CD5si/XS2 or CD5xs/Nait 5si

Go for the better NaitXS amp and the Flatcap2XS.   This is a giant killer.  Stream music with a Meridian Explorer or Chord Mojo or something similar.  You may never need a CD player.  Buy a second hand CDP if you must.   I have been happy with my CD5X, and it sings with the Flatcap.

For $5500 USD, I'd rather buy a Uniti2 or Uniti Nova. Jmo. Best of everything. 

Never fails. Somebody here asks for advice on a CDP and respondents advise them to stream. Imagine what it would be like for someone to ask for streaming advice and get answers on which CDP to buy. 

Anyhow Mike, I'm not a full-time subscriber to the source first mantra, but in your case it seems a good rule. The CD5XS/Nait 5si makes sense in that you have a quality, PSU upgradeable source that you can hold on to through an amp upgrade. You can also do a nice upgrade of that combo by adding a s/h Hiline or Powerline- good VFM IME and you can carry those cables through any subsequent upgrades of boxes. 

If you go with the CD5si/XS2 combo, you'll likely be revealing the lesser source and may in short order wish you'd gone for the better CDP. You'll probably have an easier time selling a s/h amp than a s/h CDP.

Whichever you choose, I'd strongly advise buying the CDP second hand. I doubt there's any box in Naim's line-up that will depreciate faster than a new CDP.

Hi mike,

i started out a few years back with a similar predicament but at the time I was using B&W 683 speakers which when tested with the two options you list (except it was the nait 5i & cd5i at the time) needed the extra grunt of the xs amp to get them singing. A year down the line I auditioned the cd5i against the cd5xs and was smitten. Haven't heard the cd5si but the xs is a truly wonderful CD player and I still regret getting rid of mine. If you can audition with your speakers (which if you let us know what they are people may be able to advise better) and are happy with how the lower powered amp drives them then I would go with the xs player in a heart beat. Only your ears can decide however. Happy shopping.

ATB, Dan

Mikeaudio1 posted:

OK Naimophiles.  I'm going to pick up a new front end, but can't afford CD5xs/XS2 right now.  Which combo should I go for, the entry CD player and better integrated, or the better CD player and the entry amp?  FWIW, the Nait has sufficient power to frdve my speakers.   Thanks in advance.

 

 

Mikeaudio1 posted:

OK Naimophiles.  I'm going to pick up a new front end, but can't afford CD5xs/XS2 right now.  Which combo should I go for, the entry CD player and better integrated, or the better CD player and the entry amp?  FWIW, the Nait has sufficient power to frdve my speakers.   Thanks in advance.

 

 

joerand posted:

Never fails. Somebody here asks for advice on a CDP and respondents advise them to stream. Imagine what it would be like for someone to ask for streaming advice and get answers on which CDP to buy. 

Whichever you choose, I'd strongly advise buying the CDP second hand. I doubt there's any box in Naim's line-up that will depreciate faster than a new CDP.

Right! And just like you said the CDP will depreciated instantly. What IS the point of buying a brand new CDP? 

However the Uniti 2 and the Star both have built in CD players! They also stream! They also play computer audio in both wired or wireless configurations! They're also a DAC! They also play internet radio! They are also integrated amps! And all controllable from a tablet or phone for convenience. 

I have a rather large cd collection, a Mac mini as a music server with a usb/spdif converter running JRiver, wifi setup to stream Tidal (or Spotify if I want). What do you think gets used the least? Yep the CDP. When I can stream more CD quality music then I own, or play higher res file downloads and ripped/stored CDs. 

I mean call me crazy but if I'm going to spend £3000/$5500 I'd want the most VALUE I could buy. 

But you can't yet buy the new Unitis or audition them and when asked their designers said they'd never compared them to separates so it's a assumption that you'd get better performance. My suspicion is they'll have a different set of strengths and weaknesses but their bigest of both is their lack of upgradeability.

Callas01 posted:

 What IS the point of buying a brand new CDP? 

 

 

How about superior sound quality!

I very much agree with suggestions to buy used or ex-demo kit -- instead of compromising sound. I got my XS2 ex-demo and ND5XS used -- and I am very happy. Naim is built to last a very, very long time, and Naim fanatics tend to look very well after their gear.  

