Itchy Scratchy CDX

Posted by: redeye on 23 December 2001

Hello & Merry Xmas from the Antipods..

One thing is bothering me at the mome'

I've owned Mr Pig's fave CDP (3.5) for 4 years now and am getting a serious itch for summat better....

I know, I know.. get a CDX I hear you all chorus, and sure it is a fine machine.. BUT.. surely there must be some alternatives????

Technology marches on etc etc. I'm picking there may be one or two brave souls on this forum who have flown in the face of fashion and bought elsewhere.

If so... WHAT?

Please share people, I am all ears on Xmas Eve (sad bastard for sure).

Best Wishes..

Redeye

Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Alex S.

The CDPS AKA CDSPS is the power supply which came with the original CDS. This supply can be used with a CDS2 or CDX provided the Naim interconnect (Burndy lead) is modified to fit. The original Burndy lead was grey, the newer, better ones black.

If you buy a CDPS you should get the modified grey lead for free. If you want a black lead you need to pay for it unless you're lucky enough to find that being sold with a CDPS, ie. someone else bought it for you. If you buy an XPS you get an unmodified black Burndy in the box.

The CDPS works well with either player. Adding a black lead improves matters further and adding an XPS further still. The main improvements being in the hi-fi realm of resolution and detail; a cluttered mix is rendered less cluttered by an XPS. The CDPS delivers a more 'laid back' sound which actually suits my lively room.

One of the biggest 'no brainers' I've ever compared was a CDS2/CDPS against a CDX/XPS. The former combination is far superior but would cost the same as the latter.

Clear as mud?

Alex

Posted on: 28 December 2001 by redeye

Alex..

When (or what) made you decide to jump ship and pursue Dynavector amps?
Curious as they are sort of local round here.

Have the rep of being more for the classically inclined listener rather than noise freaks & rock heads. Word is they sound NICE but don't groove as well as Naim?

Posted on: 28 December 2001 by Alex S.

Dynavectors

quote:
Have the rep of being more for the classically inclined listener rather than noise freaks & rock heads. Word is they sound NICE but don't groove as well as Naim?

Hi-fi myth is a funny business. I was told this enough times to wonder myself. I even pressed Jonathan at DV about it. He laughed. It is utter rubbish BTW. Good products are good playing any type of music.

I listen loud to Ozric Tentacles, Dreadzone, Eels, Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard and the like and DVs suit me fine! But ponder for a moment the 'classically inclined' and imagine the power, scale and transient handling required to handle full on Mahler, Bruckner and Wagner! I listen to them too.

This is the Naim forum so I don't go on, but since you ask, I bought DV because I found them better than Naim at their price points. L100 I prefer to an 82, HX75 I prefer to a 250 and HX1.2 I prefer to a pair of 135s. These are UK prices - in NZ you're laughing. Why not set up a dem and let me know what you think.

As for what set me on the road to jumping ship, I didn't get along with my 82 and couldn't afford a 52. I had an 82/SC to sell and therefore reasoned I might do better for the money. I liked the 250 but was underwhelmed by its bass grip. Its an old design (but a very good one of course) so I was curious to see if it had serious competition these days. It did.

Alex