CD5+FC2 vs Accuphase DP-55V vs Meridian G07

Posted by: Jose Carvalho on 08 June 2004

Hi all,

I'm on the market to replace my previous cd combo: Audiolab 8000CDM/8000DAC.

At my home I already listened the Naim CD5+FC2 (courtesy of my dealer). The sound was fantastic. I liked a lot expecially with FC2.

Now he wants that I listen (next weekend) the Accuphase DP-55V and then the Meridian G07 (also at my home).

My system is:
Densen DM-10
Wilson Benesch Orator
Spectral cables (MIH750+MIH330)
Solidsteel rack.

I don´t know any thing about the sonic performance or compatibility of the accuphase or even the new meridian.

What do you think of these items: Naim CD5+FC2, DP-55V or G07?
Wich could perform better, in theory of course?

Thnaks in advance.
José

Posted on: 08 June 2004 by sideshowbob

Since you're on the Naim forum, most here will probably say that the CD5 is great, the Meridian is slow or round earth or something, and the Accuphase is probably all right, but not as good as the Naim.

Having owned both Meridian and Naim CD players I'd take the Meridian any time, haven't heard Accuphase but several people I know who have like it. It's very expensive in Europe, however, compared to Japan or the US.

-- Ian

Posted on: 08 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Here in Portugal, the Accuphase is in the same "price league" as CD5+FC2.
Naim gear is very expensive in Portugal.

I d'ont know yet the results. The listenings tests begin in the next weekend.

My deelar, wich have in his home a CDX2, considerer the sound of CD5+FC2 more correct than accuphase. Not better but correct and pleasant.
Before he bought the CDX2, the accuphase as listened only to comparison.

Posted on: 09 June 2004 by SB

When I bought my CD5 and FC2, I also auditioned the Meridian G07. It was very close sonically. I ended up staying with Naim, primarily for compatibility with my existing NAIT 5.

Posted on: 09 June 2004 by Nuno Baptista

Hi Jose
I´ve got a Naim CD 5/ FC2 .
It´s more flatearth than the Meridian,wich is more roundearth and I don´t like.
So you decide, but with the time you get more used to a flatearth sound as Naim
Your dealer is the same as mine,isn´t it Novacústica?

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

Posted on: 09 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Hi Nuno,

I'm glad to find anyone near me

Thanks for your comment and for all the comments from other guys.
My dealer is Novacustica. Nice guys!

During the weekend I will have the chance to try and listen the accuphase. After a few days, I will listen the meridian if it's necessary.

Send me a PM (in portuguese

) if you want.

Posted on: 10 June 2004 by anthonyL15

quote:
Originally posted by Leon:
Now that's a touchy subject on this forum... I have CD5 + hicap. The combo is generally regarded to be better than CD5+FC2. It's also a more expensive combo. I love mine and heard nothing better...for the price. Now, funny that you posted as I've just borrowed an Accuphase 55V from my local dealer yesterday to play with at home. first thing first, the accuphase is not in the same price bracket as the CD5+FC2. In fact the accuphase 55V price is similar to a CDX2. As a result, don't listen to it!! It won't be a fair match. After a day or so with the Accuphase, I have to say that it's better than my CD5+hicap in just about every area! It has a warmer, fuller sound. vocal more projected, music has more depth. More complex rhythm sounds like it should...a more complex rhythm rather than a blurred simplified version. Definitely more bass, more drive...drum hits a bit harder. The high doesn't go so high though. Ok you got the picture, i like it. going back to my naim kind of sound a bit cold and lean...is not a good sign for me as i want to like the naim. Is the accuphase better than a CDX2...I'm gonna find out tomorrow hopefully.

Posted on: 10 June 2004 by anthonyL15

Would like to know if anyone has done a direct comparison between an Accuphase DP-55V and a CDX2. Member Leon said he was going to do the comparison and I would be interested in his verdict and anyone else's opnion on the subject. Am having difficulty deciding between the two.

Posted on: 11 June 2004 by Nuno Baptista

Jose:
Let us know about your listening tests,OK?

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

Posted on: 11 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Listening tests begin tomorrow.
Can't wait

Posted on: 15 June 2004 by hanky

Hi,

I have just entered the Naim frey with a fairly modest setup 282/250/CDX2/HiCap with PMCs OB-1s (which are fantastic).

