CDX2 vs streaming.

The fact it's flac is no excuse. Most of my ripped cd's are flac and have more life that when streamed via Tidal.

Listening  through my old beloved vintage CD5 atm at my estate house. WWith a genuine cd it's easy to get nìce results its Just plug and play. Partnered it with a good preamp power combo and you're done. You get lost in music. Naim cd players are among the best and you can easily tell it. A friend of mine is keeping his cdx2 even though he' s avinyl chap and I clearly understand why.I know I won T Blaime him for that , a cds3 is about to enter my main system .anyway In this principal set-up instead things have never been so complicated. ANaim streamer is not fit and forget unfortunately you have to deal with cable s, server rippers and router.same streamer may act wrong or Right depending on the configuration. I'm reading about flacs well naim streamers don T work best with these but wav. And again ,served by core is the secret of a very good sound. And then we have Thos Naim hybrids designs where things are even worse as  per their compromised nature. We all know Naim won T issue any more of these products except for the entry line and pure  streamers are already not easy task to configure and trash cd players. Which is happening but slowly.

Enjoyed my time with Finkfan and the 272, at the moment it's not performing to the cdx2 standard,  but for convenience, choice of music, discovering new music,  it's a superb box.

To me the aim of a Naim set-up,actually of any good sounding hifi system,  should be listening to the software the best possible way. Re-discover music not discover it(The latter can be done otherwise and very cheap too). The ease coming from discovering new artists and all that one-click  is not unfortunately guarantee of the above but a facility if one's using streaming services. I would go further saying technology and media  have to be dealt with care as brain washing is always round the corner.  CDs quality is just that important either you deal with streamers or any CD player , luckily they're still being sold and anyone is allowed to extract the content or keep it. But if you don't really follow all the critical issues before the music is served to the source you are simply wasting your time, your money and happiness. Sorry but I would not bother at all those optimistic statements from people telling miracles and advising to buy and sell tech, they seem to really luck good common sense. Always follow experienced people, sellers with good knowledge ,know-how not improvised gurus over the net.

wenger2015 posted:

Enjoyed my time with Finkfan and the 272, at the moment it's not performing to the cdx2 standard,  but for convenience, choice of music, discovering new music,  it's a superb box.

WENGER

if you were only listening to Tidal on the 272,you are nowhere near it's potential.High res files streamed via SPDIF from my Core to the 272...with an XPSDR on the 272,might give the Cdx2 a run for it's money.This is just a guess,I have not heard the Cdx2,but Core>272>XPSDR  is VERY good!

I have to admit No Quarter I've held off buying a nas untill I hear how good the Core is. My dealer will give me a great deal on p/x with the CDX2. 

I did try an XPSDR on the 272 and while it was better I couldn't justify the price tag. My dealer has an XP5XS at HiCap money that I can try. But part of me really wants to hear a 555. New would be out of the question though! 

I would love to hear a 555 on the 272 myself,I almost went for it a few months ago,but I got the XPSDR at one third the price of the 555.All this means really,is I put off the inevitable for a while...I probably go with Superlumina full loom first though.

No quarter posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Enjoyed my time with Finkfan and the 272, at the moment it's not performing to the cdx2 standard,  but for convenience, choice of music, discovering new music,  it's a superb box.

WENGER

if you were only listening to Tidal on the 272,you are nowhere near it's potential.High res files streamed via SPDIF from my Core to the 272...with an XPSDR on the 272,might give the Cdx2 a run for it's money.This is just a guess,I have not heard the Cdx2,but Core>272>XPSDR  is VERY good!

Nice a much more sensible way to spend money I reckon CORE first than anything else.

My N272/555/CDX.2.2 are gone replaced by an Aavik U-300 Integrated amplifier and Aurender N10 streamer.  Music was copied from my NAS to the N10 and CD's replaced by Tidal. 

Five boxes replaced.  Several expensive cables replaced.  Tidal have the kind of music I like and the quality is getting better all the time.  The choices seem endless and I never listen to RAP, Rock, current POP, etc. Admittedly, I don't recognize 90% of what's on Tidal but whatever I've looked for I've found.  I'm setting about filling up the 4TB of N10 storage with music from Tidal. That's going to take a while.

Is Tidal as good as the CDX2.2 into a good DAC?  I don't know but I do know that I'll never give up Tidal or the N10.   

BTW, Tidal is giving me a 40% military veterans discount.  Thanks Jay Z.  

Bud

Antonio1 posted:

No quarter posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Enjoyed my time with Finkfan and the 272, at the moment it's not performing to the cdx2 standard,  but for convenience, choice of music, discovering new music,  it's a superb box.

WENGER

if you were only listening to Tidal on the 272,you are nowhere near it's potential.High res files streamed via SPDIF from my Core to the 272...with an XPSDR on the 272,might give the Cdx2 a run for it's money.This is just a guess,I have not heard the Cdx2,but Core>272>XPSDR  is VERY good!

