Naim HDX

Posted by: Dejan on 26 April 2008

I just came back from munchen hi End show where I had the opptunity to listen to Naim HDX.

The system that it was playing in: Supernait + Naim SL2 + two naim subs.

Naim HDX impressed me very much. I must admit that I was a bit sceptical concerning all this HD thing, but it plays on a really high level. I had a feeling that the quality of source reproduction was among the best Naim cd players (whatever that exactly means - I have CD5x-FC2x and it seems that this HDX is a better player). Really - very impressive sound.

Great product as well with a lot of useful features. It made me start thinking ....
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Dejan
Does anybody know the price of the Naim HDX ? Any idea ... ?
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by rupert bear
Are these two parallel HDX threads analogous to the two hard drives within?
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by joe90
The HDX is quite a simple idea:

1) aim it at people with money and a nice big home

2) make it sound really good

3) make it easy to use with their existing music on CD

4) make it work like an iPod, cause that's new and groovy and the kids each have one and once you get the hang of it they're kinda cool

5) make it spit out multiple streams so rich big home owner can listen to very good quality audio in their office/kitchen/pool room/games room

6) make it one box because if it doesn't look cool I'm not having it in the house because I'm not turning my home into a nerd castle of DACS (WTF are those?), USB, FLAC, NAS, HDD etc etc, actually I think I'll just hire one of those multiroom installer chaps to sling it all in a cupboard while I spend all day working to pay for it and I want it simple because my life isn't.
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by joe90
If you don't see the logic in that then the HDX probably isn't for you.
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Huwge
quote:
Originally posted by Dejan:
Does anybody know the price of the Naim HDX ? Any idea ... ?


I think the UK price was GBP 4.500 and I was told €6.500 in Munich

Given the unit still seems to be in development things may change

Huw
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Chris Kelly
quote:
Are these two parallel HDX threads analogous to the two hard drives within?


If they were wouldn't they be exact copies of each other?
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Adam Meredith
quote:
Originally posted by thesherrif:
There's an interesting point buried in this, and in other threads, that needs to be nailed down. The HDX is NOT going to sound like anything at all, it chucks out digits. And it's not going to matter at all whether the HDD box is Naim, Linn, or a laptop running itunes....... the digital output will be the same.


What people have been listening to is the analogue output.
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Chris Kelly
quote:
1) aim it at people with money and a nice big home


Afraid I fell at the first fence. Roll Eyes
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by 555
quote:

If they were wouldn't they be exact copies of each other?

They should be, but that's data corruption for you!
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Huwge
quote:
Originally posted by 555:

They should be, but that's data corruption for you!


I didn't think you could bribe robots
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by 555
quote:
Originally posted by Huwge:
I didn't think you could bribe robots

Describing forum members as robots is a bit rude Huwge!
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Dejan
quote:
Originally posted by Huwge:
quote:
Originally posted by Dejan:
Does anybody know the price of the Naim HDX ? Any idea ... ?


I think the UK price was GBP 4.500 and I was told €6.500 in Munich

Given the unit still seems to be in development things may change

Huw


Thanx Huw. That is what I was afraid of .... 6,5 K euros for MP4 player Roll Eyes Winker Big Grin
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Rodborough
quote:
Thats simple, Linn CD players are no match for the Naim equivolents, so making an HDD player to outperform a Linn CD spinner would a relatively simple task.

Not so for Naim with the likes of the CDX2, CDS3 and CD555, which are all world class.

Cheers

Jez


Hi Jez

And where would you place the Linn CD12 in that line-up?

Just interested

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Rodborough
quote:
But shouldn't we have kept the analogue input in the first place?? It would save a lot of messing about with digits

FF


Hi Frank

It might well be worth noting that the original recording (The Master if you will) which later becomes either a CD, or Vinyl for that matter, in the majority of cases is digital and stored on a Hard Disc a certain amount of compression is required in the case of CD for the available space and in the case of Vinyl to make sure it can be tracked by the cartridge.

Telarc <spl> IIRC released a Vinyl version of their digital recording of the 1812 Overture in the early 80’s and when the Cannon came in nothing could track it, I even saw arm & cartridges combinations launching off the surface with such force that they would crash into the underside of the Perspex cover on the turntable.

If you go back a little further to the 60’s, Vinyl was viewed as a “nonsense” why would you want this? Surely making a copy of the Master Tape onto tape which could be played back on your Ferrograph or whatever was the sensible way to go.

Just goes to prove really that although the technologies may change the augments do not

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by joe90
quote:
And where would you place the Linn CD12 in that line-up?


In the

'It's expensive and nicely-built. Oh well.'

box.
Posted on: 29 April 2008 by Dejan
quote:
Originally posted by Rodborough:
quote:
But shouldn't we have kept the analogue input in the first place?? It would save a lot of messing about with digits

FF


Hi Frank

It might well be worth noting that the original recording (The Master if you will) which later becomes either a CD, or Vinyl for that matter, in the majority of cases is digital and stored on a Hard Disc a certain amount of compression is required in the case of CD for the available space and in the case of Vinyl to make sure it can be tracked by the cartridge.

Telarc <spl> IIRC released a Vinyl version of their digital recording of the 1812 Overture in the early 80’s and when the Cannon came in nothing could track it, I even saw arm & cartridges combinations launching off the surface with such force that they would crash into the underside of the Perspex cover on the turntable.

If you go back a little further to the 60’s, Vinyl was viewed as a “nonsense” why would you want this? Surely making a copy of the Master Tape onto tape which could be played back on your Ferrograph or whatever was the sensible way to go.

Just goes to prove really that although the technologies may change the augments do not

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES


Interesting thinking ... I can only agree