CDPlayer

Actually, if you don't mind mixing sizes and styles, you have more than two options:

- CD5x, bare

- CD5x, with FlatCap

- CDX2, bare

- CDX2 with XPS.

I tell you, from my personal experience, that a bare CDX2 is not necessarily twice as good as a bare CD5x, that a CD5x is a great player and becomes extremely satisfactory with a FC, and that a CDX2 is very very enjoyable both bare and with an XPS. It is contradictory, or it seems so, but it just reflects my personal experience.

My suggestion: a used CDX2, the oldest you find; its mechanism is better than the one of the sequels, and could even last longer; and when it dies, you'll spend some money and have a new CDX2.

Best,

Max

Hi Tob - I think both 5xs and x2 are great players.    The X2 provides much more detail but is also far livelier.   You need to demo of course. 

Good luck. 

I used to have a 5i and now I have an X2 with a SN. It's a great combo. I've upgraded my SN but the X2 is still bare and sounding brilliant! 

If you try an XPS on a CDX2 you will not want to give it back.  The CDX2 is a really good CD player, but adding a XPS gives an immediate impression of more & better & it's not subtle.   Dynamics & leading edge attack is improved almost as though a level of compression is lifted.   Bass has more muscle & with a better feel of power.  Mid & treble has improved detail, clarity & refinement especially when the spacial effects of stereo come into play. The stereo stage is very much improved with a wider & deeper three dimensional perspective. Stereo separation, the ability pin-point & put space around the individual musicians is more distinct..     I could go on,  it was the most standout changes I've ever made with one box.      & I still miss that CDX2 - damn it !!!!. 

Yes, its all in the listening, i did how ever brake the cardinal sin, and bought the SN2 blind,  i just had that intuition it would be good, and it turned out to be just that, and more, very very good, i just need to give it something much more complimentary, and then concentrate on rediscovering vinyl. cheers Strat fender.

Those are some interesting comments chaps, and I've been over some of those senerios myself before i demo, i agree about a SH X2, good possibility, keeping things bare appeals, for now, and i have started to experience that some CDs sound pretty crap with the better the kit used, how ever, it also opens up more music sounding great,  i listen to everything apart from pop, more detail makes me nervous though, so i don't think buying blind on this choice would be wise, the 5xs could be VFM. thanks all.

Strongly recommend cdx2, and when funds allow add a xps Dr..... No need to upgrade your source unless a nice lottery win comes your way.....

Mike-B posted:

If you try an XPS on a CDX2 you will not want to give it back.  The CDX2 is a really good CD player, but adding a XPS gives an immediate impression of more & better & it's not subtle.   Dynamics & leading edge attack is improved almost as though a level of compression is lifted.   Bass has more muscle & with a better feel of power.  Mid & treble has improved detail, clarity & refinement especially when the spacial effects of stereo come into play. The stereo stage is very much improved with a wider & deeper three dimensional perspective. Stereo separation, the ability pin-point & put space around the individual musicians is more distinct..     I could go on,  it was the most standout changes I've ever made with one box.      & I still miss that CDX2 - damn it !!!!. 

 

Being in the Hi- Fi Arena, we run across a lot of jargon. However, every now and then, a real winner spills over. I will never forget this one, it steered me away from the CD5XS.

As one Audio Reviewer put it:

There are two types of components to buy. The best, and very close to the best, for a whole lot less.

The CDX2 is a prime example of the latter!

*CD555~ Naims Reference CDP 

*CDX2~ Naims 2nd tier CDP

*CD5XS~ Naims third tier CDP

* presently produced by Focal/Naim

(555PS>CDX2>282>HCDR>3 x 250.2>Briks)

Enjoy your Music, the Why!

Allante93!

There are massive savings to be had on second hand CD players. This is because many of us have abandoned that form of transport and gone to local LAN streaming. This has not slowed down our CD purchasing I can assure you. So grab a bargain CDX2 or consider investigating why so many have moved to the streaming world and a NDX could well be on the option list.

Yes, your right, due to streaming it will bring the price of higher end CDP down, and will open up opportunities for me to get on the ladder, well, higher up at least, its a work in progress, and I've no doubt that streaming will be on my radar in the future, but for now a cracking CDP will be first. regards.

Mike-B posted:

If you try an XPS on a CDX2 you will not want to give it back.  The CDX2 is a really good CD player, but adding a XPS gives an immediate impression of more & better & it's not subtle.   Dynamics & leading edge attack is improved almost as though a level of compression is lifted.   Bass has more muscle & with a better feel of power.  Mid & treble has improved detail, clarity & refinement especially when the spacial effects of stereo come into play. The stereo stage is very much improved with a wider & deeper three dimensional perspective. Stereo separation, the ability pin-point & put space around the individual musicians is more distinct..     I could go on,  it was the most standout changes I've ever made with one box.      & I still miss that CDX2 - damn it !!!!. 

 

i too, my cdx2/xps2 is sold, 1 year ago and i miss him ... the best cd player i enjoyed in my life!  and i have listened to a lot like cds3, dcs puccini, esoteric k01, rega isis, métronome kalista...but this cdx2/xps2 was my favorite.  Sometimes i am thinking of selling my nds and buy a cd555....

