Help me spend £2K

David,

if it were me I would look at buying a new CDX2.

Regards

NB

hicapping the 202 and auditioning new speakers would be a good move IMO.

Dear Mr Carpet

quote:

---

your speakers would be next if I were in you

---

If you were in me, I'd be worried about much more than my speakers!!!!!

David

David -

Work on your source and amplification before replacing the speakers.

The first thing I would demo would be the CDX2 v. CD5/FC2. Figure out what you are likely to get back for the CD5/FC2 if you upgrade. Also, listen to the CDX2 with the XPS2 so you know what awaits you if you ever go a step further. If the CDX2 represents a major improvement to the CD5/FC2, go for it.

If you don't believe replacing the CD5/FC2 with the CDX2 represents good VFM, demo the 202 with a Hi-Cap and Supercap. I demo'ed my 202 with a Hi-Cap and, although I cannot yet afford to add a Hi-Cap, I was very impressed with the improvement it brought. Also, depending on how high you think you might want to go, you should check out what a Supercap does for 202. My guess is that it will sound considerably better than a Hi-Cap, and you'll also be halfway there should you ever decide to go for a 252.

Let us know how you make out. Not sure about how the money converts to US dollars, but it would be great if you could get enough for the CD5/FC2 to be able to swing a CDX2 and a Hi-Cap for the 202.

Good luck. Please let us know what you heard and thought.

MBM

If you just sell the CD5 and use the proceeds & £2000 to buy a CDX2, you should be able to keep the Flatcap2 for the NAC202.

Also, do you have a NAPSC? If not then you should.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Linn Binn Sinner

Much as I'm a CD5 cheerleader, if I had that budget I'd chuck every penny of it at the source.

What a wonderful problem to have to solve! Good luck and have fun.

Thanks guys

As I thought "source first" seems to be the (fairly predictable) consensus.

I am a bit concerned about a couple of things though - first I've heard that the CDX2 doesn't really shine without the XPS2. Is that right, because I don't know when or if I'll be able to afford or even justify that upgrade.

Also I was a bit worried that a CDX2 with my speakers would be an out of balance system - a kind of "reverse mullet" if such a thing exists.

Any thoughts?

David

[This message was edited by david needham on WEDNESDAY 13 August 2003 at 11:21.]

David,

even without the XPS2 the CDX2 is a very good cd player and you will hear a big difference.

Adding the XPS2 will also make a big difference but if funds cannot stretch to one then thats irrelevant.

The Rogers speakers will be good enough to show the difference in your CD player but ideally you should be looking to upgrade these at sometime in the future.

Regards

NB

Reverse Mullet

David

I have what you are calling a reverse mullet

Meridian 200 (trichord clock)/203 DAC
Naim 62/140/SNAPS
Morduant Short MS10i's on KanII Stands

Firstly a reverse mullet is definitely better than a mullet!!!

I know that I'm getting possibly the best out of the speakers, logically these should then be my next upgrade, but at present I'm pretty happy and the system rocks. I am constantly stunned by the level of detail and how such small low cost boxes can fill an 18'x16' room with sound. Yes the bass isn't perfect but the little speakers really get your feet tapping.

I would wholeheartedly agree with most of the posters here, upgrade the source first, worry about the speakers later. At least you'll upgrade the speakers in the knowledge that you got the best out of them.

Mr Perceptive

David,

I found that a CDX was a significant step form the CD5/FC2 so the CDX2 which reported as being considerably better is probably your best bet. If you don't have the NAPSC then that is also a worthwhile upgrade.

Matthew

David,

Meet me down the pub about 2pm. A few pints of the black stuff, quick trip to the bookies, back to the pub...shouldn't be long of working through £2000.

Regards,

Willy.

A, then D. later on, try some new speakers.

Your 202/200 will take all a CD5 can give, and more. CDX2 IMHO is the only logical choice from those you've outlined. Do the demo - flash speakers on the end won't give the same increase in music.

Besides, no info on room and what the rogers are doing wrong/right. If you've had 'em that long, they must be doing something right for you!

regards

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

PS - re the spending your £2000, we of course cannot suggest a private room in soho and a body or two to spend time with, a few grammes of illicit substances, coupled with a lager frenzy; this is a clean forum! You'll have to log in to www.wallet-lifters.com and give your credit card details for that sort of lark!

PX the cd5 and flatty against 2nd hand cdx and hicap.
Tony