CDX2 or CD5XS Digital input to NDS

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

There appear to be some contradictions in the questions.

1. If the OP has a UnitiServe buying a Core seems very redundant and I would advise against this purchase.

2. CDX2 vs CD5XS with digital out > personally I can hear a difference in the digital out mode of the two players (and I owned both at some stage). CDX2 just sounds better.  So CDX2 is not equal to CD5XS in a digital out - at least to my ears.

3. Somehow CDX2 into nDAC sounded better than CDX2 into NDS. I tried both and own both. I cannot explain where this difference comes from.

4. The OP already has CDX3. I would stick with this and use it as a main spinner in one system and NDS as a main source in the other one. I would focus on optimising the NDS system.

5. CDs, irrespective of their age do not really carry metadata on them - the data is searched and downloaded from on-line resources.

Adam's third point above is my experience too.  I would also say that the quality of the digital output (in this case of a CD player as a transport) really matters. That's how I ended up with a CDX2.2 used as a transport into a nDAC. Moreover, the CDX2.2 as a transport performs even better if used with an external PSU.  I use an XP5XS. I say that not to encourage you to go for an external PSU but simply to re-enforce the argument how important the digital transport is.   

yes - I remember you have a 4-box CD player: CDX2 + XP5XS + nDAC + 555PS.

And I fully understand why.

isn't it a way too much boxes and too much money on a CD2X ?   I have old CD2x with digital output so i can not use as a transport.  I am using with TXPS which i am not very sure about it and i can not get my self to buy a XPSDR, to invest that money on a 9 year old CD player which no body will pay a decent sum here if i try to sell it..... but i want a good CD player that will sound better than bare CD2x as well... so confused!!! 

As for a transport only maybe time to look alternative brands in CD playback ? Marantz SA-10 for example, a new product that can be test as a transport at least, or new Hegel Mohican and Bryston, or even new Oppo, these are solid machines with better prices than cd2x specially if you are going to use it as a transport..... Or go for a Esoteric... CD2X is expensive player, quite old for just a transport but it will look better on Naim rack for sure  

 

It is a lot of boxes for a CD player.  However, I've yet to hear a better digital source, and that includes streamers, so I'm happy with it. 

MDS posted:

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

MDS posted:

It is a lot of boxes for a CD player.  However, I've yet to hear a better digital source, and that includes streamers, so I'm happy with it. 

Never heard Naim's reference CDP, or for that matter, the Analog like CDS3, but the above Statement, and Threads like this has ruined my Bank Account! LOL...

Stop it MDS!

Allante93!

Allante93 posted:

 

Never heard Naim's reference CDP, 

 

Yes you have, you own one!!!

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

There appear to be some contradictions in the questions.

1. If the OP has a UnitiServe buying a Core seems very redundant and I would advise against this purchase.

2. CDX2 vs CD5XS with digital out > personally I can hear a difference in the digital out mode of the two players (and I owned both at some stage). CDX2 just sounds better.  So CDX2 is not equal to CD5XS in a digital out - at least to my ears.

3. Somehow CDX2 into nDAC sounded better than CDX2 into NDS. I tried both and own both. I cannot explain where this difference comes from.

4. The OP already has CDX3. I would stick with this and use it as a main spinner in one system and NDS as a main source in the other one. I would focus on optimising the NDS system.

5. CDs, irrespective of their age do not really carry metadata on them - the data is searched and downloaded from on-line resources.

Adam's third point above is my experience too.  I would also say that the quality of the digital output (in this case of a CD player as a transport) really matters. That's how I ended up with a CDX2.2 used as a transport into a nDAC. Moreover, the CDX2.2 as a transport performs even better if used with an external PSU.  I use an XP5XS. I say that not to encourage you to go for an external PSU but simply to re-enforce the argument how important the digital transport is.   

yes - I remember you have a 4-box CD player: CDX2 + XP5XS + nDAC + 555PS.

And I fully understand why.

isn't it a way too much boxes and too much money on a CD2X ?   I have old CD2x with digital output so i can not use as a transport.  I am using with TXPS which i am not very sure about it and i can not get my self to buy a XPSDR, to invest that money on a 9 year old CD player which no body will pay a decent sum here if i try to sell it..... but i want a good CD player that will sound better than bare CD2x as well... so confused!!! 

