CD555

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

Purplerain posted:

Allante93 posted:

Purplerain posted:

Last week, i got the 'brand new cd555' at the full price. I have 'nds/555ps dr' and 'cd555/ double 555ps dr' now.

It's been over a year since I bought nds.

yes. Nds is very convenient to use. And sound is really nice.

But cd555's SQ is much better than nds.

It's very awesome.

I found that cd555(2*555ps)sound  is soft and supple than nds(2*555ps).More Analog and natural than nds.

i paid full price for my brand new cd555.But i don't regret.

when i buy new cd in the record shop,i am always happy.

But,when i download music file or ripping cd, i don't feel the anything of emotion.

Cd555 is really lovely source player!!!

Nice System Purple Rain, another Popular Tune By Prince, that I'm quite sure your aware of.

Just Curious, Can you comment on XRCD 24 vs Standard Well recordings from Naim and Linn. 

BTW, Nice Systems Proac K6s.  I assume at that price, they are an 3-way speakers! 

I don't own any 500 series gear, nor do expect to, in this life time!

But I do own Naims top of the Line CDP in production, and I also enjoy the sound of the Archaic CDs! 

 

Nice to get input from someone with an high end system, who prefers HIS CDP over the HIS less expensive NDS.

Just in case, I hit the Lotto!  

Thanks! 

Allante93! 

Thanks allante93.^^

i have never heard xrcd24 on linn.

But,i listen high res-file on my nds sometimes.(include dsd)

Yes.High res-file has high resolution.

But,music's prat is the problem.

cd555's prat ability is awesome.Even though it's just redbook cd.

-Purplerain

Although I have never played the CD555 in my home, I have with the NDS and NDAC, and I would say PRAT is not the NDSs strongest card... certainly to my ears and when listening elsewhere the CD555 perhaps has traits more similar to the NDAC than the NDS. I have loved the sound of the CD555 and NDAC/555PS.

Florestan posted:

A sad day for me to find out that the reference CD player that I wanted is discontinued.  

I'm sure it is all about profit margins since it is easier to put a mask on and rob people of their money with a black box that has nothing inside it other than smoke and mirrors.  What happened to the company that started by working to please hard core music nuts like me? 

I too would have loved a CD555 but I think your prognosis is disingenuous. Surely by selling at all the various price levels all the way to Statement from Muso is seeking to serve every aspect of the market.  One of the few things I learned at business school which I hold on to is that so often companies that become global conglomerates start of with an idea/l for a product without profit as the motive but once the thing is established sustainment through change and innovation becomes the reality.  Apple is actually a case in point.  In Naim's case whilst of course no where like on that scale it's no longer a cottage industry and with limited factory space there will be difficult decisions to be made.  It might be that the outlook has changed since the partnership with Focal but I think it's more laudable that rather than seek to produce products that the market beyond a few di-hards on here doesn't demand is their support for products already sold.  Okay I won't be able to buy a CD555 but they are as I speak servicing my CDS3.

Regards,

Lindsay

This thread reminds me of that George Best story. 

Best recalled how he had been dating Miss World and took her the races. They won £5,000 and went back to their hotel. They started counting the money on the bed when a waiter arrived to bring them champagne.

The waiter looked at Miss World, the money on the bed, the vintage champagne and with no trace of irony said to Best: “George, where did it all go wrong?”

Naim have moved production from items that don't sell to ones that do. Don't take it personally that they didn't ask you  individually if this was acceptable. 

.sjb

Sloop John B posted:

This thread reminds me of that George Best story. 

Best recalled how he had been dating Miss World and took her the races. They won £5,000 and went back to their hotel. They started counting the money on the bed when a waiter arrived to bring them champagne.

The waiter looked at Miss World, the money on the bed, the vintage champagne and with no trace of irony said to Best: “George, where did it all go wrong?”

 

Naim have moved production from items that don't sell to ones that do. Don't take it personally that they didn't ask you  individually if this was acceptable. 

.sjb

Just ask your dealer what is it they sell the most of from the Naim range don't think it will be many CD players.

People who now seem rather keen on a 555 have had ten years to save up to buy one. Naim can't keep it going for ever, just like the Aro and CDS3 before it. The case alone must cost an arm and a leg and the firm that casts them will have a minimum order quantity. It just doesn't make sense to buy the 25 or whatever it might be and have them sitting in stock for possibly five years. 

greekspec2 posted:

how many replying on this thread actually own a CD555 let alone any 500series gear

Mine, is the sole source in a full 500 system into S600, i love my collection of silver discs and playing them on such machine is a great experience every time.

Regards

Roberto

Dusty, John and Roberto, thank you.

