Used Supernait or new XS2

Yes the CD5 is with the SN2 at the moment

I will try it with the "warmed up" XS2 at some point

Nina posted:

Am I correct in saying the transport in the 5 is much the same as that used in the CDX2?

Yes, and the DAC too I believe. Differences are in all the rest (whatever that may be). Very good stuff anyway, the 1704 K by Burr-Brown.

max. what did you gain in sq wiith the ps for the cdxe,thanks/

Nina posted:

I am thinking of trying a Naim amp again and I can buy a good used and serviced Supernait at a reasonable price or I could buy a new or lightly used XS2

I only use cd so the inbuilt Dac in the Supernait might come in handy

Do the two amps sound much the same?

Thanks for any help

 

 

Both very good amps.. I really could not tell any real difference between the two bar a little more power with the S/N.. The S/N has an on board DAC  to connect computer for digi files.. Speakers I have are Spendor S6E. They are the most musical and neutral speaker I have owned and easily show differences in EQ.. 

Just about to put the XS2 back in the sytem with the Naim CD5 XS  

Will report back with my thoughts against the SN2 once it's warmed up a bit 

I would imagine the XS combo to sound a little bit more X than N.   Although X was by far so much more interesting than N for my taste.

TOBYJUG posted:

I would imagine the XS combo to sound a little bit more X than N.   Although X was by far so much more interesting than N for my taste.

A ?

You lost me there TobyJ   

leni v posted:

max. what did you gain in sq wiith the ps for the cdxe,thanks/

Hi,

I'm not sure I can talk about this here, because my extra PSU for the CDX2 is not a Naim one. It was about time I did  outing, so thanks anyway for your question. If we could meet on a bench in some park, away from indiscreet ears...

Max

Park fish

Sorry, the last time I was there I had an unpleasant experience with a member and admin's censorship, so I PM'd both that I would not log in and post again. But I must have an email address somewhere in my profile...

I am so enjoying the XS2

I can't decide when to put the SN2 back in the system

I really need to decide which amp to keep,  The XS2 is really very good, especially for the outlay

Did anyone demo the same two amps and decide to keep the XS2 over the SN2 ?

Nina posted:

I am so enjoying the XS2

I can't decide when to put the SN2 back in the system

I really need to decide which amp to keep,  The XS2 is really very good, especially for the outlay

Did anyone demo the same two amps and decide to keep the XS2 over the SN2 ?

I can't offer any advice but there have been other threads where there have been a few members who have decided to stay with the XS 2 over the SN2 and many others who have chosen the SN2.

Being a XS 2 owner I really enjoy the integrated amp quite a bit.  With that said it would appear to be a natural upgrade path to the SN2. In speaking with my dealer he also mentioned that the 202/200DR would be an upgrade path if wanting to go the multiple box route. Then others 272/200DR or 272/250DR or ......

It appears the journey can be endless.  After following the thread since page one I am looking forward to your decision and what your final system configuration will be. 

Good luck with your decision!

Nina posted:

Did anyone demo.....

And you're worried about 'Hants'. Jeez!

From the products page (front page on Naim site) if you look at 'suggested systems' for the respective amplifiers you are considering, my understanding is that Naim always intended the CD5 XS would be paired with the XS2 not the SN2.

Ooops sorry Christopher.....  'Hants' is just wrong though 

You are right about the CD5 XS suiting the XS2 more

I also now have no thoughts of swapping back to my TQ Ultra Black speaker cable, with either Nait, as the NACA5 seems to just sound 'right' somehow

The more I get 'into' the 'Naim thing' the more I realise that Naim have got it so right.... and this is from someone that took 20 years to understand the Naim way of doing things 

The more I listen the more impressed I am with everything Naim

I am a true convert now  

Thanks. It's not me that's right, it's Naim.

It's late so to be frank, imo Naim did not give a..... for dacs until the streaming thing took off. Until then dacs were built into the CD players and none questioned how good they were. If you wanted to improve your CD player, the way you did it was to add a power supply.

