Power Supply with CDX2

Hi, most forum members would suggest an xps is the best thing that can happen to a cdx2, I agree completely. And have subsequently done just that myself, adding an xpsdr to my cdx2.

Considering possible budget limitations I would say find an xps, which will still make a considerable improvement and then when funds allow have it d'red..  It's a win, win, situation.. 

Although my much loved CDX2 has long gone,  the biggest SQ change in one box for the CDX2 is an XPS.   Go for any XPS that you can afford & as Wenger says get it DR'd when you can afford it.

Thanks to you both for your clear answers.

Please note - do NOT use an olive XPS. It must be an XPS2, (or XPS-DR ). In my view the DR makes a bigger difference than anything in this context so if you can find one of those close to your budget I would strongly recommend it.

Frank.

Frenchnaim posted:

 CDX2.2

There's the as yet unmentioned nDac too. And the possibility of putting an XPS on that at a later date.

C.

Did the Audiophile Base platforms improve things much? My suspicion is that the CDX2 isn't going to sound great on the Atacama but I don't know what the shelves will do.

Are you actually in France? We've recently bought a flat in Montpellier and I'm somewhat surprised to find there's no earth connection in any of the power sockets in the livingroom or the bedrooms, though there is an earth wire its just looped behind the socket and not connected, even to the sockets that aren't switched from a light switch. Nain systems need an earth! (the Naim dealer ih Montpellier didn't think it mattered, which I find quite worrying too).

Assuming you do have an earth the next thing to check is cable dressing. I can get a harsh treble if the Hiline isn't hanging free or a powerline is touching the Fraim, (this the biggest effect). I can also hear when the speaker cable touches the wall behind the speaker biut there's only a 5.5 cm gap between the two.

I've never heard the 22/120 amps, let alone with a digital source, perhapse others can comment on the combination.

Not to dissuade you from getting an XPS2, I've no regrets over the 555ps though I cured the ringing trebble before I bought it.

Do it and DR if possible. 

As a CDX2 (mk1) lover and regularly use mine, I say that an XPS is useful but not essential. It depends on your NAC. If you have a 282 or lower, or non Naim definitely get an XPS or XPSDR as it helps 'open out' the sound, however if you have a 252 or higher in my opinion it's less clear cut, especially if you have CDX2 on Fraim and using Hiline.

For me the biggest SQ boost with the CDX2 and it distinctive Naim like sound came with mounting it on Fraim.. it really is very sensitive to support. I now have disconnected my XPS from my CDX2 and sold it ... I use a 252 now as well. with that  set up it provides a lovely warm and bouncing soundthat really suits more compressed rock, blues and pop CDs... it brings out the warmth in vocals like from artists such as Bob Dylan and Lou Reed which can sometimes sound a little thin.. yes the CDX2 seems to sound a little congested in the upper mids..but I guess that is part of its distinctive sound. An XPS dilutes this effect, but slightly incongrsts that upper mid.. horses for courses...

Get an Olive XPS and replace CDX with a CDS 2/3 headunit, now thats reimagined

Within same cost

If we're talking of re-imagining, if your CDX2 had no PSU-socket on the rear, would you still find something wrong with its sound?

Best

M

Lots of interesting replies.

Simon: "a little congested in the upper mids" is an apt description of the problem - not a serious problem as overall I'm very pleased with the CDX2, and, as Massimo says, I probably wouldn't bother if it didn't have a PSU-socket at the rear. But it does have a PSU-socket, looking at me (well, not really) as if to tell me "well, are you going to do anything about it?".

I chose not to go the nDAC route when I had the CD5XS (a lovely player, but not as defined as the CDX2), and I don't really want to get an nDAC now, as it seems a bit of a waste having a first-class CD player, and not using half of it (more than half of it, actually). I think Simon and Yeti are right in suggesting that the problem lies with the Atacama stand. The Audiophile Base (a very well-made platform) improved the sound of the SN2, but I'm not so sure about the CDX2. I was going to get the full Audiophile Starbase set-up, but can't seem to get a precise opinion on it, as very few  on this forum actually use that stand. So it will have to be the Fraim eventually... If I wait another couple of weeks, the pound will have dropped so much it will be cheaper than what I paid for the Atacama...

Yeti: you do find some odd things in French houses. I live in a house which was built in the late 1880s, and whenever we redecorate a room, we get everything replaced and brought up to modern standards, but in lots of houses, you still have the old wiring, dating back to the 50s sometimes. ALL sockets should be earthed in a new flat - even in France, where regulations are often "re-imagined". I could add a few comments on Naim dealers in France, but I will refrain. Oh, and the 22/120 gets very little use, it's in a second system, I can't part with it as it was my first Naim amplifier (1979), and it's been rebuilt.

Thanks again for your replies.

XPS2 won't mellow out the CDX2. But it will make it sound like a whole new player and add timing, extension and detail. It will sound fantastic but subtle it ain't. When I bought one new the RRP was £2400 and we considered it to be worth every penny. Practically doubled the price of the CDX2 and practically doubled the performance. A S/H one costing less will be superb value. And here's another thing. The CDX2 and CDX2.2 were developed for stand alone and XPS2 configurations long before DR technology was coming to the XPS2. So while a DR version will probably sound better, a non DR version will sound as nature originally intended - and that's not too shabby.

