Basic Naim system upgrade advice please

I am not sure CD5x would be a large upgrade of CD5i. CD5 XS will allow to go external and more advanced DAC. nDAC for that matter is still a real bargain and a cornerstone of the brand. It is the entry door to high end CD replay as well as demat and HD. Add a PSU to it once you have upgraded 122x/FC2x/150x to at least SN2 if not 282/250 level and you are in heaven. 

Chag -

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice

I have taken the plunge and bought a  s/h CDX2 from a well known dealership that specialises in pre loved - got a good p/x on my CD5X.

I will see how that goes with my existing amplification bfore taking the next step.

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else.

Anyway hopefullly the CDX2 will keep me occupied for a few months before part 2.

Once again thanks to everyone.

Well done Nick! The CDX2 is really a great CDP. You cannot go wrong with it. And if you want to go nDAC or NDS in the future, Salisbury will make the modification for you and install a digital output. Enjoy!  

Chag -

Chag... posted:

Well done Nick! The CDX2 is really a great CDP. You cannot go wrong with it. And if you want to go nDAC or NDS in the future, Salisbury will make the modification for you and install a digital output. Enjoy!  

Chag -

I didn't know that thanks.

Would a modified CDX2 and DAC be better than the CDX2 and XPS and what would the relative costs be ?

nickfoss posted:

 

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else. 

There's Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete will be happy to keep you right. 

nickfoss posted:

Chag... posted:

Well done Nick! The CDX2 is really a great CDP. You cannot go wrong with it. And if you want to go nDAC or NDS in the future, Salisbury will make the modification for you and install a digital output. Enjoy!  

Chag -

I didn't know that thanks.

 

Would a modified CDX2 and DAC be better than the CDX2 and XPS and what would the relative costs be ?

If it is modified you cannot use it as a normal player, just a transport, so that its resale value would be massively lower. I certainly wouldn't have a good CD player butchered like that. Adding an XPS is probably the way to go; this also opens up the door to a CDS3. 

nickfoss posted:

Chag... posted:

Well done Nick! The CDX2 is really a great CDP. You cannot go wrong with it. And if you want to go nDAC or NDS in the future, Salisbury will make the modification for you and install a digital output. Enjoy!  

Chag -

I didn't know that thanks.

 

Would a modified CDX2 and DAC be better than the CDX2 and XPS and what would the relative costs be ?

It depends what you mean by better? For me the real enjoyment of my mk1 CDX2 comes from its sonic character.. it's enjoyable.. and is great fun with so many music genres... however it's not the most neutral sounding device... if it was it wouldn't sound so much fun with many genres... 

My advice would be don't cannibalise the CDX2 to feed a DAC, not only would you kill its resale value as suggested above, you would lose what the CDX2 does best. If you want a more neutral sounding replay in addition to the CDX2 .. get a seperate DAC and transport source ..

I run my CDX2 and a Hugo as seperate inputs into my 252 and enjoy them both... so I have to say modifying the CDX2 to drive a Naim DAC will make it a worse and less enjoyable CDP, but possibly a more neutral source

nickfoss posted: 

Would a modified CDX2 and DAC be better than the CDX2 and XPS and what would the relative costs be ?

Yest it would but some may prefer bare CDX2/XPS2. Add then at a later stage XPS2, or 555PS for that matter, to the nDAC, and not to the CDX2, and you are in very high end territory. But it requires at least 282/250 amp level if not 252 to get most benefit.

Chag -   

Nick, what rack do you use?

Make sure the power cables don't touch it.

I find this thread extremely enlightening. I choose to get a CDX2, rather than add an nDAC to my CD5XS. Next step is the XPS DR (I'm in no hurry, it's a very expensive decision).

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...s-initial-perpective

yeti42 posted:

Nick, what rack do you use?

Make sure the power cables don't touch it.

I can say that my CDX2 sounds at its best on my full fat Fraim .. albeit not the top shelf.

Frenchnaim posted:

I find this thread extremely enlightening. I choose to get a CDX2, rather than add an nDAC to my CD5XS. Next step is the XPS DR (I'm in no hurry, it's a very expensive decision).

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...s-initial-perpective

Norman always had great, elaborated as well as very informative posts indeed. A wonderful story teller too. I am wondering how he is doing. His health condition led him and Ian to close UHES early this year. I wish him again all the best. 

Chag -

yeti42 posted:

Nick, what rack do you use?

Make sure the power cables don't touch it.

I am almost too embarassed to answer this.

