Is it worth it?

I have an XS2 and listed to an SN2. The direct comparison was with PMC 25.22. It is certainly a significant improvement in SQ. Whether it is worth your money only you can decide...

If going up from the Nait XS now I'd be looking at a 202+Hicap / 200 as a minimum step up.

(I actually went to a 272 / 300(DR) )

You should also try a source upgrade too as an alternative, say a CDX2, or maybe putting a power supply on the CD5xs - you may be surprised.

Is it ever - worth it....?  What is 'worthwhile' - to you....?  Something worthwhile to me, might not be to you.

Can of Worms. Open here....

The sn2 is 'insightful'. The original 60W xs-2 (xs with changed fascia) is loads of fun...

Ask JoeRand. He sold off all his Naim gear after making that switch...

the sn2 can power bigger speakers.

i would do a 202/200 as the next step or a 282/hicap/250. If that's more money than you want to spend on HiFi, stay put...

The only way to know is to try for yourself. If it were me I'd get a flatcap XS and improve both your CD player and your amplifier. 

I heard a ND5xs with a SN2 into the Focal Sopra 1s and I was surprised by just how excellent it was.  

Yes. But you need to hear these two options if possible, FlatCap vrs SuperNait. 

The obvious advice it so listen to all options and decide for yourself, though I understand that's not possible most of the time. I compared the Nait XS (not the latest XS2) to the Rega Elicit and both sounded fairly indistinguishable with the Rega Elicit sounding slightly sweeter and lusher in the midrange. Just slightly. The NAC 202 and NAP 200 sound rather different from the Nait XS. Notice that I say different rather than better, since some folks prefer the presentation of the XS over the 202/200. Nevertheless, to me, the 202/200 is an improvement over the Nait XS in areas of speed, detail, resolution and bass slam.

I do not have experience with the Supernait 2 and am not sure if it will be significantly better than the Nait XS2. Having said that, from my experience with the Nait XS, 202/200 and 282/250 I feel you need to make a rather huge jump to perceive a significant or worthwhile difference. A big jump will mean huge money so that's the tradeoff there.

Due to the point of diminishing returns, you may feel that at a certain point, the gear that you have represents the best value for money.

Richard Dane posted:

You should also try a source upgrade too as an alternative, say a CDX2, or maybe putting a power supply on the CD5xs - you may be surprised.

+1

I would also add that I am less and less inclined to think that amplifier upgrades provide good bang for the buck in terms of improvements, compared to spending more money on the source.  A better amplifier only exposes the weakness of a source, and can end up sounding worse if the source isn't up to it. A better source and a weaker amplifier, well that doesn't sound bad at all to my ears.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the nDAC yet. As recalled a few days ago on another thread, it is quite a natural fit to the CD5 XS. It brings the CDP, already a well achieved product on its own, to a different league. Adding at a later stage an external PSU to the nDAC will take this all coherent source to high-end playground. It will also offer numerous possibilities for all demat and HD replay configurations but asynchronous USB. Somewhat of a cornerstone in the product range still and a real bargain in S/H IMHO.  

Chag -

Chag... posted:

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the nDAC yet. As recalled a few days ago on another thread, it is quite a natural fit to the CD5 XS. It brings the CDP, already a well achieved product on its own, to a different league. Adding at a later stage an external PSU to the nDAC will take this all coherent source to high-end playground. It will also offer numerous possibilities for all demat and HD replay configurations but asynchronous USB. Somewhat of a cornerstone in the product range still and a real bargain in S/H IMHO.  

Chag -

I didn't comment yet, that's why you missed this comment :-)