Is CDX2 digital output enhanced by an XPS? (or is it only the analogue out)

i definitely noticed an improvement too when i added cups balls and glass to my Fraimlite,why would you not have those under the glass already if you have them?After reading that cable risers help in another forum,i might grab a few chunks of foam today and make my own riser as an experiment,i am not expecting much,but it will be a cheap way to get the Naca5 off the floor a bit,and tidy up the look...should be interesting,i will report back if i hear improvements.

Glass directly on the shelf is probably worse than no glass at all, as the shelf won't be flat. Adding the balls was always going to make things better. 

Spent 3 hours messing with the CDX2...

Mains powered analogue out is good (using Hiline), but doesn't come close to the digital out (using DC1) played through an NDS+555PS (which probably isn't surprising given the NDS DAC is top of the range architecture).

555PS powered analogue is discernably better than mains powered analogue (but it would be wouldn't it?, else there'd be no point in an external PS)

555PS powered digital into the NDS is noticably more focussed than mains powered digital, making me wonder if this is the way to go rather than keep the CD555.  But if this is the choice, then my NDS would only be powered by one 555PS instead of the two, is that a compromise worth making to obtain a very high quality CD player, I ask myself.  I'll think about it a while.   I'm trying not to be influenced by the CD555 door mech which open and closes when you wave at it - I love this feature  

What I haven't tried, because I just can't afford it, is connecting the CD555 with a Chord Music rather than the supplied Hiline - the Music has to stay with my NDS since that is my main source and at £3,500 there's only going to be one Music interconnect in my setup for the forseeable future !

Roger

PS - what else I learned today:  the CDX2 requires an SXPS burndy - this is different to the number one burndy supplied with the CD555 and it's different to the number one burndy supplied with the NDS !   When you connect CDX2 + 555PS with either of the latter two burndies it all lights up and the disk spins and the digital output works fine, BUT there's no analogue output signal - only the SXPS burndy enables the analogue output.  I knew there were different burndies, but had thought that any that plugged into socket one of the 555PS would be idenical... not so as a nice gentleman at NAIM tech support explained.  Luckily I have a spare SXPS burndy lying around, like most folks I expect.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Glass directly on the shelf is probably worse than no glass at all, as the shelf won't be flat. Adding the balls was always going to make things better. 

Yep, I'm living proof of that HH 

Perhaps, Roger, as you have the NDS you don't need a CD player at all. Go on, declutter. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Perhaps, Roger, as you have the NDS you don't need a CD player at all. Go on, declutter. 

At the moment, HH, I'm in box-collecting mode !   I have no doubt that at some point a different set of priorities will kick in, but for now a CD player or two seems like a desirable way to go.  From memory (because I can't check your profile while writing), you're fairly minimalist, aren't you?  Was there ever a time when you had black boxes galore ?

PS - Until you've seen the way the CD555 lid raises and lowers just by waving your hand in front of it, you haven't lived (imho)... it's just one of those 'must have' devices 

I once had eight - a CDS3 with 555PS, a 552, 300 and Nat 01. These days three is more than sufficient. 

Seriously I think you're lucky to have found your nirvana, HH.   I'm still searching.

I once had eight too. Three is more sensible for a single source (well, NAS, Tidal & iRadio).

G

Remember when you had all those funny little boxes, Graeme?

I'm a hoarder (so her indoors tells me) - so many cassettes, so many r-to-r tapes, so many DATs and then the vinyl...  I rue the day I have to move into a smaller place and throw all those memories out  (I worked in music distribution for donkey's years, you see).

I sold all my vinyl, ripped all the CDs and stuffed them in the loft, and have no physical music on display whatsoever. The stereo is just three boxes on a little stand, and couple of modest sized speakers. It was weird at first, but I've grown to like it like that. 

I'd love to sell the CDs, or give them to the hospice shop, but can't because I'd then have illegal digital copies, which seems such a shame. All those CDs rotting in the loft, just doesn't seem right when someone else could be enjoying them. 

rjstaines posted:

I'm a hoarder (so her indoors tells me) - so many cassettes, so many r-to-r tapes, so many DATs and then the vinyl...  I rue the day I have to move into a smaller place and throw all those memories out  (I worked in music distribution for donkey's years, you see).

 

I know what you mean. I still have an 8-track machine somewhere  in the garage and a couple of ELP cartridges. 

Just a validation to your findings I've played around a bit with my CDX2.2 and have found that the non DR 555PS powering my NDac via DC1 with Powerlines to be the most rewarding. I've had some simply stunning results. Two mates with CDS 3's also concur. There is a voicing in the CDX2 that adds a very special level of excitement not matched by much else. If you like 'live' then this is it.

