Naim Cd5si ?
Posted by: AshM750 on 01 November 2015
Hi all, I have just purchased a Naim CD5si from my dealer and will be picking it up on Thursday, it will be replacing my TEAC T1 and Eastern Electric DAC. This is mainly due to age of my TEAC and also its just too big.
I have also just purchased a Hegel H360 integrated amp with built in DAC, which through the TEAC sounds brilliant, but like I said its getting old and its a bit big. The Naim CD5si is very good and it was all I could afford but my question is.....
Why do they not allow you to use an external DAC? It's not fair, it would work so well as a Transport aswell, I am still having doubts and thinking of sending it back due to this problem. The trouble I have is there isn't another CD player out there that seems to be as good as the CD5si for that price new. I would just like the option. I suppose I will just have to wait and see what it's like the Teac/Hegels internal Dac vs Naim CD5si.
Thanks
Ash
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Aceone
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
Hi there, yes it is.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Aceone
you would have been better off buying a second hand cd5x much better cd player and you can upgrade it to at a later date
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
I was thinking about it but I'm sick of buying used equipment, in the last 3 months I've had shed loads broken Hifi through my door due to bad packing and equipment that just has not looked after.
I've bought a brand new set of speakers, amp and CD player. At least I have warrenty ect
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Aceone
i buy mine second hand from my naim dealer you always get warrenty from a naim dealer
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by The Strat (Fender)
Okay you make a valid point but although I can't validate this I think you'll find the.DAC stage in the CD5si considerably more capable than that in the amp. Just enjoy what the Naim does - an excellent player v
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
You maybe right, let's just wait and see. I'm going to be surprised if the DAC in the CD5si beats the Hegel DAC, it is Hegels best integrated amplifier. But who knows, I hope your right.
As for used equipment from dealers, I believe you are not covered on the laser mech, even on new CD players your only covered for a year. 5 years for everything else I think.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hungryhalibut
Well, here is a different question. As the Hegel includes a DAC and streamer, why do you need to waste all that money on a CD player? Just put the CDs onto a nas and off you go.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
Hi There, that is a very good question, I'm glad you brought it up.
A. I can never part with my CD collection.
B. Streaming quality is never as good as CD in my opinion.
C. I have my apple Mac pro full of high quality rips and don't get me wrong it's very convenient but its not the same as putting a CD in.
D. I love the way you open naims CD tray lol
I hope this answars your question, in my opinion streaming/CD rips will never replace cds.
What do you think?
Thanks
Ash
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hungryhalibut
I think you are wrong! I have well over 2,000 CDs, but they all live in boxes in the loft. Streaming from my nas to my Naim streamer sounds better than playing the CDs on anything other than a really top notch CD player. I suspect that the DAC and streamer in your amplifier will be better than playing them via the cd5si, but that's just a suspicion. As you already have a Mac stuffed with music, I cannot see why you'd possibly want a CD player. If you really, really want one, you'd be better getting a used cd5x, cd5xs or cdx2. All will sound better than the 5si and won't lose half their value as soon as you walk out of the shop. Of course it's your money, but I think you'd be a mug to buy the 5si.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
I definetly want a CD player but I think you maybe right about the CD player. It won't be here until Thursday so do you think I've got enough time to cancel?
Cheers
Ash
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hungryhalibut
You will need to work that out with your dealer. If I was buying your amp and wanted a CD player I'd look for a Meridian or Linn with a digital output, and connect to your DAC. £250 should do it.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
It states on there terms and conditions that they will accept returns unopened 14 days after purchase. So I should be OK. As for meridian/Linns, I still have the same problem as before, there old and the life span could be short.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Christopher_M
Hi Ash,
Congrats on a nice CD player.
Naim gear often sounds best in matching sets. For instance your CD5si and a Nait 5si. I'd be interested to hear that combo with some Naca5 speaker wires against the CD5si and the Hegel amp, into the same speakers. I think it quite possible that the performance of the Naim combo may render your DAC questions superfluous, and also may force you to ask yourself that if CDs sound this good, so engaging, why stream?
Cheers,
Chris
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hungryhalibut
If we are going down that route, for the price of the Hegel and the 5si, Ash could get a Supernait 2 and a recent used CDX2.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Christopher_M
Fair enough, I don't know anything of the Hegel amp. But Ash, you get my point.
C.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hafler3o
Originally Posted by AshM750:
A. I can never part with my CD collection.
B. Streaming quality is never as good as CD in my opinion.
C. I have my apple Mac pro full of high quality rips and don't get me wrong it's very convenient but its not the same as putting a CD in.
D. I love the way you open naims CD tray lol
I hope this answars your question, in my opinion streaming/CD rips will never replace cds.
What do you think?
Thanks
Ash
Ash, you need to keep your physical media if you rip (backup / copyright etc). Streaming quality is better, as the secure digital rips (if using dbpoweramp etc) will be verified against other users' rips, and if necessary errors corrected. Cds are still bought, but not played in this house anymore.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
I've had nait xs and 5i2 and they would never come close to the Hegel, I've heard the supernait 1 aswell but the Hegel was way, way better. Like I said though I like the Naim CD players its just a shame there's no digital output. It looks as if I may have to cancel the order for the CD5si. I just wish it had that digital input.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by hungryhalibut
Look out for a recent used CD5xs. This has the digital output you are looking for.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
Thanks guys, really appreciate your help, I will also try streaming alot more aswell.
Ile keep you updated on my progress.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by Christopher_M
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:
Look out for a recent used CD5xs. This has the digital output you are looking for.
As does the CDX2.2, if indeed the Hegel amp is oh so bless-ed.
C.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by badlands
Originally Posted by AshM750:
Hi There, that is a very good question, I'm glad you brought it up.
B. Streaming quality is never as good as CD in my opinion.
Ash
What you say is absolutely true, I agree with you 100%. You do not need a very high dollar player to better streaming, and that indeed includes players like the Apollo R, Atoll CD50 SE2, and the CD5si. I guess we both are deaf, but HH said the same thing about certain racks and speaker cables and made an about face on his previous recommendations so you never know.
Posted on: 01 November 2015 by AshM750
Thanks for agreeing, every time I have compared streaming to CD it just isnt as good.
Posted on: 02 November 2015 by Stephen Tate
The CD5si is one groovy player.
Regardless of streaming or hi-res files or whatever this thing unleashes oodles of music at every turn and my advice will be to at least give it a try.
You may forget about streaming for a little while longer. 
Posted on: 02 November 2015 by The Strat (Fender)
The other week I happened by chance to hear a Nait 5si up against a NDX/XPS2 (WAV) into a Supernait 2 and the expectation was that the NDX would be far far better. Urm no - not exactly. The 5si was doing things the NDX just couldn't particularly with timing and rhythm - 5 people in the room were somewhat surprised. Not clear cut as it quite often is not but certainly had folk talking about it.
