HDX - some thoughts after the first few weeks

Posted by: EJS on 13 April 2011

Time flies when you're having fun, can't believe it's been weeks since the HDX arrived. Thought I'd share a few thoughts for those potentially interested in it:

 

- Ease of use: Naim has done a commendable job of keeping the various interfaces simple. My preferred means of control is the supplied remote in combination with the small screen on the unit. Selecting an album with the numerical keys is fast, and I find that opening the macbook just to start an album is a disturbance. An iPAD is in the cards but not essential as I'm finding out;

 

- Sound quality: everybody has a different opinion it seems, mine is that it sounds bloody fantastic. The HDX has plenty of character and may benefit from but does not need upgrades to sound good. Very close to CDX2 in the context of the rest of my system;

 

- It's an ideal partner with a Senseo coffee machine: easy access to coffee and easy access to music makes for the best mornings. The music is better than the coffee for sure;

 

- My sons (2 and 4) love the colour screen. They know it's not a touch screen, of course;

 

- I've convinced my signficant other that this is NOT another CD player, but a complementary device with very different functions;

 

- Database information is excellent on the whole. For older albums, individual tracks are not always named correctly but not a big deal to me. For new albums, it takes a while before the database is updated so I tend to not rip the newest of the newest.

 

- DTC for uploading cover art and fast renaming works well under OSX, running a Windows virtual machine;

 

- The unit gets warm to the touch, not more than that. Drive temperatures when operating or silent remains around the 45 degree C mark, the fan hasn't come on yet as far as I've been able to see

 

- If you're still reading this, you spend too much time here and should really head over to the Music Room!

 

Cheers,


EJ

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Asenna04
Originally Posted by EJS:

 

If you're still reading this, you spend too much time here and should really head over to the Music Room!

Already listerning to music. This is just a casual read while doing the most important thing.

 

ASenna04

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Klout10

Hi EJ,

 

Nice writing, glad you like the HDX as much as I do. I can't remember the times I bought so much music since I've got the HDX. I'm sure once you've got an iPad you'll like it even more!'

 

Regards,

Michel

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by John Bailey
I too am enjoying the HDX. I've ripped about 300 discs so far and it's been pretty painless. Before the HDX I'd done the computer ripping thing and used a Sonos (a good option on a budget - Sonos is excellent value) but the HDX is on a different level both in terms of convenience but also sound quality and cataloging/searching the metadata. It seems to me that the NDX is a response to consumer demand for a streamer rather than Naims prefered way of approaching the problem of building and maintaining a high quality digital archive.