Roger

I found a solution for you 

CDX2.2 powered by 555PS, digital out via DC1 into an NDS with 2 x 555PS.

You are only one 555PS short....

Hey, thanks Adam !

As a supplement to Adam's suggestion, I suspect (but haven't experimented) that a lesser and cheaper PSU on the CDX2.2 would still give the performance benefits you are hearing, Roger. The 555PS might over doing it.

Also, while the NDS is meant to be the top-of-the-tree in Naim's streamer/DAC range, when I tried the NDS against the nDAC during  an in-store demo, I preferred the nDAC which to my ears gave a performance of greater vitality. This was using the NDS as a DAC and being driven by a CDX2.2 with the CDX2.2 having a XP5XS as external PSU. Even when the NDS was used in full streaming/DAC mode I still preferred the nDAC. I wasn't expecting either of those results.  I seem to remember that among the gear you have 'hoarded', Roger, you have an nDAC? If so maybe so further experimentation would be fun.

Mike 

MDS posted:

As a supplement to Adam's suggestion, I suspect (but haven't experimented) that a lesser and cheaper PSU on the CDX2.2 would still give the performance benefits you are hearing, Roger. The 555PS might over doing it.

Also, while the NDS is meant to be the top-of-the-tree in Naim's streamer/DAC range, when I tried the NDS against the nDAC during  an in-store demo, I preferred the nDAC which to my ears gave a performance of greater vitality. This was using the NDS as a DAC and being driven by a CDX2.2 with the CDX2.2 having a XP5XS as external PSU. Even when the NDS was used in full streaming/DAC mode I still preferred the nDAC. I wasn't expecting either of those results.  I seem to remember that among the gear you have 'hoarded', Roger, you have an nDAC? If so maybe so further experimentation would be fun.

Mike 

Thanks for that suggestion about power supplies, Mike,  I hadn't really thought of that.  So far as the DAC goes, I sold that a few months back and bought a NAC-N272 that I use as an additional input selector for both analogue and digital stuff (some 'legacy' items - I ran out of input sockets on the 552 !)  At the moment I'm leaning towards keeping the CD555 and selling the CDX2, which would mean, as Adam noted above, I could do with another 555PS if I want to retain two PS's on the NDS  (which I do).   Something to add to my Christmas list perhaps 

Well Roger - nothing wrong with 3 x 555PS. I'm guilty as charged here.

Hopefully I will find time this coming weekend to unpack no 3 - picked up a bargain 10 year old one, had it serviced at Class A and it finally arrived. All for less than 50% of the price of a new XPS.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Well Roger - nothing wrong with 3 x 555PS. I'm guilty as charged here.

Hopefully I will find time this coming weekend to unpack no 3 - picked up a bargain 10 year old one, had it serviced at Class A and it finally arrived. All for less than 50% of the price of a new XPS.

You did very well there, Adam, but where are you going to use the third 555PS? 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Remember when you had all those funny little boxes, Graeme?

Yes, a wild attempt to squeeze hifidelity from a Sonos...It wasn't bad sounding in the end but a bit of a guddle. The NDX TT 250DR in another league though.

G

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Well Roger - nothing wrong with 3 x 555PS. I'm guilty as charged here.

Hopefully I will find time this coming weekend to unpack no 3 - picked up a bargain 10 year old one, had it serviced at Class A and it finally arrived. All for less than 50% of the price of a new XPS.

You did very well there, Adam, but where are you going to use the third 555PS? 

Two options, both in the music room:  

1. As a second PS on the NDS with CDX2.2 connected do NDS

2. Simply powering CDX2.2 and using analogue out.

My only concern with regards to option 1 is that one of the PSUs is a DR version, the other one isn't. I remember reading a thread on that where opinions were dividied. I guess I will just have to play with different setups. 

Thanks, Adam. I'll be very interested in what you find when you start experimenting with those options. 

Mike 

The CDX2.2/XPS2 is one of the best CD players made; as is the CD555/555PS; as is the CDS1/CDSPS.

You should be in musical nirvana with all three in a well set up system.

I do not prefer the Chord Music at all (it is very bright sounding in my opinion); as are B&W speakers; of any generation; especially the newer ones.

The CDX2.2 and CD555 major on a analog type of sound, if the system is optimised for digital you may not see their strengths come through. If you like a NAT01 for it's sound and an Aro you will love the CD555 and CDX2.2; if you prefer a fully loaded Linn; you won't appreciate what those products do.

Just my 0.2cents.

Regards

MDS posted:

Thanks, Adam. I'll be very interested in what you find when you start experimenting with those options. 

Mike 

Certainly Mike. I will probably start another thread in a few weeks.

Adam