CD5 XS vs CDX2 SPDIF SQ difference - is there any ?

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...al-perpective?page=1

Norman did a great write up about both CD players in to the nDac.

Many thanks Steve... my question answered 

Glad I still had that link saved. So which way are you thinking of going?

I'm thinking I will see if I can borrow a CDX2 from my dealer and do some listening.  At the moment the CD5XS goes through the nDAC (along with some other digital sources - DAT, DAB - with no additional power supplies to CD or DAC) into the pre-amp, but I'd like to listen to both CD players routed through the DA-Converter in my NDS (which has 2x 555PS powering it).  IF I can hear a difference between the players when routed through the NDS, AND if running a CD player through the NDS DAC has no affect on the streaming sound quality, I shall go with whichever CD player sounds better.  So it kinda hangs on my dealer lending me a CDX2 for a couple of days.

Having said all that, from the link you gave me above, it seems my CD5XS will stand up well against a CDX2 and I'm thinking that by the time you've processed the SPDIF signal through the very high quality, double power supply DAC in the NDS, the difference in SQ may possibly not justify the £ outlay to upgrade to CDX2 (which would be about £2,500 I think).

Right now though, I'm trying to choose between Super Lumia and Chord STA din to XLR connectors... which is proving more difficult than I'd thought it would be... but that's another post !

Thanks again, Steve.

I did exactly that - borrowed a CDX2.2 to compare with my older CD5XS. Tested both into the nDAC. 

Never gave it back....

Luckily a friend of mine was in a market for the CD5XS

Isn't a CD player somewhat redundant in your system ?

Nope - I still like playing my CDs. This is especially true of classical music - ripping a multi artist / multi composer CD typically ends up in a huge mess on a server. With certain genres I also prefer a presentation form a CD - it;s not better or worse than my NDX. It just is different.

Sorry Adam - should have made it clear in my post that it was a question for the OP

james n posted:

Sorry Adam - should have made it clear in my post that it was a question for the OP

OK

james n posted:

Isn't a CD player somewhat redundant in your system ?

I'll quote a bit of what Adam Z said... "Nope - I still like playing my CDs. This is especially true of classical music".

Whereas the vast majority of my CDs are ripped to my NAS and the discs stored safely in the loft, there are a whole bunch that don't have a lookup hit when ripping - they're mostly classical - so I keep a CD player active for these (the idea of manually entering the metadata doesn't appeal to me one bit). And also for when I buy a joblot of CDs off 'that' auction site and also for when anyone visits & wants to hear their own CDs played through my system (as occasionally happens).

So I hear you say "why would you want to spend £s on a CDX2 just for this?" ...and that would be a valid question, to which I would reply "it just seems like a good idea to me".  Please also bear in mind that my ultimate goal is a 555CD - just to hear what a really good CD player can be... so the CDX2 would be a stepping stone toward that goal.

Oh, and it's worth remembering that very few of us who experience 'upgradeitis' are considered 'normal' by our significant others (or the rest of the world), so just look upon this as a lamentable case of upgradeitis 

Consider trying out a cyrus signature cdxt transport instead - supposedly one of the best.

hastings posted:

Consider trying out a cyrus signature cdxt transport instead - supposedly one of the best.

Wrong forum....

rjstaines posted:

james n posted:

Isn't a CD player somewhat redundant in your system ?

So I hear you say "why would you want to spend £s on a CDX2 just for this?" ...and that would be a valid question, to which I would reply "it just seems like a good idea to me".  Please also bear in mind that my ultimate goal is a 555CD - just to hear what a really good CD player can be... so the CDX2 would be a stepping stone toward that goal.

Oh, and it's worth remembering that very few of us who experience 'upgradeitis' are considered 'normal' by our significant others (or the rest of the world), so just look upon this as a lamentable case of upgradeitis 

 

I fully echo James' approach - our 'illness' is beyond cure - we can embrace it and enjoy the music

Just tuning in for understanding!

A. The analog TT.

B. Bare CDX2/PS

C. Cdx2-Ndac/PS

F. Streaming btw of NDS/NDX etc.....

It has been mentioned on more than one occasion that we are entering a new Paradigm, with the choice of the Analog TT, The Digital CD, or Digital Streaming, depending on Music and Mood.

If one's ultimate goal is a CD555, Which digital source appoaches that realm best, B or C ?

Allante93 posted:

Just tuning in for understanding!

A. The analog TT.

B. Bare CDX2/PS

C. Cdx2-Ndac/PS

F. Streaming btw of NDS/NDX etc.....

It has been mentioned on more than one occasion that we are entering a new Paradigm, with the choice of the Analog TT, The Digital CD, or Digital Streaming, depending on Music and Mood.

If one's ultimate goal is a CD555, Which digital source appoaches that realm best, B or C ?

I should clarify:   by 'ultimate goal' in the above post I was thinking about my CD playback system.

This would compliment my ultimate streaming source - NDS + 555PS + 555PS, and my ultimate analogue source - Klimax LP12...

I acknowledge, of course, that what I consider 'ultimate' may be what others consider 'just one way of doing it' !   But hey, it keeps me happy 

Oh, and the answer to your question, Allante93, which is thoughtfully posed, is "buggered if I know." 

Ach... Dilemas we have A world would be a much happier place if all the problems boiled down to a choice of 'to CD555 or not' 

I am sure I am missing the point somehow but why not going external PSU - say 555PS - on nDAC first before upgrading CD5 XS drive to CDX2.2?

Now as you suggested try only CD5 XS to NDS/555DR for an hour. Sweet, refined, airy, layered, timbres, PRaT, extinctions... In one word: Exquisite. This is how I now have mine. There is no coming back. Upgrading to a CDX2.2 drive may become very relative.

I am still curious to know how update 4.11.8 (nDAC) compares with 4.3 or 4.4 (NDS). That is another interesting question. I am still working on it.    

Chag -

Adam & RJ, we are all on the same page, and I'm the Armchair QB, who knows nothing but my gear. But, to take a guess, I would would say Cdx2/555PS with that boogie internal doc within the Cdx2.  A late Cdx2, without the digital out would be nice!   2008/2009, not the 2.2, would save some cash!  and after all you have the Nds!  

"Ach... Dilemas we have A world would be a much happier place if all the problems boiled down to a choice of 'to CD555 or not'"

Adam Zielinski posted:

rjstaines posted:

james n posted:

Isn't a CD player somewhat redundant in your system ?

So I hear you say "why would you want to spend £s on a CDX2 just for this?" ...and that would be a valid question, to which I would reply "it just seems like a good idea to me".  Please also bear in mind that my ultimate goal is a 555CD - just to hear what a really good CD player can be... so the CDX2 would be a stepping stone toward that goal.

Oh, and it's worth remembering that very few of us who experience 'upgradeitis' are considered 'normal' by our significant others (or the rest of the world), so just look upon this as a lamentable case of upgradeitis 

 

I fully echo James' approach - our 'illness' is beyond cure - we can embrace it and enjoy the music

Ah i see - thanks both