CDX2/ 555PS vs UnityServe/ DAC

If you want to play CDs rather than go the streaming route, I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation to get a CDS3. It's just brilliant. There is no point whatsoever buying a Serve just to play CDs. 

Hmmmmmm.....

So ,  CDS3/555ps would be the winning combination , not surprising I guess, but used CSD3s are still hard to come by in North America.

Anyone with experience with the UnityServe / DAC combo ?

Seems like this combo would be a bit more future proof .... if I do decide to turn the corner and embrace the future.

Jay 

The Serve is optimised to play over Ethernet as a server. I've had one (and a CDS 3) and there is no way in the world I'd want a Serve as a CD player. Why not get a CDS 3 from a uk dealer and have it shipped. Or embrace streaming with an NDS. 

I agree with HH that if you want to simply play CDs then the UnitiServe is not the way to go. However, if you want to hear your CDs like you've never heard them before, then ripping them on the UnitiServe and playing back through a good DAC is definitely the way to go. This is the route that I chose, after moving from a CDX + XPS to CDS2 + XPS, to the Naim DAC. It was only when I connected the UnitiServe to the nDAC that everything gelled. I've tried it with several DACs and now use it directly into the Resonessence Mirus.

I've tried many different digital sources into the nDAC and the Mirus, and the UnitiServe has seen them all off. Add a properly designed linear power supply to the 'Serve and you won't look back.

Jan

My thanks to everyone, especially Jan-Eric - the UnityServe will give me the future options that I need, and Allante93's financial pragmatism, and yes Strat and HH- the NDS is a worthy alternative.

Time for much more research.

And Hungryhalibut ... the original from the early days of the forum ?

I have been hit and miss on the forum in the last five years or so but do greatly appreciate everyone's helpful suggestions.

Cheers

Jay 

I had the same problem a few years ago and went from a CDX2 to an HDX-SSD. It was a good step forward and in general I have no regrets though sometimes I wonder if the simplicity of a stand alone CD player represented better long term value. Anyway, the addition of a 555PS to the HDX would further lift the bar. 

Hi Jay, I think your parallel DAC combo has a lot of virtue. The CDX2 is very special.. I still use mine although my CDS3 and an NDS has come and gone. Sure I use a Naim streamer with a Chord DAC for the majority of my album play now, but thank goodness I never sold my original CDX2, as I still use it to play a circle of favourite discs, that somehow seem to really match the CDX2 sound... which I'd be the first to admit isn't the first in neutrality but I love it.. especially with rock, heavy blues and northern soul... when I want that juke box type sound..

i do however use my CDX2 without extra PSU on a Fraim into a 252 using a Hiline.

Simon

Indeed so.

Thinking about the serve - if you are using it as Jan-Erik suggests, to play ripped music, you will need to control it from the nServe app. I used one for a couple of years as a server, until I discovered that using server software on a £400 nas sounded better and was far more flexible. To my mind, if you are going to rip to the Serve and use nServe to play your music, you may as well stream to a streamer, which is what the Serve is optimised to go. If you only want to play CDs on it, you could always get a digital output put on the CDX2 and use it as a transport. 

HH that would be scarilidge, with an original CDX2 having the Naim mod to digitally output enable it will render its DAC not usable. It's the CDX2's DAC that provides the wonderful character to that CDP.

Simon

To HH - it is nice to see that a number of the founding members of this forum are still holding down the fort !

Every time I peruse the Streaming Audio forum my eyes glaze over.....

I do know that streaming is the way forward and I am itching to upgrade (552s are so far and few between !) - not because I am unhappy with the sound of my kit , but I am looking forward to the future and the diminishing trade-in value of my CDX2...... and I don't want to be the one sitting in my bunker in twenty years time and have my children point and snicker at my funny little silver discs and cd player , "oh so last century they will murmur".

I know that my upgradeitis should point me in the direction of DRing all my gear, but that would probably cost in excess of $10K, of which my little voice says could be spent in more fun ways... i.e. swapping dacs - the way we would swap and audition phono cartridges or adjust VTA in the days of yore , before our hobby became predominantly managing ones and zeroes.

But again thanks to all of you for your input, I really do respect your opinions and options.

Maybe I should just get a puppy and be done with it.

"Maybe I should just get a puppy and be done with it."   I wouldn't bother, they sound crap, even if you dr them

Why bother with a dog when you've already got an elephant in the room? You know you want a Unitiserve really. 

Yup. Nothing wrong with a collection of DACs.

^^ what he said.

Cheers !

Userve plus Ndac plus ps 555, not bad!

Claus

UServe plus nDAC with the new firmware (once released from beta testing) and no external PSU.

That is a very interesting comment Jan. Do you still have a PSU at home to have done some vice versa testing with your system?

TIA

tp

Hi TP,

I do, it's a non-Naim "XPS" but I don't find that it adds anything significant. 

I have heard a CDX2 with a 555PS vs a NDS with a 555PS into a Statement Pre and Power into Orator S800, and in my opinion the CDX2 is an excellent player. I prefer the sound of the CDX2 and 555PS to a CDS3 and XPS2. More analogue, faster, meaty, muscular, weighty, did I say fast and exciting. Not unlike a very good CDS1/CDPS.

Best regards and good listening.