C.

Emre posted:

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

the hegel mohican is in the cdx2 without xps2 range. If you want something like the cd555 discontinued, i will go for top cd players on production left:

Esoteric x01 / sim audio 750d / burmester 069 / dcs rossini cd player / accuphase dp 720 / emmlabs xds1 v2 / metronome kallista / nagra cdp.   These are integrated cd players , the less expensive is the simaudio, the most the kallista.   But you have also very high end with separated dacs/ clocks/ transport as the top of the range of dcs, vitus audio, ch precision, accuphase, soulution, esoteric ...for around 100k.   CD players are not died, some companies have cessed production but no all.

For prat there is no cd players as naim, perhaps dcs or simaudio are the nearest.

Hungryhalibut posted:

People who now seem rather keen on a 555 have had ten years to save up to buy one. Naim can't keep it going for ever, just like the Aro and CDS3 before it. The case alone must cost an arm and a leg and the firm that casts them will have a minimum order quantity. It just doesn't make sense to buy the 25 or whatever it might be and have them sitting in stock for possibly five years. 

glad you mention this...

To me he hegel looks to be more in the 5xs range. Beside i dont trust chinese made hifi.

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

the hegel mohican is in the cdx2 without xps2 range. If you want something like the cd555 discontinued, i will go for top cd players on production left:

Esoteric x01 / sim audio 750d / burmester 069 / dcs rossini cd player / accuphase dp 720 / emmlabs xds1 v2 / metronome kallista / nagra cdp.   These are integrated cd players , the less expensive is the simaudio, the most the kallista.   But you have also very high end with separated dacs/ clocks/ transport as the top of the range of dcs, vitus audio, ch precision, accuphase, soulution, esoteric ...for around 100k.   CD players are not died, some companies have cessed production but no all.

For prat there is no cd players as naim, perhaps dcs or simaudio are the nearest.

Very good list thank you, it will be interesting to hear chord blu2+Dave as a cd player as well

Maybe Naim have a few triple fives in stock and are testing the water. 

About ten years ago, BMW wanted to phase out the old-tech 'boxer twin' engine used in their motorcycles since before WWII. There was such public demand for the characterful power-plant, it is still manufactured and available in many new models. 

Commerce continually offers us shiny new-tech, but there seems to be a substantial demand for 'retro' in all manner of manufactured goods. Vinyl refuses to lay down and die as we well know. Illogical.

As dear Joni said - 'You don't know what you've got till it's gone'

John. 

with all the speculation surprised to see no official word from Naim, or indeed nobody has contacted Naim to find out.

analogmusic posted:

with all the speculation surprised to see no official word from Naim, or indeed nobody has contacted Naim to find out.

naim confirmed not producing anymore the cd555.

analogmusic posted:

with all the speculation surprised to see no official word from Naim, or indeed nobody has contacted Naim to find out.

Hi Analogmusic, Kind of Like Marksnaim stated, Sign of the Times! 

You've probably been busy, and missed this, just filling you in:

Remember Analog, Naim is not going to release information like that, they are trying to lower inventories!

Remember The Ovators, same deal! 

But These Guys might have an inside line on information:

TECH SUPPORT

ERIC ADLER/Michael 103

Tech Support / Customer Service

service@plurison.com

SALES

EMMANUEL LE QUÉRÉ

Naim Brand Manager ( Manu )

elequere@plurison.com

Take Action

ALLANTE93MEMBER

4/10/174:39 PM

Manu posted:

Sorry to break the party but Naim no longer make CD555, so no chances to get a brand new one...

Furthermore, lets rewind back to 2009:

Naim Forum:

Linn announce cessation of CD manufacture.

•Page: 1234

 NATTYONE MEMBER

11/19/09. 2:14 PM

As many had stated, it had to happen, sooner or later!  

Mr Richard Dane, has also commented on the Subject. 

Almost an 10 year run, on an CDP, which was not introduced for mass production at the start! 

Out! 

Allante93! 

Emre posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

the hegel mohican is in the cdx2 without xps2 range. If you want something like the cd555 discontinued, i will go for top cd players on production left:

Esoteric x01 / sim audio 750d / burmester 069 / dcs rossini cd player / accuphase dp 720 / emmlabs xds1 v2 / metronome kallista / nagra cdp.   These are integrated cd players , the less expensive is the simaudio, the most the kallista.   But you have also very high end with separated dacs/ clocks/ transport as the top of the range of dcs, vitus audio, ch precision, accuphase, soulution, esoteric ...for around 100k.   CD players are not died, some companies have cessed production but no all.

For prat there is no cd players as naim, perhaps dcs or simaudio are the nearest.