Nice a much more sensible way to spend money I reckon CORE first than anything else.

So what is the best way of getting the maximum performance  from a 272? 

I would say,192khz files fed from a Core in SPDIF mode,using a 555DR power supply on the 272>Full loom Superlumina>300 DR amp or above...all using powerlines on "Full Fraim"

Leatherneck posted:

My N272/555/CDX.2.2 are gone replaced by an Aavik U-300 Integrated amplifier and Aurender N10 streamer.  Music was copied from my NAS to the N10 and CD's replaced by Tidal. 

Five boxes replaced.  Several expensive cables replaced.  Tidal have the kind of music I like and the quality is getting better all the time.  The choices seem endless and I never listen to RAP, Rock, current POP, etc. Admittedly, I don't recognize 90% of what's on Tidal but whatever I've looked for I've found.  I'm setting about filling up the 4TB of N10 storage with music from Tidal. That's going to take a while.

Is Tidal as good as the CDX2.2 into a good DAC?  I don't know but I do know that I'll never give up Tidal or the N10.   

BTW, Tidal is giving me a 40% military veterans discount.  Thanks Jay Z.  

Bud

 

Aavik and XT-2. Nice! I know a few others that have moved from Naim to Aavik. That seems to be a very nice box. 

spurrier sucks posted:

Leatherneck posted:

My N272/555/CDX.2.2 are gone replaced by an Aavik U-300 Integrated amplifier and Aurender N10 streamer.  Music was copied from my NAS to the N10 and CD's replaced by Tidal. 

Five boxes replaced.  Several expensive cables replaced.  Tidal have the kind of music I like and the quality is getting better all the time.  The choices seem endless and I never listen to RAP, Rock, current POP, etc. Admittedly, I don't recognize 90% of what's on Tidal but whatever I've looked for I've found.  I'm setting about filling up the 4TB of N10 storage with music from Tidal. That's going to take a while.

Is Tidal as good as the CDX2.2 into a good DAC?  I don't know but I do know that I'll never give up Tidal or the N10.   

BTW, Tidal is giving me a 40% military veterans discount.  Thanks Jay Z.  

Bud

 

Aavik and XT-2. Nice! I know a few others that have moved from Naim to Aavik. That seems to be a very nice box. 

I am sure it is,but I can't afford that all at once,Naim allows you to build your system over time.

Finkfan posted:

I have to admit No Quarter I've held off buying a nas untill I hear how good the Core is. My dealer will give me a great deal on p/x with the CDX2. 

I did try an XPSDR on the 272 and while it was better I couldn't justify the price tag. My dealer has an XP5XS at HiCap money that I can try. But part of me really wants to hear a 555. New would be out of the question though! 

Give the XP5XS a go it's very good, I use one on the 272 took a week to settle but now sounds sublime plus you are unlocking all power rails in the 272 and removing the power supply within the 272.

I'll be speaking to my dealer tomorrow so I may well get it over for a listen. 

No quarter posted:

I would say,192khz files fed from a Core in SPDIF mode,using a 555DR power supply on the 272>Full loom Superlumina>300 DR amp or above...all using powerlines on "Full Fraim"

If you're going to use the 272 in S/Pdiff, why use a streamer?

As an S/Pdiff DAC + Preamp, a HugoTT or nDAC + 282 / HiCapDR will probably be better than the 272/555.

Finkfan posted:

I'll be speaking to my dealer tomorrow so I may well get it over for a listen. 

I tried one (XP5XS),it did not do much at all in my set up,but it might be speaker dependant.

No quarter posted:

Finkfan posted:

I'll be speaking to my dealer tomorrow so I may well get it over for a listen. 

I tried one (XP5XS),it did not do much at all in my set up,but it might be speaker dependant.

Comes on song after a week or so, for me a worth while upgrade but my Tab 10 are very revealing and without the XP5 you do notice a difference 

Interesting.

When I tried an XPSDR it did improve things to a certain extent. Most noticeable was soundstage that became far more 3 dimensional. The sound was 'cleaner'. It was good. But that price tag.....  I'd be interested to hear what an XP5XS does for a more modest outlay. 

What did the XP5XS do in your system NQ? 

Because everyone who owns a 272 rightly strives for the XPSdr or 555 the XP5 seems to be dismissed maybe down to price (too cheap) I don't know but what I do know is that the XP5 has raised the bar on my 272, added bass, detail and a great sound stage. Give one a go but try for more than a week as the improvement is most noticeable. Mine has now been in place for 3-4 weeks and sill improving, big test for me is the wife who doesn't  not notice any upgrade I make but even she has noticed.

Sorry [@mention:8184226735374105]. I mistakenly asked NQ! 

