Speakers for Naim 5i/CD5i that are better than my Arrivas

Posted by: marruo on 11 July 2017

After many happy years with a small Naim 5i, CD5i and Naim Arriva combo I am ready to upgrade.

Buying a new „chain“/hardware seems like opening Pandoras box to me. 
So without wanting to start a long search I thought about upgrading the speakers only first. 

Placement of the speakers is critical as the room (ca. 4x6m) does only allow close-to-the-wall placement (< 25cm).

Through recommendations in a German forum I bought Spendor 35/2 (a Spendor clone for Germany only which gets rave reviews), a LS 3/5 a clone, Pro Ac Super Tablette…all of which amazingly sounded absolutely terrible compared to my trusty old Arrivas. Sound with the Spendors etc. was completely dead without any emotions, voices sounded very dull, terrible bass etc. This clearly didnt work.

Would the Naim SBL, Credo, Allae, nSat be a safe upgrade? Other brands? Heard good reviews about Neat Motive 2.
 But these cost extra money just because of these good recommendations. Price limit about 800 GBP/800 Euros.

So what else works brilliantly with my little Naim combo old or new?

Would you rather buy good old ones or equally priced newer ones? 

Posted on: 14 July 2017 by Richard Dane

A secondhand CDX2 fronting the NAIT and Arrivas is what I'd be looking at here.  The Arrivas are huge fun but, more than other Naim speakers, were designed to work with the i series kit and  flatter even poor productions rather than apply a forensic analysis.  To really improve the areas you desire, without losing what you love in the Arrivas, upping the source is the way to go, and the CDX2 here is fantastic.

Posted on: 31 August 2017 by marruo

So I have finally found a nice, near mint CD 5X player for a good price. Hearing it compared to the CD5i was very interesting as you might suspect.

Didnt give it many hours of test listening but only a few tracks I always use for comparison showed the difference can be heard. The CD 5X is more open, more refined. AND even more fun :-)!

Interesting thing was that I suddenly noticed a hissing noise on a Naim reference CD. First I thought this is the CD players fault but comparing it to the CD 5i I noticed the hissing was also there but more subtle, so it came from the CD and was brought out more on the CD 5X.

 

Well, thank you all for your excellent advise. Maybe at some time I will upgrade the amp too and then at some time the speakers. Very happy for the moment!

Posted on: 31 August 2017 by Huge

Excellent, good move, pleased that you took our advice and particularly pleased that found what you want.