Naim Cd5si ?

So you didn't hear if before committing to purchase/place order ?

Bit risky, maybe your dealer would have let you create a homedem if you insisted..

I would have done a side by side session with the Apollo/R too, a stunning mashine with great VFM against the older CD5i series I much preferred the Rega

No I didnt demo, it was a very bad move. I will still ring my dealer tomorrow and ask the question reference the cd5 and find out the T&Cs.

I will give him a call tomorrow and find out. This is my first time buying new hifi equipment, ive alway bought blind on 2nd hand gear.

Your ears do not deceive you Ash. Well designed CD players sound every bit as good as audiophile streaming devices; if not better. I use an iMac/DAC set-up for convenience, but my CD5si sounds far nicer and more musically cohesive to me. I'm very happy to select a CD and simply play it. I've yet to hear a streamer which sounds good enough to replace either of my Naim CD players. The new-tech/convenience issue is another matter.

Enjoy that lovely CD player. It's a beauty. Don't be swayed by new-tech just because it's what the industry would rather sell you. It's different, but not necessarily better.

John.

Yes you should of demoed it but I can't think of much that will touch it for a grand.

In any case, I doubt you will want to upgrade it either - Musically it's spot on.

Surprice surprice

your dealer said what he should say in every circumstance

what matters is what you yourself mean, until now you mean what three or four forum members tell you plus the dealer, thats not the way forward IMO - get that right to return, get some competitors in, never heard the 5si but its predessesors were definately not my cup, they were true cost down versions of the real stuff CD5/CD5X/CD5XS

OTOH maybe the CD5si works a treat and match your new Hegel super !

What do you think ?

I love your honesty and I believe your right, its a business and they are out to make money, now does this make them a bad dealer? I dont know, its a mistake I have made and to tell you the truth I will suffer the consequences if I dont like the product. In the end the dealer will suffer though because he is giving false information, although its a business the dealer should always have an open mind and in my mind most of them have not. 

The CD5si maybe brilliant with the Hegel but will it match the old Teac T1 with Hegels intigrated Dac? We will find out.

Turns out Ash, I'm not sure you did get my point. I'm not talking about individual components such as how good is the Hegel amp? how weak is the Nait 5si in comparison with it? I'm talking about systems, such as do the CD5si and Nait 5si gel, and communicate, even compared with the Teac and through the Hegel's dac?

Uncertain how open your mind is on this.

Chris

Oh ok Chris, I think I know what you mean. The Hegel(with built in Dac) is £3400 and the Naim CD5 is £1080, which is why i wanted the Digital output. But the CD5 may go very well, its not the transport in the CD5 that I think is weak, its the Dac in the CD5 that I feel the weakness is.

I have had naim products before and used them on there own, my favourite was the Nait 5i2, that was really good fun! Then I bought the Nait xs and that was a dissapointment. I dont know if you have experianced this but do you find that naim products do not get better up the range, but just sound different?

Am I on the the right track?

I find Naim does get better as I go up the range. The only time I have been disappointed was when I owned a CD5 and FC2 and tried to front a borrowed 202 with it. Basically it sounded fat and overblown. When I returned to my Nait 5, equilibrium restored.

I also know that what is euphemistically referred to as entry level kit can be spell-binding, such as when I heard CD5i and Nait 5i into Naim Ariva speakers at my dealers'.

I'm sick for you Ash, over the CD5i because with no digi out it seems like you've bought the wrong thing for your Hegel and it's built-in dac. But you've been big enough to acknowledge this so full credit to you. What I'm trying to say is, if we put the money aside for one moment and ignore the cost of systems, is there anything redeemable about the quality of replay from a Nait 5si and your new CD5si compared with your Teac and Hegel into the same speakers? As I'm sure you can tell, I'm rather hoping your speakers, of which we know nothing, are a nominal 8 Ohm load and around 87, 88dB/ W sensitivity.

I think this thing with dacs is a bit of a red herring. Until about five years ago, Naim didn't do one, and neither did their cdps have a digi out. They insisted their CD players matched their amps as systems and that was the end of it. Then we got streaming and the rest is history. Guess I'm old skool.

I have a massive sense that you want to keep the Hegel. In which case Naim's CDX2.2 looks like the right cdp for you. It has digital out. It's also more than three big ones.

C.

I have Dynaudio Focus 160s, which are great with Naim and greater with my Hegel amp. The Hegel really is something spectacular and if it was brought to light a bit more in the UK then I feel Naim would be in for a shock. I have never heard Dynaudio like this before and ive had them with 3 Naim amps. As for cd players, I dont think theres many options out there anymore, once I get some more money(which will be a long way off) I will have to plan a new stratagy. I get CD5 on Thursday so after a good run in I will give you the full review. I wish I could buy the CDX2.2 but then I would have to remortgage the house.

 

Originally Posted by AshM75 

As for cd players, I dont think theres many options out there anymore.

Not true!!!!! Just as the Hegel beats the Naim amps you have heard there are some fantastic players in the price range of the CD5i. I honestly feel the Atoll trounces the Naim, and the Rega for less money puts a hurt on the Naim, also those two players are able to use an outboard DAC.

Hi everyone, just a quick update. I have ended up upgrading to the CD5xs as it was to late to cancel the order and it would have cost me a percentage to get my money back.

Good news is I now have digital output, bad news is I'm skint.

This player seems to tick all the boxes for me!

the CD5XS is a lovely CDP. Have been having one for nearly 2 years now and i got one pre-loved.

njoi the music !

regards

Pleased for you.

I'd be interested to know how the analogue out from the CD5XS sounds into a line level input on the Hegel.

C.

Do you need that? The CD5XS comes with a cable. But maybe the Hegel doesn't have DINs.

C.

Also try RCA to RCA on the Hegel with the cdp.. The XLR input might be its best input if it has been designed fully balanced, if it's not it's probably a concession of convenience.

cheers