As for a transport only maybe time to look alternative brands in CD playback ? Marantz SA-10 for example, a new product that can be test as a transport at least, or new Hegel Mohican and Bryston, or even new Oppo, these are solid machines with better prices than cd2x specially if you are going to use it as a transport..... Or go for a Esoteric... CD2X is expensive player, quite old for just a transport but it will look better on Naim rack for sure  

 

you are right Emre, you can find cheaper and on some kind of music competitive on sound quality.  But if you like rock, jazz, jazz rock , soul-funk music like me, you will have difficulties to find better than cdx2 / xps2 or dr for prat, dynamic, body and urgency of music.

Today i read an article by andrew Everard on hifi news. He found a marantz sa 10 with dcs ethernet bridge on par with nds/555 dr. But his music is soft and calm, so this comparaison is not objective.

If prat is not important for a listener, i can say yes, you can find cheaper than naim . 

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

There appear to be some contradictions in the questions.

1. If the OP has a UnitiServe buying a Core seems very redundant and I would advise against this purchase.

2. CDX2 vs CD5XS with digital out > personally I can hear a difference in the digital out mode of the two players (and I owned both at some stage). CDX2 just sounds better.  So CDX2 is not equal to CD5XS in a digital out - at least to my ears.

3. Somehow CDX2 into nDAC sounded better than CDX2 into NDS. I tried both and own both. I cannot explain where this difference comes from.

4. The OP already has CDX3. I would stick with this and use it as a main spinner in one system and NDS as a main source in the other one. I would focus on optimising the NDS system.

5. CDs, irrespective of their age do not really carry metadata on them - the data is searched and downloaded from on-line resources.

Adam's third point above is my experience too.  I would also say that the quality of the digital output (in this case of a CD player as a transport) really matters. That's how I ended up with a CDX2.2 used as a transport into a nDAC. Moreover, the CDX2.2 as a transport performs even better if used with an external PSU.  I use an XP5XS. I say that not to encourage you to go for an external PSU but simply to re-enforce the argument how important the digital transport is.   

yes - I remember you have a 4-box CD player: CDX2 + XP5XS + nDAC + 555PS.

And I fully understand why.

isn't it a way too much boxes and too much money on a CD2X ?   I have old CD2x with digital output so i can not use as a transport.  I am using with TXPS which i am not very sure about it and i can not get my self to buy a XPSDR, to invest that money on a 9 year old CD player which no body will pay a decent sum here if i try to sell it..... but i want a good CD player that will sound better than bare CD2x as well... so confused!!! 

As for a transport only maybe time to look alternative brands in CD playback ? Marantz SA-10 for example, a new product that can be test as a transport at least, or new Hegel Mohican and Bryston, or even new Oppo, these are solid machines with better prices than cd2x specially if you are going to use it as a transport..... Or go for a Esoteric... CD2X is expensive player, quite old for just a transport but it will look better on Naim rack for sure  

 

you are right Emre, you can find cheaper and on some kind of music competitive on sound quality.  But if you like rock, jazz, jazz rock , soul-funk music like me, you will have difficulties to find better than cdx2 / xps2 or dr for prat, dynamic, body and urgency of music.

Today i read an article by andrew Everard on hifi news. He found a marantz sa 10 with dcs ethernet bridge on par with nds/555 dr. But his music is soft and calm, so this comparaison is not objective.

If prat is not important for a listener, i can say yes, you can find cheaper than naim . 

My comments are for CD2X as Transport, as a pure CD player personal preferences are also very important...

I own CD2X,  i like it but would i buy a new one for 4300£ today? No 

Would i buy one for 4300£ as transport only? a stronger NO with a strange look on my face  

Which player would i buy today brand new? I don't know... 

Which player would i buy as a transport today? I don't know, even an Oppo is an option... 

i am very curious bout new chord Blu2 + Dave combo as a DAC/CD player.....