Very good list thank you, it will be interesting to hear chord blu2+Dave as a cd player as well

yes, i just see it. I am curious to know how this combo can sound. Looks fantastic too...

you listen to cds with the blue and to high rez with a melco attached to the dave. I just have to ask my mam for 20k... hahaha

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

the hegel mohican is in the cdx2 without xps2 range. If you want something like the cd555 discontinued, i will go for top cd players on production left:

Esoteric x01 / sim audio 750d / burmester 069 / dcs rossini cd player / accuphase dp 720 / emmlabs xds1 v2 / metronome kallista / nagra cdp.   These are integrated cd players , the less expensive is the simaudio, the most the kallista.   But you have also very high end with separated dacs/ clocks/ transport as the top of the range of dcs, vitus audio, ch precision, accuphase, soulution, esoteric ...for around 100k.   CD players are not died, some companies have cessed production but no all.

For prat there is no cd players as naim, perhaps dcs or simaudio are the nearest.

Very good list thank you, it will be interesting to hear chord blu2+Dave as a cd player as well

yes, i just see it. I am curious to know how this combo can sound. Looks fantastic too...

you listen to cds with the blue and to high rez with a melco attached to the dave. I just have to ask my mam for 20k... hahaha

Compare to your list of players chord is a bargain 

i play lottery but my mum still gives me a nice 750£ cash as a birthday present which is also matched by my granma  not bad for a 44year old father of two! 

I realize that my position on this is untenable.  I know the business cases and I know I had 10 years and I realize today's technology is better than i-Tunes and I know I am a dinosaur on the verge of extinction.  The fact remains that for me to even have Naim equipment in my home is somewhat of a minor miracle.  I cannot afford it let alone justify it but I did somehow by admitting to myself about a decade ago that music in reality is a big part of my life.  What am I living for?  So I went about by giving up everything else for this cause.  I don't travel, I don't eat out often.  I don't go to live concerts often. I have a few specific luxuries but I scrimp and save and basically mortgaged my whole future on these ideals.  Long story short, I have no regrets really as the payback to me personally on a daily basis quickly returns something else to me. 

To be sure, my off the cuff response previously was not disingenuous.  It was a response to the feeling like I was just kicked in the gut.  Nothing more.

I understand that Naim did not need to ask me the way forward and I am inconsequential to them in any imagined scenario.  They are absolutely more sensitive to the people here among us who have no shortage of cash to do as they please.  Piss them off and you have trouble.  Piss me off and the lone voice in the wilderness will eventually go away - especially when some of the powerbrokers here start marginalize the views of us dinosaurs.  It is the bandwagon effect, after-all.

Next to vinyl playback, the CD 555 was the last step in my puzzle.  As I said, the value of music in my life easily equates to the value of the "best" tool available to me but I have to sacrifice a lot and this takes time.  The world moves quicker than I can and especially for someone who has high and lofty ideals.

Part of the reason things change is that companies want to keep selling to us and so they have to create an allusion that every 6 months or a year something better is coming along.  Based on my musical tastes I am clearly in the market for "the best, or nothing."  Has anyone outdone Bach or Beethoven?  Once you know what the best is their is no motivation to move on.  Yes, one is always curious but confident that your ideals are safe and secure.

So when I go in to my dealer and say I am interested in a CD 555 their is a tendency for them to manipulate me.  Yes Mr. Florestan, that is nice but you really should get with the times and look at all this streaming stuff.  It is the future."  So any surprise that Naim is discontinuing its last two flagship players?  Kind of like a self-fulfilling prophesy.  The problem is that I made it clear that I wanted the reference CD player.

The issue happens everywhere.  I go to my Steinway piano dealer and he says, "Mr. Florestan, you really need to get a device on your grand piano that can play it for you."  But Mr. Dealer, you didn't hear me or listen to me, "I don't want a #(*&$(*... device to play my piano for me.  Unfortunately, the people with the money in this world do and so there you go.  (Do you ever step back and notice that the people with the money are among the last people on earth that you should rely on to have upright values, moral character, talent or even genuine humanity?)  Greed can do this to you... and this is why it is getting harder and harder to still find many companies who make mostly hand made pianos.

I'll end this by highlighting a company that defies the textbook studies for business cases and for the most part "listens" very carefully to its customers.  I know that by judging the majority of the citizens of this world the long-term future is not looking good but it is still a company in 2017 that acknowledges that some of us dinosaurs deserve some respect and attention. 

