , after two weeks?

cheers

rocketeer (cdx/72/hi/140/dynaudio contour 1.3)
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Top Cat
quote:
a) The sound does not come from the speakers anymore, rather from the direction where the speakers stand.


Isn't that therefore the same as the sound coming from the speakers? It could be worse, you could find the sound coming from the mantlepiece and that would indeed be a bit strange... big grin

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by rocketeer
Hi Tom Cat
quote:
The sound does not come from the speakers anymore, rather from the direction where the speakers stand.


ok, the above was a misscaried attempt to describe - often heard and read - the effect of the speakers "disappearing".

cheers rocketeer
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
ok, the above was a misscaried attempt to describe - often heard and read - the effect of the speakers "disappearing".


That used to happen a lot when I lived in Liverpool.


wink

But I do agree Rocket......

Regards

Stephen
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Mike Sae
is that is plays trashed discs like it 'aint no thing:
Posted on: 15 November 2002 by Mike Sae
even when they're all the way through:
Posted on: 16 November 2002 by Rico
Congratulations, Stephen!

Enjoy the music. Nice to know there are still plenty of punters amongst us able to plop down a CDX and hear it play music so well, instead of starting a thirty-page thread about its sensitivity to supports! cool

Bloody hell - I trust you haven't wondered if the proceeds from that spare kit (when realised) should just about get you an XPS? big grin

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Posted on: 16 November 2002 by J.N.
Thanks for blaming me for your audio extravagancies.

Spare a thought for me: I was over at Michael's last night having a CDS/552/500/NBL's forced on me.

I worked out that the amp I'm currently using costs a THIRTYETH!!!! of a 552/500.

Scary or what?

Back on planet Earth; I've picked up a refurbished CD3 from Graham for £350.

Damn good it is too.
Posted on: 17 November 2002 by NB
Quote:-


Spare a thought for me: I was over at Michael's last night having a CDS/552/500/NBL's forced on me.
_____________________________________________________________________________


Our sympathies are sent out to you jn. I bet that was hard work!!!


Don't you find that when you hear a system as good as that, it takes a while before you can listen to your own sytem again without thinking "this is crap"??


Regards

NB
wink
Posted on: 17 November 2002 by J.N.
The secret is of course, (as with life in general) to be happy with what one has.

Is it working?

Nope.
Posted on: 18 November 2002 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
Enjoy the music. Nice to know there are still plenty of punters amongst us able to plop down a CDX and hear it play music so well, instead of starting a thirty-page thread about its sensitivity to supports!


Indeed. In fact, it was plonked on top of the Linn initially - and it still was impressive. Now it's on the support (A trianglethingy) it's even better.

quote:


Bloody hell - I trust you haven't wondered if the proceeds from that spare kit (when realised) should just about get you an XPS?


It can also get me a Sequential Prophet 5 synthesiser and a holiday.

wink

Actually, I have a requirement - it has to fit onto the rack spaces I currently have - so an XPS is out unless I lose the Pre-amp or amp!

JN wrote:
quote:
Back on planet Earth; I've picked up a refurbished CD3 from Graham for £350.


Ohh, a little bit more could have got you a 3.5.
Fancy a 140? or two?

wink



Regards

Stephen