Used Supernait or new XS2

I'm very happy moving from an XS to a SN2. The XS was thin sounding in comparison. The SN2 has more depth of sound with more body. The bass is much better defined with my Harbeth SLH 5s. I would not go back.

Just be careful with the SuperNait 2 - mine has somewhat grown from a single box to a 3 box system (HiCap DR and NAP 250DR). I swear it wasn't me, wasn't me fault... they made me do it...  

I am hoping to receive my new NACA5 and the SN2 on Tuesday and will then be able to do a direct comparison to the XS2 

If I decided to try a Naim cd player instead of my current transport & dac can anyone tell me if the CD5 XS would be a reasonable match for either the XS2 or SN2 ?

CD5XS is a fine player on it's own and would be a good match to XS2. 
SN2 will 'demand' a higher quality source I'm afraid - CDX2 is a natural partner here.

I've been trough boths players....

Adam Zielinski posted:

CD5XS is a fine player on it's own and would be a good match to XS2. 
SN2 will 'demand' a higher quality source I'm afraid - CDX2 is a natural partner here.

I've been trough boths players....

Thanks for the info Adam 

If I purchased a used CDX2 would that still suit the SN2 ok do you think ?

Nina posted:

If I purchased a used CDX2 would that still suit the SN2 ok do you think ?

Oh I see, all of a sudden we're getting the synergy thing are we  ;-)   So what's Adam got that I haven't?!

In answer to your question, yes

Nina posted:

If I purchased a used CDX2 would that still suit the SN2 ok do you think ?

Yes - except for a different mech and a digital out the CDX2 has not really changed since its introduction

So a pre-loved CDX2 would be an absolutely fine match for your SN2. 

Christopher_M posted:

...   So what's Adam got that I haven't?!

...

Two complete names?    

Personally, I would start with a CD5XS, which is reasonably priced in the s/h market. And if you feel like another upgrade, get a Naim DAC (also competitively priced when bought s/h) or a Chord Hugo (Hugo 1 currently "floods" the s/h market because of the  recent release of Hugo 2).

Personally I'd try both amps when you have the sn2, you also have other variables to play with, tq vs NACA and rega Vs lv speakers wasn't it? You can use any source you like with an sn2, my streamer is a DIY pc via USB into dacv1 not an nd5xs and it still sounds fantastic to me. Cd player is an old Sony into same DAC, same result. My upgrade in amp hasn't to my ears exposed any weakness in the sources.

Nina posted:

If I purchased a used CDX2 would that still suit the SN2 ok do you think ?

Well, this certainly seems like a very fine system you're cooking up here Nina.

My dream system actually.

I don't think you will be disappointed, as it is quite a step up from the XS range.

You've got to spend a lot of dosh to be Naim's top customer, but I think you may take the prize for fastest growing. ;-) 

I think both the XS2 and SN2 have will have the ability to reveal the difference between a CD5 XS and a CDX2, but I don't buy into the idea that the CD5 XS will be outclassed somehow by the SN2, I mean, it's not going to sound worse than with an XS2, not at this level of source.  If the source was completely inadequate both amps would easily reveal that.   The better source you can obtain, new, or used, the better either amp will be.   It's probably true that the SN2 will reveal more benefits when it comes to source improvements, but it counts for both. 

I did audition the CD5XS on both a SN1+Hicap DR and SN2, and I did not have the impression that the CD player was outclassed. It will leave you with some cash for e.g. a Dac or Hicap.

But CDX2 is the natural choice and if you decide to stay on the SN level (which I doubt given your acute upgraditis) the most balanced choice.

Personally, I would make a decision based on age / price / future plans.

The CDX2 and CD5XS are quite different

If CDX I'd look into earlier preloved samples, they are extremely expensive new

Same for CD5XS which I would not use as transport only into a dac, making much of the player contain wasted electronics not in use.

Using CD5 any variant (except 5i) I'd choose a separate psu to upgrade, such as Flatcap or Hicap maybe third party

robert_h posted:

Personally I'd try both amps when you have the sn2, you also have other variables to play with, tq vs NACA and rega Vs lv speakers wasn't it? You can use any source you like with an sn2, my streamer is a DIY pc via USB into dacv1 not an nd5xs and it still sounds fantastic to me. Cd player is an old Sony into same DAC, same result. My upgrade in amp hasn't to my ears exposed any weakness in the sources.

