questions on CDX2

Hi kuma

This is the closest I could get to answering your questions, from the main website...

quote:

---

Both the transport and chipset have been upgraded for the CDX2. The HDCD decoder/digital filter is only activated when playing encoded discs. Eight-times over sampled data is then sent to two (one per channel) Burr Brown PCM mono D/A converters. A separate, fully optimised master clock controls all main digital functions, and the clock configuration and layout are engineered to minimise jitter. A seven-pole analogue filter follows the DAC to remove spurious noise.

---

Any help?

J

quote:

---

Both the transport and chipset have been upgraded for the CDX2. The HDCD decoder/digital filter is only activated when playing encoded discs. Eight-times over sampled data is then sent to two (one per channel) Burr Brown PCM mono D/A converters. A separate, fully optimised master clock controls all main digital functions, and the clock configuration and layout are engineered to minimise jitter. A seven-pole analogue filter follows the DAC to remove spurious noise.

---

hehe yeah. i read that. Naim is not very forthcoming with their technical bits.
All I could manage to find is that it uses 24/96 Burr Brown chip set and Phillips' front loader version of VAM 1250 transport.

Well I suppose I could take mine apart to see what bits are inside, but then again, the chances of it ever working afterwards aren't far from zero, so I'll have to pass

If no one else can help here maybe an e-mail to Naim direct might help (having said that I have no idea on their policy re such direct requests - they do keep an eye on the forum though, so maybe they'll be able to dig out the full techy details for you here?)

As an afterthought, despite exposing my appalling lack of technical knowledge re chip sets & transports, I can confirm one thing... it sure sounds good

Ditto what Jason says about the sound of the CDX2.
Kuma, why do you need to know the answers to the questions you pose?

quote:

---

Originally posted by andy c:
Kuma, why do you need to know the answers to the questions you pose?

---

ohhh.. just out of curiosity.
Altho, Phillips transports generally sound nice, I never had a good luck with em. Let's see how long this one last.

I usually don't pay attention to any technical bits at all. But I don't mind finding out more about the gear that I like.

And CDX2 is one of those that interests me.

Its a Philips transport only in name (Naim?).
Naim have used those transports for years and they last fine, and, as far as I can glean, are easy to fix cause of the way Naim use them (tray being manual and all that).

Upsample? No. Thankfully Naim don't go in for that. I have listened to upsamplers and SACD and DVD-A(trocious) and they're no magic wand.

The 16-bit CD still sounds better to me...

Joe90

Won't help but here are some photos I "had"to take.

GEOFFP

AND

FINALLY

quote:

---

Originally posted by joe90:
Upsample? No. Thankfully Naim don't go in for that. I have listened to upsamplers and SACD and DVD-A(trocious) and they're no magic wand.

The 16-bit CD still sounds better to me...

---

Really? I'm gonna show my total ignorance here, but with 24/96 chipset, i'd think that's automaticaly upsampled. But you are right in that CDX2 does not sound like upsampling cd players. ( they usualy have this strange *air* about 'em )

ditto on the SACD playback, but I had a good demo on recent Maridian DVD player ( with 6 watts SET amp! ) in two channel mode that was hell of lot more convincing than any mega$$ SACD players I have heard. ( i get killed saying this amongst hi=res. zealots )

And yeah.. I don't buy *bits game*. I've heard just too many so-so 24/96 or 24/192 cd players/DACs.

I still use almost 5 year old 20 bit Ultranalogue cd player and surprisingly it's still hanging in there.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Geoff P:
Won't help but here are some photos I "had"to take.

---

woooo. Audio Porn.

how many screws you had to unscrew to take the cover off?

FIVE! The four "feet" and one other big screw, then the whole thing slides out.

The DAC's are 24 bit but it does not follow that they run at 96KHz. There is no upsampling going on as far as I know.
I agree that upsampling players sound "airy" butthat translates to easily into bright and tinny in my experience.

I have haerd nothing non-naim that could replace my CDX2.

regards
GEOFFP

Phono out's crikey what would JV say !
Martin

quote:

---

Originally posted by Geoff P:
FIVE! The four "feet" and one other big screw, then the whole thing slides out.

The DAC's are 24 bit but it does not follow that they run at 96KHz. There is no upsampling going on as far as I know.
I agree that upsampling players sound "airy" butthat translates to easily into bright and tinny in my experience.

---

FIVE? THAT'S IT? FIVE????!!

I've flipped mine over and looked but wasn't sure which screws to take off, so left it alone.

Interesting if Naim doesn't do upsampling thing. So far filterless/nonupsampling machines have the same sort of agility as Naim player. Not all upsampling players don't sound atmospheric. Krell player I continue to use for example, is saved by sheer bass weight and authority but slower and really laid back next to CDX2.

The pictures spoiled it ! It looks almost "commonly electronic".

I much prefered the comfort zone that I was in - there's magic and trickery in there, that's why it sounds sooo good.

quote:

---

FIVE? THAT'S IT? FIVE????!!

I've flipped mine over and looked but wasn't sure which screws to take off, so left it alone.

---

Kuma
Yes. There is one allen key bolt which has a barbed washer below it (visible in the case indent under the bolt head) and then the are the allen screws holding the four feet.
Three comments:
1) I did NOT turn the CDX2 upside down with the transit bolt removed. I put the transit bolt back in first and then turned it over to remove the screws. Then I flipped it back right side up and slid one corner over the dge of the table to remove the transit bolt.(reverse of that to reassemble)
2) Naim would probably be upset at this procedure so I must add if you do open the CDX2 up it is entirely at your own risk!!
3) There has been comment to the effect that the screws holding the feet are torqued to a fixed setting which gives optimum sound, so again undoing them is at your own risk on the sound side aswell!

quote:

---

The pictures spoiled it ! It looks almost "commonly electronic".

I much prefered the comfort zone that I was in - there's magic and trickery in there, that's why it sounds sooo good.

---

Dawie
Too true! I just had to check what the 2.3K has bought. But of course I realise now that though you could probably price the hardware you can't price the magic.

regards
GEOFFP

Geoff, don't you also have to take off the 3 allen bolts in the middle, near the front?

Mario.

quote:

---

Geoff, don't you also have to take off the 3 allen bolts in the middle, near the front?

---

NO. They hold the "Swing" mounting for the CD tray into the subchassis which pulls out as seen in the photograph and should NOT be undone.

GUYS!!
Please, please tell me I have NOTstarted a rash of dis-assembling!
I am not going to be responsible for anybody who does this !
All completely at your own risk.OK?

regards
GEOFFP

Geoff, no you have not started a wave of cd player dis-assembly. Your excellent photos negate any need for that. I just seem to recall the pic upgrade manual for the cdx2 saying to remove these three screws. I'm sure that I removed them and no transport fell out! Any way if your player came appart without removing them, that must be right. Maybe my memory is playing up.

Mario.

quote:

---

3) There has been comment to the effect that the screws holding the feet are torqued to a fixed setting which gives optimum sound, so again undoing them is at your own risk on the sound side aswell!

---

You got to be joking.
It sounds too fantastic as mains cables make difference.