CDXII

Posted by: Chris Bell on 14 December 2002

I installed a CDX2 in my system last night and I can say without a doubt it is the best cd player I have ever heard. It conveys the meaning and emotion of music in a way I never experienced with my CDS2. I am sure if I did a head-to-head comparison the CDS2 would be more revealing, but I have never had a player make such an connection with me....And mind you this is a bare CDX2...I can only imagine what an XPS-II would do to say nothing of the impending CDS3.

Chris Bell

PS: there are a pair of RCAs included with the player...shocking!
Posted on: 14 December 2002 by Wolf
Good for you. Have fun listening to it run in, someday I'll have the same experience.
Posted on: 14 December 2002 by Manu
But they are WBT gold plated ones, .. and for that price there is no black RCA cable included.

I definitively have to try those damned RCA sockets.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 15 December 2002 by NB
Just wait until you have had the CDX2 for a few months it will just get better and better. Then see what a differnce the XPS makes!!


Awesome!!

Regards

NB
Posted on: 15 December 2002 by J.N.
My dealer has one powering a CDX II and is waxing lyrical about the combo.

A touch of the 552 experience apparently. Really opens things up, he reckons.

Looking forward to not being able to afford a CDS 3.
Posted on: 16 December 2002 by the other nickc
The CDX2 does it for me as well Chris.
I auditioned one recently and decided nothing else would do. Just have to save the pennies now...
Posted on: 16 December 2002 by Jez Quigley
I put this in the 'New Dealer' thread a day or 2 ago. Thought it might be more relevant here:

quote:
As I happened to be working in the area that afternoon I arrived an hour early. Paul was still setting up the new kit. From switch on it sounded nice, but a little bright and 'lite' a couple of hours later it was heavenly. I stopped using my hi fi critic ears and just luxuriated in Eric Bibb's 'Five miles above' - an appropriate title!

The system was CDX2/XPS2/Super2/282/new250/SL2s, all on a mixture of QS bogs and standard QS. A 'Well-Tempered' TT did the analog stuff. Usually it is very obvious when the source is switched from TT to CDP, but with the CDX2 only the hypercritical would notice or care. There was such a liquidity to the music.


"All systems are perfectly designed to get the results they get."
Posted on: 16 December 2002 by Bob Edwards
The CDX2 by itself is preferable to a CDS2?

That would be hard to believe!

Bob
Posted on: 16 December 2002 by Top Cat
Nah, I can't see it myself. I've heard the CDX2/XPSII and it was nice but nothing amazing - so I suspect that the 'better than CDS2/XPS' argument is simply one of these things carefully planted to spark off rampant upgraditis in CDS2 owners.

I think some people might be getting carried away in a wave of gear envy (or should that be 'new funky-case gear envy'????) razz

big grin

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 16 December 2002 by Steve Toy
Miaouw! Put your claws away! big grin

Regards,

Steve.


Posted on: 16 December 2002 by Steve Toy
Top Cat is no "roundy."

Regarding the Flat Earth, there is more than one way to skin a cat. In February, all being well, I'll be able to hear just how this cat has been skinned. smile

Regards,

Steve.


Posted on: 17 December 2002 by JeremyB
Heard a CDX2/XPS during a session with LP12. I'd say it was easily the closest that I've heard yet in the involving/engaging etc terms. It really is that good. Absolutely enthralling. Not sure if the CD glaring, congested sounding mid-range (still there, unfortunately) would disappear completely (with certain discs?) or aggrivate over time.
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by Naheed
I've not heard the cdx2 or any of the new incarnations yet.

Though a trusted friend has, and likens the new series having the 'boogie' of the likes of old Nait 2 amps...
He summed it as very engaging, not necessarily as refined as say the cds2, but over a short listening session it did provide that 'fun-factor' by the bucket load.

For me there's the longer-term living with it question, were 'maybe' the refinement counts - but if it 'boogies' who cares.

Oh and I guess as always there is the box envy element razz

naheed...
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon
At this rate, when the CD500 finally comes out, my CDSII is going to sound unlistenable in comparison.

David
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by Chris Bell
Since my CDS2 has been sold off for a couple of months I have no way to do a direct comparison. My point was this new player conveys emotion of music in a way my CDS2 never did. It grabbs your attention and draws you deeper in to the performance. So in a way it is better, in ways that are important to me.

252/supercap schedualed to appear in my system later this week...I am sure I will have more to say then.

Chris Bell
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon
Chris,

Do you want to have a go at explaining how the CDXII is conveying more meaning and emotion of the music?

BTW, what stand are you using?

David
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by John Channing
quote:
Since my CDS2 has been sold off for a couple of months I have no way to do a direct comparison.


Did you sell it knowning that you were going to buy one of the newer players of for another reason?

quote:
My point was this new player conveys emotion of music in a way my CDS2 never did.


If this is the case, were you not tempted to wait for the CDS3?
John
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by John Channing
Right, that's done it, I've booked a dem to listen to the CDXII, 282, 252, and 250 on Thursday.
John
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by Hammerhead
..but I've just come back from seeing Andrew at Audience in Bath. The CDX2/282/200 (JM Lab Electras) there sounded gorgeous. And it looks dead sexy to boot. If only I had the cash roll eyes Oh well, new stylee napsc just ordered. As mentioned elsewhere, it's worth upgrading from the original version if you've got one.

Steve
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by Don Atkinson
David

At this rate, when the CD500 finally comes out, my CDSII is going to sound unlistenable in comparison.

David

Why wait when a quick listen to a decent LP12 will render the CDII to background music status......

As you say in your profile, you should really get a turntable.

More seriously, the CDSII does give a top flight t/t a good run these days and the price of a good t/t plus your cdsii in part ex should get you pretty close to a cd500. If I didn't have so many records I would be thinking along cd500 lines

Cheers

Don
Posted on: 17 December 2002 by Chris Bell
David,

I am only able to describe how music makes me feel. I am not much of a writer, and can't stand descriptions like "sweet highs" and "chocolately bass". All I can say is that this new player allows me to connect with the musician(s) in a way I have never experienced before. The engineers at Naim have hit a new high, and I can't wait to hear the CDS3 in my house.

I am using Fraim for a stand.

Chris Bell
Posted on: 18 December 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon
Don,

Yes, I know - you're right. As I mentioned on another thread, I want to hear a few more turntables before getting the obligatory LP12. Still very happy to have my CDSII though.

David
Posted on: 23 December 2002 by louis_lx
What is the price ratio between new CDX2 vs 2-hand CDX ?

If you want to buy one of those which one ?