That all sounds good. As Naim no longer produce the XP5XS the models out there that do come up every so often seem a bargain. Why did Naim stop production? Did most buyers just opt for the XPSDR instead? 

Not sure why they stopped production but the XP5 was primarily designed for the ND5xs but can power as stated by Naim NDS and CDS3 so says a lot about the XP5 capabilities.

If your dealer has one for the cost of a HiCap give it a go only you can justify if it's worth while.

No quarter posted:

spurrier sucks posted:

Leatherneck posted:

My N272/555/CDX.2.2 are gone replaced by an Aavik U-300 Integrated amplifier and Aurender N10 streamer.  Music was copied from my NAS to the N10 and CD's replaced by Tidal. 

Five boxes replaced.  Several expensive cables replaced.  Tidal have the kind of music I like and the quality is getting better all the time.  The choices seem endless and I never listen to RAP, Rock, current POP, etc. Admittedly, I don't recognize 90% of what's on Tidal but whatever I've looked for I've found.  I'm setting about filling up the 4TB of N10 storage with music from Tidal. That's going to take a while.

Is Tidal as good as the CDX2.2 into a good DAC?  I don't know but I do know that I'll never give up Tidal or the N10.   

BTW, Tidal is giving me a 40% military veterans discount.  Thanks Jay Z.  

Bud

 

Aavik and XT-2. Nice! I know a few others that have moved from Naim to Aavik. That seems to be a very nice box. 

I am sure it is,but I can't afford that all at once,Naim allows you to build your system over time.

It took me sixty years to get it.  My wife and I had the same moderate system fo 36 years and only bought something new.when the PS of our ancient preamp went bad.  I keep thinking I've gone too far and that I'd be happy to go back to something more simple and less costly.  The problem is that once you've heard it, you can't go back.

its a desease focusing on the equipment and not the music.  I'm hoping having the combination of a streamer and a streaming service will cure me.  Now i wonder if speakers with a front port would sound better in my small apartment��

Bud

Leatherneck posted:

No quarter posted:

spurrier sucks posted:

Leatherneck posted:

My N272/555/CDX.2.2 are gone replaced by an Aavik U-300 Integrated amplifier and Aurender N10 streamer.  Music was copied from my NAS to the N10 and CD's replaced by Tidal. 

Five boxes replaced.  Several expensive cables replaced.  Tidal have the kind of music I like and the quality is getting better all the time.  The choices seem endless and I never listen to RAP, Rock, current POP, etc. Admittedly, I don't recognize 90% of what's on Tidal but whatever I've looked for I've found.  I'm setting about filling up the 4TB of N10 storage with music from Tidal. That's going to take a while.

Is Tidal as good as the CDX2.2 into a good DAC?  I don't know but I do know that I'll never give up Tidal or the N10.   

BTW, Tidal is giving me a 40% military veterans discount.  Thanks Jay Z.  

Bud

 

Aavik and XT-2. Nice! I know a few others that have moved from Naim to Aavik. That seems to be a very nice box. 

I am sure it is,but I can't afford that all at once,Naim allows you to build your system over time.

It took me sixty years to get it.  My wife and I had the same moderate system fo 36 years and only bought something new.when the PS of our ancient preamp went bad.  I keep thinking I've gone too far and that I'd be happy to go back to something more simple and less costly.  The problem is that once you've heard it, you can't go back.

its a desease focusing on the equipment and not the music.  I'm hoping having the combination of a streamer and a streaming service will cure me.  Now i wonder if speakers with a front port would sound better in my small apartment��

Bud

XT-1? Keep the XT-2. Really would have like to hear the XT-2. 

Huge posted:

No quarter posted:

I would say,192khz files fed from a Core in SPDIF mode,using a 555DR power supply on the 272>Full loom Superlumina>300 DR amp or above...all using powerlines on "Full Fraim"

If you're going to use the 272 in S/Pdiff, why use a streamer?

As an S/Pdiff DAC + Preamp, a HugoTT or nDAC + 282 / HiCapDR will probably be better than the 272/555.

Sorry for the late reply HUGE,to kind of answer your question...because I already own a 272,I am not about to trade it in on a 282,probably lose money on it,and have to shell out a bunch more.Besides,I like the 272 for Tidal,and internet radio.I have my old Hugo on loan this week from my friend that I sold it to...so today I tried running from the Core >to Hugo>to 272 analog inputs>to 250DR>Dynaudio excite 12's.The result,after only a few hours of listening mind you,there really is no improvement I hear with the Hugo in the chain,over running the Core SPDIF out directly into the 272 digital input,and using the 272's internal DAC.He has agreed to let me use the Hugo all week,so I will know more by the end of the week,but to me,the 272's DAC holds it's own against the little wonder DAC from Chord.