How does CD5XS rate as transport to DAC?

you have to connect the dig out from the CD5XS with a suitable 75 ohm dig coax cable to a dig input on the DAC. From the DAC with a lavender cable to the XS2. 

Thanks Robiwan!

Hi Psisco 

I use cd5xs into ndac and it makes great music. You really can't go wrong with this pairing 

Stuart 

Thanks, Stuart!

Even if owning a CD5XS its a hell lot of money for a dedicated cd transport given that you pay premium for good components left unused inside.

Naim should have provided us with a single cd5 transport, they didn't so what !

You decide, there are other options for the money, a CDS2 or 3 perhaps.

Offcourse not ideal if a dac is needed for other duties.

Maybe a V1 ?

Thanks B_Lund!

Makes for a good pairing. Use Naim's own DC-1 cable. At a later stage you may want to add a power supply to your nDAC. I assume you'd be getting an nDAC 

Not trying to Hijack your Thread OP, but could someone help me out with this digital Media! 

Now lets say some one is a record lover, and loves the act of dropping that needle, and actually  loves that snap crackle pop! 

You invest in a nice TT, I used to have a nice TT, but didn't care for the Snap Crackle pop, bought it in 1986 $1,486 USD.

Sold it a Couple of years ago $1,580, LP-12, LVII, K-9, USD.  I really enjoyed going in the hi-fi circles and letting everyone know what type of gear I had.  But, when it came down to it, I was spinning the Silver Devils, out of 300 Albums I had maybe 40 pristine ones, on the other hand my pristine CD Collection was leaps and bounds ahead of my pristine Album collection! 

Now if this individual loves the way the Vinyl is recorded, as opposed to the Digital CD format, they decide to digitalize the Analog Signal from the Album, which if done correctly, is superior to the Digital CD, Wow confusing! 

Ok, That's the Album lover, who happens to have an LP-12, or Better, TT, + an high End DAC, and Server/NDS, Correct?

Ok, to this Thread, Say you have an CD5XS, Naim's Third Tier CDP, Nice. You Buy this because you have CD's but are really in to Streaming!  Hence, you seek out a very good DAC, NDAC.  Now your'e cooking with GAS. 

The CD5XS handled the CDs very well with it's internal DAC, but now you disable it, and use your NDAC, which is a Better DAC, than the one incorporated within the CD5XS. Now your wife isn't  going to allow you to think, NDS type of Money, so your'e thinking NDX.  

There you go~  CD5XS, NDX, NDAC, you can play all your old CDs, and use it as a   transport to play CDs, which is smoother more refined sound than the raw digitalized CD, used with its internal DAC. 

But Linn Done the Separate Transport and DAC years ago! Linn Karik, I think, Having an Alepo moment!  But doesn't it make more sense to go Separate Transport and NDAC from the start, whether than disabling the internal dac within a CDX2/CD5XS ? 

Please Clear my thought process, Anyone, I know I'm missing something!

Allante93! 

Very interesting analysis, Allantee93

Allante93 posted:

But doesn't it make more sense to go Separate Transport and NDAC from the start, whether than disabling the internal dac within a CDX2/CD5XS ? 

Not really if you don't have the funds or interest at the time. Hence the flexi modular and upgrade approach that Naim and a few other manufacturers have marketed. It is not only about marketing gimmicks, it allows flexibility to optimize, even at a cost, build and allocation of  monies.  

Chag -

Allante, to me reading your post you may be mixing two things. A seemingly emotional attachment to the way of replaying musical recording, and sound replay performance of various sources. However each is valid.

A CDP internal DAC will sound a certain way by its design, it will bring its own style. This is the same as for a standalone DAC or a streamer DAC.. they each bring their own style. Now standalone DACs and to some extent Streamer DACs tend to be more neutral, but I find CDP DACs can sound more nuanced and specific. There is no absolute, its why we have various sources, to match our mood and recordings... one size DAC does not fit all, unless you want to filter out much potential enjoyment.

The same with Vinyl. Most vinyl these days is recorded using digital masters... it is digital music. There is no superiority about it, however the whole vinyl writing and replay process is like a fancy digital reconstruction filter... to give a particular sound that many like . So in some ways a record player is like a  standalone DAC, but nuanced like a CDP DAC and favours well compared to cheap less capable conventional DACs

So it goes back to what I say it's all about sources.. which is why I say Naim have it right with the number of inputs on their NACs so you can appreciate and enjoy many of them for the variation and colour each brings...

