I forgot how good the CDX2 is
Posted by: Simon-in-Suffolk on 26 September 2015
I decided to set my CDX2 up again and bring it out of hypernation. It did mean purchasing a new power / bunrndy cap as I lost my orginal. Any way all set up on a spare Fraim shelf,and a Hiline into the 252.. I can't remember having played it since I got a CDS3 several years ago, which has long since found a new home.. Anyway the CDX2 powered up fine... But I couldn't open the CD tray... Doh I forgot to remove the restraining bolt... Anyway that sorted, I put one of my Mojo magazine CDs in it.. And wow, it was fantastic.. Such pace, drive and rhythm... And over 30 minutes or so of warming up, the sound slightly filled out and got better.. I have missed this CD player.. It sounds absolutely cracking with rock, and oldies. It will be staying on the Fraim..
Simon
personally i haven't heard a CDX2 so far... i was willing to buy one just to hear it but then something came up and i didn't... would i have liked it? who knows... some stated that CDX2 sound very good when partnered to Nait 5i...
BUT, the description of the CDX2 that i always read here on the forum makes me think that this is a way way too coloured cdp player...jukebox sound... well, sorry, but jukebox sound should be expected from below a few hundred eur players and not even those, actually, but from a more than 5k eur cdp from a well respected hifi brand? and CDX2 is not on the entrylevel line either, is on the midrange...
if jukebox sound is the description of this player, then clearly is way too overpriced.
if i will ever get the chance to listen to one, i will not hesitate... i will actually be willing of spending some realtive minor cash, let's say 1k eur, to buy one just to test it... but it does makes me wonder how much truth is in the description of the users of this forum over this cdp.
Come on.............Anybody who honestly takes what is said about the sound about a piece of equipment on a open forum and take it as gospel and bases their purchase on somebody else's opinion is a huge mistake, it's all very subjective, just because one member says a CD player sounds this way there are just as many that will state the opposite, the CDX2 is not in any way a "juke box" (meaning cheap) sounding player, to me it's Naim's best sounding player, so how about that!
But is it possible to do Mac Mini > Ndac > 2008, CDX2 > 282 ?
If you had CDX2 converted to a digital transport then you could connect both CDX2 and Mac Mini to Naim DAC or to Hugo and then to NAP 282. Otherwise you could connect the CDX2 without conversion direct to 282, which might be the best idea. To be honest if you plan to use CDX2 through Hugo then 555PS is unnecessary: if you are considering Naim DAC with 555PS then you could consider Chord's new Dave DAC or, as you are in USA, the very fine DACs from MSB or EMM Labs. (I have not gone forward with these options as support here is non-existent): there are some very fine American DACs such as the one from Berkley Audio Designs. As always, which is best is a matter of taste.
With Naim DAC to connect Mac Mini you can use Toslink (Wireworld's Supernova has the required mini Toslink) or you can use USB to SPDIF convertor like Stello U3 from April Music.
With Hugo you connect Mac Mini with to USB port on the DAC using the supplied USB cable or an alternative with USB B to USB micro adapter (I use an iFI Gemini USB cable because two heads are better than one).
If for example you had CDX2 & Hugo connected to 282 then you have two different sounding sources: CDX2's edge of the seat presentation & Hugo's more relaxed analogue style. So depending on your mood you'd have two great ways to play music.
I use the term Digital Juke Box (DJB) to refer to my Mac Mini. I have a Thunderbolt connected Western Digital DUO drive configured in RAID 1 (mirroring) & I keep my digital music on it. I simply drag the music I want to play to Audirvana, the software player on the Mac. As this plays from memory then the disk, which is quiet in any case, goes to sleep and is silent. My DJB has a mixture of file formats CD quality, high-res & DSD. Audirvana enables me to play all of them seamlessly (iTunes could not do this)
With Audirvana, I can tune the system to my room using 4 parametric equalisation settings (not dissimilar to Linn Space Optimisation). I used some software called REW to help (it's free & very useful).
My main contrast is my LP12 vs. Digital Juke Box.
All the best, Wat
I can't get my head around this, why is there no advantage with 555PS/XPS into the CDX2 with an attached DAC? (sorry if this has been covered before)
I'm wondering if a XPS would provide that much improvement, or go directly to a 555PS.
Mark raised an important point regarding the 555PS potentially being "too much of a good thing for some". Adding a 555PS to a CDX2 transforms the CDP into an entirely different beast. I still remember the first time I heard that combination fronting a 282/HC2/200, my system at the time. I was gobsmacked at the transformation and loved everything the 555 brought to the table. However, recently I tried that very same combination with my current amplification, a Supernait 1, and it's an entirely different picture. The bass is much too pronounced and it's not a combination I could enjoy long term. The point I am getting at is that IMO a CDX2/555PS requires a better pre amp than that of a Supernait - at least with the speakers I use, Totem Forest. The result may be different in other systems or your SN2/HCDR but I would be carful to partner this combo with anything less than a 282/HC. Hence, my advice: Demo before spending money here.
Good luck!
Hi Totemphile,
Thanks for sharing your experience with the CDX2 and 555PS. Will definitely demo the two when (if) the time comes.
For now, I am certainly enjoying the CDX2 with the XP5 XS. I know it is not a common configuration, but it works very well for me.
br,
pat
Pat,
I am sure the XP5XS improves the CDX2 somewhat. If you like what you're hearing, I wouldn't get too hung up about yet better improvements that can be had, at a cost. As I said above the 555PS is great but IMHO it is about balancing your system in equal measure. Hence you may well find that an XPS2 or DR works best with your SN2/HCDR / in your system. That is why demoing is so important - unless you buy pre loved and are thus able and willing to buy and sell as required.
Best
tp
Please correct me if I’m wrong! I might be missing something.
Chord Electronics has launched its most advanced DAC to date. DAVE features a digital preamp and headphone amp, and goes on sale this autumn for £7995.
Naim NAC-N 272 Streaming Pre Amplifier
5.0
(1 review)
Write review
£3,300.
In the US, 2nd hand Ndac’s are going as low as $1700 USD, presently on the foreign exchange rate that’s about £1,121. However, that’s only a dac, not an Pre-Amp.
Cdx2 ~ $1700
282 ~ $3400
Ndac ~ $1700
555 PS ~ $4000
Total $10,800 ~ £7,124.
Just can’t find 2nd Hand Fraims over here!
I don’t know about the sound quality, but trying to follow the paper trail, If I’m missing something Please let me know!
Cdx2 * > 555 PS > Ndac > 282
Not a Dave or Hugo but not a bad digital front End You Think!
* Didn’t factor in the cost of digital re-worked Cdx2
But appears to be a logical approach for someone who doesn't mind 2nd hand gear!
MHO...
Hmm, a nice Wurlitzer Jukebix is going to set you back more than a few hundred quid.
Simon
I Guess you got a point Simon, even on the 2nd hand Market, LOL!!!!