Leica Camera AG is a company that I have great respect for and will continue to support as long as I can.  Leica understands its roll in history and still produces its wonderful film cameras.  Would they have to?  No, certainly not if they were fools like the majority of today's companies but they make wonderful products for those who want a digital future and they still respectfully fulfill a promise to honour its past with analogue cameras.  One of the few last companies around who are worth supporting.   

Forgive me for stating my mind.  I don't wish to offend anyone.  This is not directed at Naim or anyone here.  This is only my overgeneralized view of how things work in the world and that I simply do not like it.  I am all for changes for the better and improvement in products.  It is just sad to see how fast things can change.

I believe my investment into Leica products is good for my lifetime and maybe that of my sons lifetime too.  I had hoped the same for my investment into Naim but I am realizing that this may just be a pipe dream.

Florestan, I hear your pain but to some extent it is the way of the World. Progress is streaming it seems, although my dealer certainly has not pushed this more than 'gently'.

So, this year I have bought a new LP12 and a newer set of SBLs with my pension money. Progress be damned! Get a second hand CDS3 or 555 if you must. Or wait for the CD revival that will inevitably come in the next few years....

I think you will be surprised how many people here are not that well off and make similar sacrifices to fuel their passion. Although to own any Naim surely means we must have at least a solid basic standard of living?

No reason to stop following your dream though.

Stu

IMO the CD555 is predominantly about performance, we expect the best sound out of this device. My guess is that Naim has come to the conclusion that CD replay can't be improved anymore and that more performance can only be achieved by network streaming. I have little doubt that Naim will come up with a 500 class network streamer someday in the future and that it will be considerably better than the CD555. When this happens, customers who have just bought a CD555 might be upset. So Naim prefers to discontinue the CD555 now, in order to avoid angry customers in the future.

i wonder for how long naim will be able to service CD555, depends obviously partly on inventory of spares for this fantastic spinner.

as soon as bean counters become more influential in any company -- the inevitable result surely follows and demise of CD555 is but one example.

enjoy

ken

Emre posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

New Hegel Mohican is strictly 16/44 no digital inputs

the hegel mohican is in the cdx2 without xps2 range. If you want something like the cd555 discontinued, i will go for top cd players on production left:

Esoteric x01 / sim audio 750d / burmester 069 / dcs rossini cd player / accuphase dp 720 / emmlabs xds1 v2 / metronome kallista / nagra cdp.   These are integrated cd players , the less expensive is the simaudio, the most the kallista.   But you have also very high end with separated dacs/ clocks/ transport as the top of the range of dcs, vitus audio, ch precision, accuphase, soulution, esoteric ...for around 100k.   CD players are not died, some companies have cessed production but no all.

For prat there is no cd players as naim, perhaps dcs or simaudio are the nearest.

Very good list thank you, it will be interesting to hear chord blu2+Dave as a cd player as well

yes, i just see it. I am curious to know how this combo can sound. Looks fantastic too...

you listen to cds with the blue and to high rez with a melco attached to the dave. I just have to ask my mam for 20k... hahaha

Compare to your list of players chord is a bargain 

i play lottery but my mum still gives me a nice 750£ cash as a birthday present which is also matched by my granma  not bad for a 44year old father of two! 

i am not sure that 20k is a bargain....but not the most expensive of the bunch. The simaudio 750d is the cheapest, the full dcs stack and metronome kallista the most expensive. Perhaps my mam will buy me a photo of the kallista, the niciest one of the list?

ken c posted:

i wonder for how long naim will be able to service CD555, depends obviously partly on inventory of spares for this fantastic spinner.

as soon as bean counters become more influential in any company -- the inevitable result surely follows and demise of CD555 is but one example.

enjoy

ken

 

Interesting point Ken, if and when the 555 can no longer be repaired I would struggle with the thought of just taking mine to the local tip and placing it in a skip. EeeeeeK !!!

Linn got out out of CD years ago, but still sell vinyl reproduction equipment. Naim packed up vinyl source components a while back ( do they still do the Armageddon?) Rega still do both. My point? I'm not sure, except that this, and other forums, are hardly the best place for balanced views. There is clearly sufficient demand for vinyl. Cd and streaming based solutions for companies with the right products for their respective niches to survive. I doubt whether most of those companies base their  product srategy on anything remotely sentimental but purely on where they feel they can sufficiently differentiate their respective products. Marketing trickle down may play a big factor? How many new LP12's do Linn sell these days, enough obviously. The 555 seems to no longer meet Naims needs from either strategic or immediate perspectives.

Personally I'm hugely grateful  for the Vinyl revival having never really got into CD. I have problems doing a phone upgrade. I shudder at the thought of having to set up and maintain a network and Nas drive, backips etc. But if I had been CD convert I'm sure a 555 would have been on my wish list.