I know it should be on a fraim or perhaps isoblue but aesthetics and the health of my marraige dictate that this is not possible and it is hidden away in a purpose built wooden cabinet.

I totally understand that this may mean that the performance is compromised but I find that sometimes in life compromises have to be made.

I have heard my system on a fraim. It does sound marginally better.

nickfoss posted:

 

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else. 

 

I travelled to Portsmouth, Hull and Gateshead on my speaker finding trip (a single trip, over 2 days, lugging my huge IMFs with me for reference!), and Bedford when wanting to audition DACs and Melco - and I'm further away from all of these than the North West of England... The last three of these locations are dealers with good ranges, and who were very accomodating, so I can commend them, though I don't know if they carry the units you'll want to audition.

Looks to me like more of quests of the grail than shopping trips. I admire you. 

Chag -

I think I may have the grail...

Presently auditioning Chord Dave at home:  I thought my system a year ago was pretty wonderful, then the subtle but distinct improvements changing the speakers made brought it into heaven, but Dave lifts it so far above Hugo that there's no way its going back! 

I'm listening through Mac Mini as store, running Audirvana, via usb to Dave, connected direct into Bryston 4Bsst2 (no pre) and PMC EB1i speakers. A simple system, but so engaging that I can't get out of my seat to go and do the things I'm supposed to be doing! April on Deep Purple's self-named album as I scribble this makes it hard to concentrate onwhat I'm posting!

nickfoss posted:

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice

I have taken the plunge and bought a  s/h CDX2 from a well known dealership that specialises in pre loved - got a good p/x on my CD5X.

I will see how that goes with my existing amplification bfore taking the next step.

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else.

Anyway hopefullly the CDX2 will keep me occupied for a few months before part 2.

Once again thanks to everyone.

 

 

Congratulations Nick.

Be really interesting to hear how you get on. The Tom Tom guys are great and you can buy from them with confidence in my experience.

The CDX2 is a great source so you only need to bed it in and enjoy.

Jay

nickfoss posted:

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice

I have taken the plunge and bought a  s/h CDX2 from a well known dealership that specialises in pre loved - got a good p/x on my CD5X.

I will see how that goes with my existing amplification bfore taking the next step.

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else.

Anyway hopefullly the CDX2 will keep me occupied for a few months before part 2.

Once again thanks to everyone.

 

 

Excellent. I'd be interested to hear how you got on. In your first post you said you had a CD5i, yet you mention a CD5x in the quote above, so a CDX2 would be a bigger jump from the former to the latter. If you are swapping used for used, there is little chance of finding a dealer to better Tom Tom, no matter how far you travel. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

nickfoss posted:

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice

I have taken the plunge and bought a  s/h CDX2 from a well known dealership that specialises in pre loved - got a good p/x on my CD5X.

I will see how that goes with my existing amplification bfore taking the next step.

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else.

Anyway hopefullly the CDX2 will keep me occupied for a few months before part 2.

Once again thanks to everyone.

 

 

Excellent. I'd be interested to hear how you got on. In your first post you said you had a CD5i, yet you mention a CD5x in the quote above, so a CDX2 would be a bigger jump from the former to the latter. If you are swapping used for used, there is little chance of finding a dealer to better Tom Tom, no matter how far you travel. 

You are 100% correct HH.

Originally I had the 5i but upgraded it to the 5x when I bought the x series 10 years or so ago.

My brain is so adled by age and/or red wine that I forgot!

Jay posted:

nickfoss posted:

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice

I have taken the plunge and bought a  s/h CDX2 from a well known dealership that specialises in pre loved - got a good p/x on my CD5X.

I will see how that goes with my existing amplification bfore taking the next step.

What I have found is a paucity of dealers in the North West ( England ) and therefore the ability to demo.

My old shop in Warrington now only does 1 box solutions and other shops have very , very limited demo products.

So I had to buy the CDX2 blind.

When it comes to what I perceive as the bigger decision re amplification I will have to make a 6 hour round trip with my speakers and amps ( if the motorways are clear ) to St Albans unless anyone can suggest somewhere else.

Anyway hopefullly the CDX2 will keep me occupied for a few months before part 2.

Once again thanks to everyone.

 

 

Congratulations Nick.

Be really interesting to hear how you get on. The Tom Tom guys are great and you can buy from them with confidence in my experience.

The CDX2 is a great source so you only need to bed it in and enjoy.

Jay

I will report back when I have had a chance to listen and hopefully enjoy the CDX2 in my system.