Thanks for the advice Robert

I do indeed have other variables to play with before deciding whether to look at the cd player.  My current transport and dac sound very good indeed with the XS2 so I am hoping the SN2 will be the same and not expose any weakness in my source

SongStream posted:

You've got to spend a lot of dosh to be Naim's top customer, but I think you may take the prize for fastest growing. ;-) 

I think both the XS2 and SN2 have will have the ability to reveal the difference between a CD5 XS and a CDX2, but I don't buy into the idea that the CD5 XS will be outclassed somehow by the SN2, I mean, it's not going to sound worse than with an XS2, not at this level of source.  If the source was completely inadequate both amps would easily reveal that.   The better source you can obtain, new, or used, the better either amp will be.   It's probably true that the SN2 will reveal more benefits when it comes to source improvements, but it counts for both. 

 

 

You might be right there SongStream, however it's only because I have been so impressed with the XS2 that I've got a SN2 coming to try

Nina posted:

SongStream posted:

You've got to spend a lot of dosh to be Naim's top customer, but I think you may take the prize for fastest growing. ;-) 

I think both the XS2 and SN2 have will have the ability to reveal the difference between a CD5 XS and a CDX2, but I don't buy into the idea that the CD5 XS will be outclassed somehow by the SN2, I mean, it's not going to sound worse than with an XS2, not at this level of source.  If the source was completely inadequate both amps would easily reveal that.   The better source you can obtain, new, or used, the better either amp will be.   It's probably true that the SN2 will reveal more benefits when it comes to source improvements, but it counts for both. 

 

 

You might be right there SongStream, however it's only because I have been so impressed with the XS2 that I've got a SN2 coming to try

And why not.  I am interested to hear about how you find it.  I think the SN2 is absolutely great, but of a different league, in terms of both performance and price tag, to the amp it replaced for me.  Hopefully you'll find it builds on the qualities of the XS2 significantly also.

The SN2 arrived today and is now in the system

First listen really worried me as it sounded a bit harsh and brittle and I thought I'd made a big mistake, but I think it just needed to warm up a bit as it is sounding much nicer now...phew 

I don't remember the XS2 sounding harsh on first listen though

The SN2 is now making me smile which is always a good sign   

I found that.  From brand new, just unpacked and set up, it was good, but I was a little underwhelmed.  It's hard to recall now, but I would say that after an hour, possibly less, something changed.  Over time, i.e a few weeks, it seemed to gradually weight up in the mid-band and sound even more sweet.  There's a lot of talk about run-in, but while it seemed to improve over a few weeks, the biggest leap was from the first few minutes, to a couple of hours later.

Nina posted:

The SN2 arrived today and is now in the system

First listen really worried me as it sounded a bit harsh and brittle and I thought I'd made a big mistake, but I think it just needed to warm up a bit as it is sounding much nicer now...phew 

I don't remember the XS2 sounding harsh on first listen though

The SN2 is now making me smile which is always a good sign   

Nina - a brand new SN2 will take several weeks before it sounds its best. It will sound harsh, annoying at times at first. There will be a day when in desparation you will try to chuck out through a window. And then one day it will just click. What follows then is a joy to behold.

I've been through quite a few Naim amps (SuperUniti, SuperNait 2, UnitiQute2, NAP 250, NAP 250DR, NAP300DR) and they all followed the same pattern when breaking in / warming up. And amazingly none of them went flying - they are all with us, being used daily.

So - please be patient. You are worth it 

Well my SN2 is an ex demo unit so I was not expecting it to need any running in as such

I think maybe just the fact it's been switched off for a week or so it needed a bit of warming up again..  sounds amazing now though.  Probably the first amp that has literally made me smile, anyone else experienced this or am I going mad ?  

Nina posted:

Well my SN2 is an ex demo unit so I was not expecting it to need any running in as such

I think maybe just the fact it's been switched off for a week or so it needed a bit of warming up again..  sounds amazing now though.  Probably the first amp that has literally made me smile, anyone else experienced this or am I going mad ?  

No, you're not. My first experience with Naim was just like that: SN1 and Martin Logan Motion 40 - went to the dealer to audition Sugden and Simaudio, and dealer said "is it ok if we set up a couple of extra systems?". One was the Naim. I smiled and I was hooked. I didn't click with the SN2 in the end (owned one for a while) but it was because it was too much of an amp (and speakers) for my room. But of all my setups, nothing made Joe Cocker's "Jamaica say you will" and Genesis' "the Lamb lies down on Broadway" sound better than the SN2 + ML.

It's very strange as I have tried on numerous occasions over many years to try and 'get' the 'Naim sound' but never succeeded until now

I get it