Nice performance

I think you will find that the secret is down to how good your source component is - and yours is pretty good by the way! The more information you can extract and keep in tact then the more layers and subtleties you will hear - assuming your downstream equipment is pretty transparent and can cope.

I am simplifying this slightly as you might still get a bit more detail or layering if you were to add a 555 power supply or a Powerline or say a Hiline to your CDS3, or even a good equipment support but this is still effectively optimising your source component.

I think your downstream components only become more important when you want to recreate the scale and dynamics of a live performance. For this you need some serious amplification and speakers.

I know this is a bit of a 'Flat Earth' approach but it's always worked well for me whatever system I've had.

Source first, always.   On the Naim Forum it often seems that more is more.  More boxes, better cables, more complex power and rack solutions, bigger speakers.   I am guilty.   The truth is, with a minimal Naim system of a Nait or Uniti set up, with a good source, and with the right speakers, less is more.  

In my experience although Source is considered as the starting point, all components do make a considerable difference, powerlines enhance detail considerably, likewise high end speaker cables again make  huge improvements, ect ect ect, the new dr upgrade is superb, enhancing separation, depth, soundstage, everything vastly better.... in my opinion  the more you spend the better the music experience, until you arrive at the level where you just sit back and smile....

Skip posted:

Source first, always.   On the Naim Forum it often seems that more is more.  More boxes, better cables, more complex power and rack solutions, bigger speakers.   I am guilty.   The truth is, with a minimal Naim system of a Nait or Uniti set up, with a good source, and with the right speakers, less is more.  

I completely agree, after going on a long upgrade path I'm finally "down" to a Unitilite and Ariva speakers and couldn't be happier, less definitely is more.

Nick

-1, if your wanting the best musical experience then I would disagree entirely, i suppose it all depends on what your happy with ...

Less may be less, or it may be more, it all depends. Patrick has a wonderful source first system, the noughties equivalent of the Lp12, 42/110 and Kans that I owned in the eighties. Such a system will punch far above its weight, so I'm not surprised it's so enjoyable. 

I've been up the ladder as far as a 552/300 and then down as far as a Nait 5i. Now I'm somewhere in the middle, with a system I can afford and which does what I want. It could be better, it could be worse, but it works for me, and that's what matters. I believe Patrick was saying the same.

Hi HH,

Thanks for your understanding and I am sure my system will punch far above its weight which you indicated.  However,  May I ask a question about my future upgrade?  Currently, I don't have a streamer as my second source and I just got a NAT05 XS and a HC as my second source.  I plan to upgrade the PSU of my CDP from XPS2 to 555PS(DR) and keep the XPS2 for my future NDX.  Do you think the upgrade of PSU for my CDP is a great leap and does it justify to do so?  What I mean is the cost and the benefits.  Can I get the musical benefits equal to or greater than the cost I paid for?  

Thanks,

Patrick 

Hmm, that's tricky. I used a 555PS on my CDS3 when I had one, and thought it was a very good upgrade, giving the CDS3 a kick up the backside and making it much more lively. Others, however, feel that the CDS3 is better with the XPS2, which is what it was designed to go with. 

When I made the change to a 555PS I already had a 552, 300 and SL2s, which is at a different level altogether than the 122/150, very nice as they are. I think you are at a point when you might be taking source first too far, and that the amplifier and speakers will be holding it back. I also think, in your mentioning of an NDX as well as the tuner, that you may be in danger of collecting boxes. If you are thinking of a streamer, would you really need the CDS3, lovely as it is. Conversely, as you have the CDS3 and the tuner, do you need a streamer at all. 

I suspect that rather than looking at a 555PS I'd be swapping the 122/150 for a 282/250DR, and powering the 282 with your existing Hicap. 

One other thought for you: think about a 272. It's miles better than the 122, would give you a streamer, and if you get the FM module you could sell the tuner and Hicap towards a 250DR. Then you could think about some better speakers. CDS3, XPS, 272 and 250 would give you everything, rather than the potential nine boxes you are thinking of, and would sound very much better. 

This may not be the response you are expecting, but you face a real danger of amassing boxes when with a more considered approach you could do a lot better, so I hope you find it helpful. 

Hi HH,

Thanks for your reply and ideas.  Well, I was a 282/250 user before but I really dislike its presentation very much and on the contrary, I like the presentation of 202/200, it's really musical.  Referring to your suggestion that the FM module of the 272, I am afraid that it cannot compete with the analogue of a naked FM tuner.  The FM tuner together with a HC impress me much and I can listen to it for a whole day without the idea of listening CDs.

To upgrade the PSU from XPS2 to 555PS paves the way for me to change the source from CDP to streamer but I have not made up my mind to which one will be my ultimate source.  Perhaps, CD555 will be or NDS will be, I don't know at present.  

I agree with that I put too much resources on the source and it is by a far margin compared with the amplifier and speakers.  I am a "source comes first" follower and that's why I am willing to spend a large sum of funds on CDP.  I prefer listening quality to quantity.  Streaming is the future trend of listening music and I deeply trust that there will be a lot of improving areas in streaming quality.  Actually, NDS or NDX with PSU cannot moved me to purchase it for the time being but I can tell you that I decided to purchase the CDS3/XPS2 at once when it was played in front of me in the showroom.  I was told by my ears that it was the one I am looking for and longing for.

Now, to upgrade the PSU of CDS3 is worthwhile coz I deeply trust that the new PSU can bring the CDS3 to another level which bring much enjoyment to me.  Another merit is that it paves the way for me to purchase either CD555 or NDS in future.  Besides, I am sure that the happiness of 555PS brings to me is more than the upgrade of preamp and power amp. 

Cheers,

Patrick