In the quest for my new system I demoed the Meridian G07/Cyrus CD8 and a CD5i for starters. The CD5i was disapointing when put up against the other two, however it was conceding a lot in price. I found the G07 a little forward a lacking in bottom end, it was by no means poor just didn't quite grab my attention.

I was going to demo a G08, however having spoken to a variety of dealers the feeling was that it would offer more weight, it would still carry the 'Meridian' sound.

Hence here I am with a CDX2.

Trying to explain the cost of this lot to the better half was difficult to say the least!

Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Ok guys here are my conclusions about DP-55V:

First of all, I wasn't a Naim fan. Not at all! All the systems that I listened in the past (mostly in audio shows) sounded awfull.
Then I listened a fine configuration: Nait5i+FC2/CD5+FC2/Intros and I couldn't belive what I'm hearing!

I know it's the entry level, but who cares. It plays music like no others play. I felt things that never felted with another systems, some of them with esoteric prices!
The music and the players have life. We can fell that.
My instant decision: I'm going to sell the audiolab combo (8000CDM/8000DAC)!
And it was what I did!

Than I became a Naim fan. And start to think of the sound of more expensive naim gear...

I don't have a all naim system. But I have a very well balanced system.

After hearing CD5/FC2 I started to listen the DP-55V.
What a difference!
In this instance, I realise how different could be CD players.
Accuphse lacks the most important thing: It don't play music. Just CD recordings.
Music have no life. It seems that everybody in the recording are playing without pleasure.

The highs on Accuphase are the most "technical" weakness of all. They sound to bright almost of the time. And the bass isn't as tight as CD5/FC2. The sounstage is deeper the the CD5 but I'm starting to thing that this kind of sound "bigger than life" isn't real. In a studio it's impossible to create that sound.
The sound is warm, easy, but lack rythm and dynamic.

As Mick Jagger said: "I can get no satisfation"... with this CDP!

I don't have money to CDX2, but if I have it's the ONLY player that I would buy!

I'm sorry for my english.

Cheers
José Carvalho

Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Mike in PA, USA

Jose,

For someone who is not a native english speaker, I think you have definatly captured the spirit of why those who like Naim gear (and music) like Naim so much!

-Mike

Posted on: 17 June 2004 by Nuno Baptista

Now we wait for your comments about the Meridian G7, OK? Yes The Naim cd 5 does Prat (Pace,Rythm and Time ) very well,indeed

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

Posted on: 17 June 2004 by Nuno Baptista

Now we waith for your comments about the Meridian G 7 . Yes , the Naim does Prat ( Pace ,rythm and timing)very well

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

Posted on: 17 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Next weekend I'll start to listen the meridien

Till then, I still have the acuphase in my home. But I haven't any pleasure listening it.

Naim officialy announces the new CD5X. I want to compare it against CD5. CD5X+FC2 vs CD5+FC2.

For now, accuphase till the weekend. Then the meridian G07 for a week. And only then, the CD5x if it will be available!

Cheers.

Posted on: 19 June 2004 by Philip Pang

Naim CD Players Vs The Lot

Jose, you'll generally find that most other players can sound better in the hi-fi aspects, but somehow fail to involve you emotionally with the music. As you've heard for yourself and reported accordingly.

The Naim cd player's/overall system's ability to involve the listener in the music is the one crucial aspect of their approach that's made the "Naim sound" so famous, and why this sound has gotten a cult following of "Naim-mad" followers like myself.

The original Naim CDS is still no slouch in being able to make you forget the hi fi and get you listening to and enjoying the music at a very high level of quality music replay, but some of its competitors would arguably have more resolution, "air", liquidity & openness, but strangely less music/emotional communication overall! So which would one choose? That was the 1; the 2 was already phenomenal, the 3 should be on another planet altogether, which I daren't listen to, out of withdrawal fear symptoms.

Naim CD players groove in every sense of the word, and they would show most a clean pair of heels where overall listening enjoyment and involvement are concerned.

Enjoy the music; it's groovin' frightfully more.

Rgds

Philip

naimniac for life

Posted on: 19 June 2004 by Jose Carvalho

Philip,

You are tottaly right!

Other are better "in the paper" but when I insert a CD, Naim plays music while the others play the record.

I don't want to listen CDX2 or even CDS3. I don't have the money for they. For now! Someday I could afford one.

