Upgrades

Probably your best bet would be a Hicap of some sort which you could try on the CD5X and/or the SN2, thus giving some options to play with. The DR Hicap is the top of the range. From my experience the HC gives you a better soundstage with the elements with in it gaining more clarity.

If you put SN2 and CD5X in your title you'd get more response from the knowledgeable experts on the forum. 

Worth a search of SN2 and you'll read loads of stuff about the benefits of a HC.  If not I'd think about a CDX2. 

And then you can also consider speakers?  The SN2 is very capable and will drive a wide range depending on your room of course. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Maybe consider a separate psu for your cd

Depending on speakers can you afford 282/250 ?

Please provide full information of your setup

I am more than happy with the SN2& cd5xs, I had a few discussions on here somtime back regarding Cdp, and I chose the 5xs, now I am considering a box upgrade, but its a bloody mine feild, I've been here before meny years ago, finished up getting rid of everything, and started again, this time round iam sticking to the SN& 5xs, with possible upgrade on each, simple me thinks. Not, I have considered a dac for the cdp, and a HC for the SN, but here's the crux, how will an external dac work with the 5xs dac regarding sound out of the speakers?, and how will the HC mach the pre or the power amps in the SN, and just for good measure iam considering upgrading my Elacs for the WB Vertex, have I got a decent match for those? I've just had a home demo with a £6999 PMC Twenty 26, didn't rock my boat, my £1500 Elacs held their ground easy, it's a funny old world. Regards.

I'm no expert on DACs but a HC will power the pre-stage of the SN2.  

However, having heard the CD5xs/SN pairing and given that you like the 2 box configuration I'd focus on the speakers. As ever home demo essential as well as PMC Neat, Kudos and Dynaudio should be on your list. 

Regards,

Lindsay

I wouldn't invest too much more on the amp side without improving your source. If you intend to stick with CD, I would consider an NDAC on your CD5, or go for a CDX2.

You sound like you are already in a good place with your source and amplification. Have you heard the new Elac Andante which are getting rave reviews? Perhaps an upgrade of a rack or a dedicated circuit would augment the sound without costing an arm and a leg. Changes, just for the sake of changes, tend to throw things off balance.

You nailed it Hamin, I shall only upgrade if there's noticeable difference, and yes I do think Iam in a reasonably good place, but as we all know on here there is always ways to improve up to a point of VFM, I like the idea of a dedicated Dac, iam awhere of the benifits of using digital sauces, but will it help the 5xs signal to the pre amp in the Sn, and will adding a HC to the pre amp stage then tie things off just dandy, I wish.... I've tried the Neats, and pmc, harbeth, just didn't click with me, I once had some WB Arcs, now that's a speaker, should never have sold that beaut. Regards fellas.

The HICAP on the SN2 was $ well spent in my system.

As for external DAC, I have the Berkeley Alpha and it is the best I've heard (> Hugo in my system). You can find them pre owned for between 1,500-2,500$ (Version 1 vs 2)  [I have NDX source and don't know exactly how that digital out of your CDP compares] The nice thing is that if you don't like it you can resell it at no loss.

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

Adam Zielinski posted:

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

 

Adam,

That sounds like a Count Dracula tale, going from 2 boxes to 5. Why don't you like it simple?:

AXPONA 2017.

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

 

Adam,

That sounds like a Count Dracula tale, going from 2 boxes to 5. Why don't you like it simple?:

Haim - it certainly does That's why I've added the disclaimer 'if box count is not an issue'.
I'm guilty of commiting the above myself (NDX instead of CD5XS).... So I find myself thinking about reducing that to N272 + 555PS + NAP (either 250 or 300).....

Adam Zielinski posted:

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

 

Adam,

That sounds like a Count Dracula tale, going from 2 boxes to 5. Why don't you like it simple?:

Haim - it certainly does That's why I've added the disclaimer 'if box count is not an issue'.
I'm guilty of commiting the above myself (NDX instead of CD5XS).... So I find myself thinking about reducing that to N272 + 555PS + NAP (either 250 or 300).....

Adam,

Then this must be your favorite rock group:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2f9tI9xzA

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

 

Adam,

That sounds like a Count Dracula tale, going from 2 boxes to 5. Why don't you like it simple?:

Haim - it certainly does That's why I've added the disclaimer 'if box count is not an issue'.
I'm guilty of commiting the above myself (NDX instead of CD5XS).... So I find myself thinking about reducing that to N272 + 555PS + NAP (either 250 or 300).....

Adam,

Then this must be your favorite rock group:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2f9tI9xzA

 

It's actually U2...

U2 till zooropa I ho

Adam Zielinski posted:

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Haim Ronen posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

If box count is not an issue, I would start with adding an nDAC to the OPs CD5XS. At a later stage add a power supply to the nDAC (XPS or 555PS). I would also consider a HiCapDR for the SN2 - I certainly prefer my SN2 with a HiCapDR.

 

Adam,

That sounds like a Count Dracula tale, going from 2 boxes to 5. Why don't you like it simple?:

Haim - it certainly does That's why I've added the disclaimer 'if box count is not an issue'.
I'm guilty of commiting the above myself (NDX instead of CD5XS).... So I find myself thinking about reducing that to N272 + 555PS + NAP (either 250 or 300).....

Adam,

Then this must be your favorite rock group:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2f9tI9xzA

 

It's actually U2...

U2 till zooropa I hope from zooropa till today they are a pop band

U2 up to and including 'Achtung Baby' and then from "Songs of Innocence' again...

Outright rock it would be Rush and heavier Dream Theater.

Hi TOB,

How about an alternative option to test your logic?

If you are considering an external power supply for your CD player or amp, then a 3 box system is within scope.

First, the SN2 has an internal DR power supply circuit and is so good that only the latest Hicap DR will make a clear improvement to it. Personally, I would leave your SN2 alone.

Second, your speakers. As they work almost as well as the expensive (and very good) PMC speakers for you, keep them.

Which leaves your CD player. By all means add an external dac if you wish. However, I would bite the bullet and go for either a CDX2/XPS or a CDS3/XPS. The 2nd hand prices of these have fallen so far that they are much more affordable. Either will give you a real step change improvement rather than an incremental improvement to the CD5XS

Hope this helps, FT

A CDS3/XPS would be my suggestion as well. Three boxes, all matching perfectly. And if you liked the Arcs so much, why not get another pair? They seem to come up quite often. 

Adam Zielinski posted:

U2 up to and including 'Achtung Baby' and then from "Songs of Innocence' again...

Outright rock it would be Rush and heavier Dream Theater.

Black keys till the last One! 

Some sound advice, and most of it is doable. Yes Foot tapper the SN could go bare, the front end will get some attention, I didn't really know how satisfying my speakers were until I did some back to back listening, I may suggest that's the best way to audition a set of speakers, never just on their own, which of course some folk do. Thanks for taking time to reply fellas. Regards.