CD5+Hi vs CDX2

The received wisdom is throw as much as you can at the source.

If more money had been available to me, I wouldn't have settled for "just" a CD5, but it's an imperfect world.

Many will adives you - rightly- to go source first. If that's impractical, I can tell you that a CD5 was a wonderous addition to my system and the subsequent inclusion of a S/H Hi Cap is just mind blowing. I can't even begin to describe the improvement over what was already a superb (for the money) set up.

You can't lose either way.

Cheers

Harry

Its interesting to note that the press reviews say that the cdx2 is a good cd player for the price but a sensational player with the xps2.
Bearing in mind the cost is £4500 or so, it should be sensational.
I have the cd5/fc2 and think it is fantastic and at this price level hi fi is more of a subjective thing. I would think that the cdx2 is better but not miles so.

quote:

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Originally posted by alex95:
I would think that the cdx2 is better but not miles so.

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I'm afraid to listen to one.

Harry

Do a search on my posts regarding the CDX2 v the CD5/Hi cap. You should be able to get a ton of info by searching under "CDX2"

Many thanks to all. It seems that the concensus is in favour of the CDX2. I just wanted to get a feel for whether, in real terms (given the price difference), there was sufficient difference to justify looking straight to the CDX2. Evidently it appears there is.

My intention is to make my entry into Naim a 'relatively' final one - I don't want to (and can't justify) trading in black boxes, so would like to get as far as possible in one hit.

As I mentioned in the post at the top of this thread, I have also listened to the 202/200 combination. Any thoughts on these items (say, compared with the 112/150)?

Hey Tom

They're all correct. The CDX2 is way better if you can afford it and if you're contemplating a Hicap anyway, go the whole hog. The 202/200 is WAAAAAY better than a 112/150 and that's saying a lot, since the 112/150 is better than anything else at the price or within $500! BUT BUT BUT, if you only buy a CD% you're really making a big mistake, as a 202/200 is very revealing. I once heard a guy audition a 202 in an all 5 series system and it over-revealed the CD5/FC2 and all the timing fell to bits. So he went with the 112 instead and has a beautifully balanced system. The CDX2/202/200 is lightyears ahead if you stick with the hoerarchy and balance. Remember, you're gonna have that baby for years so think dollars-divided-by-time and you'll see that it isn't so dear after all.

Luck mate

Joe90

IMHO..
Audition a CDX2 and Nait5.

(I did and could hear little discernable difference between the Nait5 and the 112/150 combo.)

Nick

I owned the CD5 Hi for about 18 months and was totally satisfied with CD replay from my system (112/150/allae). Ever since I saw the new reference series , I knew I wanted to upgrade as I wanted more of what I had, so I upgraded the cd player first incase I couldn't afford more hi-fi expenditure later on. I bought the CDX2 and forgot my love affair with my CD5 Hi instantly hearing improved sound. Now, one month later it sounds just wonderful. I remember saying that the cd5 was the first piece of equipment that I was going to trade, that I was totally satisfied with and that I hope I wasn't making a mistake. It's great that one month later, the purchase of a new cd player is still making me smile. With most material objects we get over the initial fun of getting something new, but the joy of the CDX2 will last for as long as you keep playing music. Put all your funds towards your source, you simply wont regret it, Mario.

Mario

I'm happily running a CD5 + HiCap and after the tremendous improvment the Cap brought, I'm beginning to think that aiming at a CDX2 would put me in line for another big improvement.

What did going to CDX2 bring to the music for you, compared to CD5+Hi?

I know we've all got different ears, systems and rooms, but I'd be interested to hear your exoerience.

Thanks

Harry

This is sort of what I don't wish to end up happening: buy a CD5, improve with a *cap (say, Hicap) and then wish that I'd just saved in the interim for a CDX2.

Perhaps I should lower my sights (to the extent CD5 is 'lower one's sights'); I'd really like to just buy into it once at a level I can justify to myself (and 'er indoors).

Of course, by the time I can afford either, CD will probably be dead and buried....

Think I listed it in my profile. I'll check. However, for brevity:

Arcam Alpha 7CD, Alpha 8 int amp, Alpha 8P power, Quad 21L 'speakers.

Quads are a relatively recent purchase (replacing Mission 731LE) and I am aware of the round earth/1970s appearance of this change. Suffice to say, the decision to upgrade was encoraged by the other half who approved of the sounds and looks (in that order).

I listened to CD5/202/200/Quad 11L at Adventures in Hifi in Wigan (recommended in the thread on dealers) and was stunned. It did everything I had come to learn Naim would (timing, control and, most of all, music). It didn't sound harsh, thin or bright as the press often say. This audition was on the off chance (we were in Wigan anyway), hence the 202/200 which were already set up. Importantly the G/F thought it sounded great (she hates boxes but loves music) and we both thought it sounded significantly better than the Linn Ikemi and Genki (in full Linn set-up) we'd listened to a week before (which was ear/headache inducing).

Unfortunately I find the Arcam gear to be simply less capable of playing music in the way I would like - an issue I attribute to using speakers effectivley too good for the electronics.

The (long term) plan is to upgrade CD, then pre, then power. It might take a while, but that one listen in Wigan sold us. However, I'd like to avoid a secondary lifestyle of trading in black boxes....

You seem more than happy with what you listened too, so why not go with that? The CD5 is good enough for the 202 IMHO. Why not consider a loan (low rates) and get all the kit at once? Plus, you (and your SO) can sit back and enjoy the music you originally heard - instant gratification .

I've found that doing things in pieces can some times cause me to more likely push for bigger upgrades over what was first auditioned - gee, now i'm replacing X, I might aswell get X++ and wait a bit longer for Y. Just causes confusion and indecision.

Finally, yes the CDX2 is better than the CD5+*cap, but you must make the decision that it's worth the extra cash. I would also say beware because what someone else may describe with superlatives may not be yours.

Happy listening

Tom - IMHO, the 202/200 is vastly superior to the 112/150. Although the extra money hurt, I have no regrets regarding my decision to purchase the 202/200. I have not yet had the opportunity to demo seriously the CD5 + FC v. CDX2 (although I hope to later this year when I'm ready to buy a Naim cdp). However, I have heard the CD5 + FC with the 202/200 and thought the combination sounded wonderful. Although I'm sure the CDX2 will sound better than the CD5 + FC (it probably just is question of whether the difference in sound is worth the difference in money), in my opinion the CD5 + FC held its own with the 202/200 combination and did nothing to stand out as the weak link. Again, although the CDX2 may in every way be superior, I think most would agree that the CD5 is an amazing cdp for the money and blows away 99% of what is out there.

It sounds like you need to devote time to some serious listening sessions comparing the CD5 + FC with the CDX2. Let us know how you make out - others, including myself, will be making that decision down the road. Best wishes.

MBM

Thanks to all for the (sometimes) differing opinions (but conclusive argument that any Naim is better than none!).

As for s/h: the decision to spend on hi-fi is always a joint one with the g/f, and she can just about live with the look of the new Naim gear (because of the sound) but won't entertain anything olive-boxed.

Unfortunately the finances won't bear a hi-fi purchase in the latter half of this year. So, in order to avoid resurecting the legend of - the (in)famous - Nuno, I'll only report back when some serious listening has been done with the varying combinations of amplifers, CDPs and PSUs mentioned.

Thanks again.