New to Naim:CD5-CD5i Which Amp?

Welcome Gregg.

Oh dear, you are at a crossroads.

Naim kit sounds great as a basic box, but that is only the beginning if you become addicted to the Naim sound. The way forward from there is via a load of upgrade paths involving a key element which is seperate power supplies.
There are two catches to that
1) The exceptions are the Nait5i and the CD5i which cannot be upgraded but must be traded in if the desire for a sound improvement arrives.
2) An awfull lot of us here are addicted and are persuing upgrades as a way of life so are perhaps not the best to advise you.

On the other hand if you can honestly say that you just want something that sounds good TO YOU and you will NOT want to upgrade for a long time then the CD5i could be a great choice for you.

The other thing that you can do is run the Naim CDP's with any amp you like, in fact I believe with the CD5i Naim has admitted that RCA phono outputs are in general use and included them aswell as their favorite DIN plug. Note that it is also no big deal getting a DIN to phono cable to plug in Naim kit on other peoples amps etc.

So at the end there's your dilema. Whatever you choose try and hear it before buying. Good luck

GEOFF

I'd suggest that you wait a month, then go have a listen to both a CD5 and CD5i (when they're both been fully run in).
As I understand it, chances are that most CD5is in dealerships have not been fully run in at present.

No way is a Naim amp mandatory or even recommended for a CD5. It just happens that their amps are very good. Your ears will be the judge.

Thanks for the replies. I remain a bit confused on the Nait 5i. If one purchases the CD5 so as to allow an upgrade path with a seperate power supply, then where does the NAit 5i fit into the equation (no upgrade path--so does the CD5 NOT match up with the Nait 5i).

Naim is discontinuing the Nait 5, and are leaving the 5i amp WITHOUT an upgrade path. Does this mean that the Nait 5i sounds as good as a Nait 5 with a seperate power supply? Furthermore what must one do if they want to use a turntable with the new Nait 5i?

Things seem a bit confusing with the introduction of these new i components.

Gregg

Hello,
I recently had the same problem. I am a vinyl junkie so I got the Nait5 and added the Stageline. The Stageline at around $350. us dollars is a steal. I went ahead and got the cd5i. My reason: I can add a flatcap2 to my Nait5 and Stageline. By the time I got around to getting another power supply for my cdp I would probably be ready to upgrade the cdp. It probably depends what kind of speakers you are trying to drive. Nait5i is 50watts while Nait5 is 30watts. My speakers are enjoying the Nait5, and I love the stageline as well. It appears that Naim is discontinuing the NAit5 because they want a budget amplifier with more power. The next upgrade would then be a separate pre/power combo. If you get the Nait5i you would have to use a separate phono preamp. Maybe creek or dynavector. Good luck.

greetings,

glev, perhaps a used nait 5 at around $900 may be in order with a new CD5i. i am fairly certain that you would have to add the separate stageline phono section, too. there may even be a separate, additional power supply for the stageline.

if you like the naim sound, then it will be worth it. it has been for me after only two months. the nait 5, as i understand it, will not be discontinued. its value-add is the upgrade path to the flatline ps. you may also add a new amp and use the pre from the nait. also, i believe, you may be able to add a new pre and use just the nait amp as you move up the naim chain until, after 4-7 years have past, you've bought a CDS3/XPS/552/500 and can impart your wisdom on others.....;-)

if this seems a little much after just dusting off the proacs, then you may want to look at an audio analogue puccini SE int. amp. it has a phono section and can run at 85 wpc into the 4ohm load of your proacs.

or, the unico integtrated with phono is also a great match with proacs. i have owned both amps with proac 2.5s and still have the unico in a basement system.

anyway, i hope that helps. be ready for some posts with a little attitude from time to time. it's harmless. naim "users" generally have a stroger than natural bias for their "product".

cheers,
Ian

quote:

---

the nait 5, as i understand it, will not be discontinued

---

Ian
I believe they are going to discontinue the Nait5. The reasoning perhaps is that the first rung on the upgradable component ladder will become the 112/150 combo which has a slightly improved performance based on the fact that it seperates the pre and power amp into 2 boxes AND gives 50 watts per channel (as per the 5i)

That said certainly there are several quite good other make phono stages which are self powered at around the price of an unpowered Stageline which can be used to play Vinyl with a Nait 5i.

Greg.
As to whether the Nait 5i sounds as good as a Nait 5 I don't think many people have had the chance to hear them side by side in a decent listening environment.

Maybe you could be the first to do the comparison and report what you think here.

Good luck

Geoff

If I were to consider a Naim amplifier, I would definitely purchase the Nait 5i as opposed to the 5. The Nait 5 DEFINITELY is being removed from the lineup. What are some phonostages which would be recommended?
Would a seperate phonostage make a noticible difference with my newly arriving Rega P3.

Finally I wonder if I should not just remain with my ProAc's- a Cd5 or CD5i - and my initial choice of an Arcam 65+ integrated (with its integrated phono stage). The Arcam is only $600 and I could go for an amp upgrade later on. It's either that or just go for the whole works now and get the Naim amplifier.

Gregg

PS Is there any significant feedback on the CD5i yet? How much longer will the CD5 remain in the lineup (is it getting long in the tooth?)

G,

Get thee to Mt. Kisco and Dave Wilson's Accent on Music for a very good dem by an extremely well-informed owner.

Mr. Wilson is not unopinionated, but he seems to be most interested in customer satisfaction.

Regards.

Phil

Phil
Dave Wilson's Accent On Music is EXACTLY where I am buying my system from. I cannot say more as to the high level of customer service satisfaction. They are truly an excellent dealer.

Gregg

Gregg
The CD5i/CD5 discussion has been ongoing apace on other threads. Have a read by all means but ultimately you need to book yourself in for at a couple of sessions and listen to the damned things.

I've heard the CD5i but not the Nait 5i. I'm keen to know what makes you favour the Nait5i over the 5.

The LP12, Sugden A21 and a host of Naim gems, including the CD5, are proof enough that tooth length is a fairly pointless yardstick in this regard.

Glevethan,
Do not be so quick to decide on the Nait5i. The Nait5 may be being discontinued, but it still is a fantastic amplifier with lots of upgrade possibilities. I run a Nait5/stageline/planar25. The Nait5 has a separate plug (Aux2 socket)to power the stageline. No other power supply is needed. You could later down the road add a flatcap2 to upgrade both the stageline and the Nait5. You cannot use the stageline with the Nait5i. While there are many good separate phono amps, there are none that offer the benefits of the Stageline for such a cheap price. Just because Naim is stopping production on the Nait5 does not mean it is not a fantastic amp. Take a look around the web/mags reviews and you will see that many, many are very impressed by the Nait5/Stageline combo.

Bigmick
The only reason that the Nait 5i is mentioned is not because of inferior performance, but because it is discontinued.
Here in the states one would need to find a dealer who still has remaining inventory.

Gregg

quote:

---

If I were to consider a Naim amplifier, I would definitely purchase the Nait 5i as opposed to the 5

---

Sorry, it sounded as if you were expressing a preference from experience and I was just keen to hear someone's thoughts on the 5i vs. 5.

I would have thought looking out for a second hand 3, 5 or 72/140 would allow you to go for a CD5/Hi or CDX which would really come close to blowing your nipples off; i.e. a rather good thing.

The hicap, flatcap, and flatcap 2 powersupplies can be used for:

* CD5, but not the CD5i

* Nait 5 preamp section, but not the Nait 5i - this allows the power supply in the Nait 5 to be dedicated to amp duties

* Stageline or Prefix

The flatcap 2 is two supplies in one and can be applied to any two of the above at the same time.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here