We all seem have gone around in a circle. from what I'm hearing, as a transport (and transport only) CD5XS will suffice, specially since I will be buying new. I tried listening to my UnitiServe last night digitally going into NAC272 (with XPS2 non-dr) and NAP 250DR. I used the UnitiServe as a CD transport. The sound was great. Think about it for a moment, if you don't have the luxury of A/B between lets say CDX2 and CD5XS as digital transport, then either player will sound first class. Unfortunately, where I live no dealer has either of the players at hand and even if they did, they do not lend their equipment. So I'm relying on you guys for advice. It's a good first world problem to have. Finally, I do have to admit at 4300£ and dare I say a machine that have evolved but maybe not to the same extent of other Naim products, is a bit too rich for my liking. I prefer to spend the extra cash on CD555PS + CD5XS (as digital transport) rather than XPS2 and CDX2. The power supplies are for nDac. I tried listening to nDac bare, then with XPS2DR and then CD555PSDR. I also got my 12 year old to listen with his new ears and tell me which one he preferred. Ironically he preferred the bare nDAC, then the CD555. These millennials are something else. I preferred the CD555, but the difference between CD555 and XPS was soooooooo marginal.

Emre posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

There appear to be some contradictions in the questions.

1. If the OP has a UnitiServe buying a Core seems very redundant and I would advise against this purchase.

2. CDX2 vs CD5XS with digital out > personally I can hear a difference in the digital out mode of the two players (and I owned both at some stage). CDX2 just sounds better.  So CDX2 is not equal to CD5XS in a digital out - at least to my ears.

3. Somehow CDX2 into nDAC sounded better than CDX2 into NDS. I tried both and own both. I cannot explain where this difference comes from.

4. The OP already has CDX3. I would stick with this and use it as a main spinner in one system and NDS as a main source in the other one. I would focus on optimising the NDS system.

5. CDs, irrespective of their age do not really carry metadata on them - the data is searched and downloaded from on-line resources.

Adam's third point above is my experience too.  I would also say that the quality of the digital output (in this case of a CD player as a transport) really matters. That's how I ended up with a CDX2.2 used as a transport into a nDAC. Moreover, the CDX2.2 as a transport performs even better if used with an external PSU.  I use an XP5XS. I say that not to encourage you to go for an external PSU but simply to re-enforce the argument how important the digital transport is.   

yes - I remember you have a 4-box CD player: CDX2 + XP5XS + nDAC + 555PS.

And I fully understand why.

isn't it a way too much boxes and too much money on a CD2X ?   I have old CD2x with digital output so i can not use as a transport.  I am using with TXPS which i am not very sure about it and i can not get my self to buy a XPSDR, to invest that money on a 9 year old CD player which no body will pay a decent sum here if i try to sell it..... but i want a good CD player that will sound better than bare CD2x as well... so confused!!! 

As for a transport only maybe time to look alternative brands in CD playback ? Marantz SA-10 for example, a new product that can be test as a transport at least, or new Hegel Mohican and Bryston, or even new Oppo, these are solid machines with better prices than cd2x specially if you are going to use it as a transport..... Or go for a Esoteric... CD2X is expensive player, quite old for just a transport but it will look better on Naim rack for sure  

 

you are right Emre, you can find cheaper and on some kind of music competitive on sound quality.  But if you like rock, jazz, jazz rock , soul-funk music like me, you will have difficulties to find better than cdx2 / xps2 or dr for prat, dynamic, body and urgency of music.

Today i read an article by andrew Everard on hifi news. He found a marantz sa 10 with dcs ethernet bridge on par with nds/555 dr. But his music is soft and calm, so this comparaison is not objective.

If prat is not important for a listener, i can say yes, you can find cheaper than naim . 

My comments are for CD2X as Transport, as a pure CD player personal preferences are also very important...

I own CD2X,  i like it but would i buy a new one for 4300£ today? No 

Would i buy one for 4300£ as transport only? a stronger NO with a strange look on my face  

Which player would i buy today brand new? I don't know... 

Which player would i buy as a transport today? I don't know, even an Oppo is an option... 

i am very curious bout new chord Blu2 + Dave combo as a DAC/CD player.....

you have esoteric and cec cd only transports, bmc also. ( only transport without dac).