Core - initial impressions

Posted by: KindofBlue on 19 April 2018

After a short bit of listening, ripping and generally poking around the app, here are my initial impressions:

SQ - quite a large improvement in detail over my Serve - at first it was almost startling. Second SQ area was not good - sound was somewhat brittle and a little bit harsh. We ended up adjusting the speaker placement (slightly wider, slightly further away) and that, combined with letting the Core run for a while made a huge different. I've got my "natural" sound back with a ton more detail.
Functions - everything is easier to do - set-up, ripping CDs, customizing metadata, search/find music on my NAS - all faster and more user friendly. The Serve's software was not good and Naim seems to have rectified this with the Core - well done!
Price - a very nice upgrade for a relatively (at least in the world of Naim) modest sum.

Set-up = Core-NDS/555PS-SN2-Dynaudios

Posted on: 19 April 2018 by Ravenswood10

I’m glad you like it. I love mine.

Posted on: 19 April 2018 by Finkfan

I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.

Posted on: 19 April 2018 by ChrisH

Interesting to hear, a lot of initial negativity but gradually more positive comments coming through. Good to hear and glad you are liking it.

My Serve is still going strong, will have to have a think what to do when it needs a repair (when the HD inevitably fails).

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by Rich 1

I have a Core (and 272 / 250DR) since early January feeding twenty 24s. I considered it a very good buy. Compared it to other cd players including Naim, it was up with the best. The latest firmware update to the 272 has improved the bass tightness and soundstage on digital, made no changes on analogue unsurprisingly, that was already very good. The new app is also very good, Naim have listened to users concerns and acted on them. The whole system took several weeks to run in and can sometimes be a bit unforgiving of poor recordings. Rich

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by Timo

Finkfan posted:
I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.

Finkfan, just get a NAS and put the saved monies towards the "power supply upgrade fund" for your lovely 272.

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by hungryhalibut

Finkfan posted:
I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.

Remember that a Core cannot play CDs directly, it can only rip them first and then play from storage.

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by Finkfan

I’m keen on the core partly because of how it looks on the app. I tried dB poweramp and couldn’t get on with the large ugly icons on the screen. If there was another way of getting the slick look on the Naim app without the core I’d consider that.

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by David Hendon

Finkfan posted:
I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.

Unless you need the cash contribution from selling the CDX2, I would get the Core and then decide whether you want to keep the CDX2 as well. I have both and wouldn't want to do without either of them.

best

David

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by French Rooster

i am not sure that 272/core will sound better than your cdx2. 272 / 555ps yes, but 272 alone, not sure. Some here will perhaps tell. You can also sell your cdx2 and buy a second hand 555ps....

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by Finkfan

David Hendon posted:
Finkfan posted:
I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.
Unless you need the cash contribution from selling the CDX2, I would get the Core and then decide whether you want to keep the CDX2 as well. I have both and wouldn't want to do without either of them.
best
David

Hi David

I would need to part ex the CDX2 to get a Core. It will be one or the other for me. As French Rooster says... would it be any better combo or not?

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by hungryhalibut

Finkfan posted:
I’m keen on the core partly because of how it looks on the app. I tried dB poweramp and couldn’t get on with the large ugly icons on the screen. If there was another way of getting the slick look on the Naim app without the core I’d consider that.

It’s only at the first level - album, artist, genre etc that you get the large icons. Once you drill down beyond that you get all the albums shown as usual. £2,000 seems a lot to spend to avoid a few icons that are not seen that often in practice. I’d put the money to a power supply, unless app appearances are more important than sound quality.

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by French Rooster

Finkfan posted:
David Hendon posted:
Finkfan posted:
I’m seriously considering replacing my CDX2 with a core. Its good to read the positive reviews.
Unless you need the cash contribution from selling the CDX2, I would get the Core and then decide whether you want to keep the CDX2 as well. I have both and wouldn't want to do without either of them.
best
David
Hi David
I would need to part ex the CDX2 to get a Core. It will be one or the other for me. As French Rooster says... would it be any better combo or not?

i had the cdx2/xps2 before, now the nds/555dr. Yes, the nds is better, but not on all aspects. The cdx2 was more immediate sounding, with more urgency. I sometimes regret it.

The core is convenient and integrated well with naim components. For sound quality, it will be a very marginal upgrade vs your nas, in upnp mode. I would advise you to borrow an xps and compare cdx2/xps 2 with 272/xps2 or cdx2 alone vs 272 / xps. Take your time to not have regrets after.

Posted on: 20 April 2018 by Chag...

KindofBlue posted:
SQ - quite a large improvement in detail over my Serve...

I am assuming you have compared both servers in UPnP and the US without LPS. Have you had the chance to compare them in S/PDIF? What about storage? HDD or SSD? ????

Chag -