XPS non-DR, XPS DR and 555PS non-DR with CDS3

Hi Jerry, the CDS3 was originally designed and partnered with the XPS2 power supply.

It sounds sublimely smooth, even and civilised with an XPS2.

Many prefer this as their favourite combination.

I found it to be all of those things, yet it was just too polite & self effacing for me.  At the time, I had the choice of going from CDX2/XPS2 to either CDX2/555PS or CDS3/XPS2 and opted for CDX2/555PS.

However, the CDS3 is a wonderful, wonderful music maker.  It reaches parts that a CDX2 can never reach (as the beer advert used to say...).  Having heard one, I had to try one again.

So the CDX2/555PS became a CDS3/555PS and I still have it 5 years later, with absolutely no desire to go further with CD.  I found that the 555PS retains all the very best strengths of the CDS3 but gives music a degree of dynamics, musical engagement and sheer balls (for want of a more cultured term), that it lacks with the XPS2.

Others find this a bit too much, preferring the XPS2.  YMMV.

I haven't tried it with the XPS-DR.

Hope this helps, FT

FT's analysis is spot on.   I have the XPS2 and whilst it does tend towards safe it is so fluent.  When we decorate later this year and the system is stripped down i'll review it but I think the solution will having the DR upgrade done to the XPS2.

FWIW when I had my CDS3 I much preferred using my XPS2 (nonDR) to my 555PS (nonDR).. To my ears the 555PS made the CDS3 too clinical..  but clearly we are in the lands of subjectivity here.

Simon

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

FWIW when I had my CDS3 I much preferred using my XPS2 (nonDR) to my 555PS (nonDR).. To my ears the 555PS made the CDS3 too clinical..  but clearly we are in the lands of subjectivity here.

Simon

Dear Simon,

I agree. Years ago I had a CDS 3 in my house while my CDS 2 had a new transport being fitted [and PIC upgrade done at the same time], using it with my original Olive XPS. Later I had the chance to play the CDS 3 at the dealers with the XPS 2 and the CD 555 PS. Yo my mind the effect with the XPS 2 [and the older Olive XPS] was superbly balanced and natural, while the CD 555 PS made the CDS 3 more muscular without compensating feeling of more musical flow or communication. The CD 555 PS soon came off, and the XPS 2 went back on the CDS 3. 

This is a case where person preference certainly comes in, but for those considering moving from an XPS 2 up to a CD 555 PS, it is important to audition the changes that come and are immediately obvious. 

ATB from George

I am still using an XPS2 with my CDS3.

I have heard it with a 555PS which certainly turbo charged it but I thought it was too ballsy - using SBLS. It was similar to when I tried a Chord Sarum Tuned ARAY interconnect instead of my HiLine - clearly more dynamic lots of energy and musical, but just a bit over the top for me in the system at that time.

I would like to try both DR versions though - and of course try an SL interconnect at some point.

Really appreciate the very valuable comments from Foot Tapper, Fender, Simon, George and Chris. Will ignore the 555ps as i really like the natural and smooth presentation of my CDS3.

Can anyone also share the presentation of both "XPS non DR" and "XPS DR" ?

I upgraded to an XPS DR from a 2008 vintage XPS2 about 18 months ago - on my CDX2. I was quite surprised by the level of extra sparkle and resolution it brought. It had me reaching for my wallet within about 10 minutes.

Any more folks can share the experience of both XPS2 and XPS2 DR, i'm concerning the presentation will have big difference, as other one said it made difference, but not better.

I DR'd my XPS on my CDS3. Immediate notch up. More of everything in a positive way. More honest and musical reproduction somehow. The DR SuperCap and new 250DR followed as a result. I am yet to hear a Naim change that is not also "better" while being "different". Yes some take some getting used to, but I'm afraid Naim know what they are doing.

cdboy posted:

I DR'd my XPS on my CDS3. Immediate notch up. More of everything in a positive way. More honest and musical reproduction somehow. The DR SuperCap and new 250DR followed as a result. I am yet to hear a Naim change that is not also "better" while being "different". Yes some take some getting used to, but I'm afraid Naim know what they are doing.

Hi cdboy, do you think the vocal sounds thinner after DR'd your XPS?

No. Thinner vocals would appear thinner. Poor recordings poorer. Recessed bass more recessed. As overall replay improves "fault" in the original recording is revealed. The ear adjusts for recordings you love however, and the good (and superb) recordings just make you grin.

Few years back we could make a demo of the 2 power supplies XPS2 and 555ps, on the CDS3.

We were 5 Naim friends from the forum, 2 from UK, 2 from Germany, and me.

The system was a 552/500/Totem Mani 2, all gears were on two Fraim racks

The CDS3 was connected to the 552 with a Hiline

The demo lasted a whole weekend.

Even though the difference felt a bit subtle at first, a careful audition could sort things out.

We could realized right away that everything was cleaner with the 555ps, but the music was also more lively, it felt more real, it was like the musicians were really enjoying playing their instruments.

All in all there was more life with the 555ps.

The music we plaid was classical music, mainly strings instruments...

Later on I swapped my XPS2 for the 555ps,

Regards,

Edouard 

There you have it Jerry,

Edouard and I went from XPS to 555PS on our CDS3 players, while Gary & Simon preferred the presentation of the XPS.

If you already have an XPS, then you are in a wonderful place.  You can then demo the others to see which better suits your taste.

Best regards, FT

Thanks a lot again for cdboy, edouard & FT for the comments, to move forward without regret, I think I really need to demo both of them and then make decision.

When I owned a CDS3, I swapped from an XPS2 to a 555PS. It really woke the sound up, giving it more verve and life, without in any way being over the top. So that's 3:2.