Maybe this is too black and white for you but for people like you and me who have no interest in streaming, the amplifier choice is a simple one.. How deep are your pockets? Deep enough for a CD5 XS and XS2, or for any variant of CDX2 and SN2? All imo of course.

'Night.

Nina posted:

I am so enjoying the XS2

I can't decide when to put the SN2 back in the system

I really need to decide which amp to keep,  The XS2 is really very good, especially for the outlay

Did anyone demo the same two amps and decide to keep the XS2 over the SN2 ?

In a round about, topsy turvy kind of way yes.

What I really liked about the XS2 when I had it, was when playing music that was particularly staccato. Especially in the mid Bass. I enjoyed the way it sounded like it could lose energy as quickly as it could create it, although viewed through a smaller window.

The SN2 of course opened the window somewhat, but I felt that the way it dealt with staccato wasn't in proportion to its other increase of abilities. Adding a Hicap dr would have nailed that I'm sure but I wasn't prepared to go that route.

Upgrading from an XS2 I didn't go the SN2 or Naim pre/power direction but to other pastures.

When I decided to upgrade the XS 2, I didn't think that upgrading to the SN2 was sufficient of a change to warrant the outlay, a 202/200 was marinal, so I decided on a 272 / 250DR.

But plans change...

A 300DR came available s/h, so the decision was made.  I now have a 272 (new) + 555DR (s/h) & 300DR (s/h).  Definitely worth the upgrade (but then so it should be for the increased outlay).

Nina posted:

Did anyone demo the same two amps and decide to keep the XS2 over the SN2 ?

No, but I've known of people who decided to keep life over death and heard of the other way 'round, too.

(Seriously, how can such a topic last for 9 pages?) 

At first it's loving the XS2. Then it's loving the SN2 more than the XS2. Now it's back to loving the XS2 more than the SN2.

I guess both amps get equal loving but the XS2 may be the flavour of the month at the moment?

Nina posted:

I am so enjoying the XS2

I can't decide when to put the SN2 back in the system

I really need to decide which amp to keep,  The XS2 is really very good, especially for the outlay

Did anyone demo the same two amps and decide to keep the XS2 over the SN2 ?

I had the SN2 a couple of months

Found it too forcing in presenting the music, a bit like the old SN which I thought was near horrible

SN2 had some other good sides but ultimately I didn't enjoy music as much as with XS or some older pre/power combos

I've had several XS/XS2 and they were overall more musically or whatever its called at my place in my setup mind you.

What you really need is to get that Flatcap which will bring the setup to quite another level and wanting you to get rid of all other brands kit (I guess)

All your Naim gear owned or borrowed will benefit from a good rack such as Quadraspire, Isoblue, Hutter or others, doesn't need to be mega expensive

ryder. posted:

At first it's loving the XS2. Then it's loving the SN2 more than the XS2. Now it's back to loving the XS2 more than the SN2.

I guess both amps get equal loving but the XS2 may be the flavour of the month at the moment?

On a serious note I believe its based on the different sources used, I fully understand her confusing

I hear you can read confusion into reading things about things other people have read!   

Nina I would wait until you get the Hugo in the system before making any decisions. If you still prefer the XS2 then great... you've saved yourself a few quid :-)

I don't know how the CD5XS and ND5XS DACs compare, but when adding the old Hugo (in a dealer's demo room) to the ND5XS it refined the streamer's presentation considerably. I won't go into details as the Hugo has been discussed here in extenso.

But I wanted to say that I felt, based on a relatively short demo admittedly, that the Hugo gave greater improvement than upgrading amplification from XS2 to SN2 (in a back-to-back comparison). That is when I better understood that "source first" dogma -- obviously two upgrades (DAC and amplification) is even lusher... 

My goodness with all this help it's a wonder you can make any decisions. What you like is what you like. It matters not that I'm satisfied with my SN if you prefer the XS2. Do what you like and wonder at the length of this thread. Enjoy whatever you pick and use it in happiness that you are bless with a wonderful system no matter what.