Replacing my CD5x?

Posted by: JBGood on 24 March 2011

I have greatly enjoyed my CD5x/XS/FC2x/NACA5/TotemArro system for the past few years. I am about to take the plunge into streaming audio. I am currently playing with an iTunes/AppleTV/DacMagic setup. Pleasant, but not satisfying enough to my ears.

If I sold my CD5x, can folks offer me a few streaming options that might offer comparable audio quality to my current system? I've been reading the various options on this forum. To be honest, the number of possibilities is a bit overwhelming.

Any reason that I should not part with the CD5x? I am not wedded to physically holding circular discs.

Also, where might I find a current US Naim price list?

Thanks.

Posted on: 24 March 2011 by aysil

I understand you are not into "physically holding circular discs" any more. Reading the other question you posted today, and the fact that you desire a comparable/superior audio quality to CD5x, it seems NDX is the way to go. If most of your collection is on CD's and not on downloaded music, an alternative with on-board ripping solution is the HDX. In both cases, you will need neither AppleTV nor DacMagic any more and don't need to worry about anything else for a long time.

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by naimUnT

Get the NDX and dbpoweramp CD ripper! Considering your previous system I don't think you should get less than NDX. Anything less will not musically satisfy for sure!

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by dk2

NDX; just got one and it sounds great.

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by dave marshall

As mentioned above, if you have lots of CD's already, I can recommend the HDX.

It's been said that, in standalone mode, it's on a par with your existing CD5X, but when you add the Naim DAC, and finally the 555 power supply...........sonic nirvana!

So much so, that my CDS3 player will soon be departing.

Hope this helps................though maybe it's taking you into territory best left alone!

Regards,

Dave.

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by AMA

If you are OK with computer playback then buy HiFace/nDAC .

If you are OK with non-Naim streaming then buy SBTouch/nDAC -- more comfortable than computer playback.

Both options will be the cheapest upgrade for CD5X and the most advanced in sonic terms.

If you want a purpose-built Naim streamer -- that's NDX.

If you are not comfortable with manual ripping then HDX is the choice.

All of the above options leave the door open for a XPS which in my practice made a huge leap in SQ.

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by Asenna04

AMA,

Interesting that you rate SBTouch/nDAC higher then NDX on it's own. Is this based any serious testing?

Some question the digital feed into the nDAC from the SBTouch as being not optimal. And we all know the NDX does not have the superior DAC in the nDAC. So the question is, is the SB input deficiency greater or less then the by how much the NDX is behind the nDAC.

Then again others have said the difference is of voicing or the SQ difference between them is very little.

ASenna04

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by DavidDever

U.S. Retail Price List, Dec 2010

US_Retail_Price_List_Dec_2010.pdf

Please contact your retailer, or call us with any questions–prices are effective December 1st, 2010 and are subject to change on or around April 1st - more to follow.

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by aysil

These look much higher than the UK prices. Am I mistaken?

Posted on: 25 March 2011 by DavidDever

Ever strapped a pair of speakers on your back and walked through Customs?

Freight and duty make up the biggest portion of the differential.

Posted on: 26 March 2011 by AMA

Originally Posted by Asenna04:

AMA,
Interesting that you rate SBTouch/nDAC higher then NDX on it's own. Is this based any serious testing?

Asenna04, I didn't say that.

In the above post I have put the options in investment-growing order.

Posted on: 27 March 2011 by Klout10

Originally Posted by aysil:

These look much higher than the UK prices. Am I mistaken?

Did you already took a look at the prices over here in The Netherlands?

Regards,

Michel

Posted on: 28 March 2011 by mutterback

I have a very similar system - CD5xs/Nait XS/Flatcap with Totem Hawks - and have been looking into a Sonore Music Server. For a bit over $1K + a DAC it seems like a great option to get started.

A bit hard to take the plunge, as they have no dealers. Would love to know if anyone has heard one of these....

There's a very detailed review here:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Sonore-Music-Server-Review

Available online here: http://www.sonore.us/

I've been chatting with Sonore via email and the phone, these guys are amazingly helpful and open to configuration options. Love the features of the Vortexbox software that drives it - it includes the squeezebox server which manages music, ripping and internet radio.

I may very well get one and will let you know.

Posted on: 29 March 2011 by JBGood

Mutterback,

Always good to find another Naim +Totem lover. How long have you had your current system? Do you plan on keeping your CD5xs?

What is guiding your choice to look at Sonore Music Server vs a PC/MAC based approach?

Do you already own a DAC? If not, what are you aiming at?

Yes, very hard to take the plunge on a purchase when cannot demo locally. I can totally relate.

Regards.

Posted on: 29 March 2011 by Tog

Jesus over at Sonore will look after you.

They licence Vortexbox and have tweaked it.

They will also custom build the server to your requirements - SSD for VB and storage with dig out or network streaming in a fan less case.

Tog

Posted on: 29 March 2011 by mutterback

Originally Posted by JBGood:

Mutterback,

Always good to find another Naim +Totem lover. How long have you had your current system? Do you plan on keeping your CD5xs?

What is guiding your choice to look at Sonore Music Server vs a PC/MAC based approach?

Do you already own a DAC? If not, what are you aiming at?

Yes, very hard to take the plunge on a purchase when cannot demo locally. I can totally relate.

Regards.

I've had my system for less than a month! So, I'm planning on keeping the CD player for a long while. Debated even getting one in the first place. But, I have so many CDs and the CD5x sounded so sweet. I know it'll be the last CD Player I ever buy.

I'm looking for a music server because:

- its a great UI/form factor and I love the idea of driving it from a nice ipod or ipad interface:

- I already spend 8+ hours/day in front of a computer for work. Listening to music shouldn't feel like work.

- I want at least 1TB of storage. I have a powerbook I'm about to retire, but doesn't have a large hard drive. I would still need outboad storage, which is loud and eats a lot of power to leave on all the time. Also running a consumer NAS or USB drive 24/7 isn't reliable, then you need to wake up Mac/PC *and* the NAS, reboot, blah blah blah.

I don't have a DAC yet, which was another reason to start off with the CD player. A few options I'm considering

- Sonore can configure a Lynx Studio card with a DAC internally. This gives you less flexibility, but I really like it given the form factor I'm going for (1 nice box.) the Lynx DAC technology and PCI cards are supposedly fantastic.

- I'm waiting to hear new Peachtree iDac and Rega DACs in so I can compare them. The iPod doc on the Peachtree is really attractive to my family.

Posted on: 29 March 2011 by Tog

Sonore to SuperNait would be great - either using the Lynx Dac or the SN internal dac.

However, direct into an nDac would probably give you more flexibility.

The Sonore is a great alternative to the HDX.

Tog