CDX2 out Sonos in and naim DAC next week

Posted by: bigsplice on 25 April 2010

Finally decided to make change from CD to more user/ storage friendly source.
Purchased Sonos (Single room) and currently just streaming from napster until i set up music library (Network HDD). Sonos feeds into 282/HC/150X/Credo's and results very pleasing so far. Gonna purchase Naim DAC next week and would welcome any comments/advice on cabling and upgrades etc. Im not really familiar with streaming or high quality file formats so advice on best way/file format for storing on Hard Drive most welcome. Thanks in advance
Posted on: 25 April 2010 by rich46
i use sonos zp90, use a one tera RIPNAS with an external nas used for back up. tried flac/wav couldnt detect any real difference. decided on flac. ripped 2500 cd ,very tiring job. backed up twice with two nas drives.

from z90 ive tried optical and cable feeding ndac ,the results are extremely good. use iphone for control. dont forget sonos is only 16bit ,thherefore highres willhave to wait.guess it will be several years before general music will be downloaded.

sonos is very secureand solid to use.

use good quality cat 6 cables. the sonos and the ripnas unit is away from the hifisystem.

the quality and the selection of music is very good. packed alot of cds away to save space.

before ripping i cleaned every cd to ensure a faultless rip good luck. hi res music downloaded to usb stick into the ndac is very good too. optical fed to the ndac is very good too
Posted on: 25 April 2010 by nap-ster
I'd have a listen to the CDX2S when you go to listen to the DAC. You might be surprised how good it is fed into the DAC against the Sonos.
Posted on: 25 April 2010 by bigsplice
quote:
Originally posted by rich46:
i use sonos zp90, use a one tera RIPNAS with an external nas used for back up. tried flac/wav couldnt detect any real difference. decided on flac. ripped 2500 cd ,very tiring job. backed up twice with two nas drives.

from z90 ive tried optical and cable feeding ndac ,the results are extremely good. use iphone for control. dont forget sonos is only 16bit ,thherefore highres willhave to wait.guess it will be several years before general music will be downloaded.

sonos is very secureand solid to use.

use good quality cat 6 cables. the sonos and the ripnas unit is away from the hifisystem.

the quality and the selection of music is very good. packed alot of cds away to save space.

before ripping i cleaned every cd to ensure a faultless rip good luck. hi res music downloaded to usb stick into the ndac is very good too. optical fed to the ndac is very good too

Cheers Rich46. will take on board your advice. What specific cables you using? ie coax to dac and then to pre?
Posted on: 25 April 2010 by Skip
If you prefer the sound of the DAC over the naked CDX2, wouldn't that be a surprise?
Posted on: 27 April 2010 by Frizzlefry
Hi

Using a ZP90, fed into a Supernait with a Chord Signature. Storage on Buffalo 1TB Live NAS drives.

As for ripping, I use DBpoweramp to rip to Apple lossless, and use itunes to 'store' and organise my library. Rips from poweramp sound better than ones i tried from itunes, and it can tell you if it is an accurate rip, too.
Posted on: 30 April 2010 by Sorzy
Hi,

I'm using Sonos ZP90 streaming FLAC from a NAS and feeding Naim DAC via Naim DC1 RCA-BNC digital coax. The convenience of having instant access to my complete cd library is sooo nice. Prefer the Sonos controller over iPhone due to better response.

I hope Sonos will start supporting hires formats soon, or maybe Naim will introduce a streamer-only type of product (HDX without hard drives, display, dac and cd drive)?
Posted on: 30 April 2010 by bigsplice
DAC arrived and ita amazing! ZP90 into DAC into 282/HC/150X/credos. Quality jaw droppingly good on stored music via NAS and streamed from napster which all the family are enjoying. Lots to explore with the DAC, ie ipod,PS3 and cable TV etc.
Posted on: 07 May 2010 by GrahamFinch
I use the Sonos with the Naim dac to good effect. I have the DC1 interconnect, a hiline and a powerline on the dac feeding my 552pre 250-2 Allaes.

I still have a CDS3 555ps andt when I first got the dac I experimented with the 555ps and it made a huge improvement. However, I have reconnected it to the CDS3 and am still very happy with the sound I get from the Sonos and dac.

I have even gone as far as adding a Powerline to the Sonos using a figure of 8 IEC adapter.

I know some people doubt the benefits of a Powerline and will think the idea totally mad but I have always found Powerlines worthwhile even on the Sonos.

In any event I am sure you will find the Sonos and dac a very user friendly way of listening to good quality music. Enjoy!
Posted on: 08 May 2010 by js
quote:
Originally posted by Frizzlefry:
Hi

Using a ZP90, fed into a Supernait with a Chord Signature. Storage on Buffalo 1TB Live NAS drives.

As for ripping, I use DBpoweramp to rip to Apple lossless, and use itunes to 'store' and organise my library. Rips from poweramp sound better than ones i tried from itunes, and it can tell you if it is an accurate rip, too.
You may mean 'secure'.
Posted on: 08 May 2010 by rich46
the sonos £235 iphone and nas with the dac is great. remember sonos is a £235 unit not £1500.
Posted on: 09 May 2010 by Mr Underhill
Bigsplice,

I have no idea of the quality of the modded CDX2.

I have compared the fully fettled CDS555 with dual 555 PSU, and it was marginally better than the two computer based front ends we were actually comparing, which were vastly cheaper.

At the end of the session Graham's comment was, '..think I'll start listening to the CDS555 more often.'


I suspect that most of us on this site would accept that quality is of primary importance to us.

I know my laptop/HiFace is better than using my DVD5 or Meridian 596 as a front end. BUT, if I had another possible front end that might add a smidgen more I would spend some time investigating it.

Might it be worth borrowing one of the new CDX2's, and thinking about getting yours modded?


For what it's worth when I demoed the nDAC I spent a good 90 minutes with the guy doing the demo playing with a ZP90 - and think it is brilliant. Even streaming Napster we could hear the drop in quality, esp at the freq extremes, but it didn't detract from enjoying the music.


M