Posted on: 21 June 2004 by Laurie Saunders

quote:
Naim CD players groove in every sense of the word, and they would show most a clean pair of heels where overall listening enjoyment and involvement are concerned.

Funny...my findings are diametrically opposed to yours......to my ears the sound of naim CDPs is almost "designed to impress", sounds more unnnatural and uninvolving than any other brand I can think of.

Furthermore, one must factor in high repair bills when the laser fails just the wrong side of the warrantee period

laurie S

Posted on: 21 June 2004 by kuma

quote:
Originally posted by Laurie Saunders:
to my ears the sound of naim CDPs is almost "designed to impress", sounds more unnnatural and uninvolving than any other brand I can think of.

Laurie,

Do you think CDS3 sounds unnatural also?

Posted on: 21 June 2004 by Laurie Saunders

quote:
Laurie,

Do you think CDS3 sounds unnatural also?

I cannot respond to that because I have yet to hear it.I can only speak of the "olive" range, which fit, I suggest, the description I gave above.

In the meantime, one or two thoughts arise (ie thinking out loud)

(1) Would one (by that, I mean me) be tempted by the latest top-of the range Naim CDP because I haven`t liked any offerings from Naim so far?

I`ve always been bemused by the logic tnat goes something like:" the model I have is not performing up to the standard I require, so the answer must be to move further up the price range of that companies offerings"

In my own case, I am usually tempted by a company`s more expensive offerings because I have found that the more lowly models offer (IMHO) outstanding performance, and I want even more of the same (rarely works in practice!!!)

(2) By all accounts the CDS3 is something special...so it ought to be at £7k.... and judging by what I have heard with a CDS2 head unit with a new XPS2, things seem to be moving in the right direction.....so if the new is "right" then the "old" must have been "wrong"

(3) Regardless of sound quality, I would still hestite to sink a lot of cash into a Naim CDP due to the widely accepted issue of laser
(un)reliability and the swingeing costs of repair

Another thought occurs, which is not unique to Naim...surely every other CDP manufacture must have, by now, dissected the CDS3, and found what makes it "tick", and saved themselves many £k on research......how long will it before a sub £1000 player is released which is snapping at it`s(the CDS3s) heels

Of all the items in the chain, CDPs are the most "ephemeral", and I for one cannot afford to take a £3-4 k "hit" every couple of years

Laurie S

Posted on: 22 June 2004 by greeny

quote:
Furthermore, one must factor in high repair bills when the laser fails just the wrong side of the warrantee period

quote:
I would still hestite to sink a lot of cash into a Naim CDP due to the widely accepted issue of laser
(un)reliability and the swingeing costs of repair

Laurie, stop trolling, you're talking bobbins again.

Posted on: 22 June 2004 by airdavid

quote:
michael007 said: I had use of the Meridian GO8 for about a month in my system at home. The Naim CD5 sound is definatly the one for me. I find it be more rythmicaly certain and grounded. Better bass. I just find that I am able to get into it more than I was the Meridain.

Even without FC ? Or perhaps did Meridian sound better than CD 5 without FC?
Thanks,
bye
David

Posted on: 22 June 2004 by Laurie Saunders

quote:
Laurie, stop trolling, you're talking bobbins again.

Que...????????????????????????????

Laurie S

Posted on: 22 June 2004 by o.j.

quote:
Originally posted by Laurie Saunders:
quote:
Laurie, stop trolling, you're talking bobbins again.

Que...????????????????????????????

Laurie S

Hy Laurie!Agree with your comment.Today there are a lot more of cheap cd
players that are soundwise in the superleague.
Time is indeed a factor that makes innovations and quality affordable to everyone.
And we all hope to get better performance out of expensive boxes,but the idea that the more
expensive box has in a l l areas better performance than the cheaper one in the productline of one single manufacturer is often
not realized.(this is my general opinon and not
a comment on naim cd players,which i did not compare (until now).
O.J.

Posted on: 22 June 2004 by Vik

obviously there are people out here who prefer tone over tune - the inevitable route when you piddle around with non-standard cable.

Cognitive dissonance gets you a long way, and talk as it is said, is cheap.

I may have heard the odd 3.5 outdo a cdx in some systems, but to say Naim CD players can't perform is just plain wrong.

vik