Thanks Simon for your contribution

Chag... posted:

Allante93 posted:

But doesn't it make more sense to go Separate Transport and NDAC from the start, whether than disabling the internal dac within a CDX2/CD5XS ? 

Not really if you don't have the FUNDS or interest at the time. Hence the FLEXI modular and upgrade approach that Naim and a few other manufacturers have marketed. It is not only about marketing gimmicks, it allows flexibility to optimize, even at a cost, build and allocation of  monies.  

Chag -

That's my point Chag, if Naim had a separate Blackbox that was utilized as a transport only!

But I do get your point, as it relates two interest. If FUNDS s are not an issue then sure CD555, CDX2, or the beautiful third-tier CD5XS.

Thanks for pointing that out!

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Allante, to me reading your post you may be mixing two things. A seemingly emotional attachment to the way of replaying musical recording, and sound replay performance of various sources. However each is valid.

A CDP internal DAC will sound a certain way by its designl......Now standalone DACs and to some extent Streamer DACs tend to be more neutral, but I find CDP DACs can sound more nuanced and specific.........There is no absolute, its why we have various sources, to match our mood and recordings... one size DAC does not fit all, unless you want to filter out much potential enjoyment.

The same with Vinyl. Most vinyl these days is recorded using digital masters... it is digital music. There is no superiority about it, however the whole vinyl writing and replay process is like a fancy digital reconstruction filter... to give a particular sound that many like . So in some ways a record player is like a  standalone DAC, but nuanced like a CDP DAC and favours well compared to cheap less capable conventional DACs

So it goes back to what I say it's all about sources.. which is why I say Naim have it right with the number of inputs on their NACs so you can appreciate and enjoy many of them for the variation and colour each brings...

I love it Simon, Thanks again!

The Integral affect of the digital curve to reproduce or approach of  the smooth analog curve!

I can't seem to recall, another Aleppo moment,  but a wise young man one said, no longer just the analog turntable or digital CD but all three formats the analog turntable the digital CD player and now the New Millennium age, Digital Streaming.

I heard from a reliable source that Focal/Naim is developing a separate transport! LOL

Allante93!

Excuse my ignorance

What is "Aleppo moment"  ?

Anything to do with Syria ?

Cyrus CDt transport (latest model) into Naim DAC sounds sublime & very detailed.

b_lund posted:

Excuse my ignorance

What is "Aleppo moment"  ?

Anything to do with Syria ?

No ignorance, over here in the USA a young man who was the governor of a State, was running for President of the United States of America against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and was at about Aleppo he replied what is Aleppo but as you can see you knew where a Aleppo was,  I was pretty ignorant, I didn't know but Johnson, ex  governor,  didn't know either, so no ignorance on your part, just another wise young man on the name forum God bless!

Allante93!

Please excuse this voice activated texting!

Hello,
I have now  a Dac (nDAC), which I connected to my CD5X. I have also taken advantage of my FlatcapXS and connected it to my XS2, and also to the CD5XS (which now acts as transport)
I have read in some places that in this configuration, connecting the Flatcaps XS to the CD5XS does not make any function, because the Flatcap only acts in the analog output, but not in the digital one. However, and may be a suggestion of mine, I find some small effect on the high frequencies when the FlatcapX is also connected to the CD5XS. I'm wrong?

No - you are not. Flatcap primarily benefits analogue stages, but there is some benefit to improving the quality of the digital transport.

Please not that the greatest impact now will come from an external power aupply on the nDAC. 

Adam

Thanks Adam!
I need some more time to experience the DAC on my cd5xs, XS2 and FlatcapXS. I have a Chord Signature cable between CD5XS and DAC, and the "lavender" between DAC and XS2. And I think it sounds superb.
What source should I add later to the DAC? I would appreciate your advice.

Psiko posted:

What source should I add later to the DAC? I would appreciate your advice.

Spurce or power supply?

You mentioned an external power supply ... which one?

Psiko posted:

You mentioned an external power supply ... which one?

Trust me you don't want to know, it will hurt your bank balance.  If as you say it sounds superb leave well alone and enjoy your music.

Psiko posted:

You mentioned an external power supply ... which one?

[@mention:49154750588625888] is right... But since you've asked 

Of all the powers supplies from Naim that I've tried, I found 555PS to be the most enjoyable addition to the nDAC. I bought mine pre-loved, non-DR for pretty much the same money as new XP5XS.