Keler Pierre posted:

Mike-B posted:

If you try an XPS on a CDX2 you will not want to give it back.  The CDX2 is a really good CD....... & I still miss that CDX2 - damn it !!!!. 

i too, my cdx2/xps2 is sold, 1 year ago and i miss him ... the best cd player i enjoyed in my life!  and i have listened to a lot like cds3, dcs puccini, esoteric k01, rega isis, métronome kalista...but this cdx2/xps2 was my favorite.  Sometimes i am thinking of selling my nds and buy a cd555....

Ok TOB, you,ve heard it! 

Now if money, was not an issue:

LP 12

CD555

NDS

The new Paradigm, all three!

Unfortunately, for most, the Cash factor plays a major role.

So, if you do decide on a 2nd hand Cdx2, just keep in mind the bell curve, on the life span of the phillips optical laser lens.

I picked up an 2nd hand 2008 Cdx2 1n 2015.

Do the math, that's 7 years, mine hit the bell curve direct, 9 years February 2017!

If I was in the market for a 2nd Cdx2, I would focus on the MK II.

1202 VAM

Earlier Model 2009/2010, but factor in the cost of bell curve replacement!

Or bite the bullet on 2014/2015/!!!!

Otherwise brand new 5 year warranty, and solid play until 2026! Wow!!!

Allante93!

Owning both the CD555 and CD5X FC2X, I second Max's endorsement.  CD555 is great, but CD5X is brilliant VFM -- gives me joy every time.

Nick

Another CDX2 fan here, I have an early  mk1 bought from new and I do think they sound better ever so slightly than the mkII, but perhaps that is what I am used too. I also used to run it with a XPS2, but when I upgraded my NAC to a 252 DR and put my CDX2 on full fat Fraim I found it really wasn't necessary and sold it... I run my CDX2 bare with a hiline now. 

Now I won't say the X2 is the most neutral sounding source, and you sometimes need to give some time for your ears/brain to adjust after listening to other sources... but the X2 has a wonderful sweet spot for rock, heavy blues, and singers like Bob Dylan and Lou Reed where the X2 thickens the vocals out slightly to great effect.

BTW I used to own a CDS3 as well, long since now sold. The S3 was more neutral and civilised, but to me boring (albeit I sold it before I purchased my 252DR. so can't comment on that combo) ... much of the emotion and enjoyment seemed to disappear from the music.. luckily I didn't sell my X2 and so reinstated it once I moved on my S3

I have always had great synergy using rega cd players. Can heartily recommend the Saturn.  No upgraditus. 

Any CDX2.

C.

True Blue,

Does the Rega remote work the volume up/down on Naim amps?

Ray

Good advice Allante93, once I've boxed off the CDP, next a TT, I've short listed  Linn, Regar, Gyrodec, and yes, money does play its part, the Supernait 2 is a keeper, its beans on toast from now on, bloody great this upgrade malarkey.

If you're looking at used, have you considered an HDX?  I swapped out my CDX2 for an HDX and haven't looked back.  From what I can gather, a bit-perfect rip is going to be better than a real time read which may explain why most people prefer the HDX to the CDX2.

HDX to a CDX2.. that is a strange comparison, they are like chalk and cheese... if wanting CD playback for me there is a clear winner in terms of most enjoyable playback.... and I am not sure I would try and substitute one with the other....

I am not sure how bit perfect comes into it.. they both provide the same 'bit perfect' playback on non damaged discs and hardware.. I think  it's more a case of  analogue conversion and DAC/DSP replay circuitry. Non 'bit perfect' playback would most likely sound awful.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

HDX to a CDX2.. that is a strange comparison, they are like chalk and cheese... if wanting CD playback for me there is a clear winner in terms of most enjoyable playback....

Then I guess we agree to disagree - I owned both for several years but only after getting the HDX did I realize how "bright" the CDX2 was.  Of course, I'm talking about playback of the ripped music from the HDD, not using the HDX to play the CDs directly from.

Wow, CDX2 'bright', I have the complete opposite, I use a hiline on my CDX2 to add some needed top end emphasis . As I say I love how the CDX2 thickens the sound on what are otherwise bright masters... but ultimately I find the filtered top end and bass strong sound one of its appeals and ultimately drawbacks depending on genre and master. That is why I use multiple sources, each brings its own kind of enjoyment with replay.. and why I haven't  substituted one  for the other... but each to their own...

BTW I did find the X2 is  sensitive to its support.. and it wasn't until I used Fraim it took a big step forward. In the early days I used a wooden stand and found it did have some glare, which I tamed using sorbothane and later an XPS2. That all changed with the Fraim and 252DR... glare went and I found I didn't really need the XPS2  on the CDX2 to sound enjoyable.

My search for a Cdx2, iam a little confused, a little help needed- I recently found somone selling a cdx2, so I rang Naim for a varification on the serial No, I was told it was a 2011 model, mk11, 1 owner, the seller says he purchased it in 2015, any suggestions?. Regards.

TOB posted:

My search for a Cdx2, iam a little confused, a little help needed- I recently found somone selling a cdx2, so I rang Naim for a varification on the serial No, I was told it was a 2011 model, mk11, 1 owner, the seller says he purchased it in 2015, any suggestions?. Regards.

if he sells it between 2500 and 3000 pound max, it is a good deal. 

He wants 2k, don't know weather to snatch his hand off, or be very wary, it's a 4 hour roundtrip, he says it is in excellent condition & working order, how long have some of you chaps had your cdx2, the naim technical chap said they still have plenty parts for them, and how much is a service, transport, facturing in the dealers have to make a butty, especially if they didn't sell it in the first place, or am I being to pariniod,  your expertise is welcome.