CD5, CDX2 and Options In Between
Posted by: Naimed-In-NY on 24 January 2004
Greetings. Just thought I'd post something regarding a fascinating and enjoyable demo session I did yesterday. I demo'ed: (a) CD5; (b) CD5 + Flatcap2; (c) CD5 + Hi-Cap2; and (d) CDX2. While the results of the demo may be predictable to many, it was highly informative to me. What did I buy? Nothing. Yet.
My system: 200/202/PSC2/Marantz cdp/VPI tt set-up/Stageline/Soliloquoy 5.3 speakers. My goal: Upgrade good mid-fi cdp to a Naim cdp. I've been saving my pennies and nickels for about six months, and decided it was time to do a serious audition of Naim cdps. I've saved up enough for a CD5, and possibly a Flatcap2. I was particularly interested in seeing how the CD5 + Hi-Cap2 would compare to the CDX2. Financially, the CDX2 is out of the question at the moment, and even with some more months of saving, I have reservations about spending that type of money on a single component. My hope was that I'd really like the CD5, be blown away by adding a Flatcap2 or Hi-Cap2, and decide that the CDX2 isn't really worth the extra money. This is what I heard ...
The bare CD5 is a heck of a player. I listened to it for quite a while. My dealer was kind enough to set-up my home system (200/202/PSC2), with B&W N804s as a substitute for my speakers. The sound was excellent; clearly better than what I have at home. The CD5 did a great job of keeping instruments separated and the music just flowed. Very impressive.
Then we added the Flatcap2. I actually was slightly disappointed with the result. The combo definitely is better than a bare CD5, with deeper, better bass being the most readily noticeable improvement. However, adding the Flatcap2 did not produce a night-and-day type improvement, at least in my opinion.
Then we substituted the Hi-Cap2 for the Flatcap2. Wow. The improvement was night-and-day to my ears. Everything sounded better. Bass was better, so was the separation of instruments; the soundstage expanded in width and depth. There were other differences that I lack the vocabulary to describe articulately. I thought the difference of moving from a Flatcap2 to the Hi-Cap2 was much bigger than adding a Flatcap2 to a bare CD5. I was loving the music. I also was getting psyched. I was going to buy the CD5, save up for awhile, and then buy the Hi-Cap2. I'd be in cd heaven. Life was looking good. I actually said to my dealer that although I wanted to hear the CDX2, I couldn't believe that any cdp could sound so appreciably better than what I was hearing from the CD5 + Hi-Cap2 to justify the additional outlay.
I was wrong. It took no more than 10 seconds of listening to the CDX2 to realize it was appreciably better. It was a whole different animal. Everything was better - timing, treble, bass, you name it. The band could have been in the room. I thought of myself listening to this music at home and never wanting to leave the room. This was not what I wanted to hear. How could I now buy the CD5, save up for the Hi-Cap2, and wind up spending pretty close to what a CDX2 would cost without actually winding up with a CDX2?
After discussing things with my dealer, I decided to wait, for now. I'm going to save some more money. I very easily could live with a CD5. Adding a Hi-Cap2 to a CD5 would give me an awesome combination, and this is ultimately what I might do if financial circumstances dictate it. But, barring more pressing financial commitments and the return of my sanity, I'm going to shoot for the CDX2. The one thing I know for sure: I'm never, ever, ever going to listen to a CDS3!
Before signing off, I have to give kudos to Bruce at Innovative Audio in NYC. He's been a great source of information and is very enjoyable to deal with. He provides the type of service for which Naim dealers (at least the better ones) are famous. We spent hours together yesterday and not once did he push me towards a purchase. Whether I'll get the CDX2 or be forced to settle, happily, for a CD5 and the possibility of future upgrades, I don't know, but I do know who I'll be dealing with when it is time to buy.
MBM
My system: 200/202/PSC2/Marantz cdp/VPI tt set-up/Stageline/Soliloquoy 5.3 speakers. My goal: Upgrade good mid-fi cdp to a Naim cdp. I've been saving my pennies and nickels for about six months, and decided it was time to do a serious audition of Naim cdps. I've saved up enough for a CD5, and possibly a Flatcap2. I was particularly interested in seeing how the CD5 + Hi-Cap2 would compare to the CDX2. Financially, the CDX2 is out of the question at the moment, and even with some more months of saving, I have reservations about spending that type of money on a single component. My hope was that I'd really like the CD5, be blown away by adding a Flatcap2 or Hi-Cap2, and decide that the CDX2 isn't really worth the extra money. This is what I heard ...
The bare CD5 is a heck of a player. I listened to it for quite a while. My dealer was kind enough to set-up my home system (200/202/PSC2), with B&W N804s as a substitute for my speakers. The sound was excellent; clearly better than what I have at home. The CD5 did a great job of keeping instruments separated and the music just flowed. Very impressive.
Then we added the Flatcap2. I actually was slightly disappointed with the result. The combo definitely is better than a bare CD5, with deeper, better bass being the most readily noticeable improvement. However, adding the Flatcap2 did not produce a night-and-day type improvement, at least in my opinion.
Then we substituted the Hi-Cap2 for the Flatcap2. Wow. The improvement was night-and-day to my ears. Everything sounded better. Bass was better, so was the separation of instruments; the soundstage expanded in width and depth. There were other differences that I lack the vocabulary to describe articulately. I thought the difference of moving from a Flatcap2 to the Hi-Cap2 was much bigger than adding a Flatcap2 to a bare CD5. I was loving the music. I also was getting psyched. I was going to buy the CD5, save up for awhile, and then buy the Hi-Cap2. I'd be in cd heaven. Life was looking good. I actually said to my dealer that although I wanted to hear the CDX2, I couldn't believe that any cdp could sound so appreciably better than what I was hearing from the CD5 + Hi-Cap2 to justify the additional outlay.
