Naim CDX or CD5X

Hi

I have a CD5XS whilst not on your list, it sounds great with my 62CB/Olive HiCap/NAP200 which is along similar lines to yours & can recommend as an option.

The CD5XS also has an upgrade path for a HiCap or a DAC.

N

Is your "need" because you had one and it died, or wanting to upgrade from something else, or because you want to start playing CDs?  Do you stream?

The following is said not knowing your situation: it is not an answer to your question, but an oblique thought in case it might be relevant: When I was in the position of having to replace a dying CD player I moved to streaming instead, being what I felt to be the future medium, and I have never looked back. Absolutely no detriment to sound quality, indeed with better sound quality possible, virtually zero storage space, easy convenient browsing from my seat, etc. However I did have a head start in that I had already ripped all my LPs to CD, and in so doing kept the ripped files also on a hard disk so they were ready to stream, though ripping CDs doesn't take long and I ripped all my CDs over the following few months.

With that lovely system, I'd be on the lookout for a CDS2/XPS. You should be able to find the pair for under £1,500, and it's absolutely teriffic, and far better than either of the players you mention. I had one, which I used with 82/250 and IBLs. 

Of the 2, I prefer the CDX, especially in your system.  It also gives you the option of adding an XPS, XPS2 or XPS-DR.  The olive XPS is remarkable value these days.

We have a CDX/olive XPS in an all olive system in our family.  It is just lovely to listen to.  Not harsh at all.  The 82/supercap/250 may help a bit too (!)

Best regards, FT 

Always appreciative of oblique thoughts - I have considered ripping my CD collection, however I have to confess to enjoy the physical process of selecting a CD, loading a player and listening to the spinning disc. As for streaming, our broadband is slower than carrier pigeon. Up until last week I had a Micromega CD player, the sale of which has gone a little way to funding a secondhand Naim CD player, which bring me back to the question; CDX or CD5X ?

Johnny M posted:

Always appreciative of oblique thoughts - I have considered ripping my CD collection, however I have to confess to enjoy the physical process of selecting a CD, loading a player and listening to the spinning disc. As for streaming, our broadband is slower than carrier pigeon. Up until last week I had a Micromega CD player, the sale of which has gone a little way to funding a secondhand Naim CD player, which bring me back to the question; CDX or CD5X ?

You would be cured of the enjoyment of loading CDs once you've spent a few days ripping them. 

Kevin Richardson posted:

Johnny M posted:

Always appreciative of oblique thoughts - I have considered ripping my CD collection, however I have to confess to enjoy the physical process of selecting a CD, loading a player and listening to the spinning disc. As for streaming, our broadband is slower than carrier pigeon. Up until last week I had a Micromega CD player, the sale of which has gone a little way to funding a secondhand Naim CD player, which bring me back to the question; CDX or CD5X ?

You would be cured of the enjoyment of loading CDs once you've spent a few days ripping them. 

I know but, I like that...

Theres something about playing a disc, CD or Vinyl you have to fiddle around & look after it. At the age of five my parents bought a Dansette gramaphone player and everyone had to see it, something about the anticipation - it had a volume and a 'tone' control, whatever that was. Our son has a network from which any track you like will play anywhere, wonderful. I daresay some like Apple Pay or the contactless stuff, its convenient whilst some prefer cash.

I prefer some sort of association with the media, if that makes sense?

Johnny M posted:

Always appreciative of oblique thoughts - I have considered ripping my CD collection, however I have to confess to enjoy the physical process of selecting a CD, loading a player and listening to the spinning disc. As for streaming, our broadband is slower than carrier pigeon. Up until last week I had a Micromega CD player, the sale of which has gone a little way to funding a secondhand Naim CD player, which bring me back to the question; CDX or CD5X ?

When I referred to streaming I was thinking of streaming from your own music collection, rather than online - however, although it holds no interest for me, many people do like the ease of finding new music that comes with online streaming. Many "streamers" that play local files can also access online subscription services. 

But of course if the physicality is part of the enjoyment, then maybe CD is indeed the right thing (I've kept a few CD booklets for their ease of reading whilst playing, mostly opera for the libretti. Otherwise to me CDs were always a poor imitation of LP, where the size of the album sleeves  made them special - but deterioration of favourite albums was a bugbear, and I learnt to appreciate not having to turn over after 20 min - and maybe age has something to do with it!

Johnny M posted:

I need a CD player and I would appreciate some advice from the wiser community. I have an all olive Naim system' 250, 72, a hicap and SBL's. I'm considering either a secondhand CDX or a CD5X. Whilst the CDX would look at home in my present set-up, I'm not averse aesthetically to the CD5X.  Any thoughts gratefully considered.

i don't know what budget you want to put. The original cdx is 20 years now, so i think it is risky to purchase it...cdx2 is better than cd5x and also it is difficult to find someone you have compared the original cdx with the cd5x....  I think that for 1000 pounds you can find a used cdx2, and perhaps add an xps later if you want to have one of the best musical cd player ever made...

I had in the past the cd5x, cd5x/hicap, cdx2 and cdx2/xps2. I preferred the cd5x/ hicap over the cdx2 alone, more analogue sounding. But the cdx2/xps2 was my best cd player...sold 1 year ago.

I'm very grateful for all the constructive comments received and as this is the first time I have used this forum, I am very impressed with the wealth of knowledge available and the willingness of people to share it.