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