I was wrong. It took no more than 10 seconds of listening to the CDX2 to realize it was appreciably better. It was a whole different animal. Everything was better - timing, treble, bass, you name it. The band could have been in the room. I thought of myself listening to this music at home and never wanting to leave the room. This was not what I wanted to hear. How could I now buy the CD5, save up for the Hi-Cap2, and wind up spending pretty close to what a CDX2 would cost without actually winding up with a CDX2?
After discussing things with my dealer, I decided to wait, for now. I'm going to save some more money. I very easily could live with a CD5. Adding a Hi-Cap2 to a CD5 would give me an awesome combination, and this is ultimately what I might do if financial circumstances dictate it. But, barring more pressing financial commitments and the return of my sanity, I'm going to shoot for the CDX2. The one thing I know for sure: I'm never, ever, ever going to listen to a CDS3!
Before signing off, I have to give kudos to Bruce at Innovative Audio in NYC. He's been a great source of information and is very enjoyable to deal with. He provides the type of service for which Naim dealers (at least the better ones) are famous. We spent hours together yesterday and not once did he push me towards a purchase. Whether I'll get the CDX2 or be forced to settle, happily, for a CD5 and the possibility of future upgrades, I don't know, but I do know who I'll be dealing with when it is time to buy.
MBM
Biggest problem with Naim is, as soon as you hear better you forget about the cheaper stuff 
.
But I was struck with awe when I heard the difference as well. I never even realized the difference would be that huge. I thought €2000,- for a player was quite a lot of money. Currently saving up for a CDX2, which costs double.
My dealer has never ever let me listen in on the 500, although it was powered on, warm and ready for takeoff. He kept me safe I guess, as I can ill aford to save up 18 grand... The player took me quite a while! Currently I am aiming fairly high, as I want to end up with a CDX2/282/250/Hi for now. Power supply's might come in later, but I have no doubts it will eventually lead to a CDS3 etc.
But you are right though. Perhaps it is best to settle down for a CD5. It does have some charmes to keep upgrading over time!
. But I was struck with awe when I heard the difference as well. I never even realized the difference would be that huge. I thought €2000,- for a player was quite a lot of money. Currently saving up for a CDX2, which costs double.
My dealer has never ever let me listen in on the 500, although it was powered on, warm and ready for takeoff. He kept me safe I guess, as I can ill aford to save up 18 grand... The player took me quite a while! Currently I am aiming fairly high, as I want to end up with a CDX2/282/250/Hi for now. Power supply's might come in later, but I have no doubts it will eventually lead to a CDS3 etc.
But you are right though. Perhaps it is best to settle down for a CD5. It does have some charmes to keep upgrading over time!
You get a CD5, then after a while add a Flatcap2, then save over a few years and buy a HiCap. You've then had a CD5 for say 5 years and have to sell it all to get a CDX2 to move on. If you get a CD5 + HiCap2 in one hit, where do you go from there but sell it?? If you spent your money on a CDX2 now, you have an option in the future to upgrade by adding a XPS2, thereby making your CDX2 a safe investment for the future. You buy a CD5+HiCap now, and its already the end of the road. Selling anything will inevitably lose you money in the long run. Hold out for the CDX2. You know (unfortunately) that you want it already!
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
You buy a CD5+HiCap now, and its already the end of the road. Selling anything will inevitably lose you money in the long run. Hold out for the CDX2. You know (unfortunately) that you want it already!
You're right. I want it! I want it! What I'm struggling with is whether I really can put aside enough "discretionary" funds for a CDX2 and, if I can, should I be spending that type of money on a cdp. With all due respect to those who may have done this, I personally would not buy the CD5 + HiCap2 at once - if I could afford to do that now, then, after what I recently heard, it would be an easy decision to spend a little more and get the CDX2. Somehow, it just seems so much easier, and less extravagent, to buy a bare CD5, enjoy the hell out of it while slowly saving up, and then a year or so later adding a Hi-Cap2. However, at least for me, the CDX2 was way better than a CD5 + Hi-Cap2. Therefore, logic tells me that instead of making two smaller purchases, I'd be better off being patient, saving up longer, and making one slightly bigger purchase and getting what I now really lust after.
See how I'm trying to rationalize this already?
Honestly, I still may just chicken out and go for a bare CD5. It really is quite a player and would be a big upgrade from what I have now. My demo also proved to me that if I bought the CD5 and had upgrade ambitions later on, the Hi-Cap2 would be worth the extra money over the Flatcap2. The CD5 + Hi-Cap2 is a great combination. I could live very happily with it. But, boy, did that CDX2 sound incredible ....
MBM
"But, boy, did that CDX2 sound incredible ...."
Just wait till you hear it with the XPS2. Go on..you know you want to.
All the best whatever you decide to do.
Just wait till you hear it with the XPS2. Go on..you know you want to.
All the best whatever you decide to do.
Im waitng for the CDX3
So I can pick up a lightly used CDX2 for about half the price
I would go with the CD5 and a used hicap which would bring you to about $3000. Thats $2000 less than a CDX2 I believe.
Im sure there is something you can do with the two grand
you just saved
So I can pick up a lightly used CDX2 for about half the price
I would go with the CD5 and a used hicap which would bring you to about $3000. Thats $2000 less than a CDX2 I believe.
Im sure there is something you can do with the two grand
you just saved
Pete
I 2nd that
Colin
I 2nd that
Colin