It is off the topic but can the price list in Europe be real? It is an invitation to go to UK to buy Naim

Nintonics did me a very good deal for a XPSDR, just call and see what they can offer you.

Moderated Post:  Link removed.  Please don't post unauthorised commercial links in the Hifi Corner.

Emre posted:

It is off the topic but can the price list in Europe be real? It is an invitation to go to UK to buy Naim

I don't think it's off-topic; I've been mentioning that on the forum for ages. Until about 18 months ago, a Supernait 2 was 3,000€. It's now 4,500€ - no justification whatsoever, except for the fact that, during that time, the French distributor lost Naim, the new distributor is now ... Focal, and the previous distributor simply put prices up, knowing that they wouldn't have to deal with the consequences. Mind you, I've been told that Focal was probably going to raise prices yet again. I hope they change their mind - especially now as the pound is very low. As far as I'm concerned, I often buy from British dealers, I meet people who know what they are talking about, who can demonstrate the equipment (and I get a cup of tea, even if I don't buy anything). My dealer, in Northern France, doesn't have the stuff on demo - but will give me a 10%-20% discount on Naim equipment... Strange practices, but they are one of the biggest Naim dealers in France.

Can I suggest an alternative?

555PS non-DR version. 7-8 year old ones can be had for 1/2 the price of a new XPSDR.

It should take your CDX2.2 to another level. 

Frenchnaim posted:

Emre posted:

It is off the topic but can the price list in Europe be real? It is an invitation to go to UK to buy Naim

I don't think it's off-topic; I've been mentioning that on the forum for ages. Until about 18 months ago, a Supernait 2 was 3,000€. It's now 4,500€ - 

When the SuperUniti was released, it costed exactly as a SuperNait: €3850 (I'm talking of Italy); now a SN2 costs circa €4500, the SU costs €6900. 18 months ago a CDX2 was little more than €5000, now it's 6990. I've mentioned the NAP300DR, costing in the UK the equivalent of €8100, while its Italian retail is €12,500.

And so on. 

Hi FrenchNaim,

Adding an XPS2 or XPSDR to a CDX2 is one of those "Oh my goodness, how can a power supply make such a profound improvement?" events for most owners, including this one.  As Adam indicates above, strapping a 555PS to a CDX2 is even more shockingly better.  I preferred my CDX2/555PS to the CDS3/XPS2 when I made the comparison.

So, it's such a good thing to do, funds permitting.

Best regards, FT

Massimo Bertola posted:

I've mentioned the NAP300DR, costing in the UK the equivalent of €8100, while its Italian retail is €12,500.

And so on. 

I'm sure the distributor can come up with all sorts of reasons for rationalising it. But they wouldn't be getting my money. Buying in the UK looks like a no brainer. Assuming you stick with Naim. 

Not as simple as that. There's the exchange rate: it's 1.11€ to the £ today, it was over 1.30€ not so long ago. You can't entirely blame the distributor, who has to allow for wild swings in the exchange rate.

Anyway, thanks to you all for an enlightening exchange on XPSs. Now I find I absolutely need one...a pox on you!

Massimo Bertola posted:

Frenchnaim posted:

Emre posted:

It is off the topic but can the price list in Europe be real? It is an invitation to go to UK to buy Naim

I don't think it's off-topic; I've been mentioning that on the forum for ages. Until about 18 months ago, a Supernait 2 was 3,000€. It's now 4,500€ - 

When the SuperUniti was released, it costed exactly as a SuperNait: €3850 (I'm talking of Italy); now a SN2 costs circa €4500, the SU costs €6900. 18 months ago a CDX2 was little more than €5000, now it's 6990. I've mentioned the NAP300DR, costing in the UK the equivalent of €8100, while its Italian retail is €12,500.

And so on. 

Then who will buy it from Italy,  it's EU just mail order from UK, there are taxes and customs in Turkey you just can not order but somebody have you be crazy to buy Naim stuff from EU list, if you want to buy 300DR the difference is a long weekend in UK! What sort of price strategy is This! 

Frenchnaim posted:

Anyway, thanks to you all for an enlightening exchange on XPSs. Now I find I absolutely need one...a pox on you!

Good that I didn't suggest the XPS then

A lot of firms in Britain will not post to Europe - they have their distributors to think of.

Frenchnaim posted:

Anyway, thanks to you all for an enlightening exchange on XPSs. Now I find I absolutely need one...a pox on you!

There's always the XP5XS. I tried one on my CDX2 before I bought my used XPS. If I'm honest, I didn't think the XPS brought a great deal more to the sound.

But you may not be scratching around for the cash like I was.

C.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Frenchnaim posted:

Anyway, thanks to you all for an enlightening exchange on XPSs. Now I find I absolutely need one...a pox on you!

Good that I didn't suggest the XPS then

Your crime is far worse