Has not compared these options myself, but previous experiance say source first as long as room, speaker and amp match. Also, Cd5XS has digital out which might be useful in the future...

Yeti - I get the "upgradability" arguement, but I personally dont buy into spending thousands of extra dollars/pounds/euros that way. Sure it does lower the noise floor a little, but that's a lot of money IMO for doing so. 

Badlands - I had the Nait 5i and the XS. I auditioned the cd5i. Then I auditioned the U2 as a suggestion from the dealer even tho I wasn't interested in the U2 as a streamer/computer audio. I still liked the U2 better as a CDP/amp combo. Only about a year ago did I really get into streaming and using the U2 via the network UPnP. 

To each their own. But if we are talking VFM the U2/Star products are in a league of their own. 

Go for the better CD player... spurce first.

Mikeaudio1 posted:

OK Naimophiles.  I'm going to pick up a new front end, but can't afford CD5xs/XS2 right now.  Which combo should I go for, the entry CD player and better integrated, or the better CD player and the entry amp?  FWIW, the Nait has sufficient power to frdve my speakers.   Thanks in advance.

I would try and listen to both combos and make up my own mind, at home in situ if possible. Result and impression will depend on the random association game. Now, if you intend to climb the upgrade ladder within months or a few short years, I would go CD5 XS in a heart beat. Not only is it a greater and more accomplished CDP, its digital output allows for future and other important upgrades on the demat road.

Chag -

It is easier to sell the amp than the cd player. So I would settle with the better cd player and in the future when funds allow replace the 5si amp with a SN or so.

In case you want to have the cdp upgraded, adding a dac seems to do magic (is what I read on this forum).

Ardbeg10y posted:

In case you want to have the cdp upgraded, adding a dac seems to do magic (is what I read on this forum).

Good point - CD5XS with an nDAC makes for a fine player, which can be even further enhanced with an addition of a power supply on an nDAC.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Ardbeg10y posted:

In case you want to have the cdp upgraded, adding a dac seems to do magic (is what I read on this forum).

Good point - CD5XS with an nDAC makes for a fine player, which can be even further enhanced with an addition of a power supply on an nDAC.

CD5XS comes with an internal DAC and is PSU upgradeable . If I was considering a nDAC I'd look for more economical transport options. How many freaking boxes does it take for a Naim user to listen to a CD?

joerand posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Ardbeg10y posted:

In case you want to have the cdp upgraded, adding a dac seems to do magic (is what I read on this forum).

Good point - CD5XS with an nDAC makes for a fine player, which can be even further enhanced with an addition of a power supply on an nDAC.

CD5XS comes with an internal DAC and is PSU upgradeable . If I was considering a nDAC I'd look for more economical transport options. How many freaking boxes does it take for a Naim user to listen to a CD?

As many as it takes

In a digital transport / external DAC, the quality of the transport is paramount. Of course one can economise., if sound quality is not important. But than why bother with a reference-level external DAC

joerand posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Ardbeg10y posted:

In case you want to have the cdp upgraded, adding a dac seems to do magic (is what I read on this forum).

Good point - CD5XS with an nDAC makes for a fine player, which can be even further enhanced with an addition of a power supply on an nDAC.

CD5XS comes with an internal DAC and is PSU upgradeable . If I was considering a nDAC I'd look for more economical transport options. How many freaking boxes does it take for a Naim user to listen to a CD?

The more the better. Its a kind of last stronghold in my house against Duplo, Lego, Chocolate boxes, shoes, designer bags, paper planes, socks, tablets, phones, crappy pc's, all kind of wooden toys etc.

I am pretty happy with CD5si into XS2+HcDR. When I was upgrading from Nait5si to XS2 three years ago I listened to CD5XS (in bare form) and also back to back with CD5si at dealer’s. “Lesser” player won me over with its exuberance and speed.

+1.

the joy that the lesser cdp gave with the better civility of the XS2 amp won over for me. Differences for me changing up to the XS cdp over the cd5si was minimal and were equivalent to upgrading (at a cheaper cost) mains cable and other means ( supports) instead.

........I Remember reading an article written by Jimmy Hughes, in that when using the cd5si, pressing stop and then play a track from its numerical position gave best sound quality. Instead of playing an album throughout. Drove me nuts, especially since I could discern a difference.