CDX Mk2 vs CD5 XS

G'day Gazza, what would you recommend for some one that already owns a Nait XS 2 amplifier.  I would prefer not to duplicate amplifiers and have a redundant XS 2 amplifier.  It cost $4k AUD and I would still like to put It to use.

Warm regards,

Paul.

Well a hard drive ripper like the Core is £2k and the new ND5XS2 streamer is £2.3k in the UK, should fit the bill. If funds permit the level up streamer is NDX2 at £5k, give them a demo and see what fits your system. If you are braver than me you can save money with a network attached storage device instead of the Core, but needs pc skills and patience, none of which I have in abundance. There are similar products to Core from Innuos such as Zen mini, but I have no experience of them.

Dear Gazza,

Thank you for your input.  After owning couple of iMacs over the last 12 years.  I have become PC illiterate.  The less I have to do with computers.  The better I feel.  I have been reading reviews on the Naim CD5 XS and will now do some research on the Cd X2.  From what I have read the Naim CD5 XS will do everything that I wish,   Though as I am investing in a long term CD player.  I will leave no stone un-turned.

To be honest with myself.  The Naim Cd5 XS and external power supply are at the stretch of my financial capabilities.  Though I will continue to persevere and satisfy myself that I have covered all bases.

Streaming is still quite a possibility.  Though I will have to soak all the information from my Naim Retailer for all he is worth, if I do go down that road.

A streamer and a HDD server make excellent sense travelling into the future.  Though for an old school bloke like myself.  Some days it makes sense just to wind down the window and instead of putting on climate control in the car.

I can do both and have done,  I will mull the situation over several times and see what I feel at peace with.

Warm regards,

Paul.

Paul, just enjoy, some of my happiest memories of music was thru a Naim CDS, their players are special IMO. The attention to detail and the back up of stored cd mechanisms for repair is just amazing. As @ Richard Dane mentioned recently when he was in the Naim warranty dept, he had Krell owners pleading for help for spares for CD players.The forum is great for throwing up ideas, but a good dealer to take you thru the options is really what is required.

Good words of advice.  My current dealer stocks have dried up.  I will have to look else where and there are a couple of other dealers in Melbourne Australia.   I do have a tendency of looking at the tree and missing the forest.  Thank you for your advice.  Warmly welcomed.

Paul.

Honestly from having read above how and why you listen to music stay well away from streaming. Get yourself a decent CD player. 

Google 

rega research appollo stereophile review

I understand brand loyalty but you will do much better with this Rega than a Naim player in that it is a new product, with plenty of spares and Rega, in that they are a UK brand, manufacturing in the UK, are a decent company just like Naim. 

 Well worth an audition.

(For perspective I have owned CD5X, CDX2,CDS3,CD555)

.sjb

G'day SJB,

I think you are on the money.  I have been going around in circles and I think I will be up for a good CD player.  I appreciate your input and think you are spot on!

I think the KISS principal is the way to go.

My Calibration Tech Days aim for the best.  Though with all reality,  It is a compromise with my pocket and how much I can afford.

Thank you for your valuable input.  Very much appreciated.

Warm regards,

Paul.

If you are not into big choral & orchestral music then the cd5xs is all you need.on the other hand if you  are you ll need a cdx2 with an obligatory xps.

Not sure about the Celestion speakers, could they be a weak point,?

I remember them mentioned back in the old days, not that this makes them worse but not a speaker I would choose in a XS setup. Can't explain why.

Perhaps putting mega money on a CD/psu might be shooting birds with canons, if possible could you go and demo some new speakers ?

Recently I have heard some Kef, Rega, Harbeth, Neat, Dynaudio amo, all were great communicators, I don't know your room size if it was Metric measured its pretty large and small standmounts might not fill.

Sorry if speaker change is not on agenda

Dear Perol,

The old home had an open plan living room/kitchen/dinning room.  Seating position was possibly 5 metres from the speakers.  The new home has a TV room which is annexed off the kitchen/dinning room and has doors which can seal it off from every where else.  Seating position is two metres from the speakers.

Yes, I agree that the speakers are a weak point in the setup.  When auditioning the Naim Nait XS2 amplifier I took my Celestion's along and also listened to a pair of Sonus Faber which my dealer recommended.  I must say that the Sonus Faber speakers were fabulous and I aim to own a pair of these one day.  The sound track that I used to compare amplifiers and speakers to was a Dire Straits track.  I have forgotten which one at the moment.  It could have been Love over gold or Telegraph Road.  Though opening to the track has the sound of a storm in the distance.  Or so it sounded with the Celestion's.  When compared to the Sonus Faber, the storm sounded as if it was in the room.  The change in speakers was that dramatic.

I have toyed with the idea of keeping the Celestion's and investing in an excellent set of headphones.  For the time being I will have to be happy with what I have.

The reason I started looking for a new CD player happened after reading a review of my old Marantz CD-85 which stated that the CD-85 frequency response rolled off, ended after 15 kHz.  Having read this I felt some what cheated that I was missing out on the high frequency of the top 5 kHz, namely 15kHz to 20kHz.  Possibly my 55 year old ears may not hear this high these days.  Though as I mentioned.  I still felt some what cheated.

Where does one start?  To replace the front end, the CD player or the output, the speakers.  I can only afford one item at the moment and thought GiGO, garbage in, garbage out.  Therefore, I decided on a new CD player and would live with the lack of bottom end of the Celestion's for the time being.

I can follow the bass line with Diana Krall, though other music it can be more challenging.  I enjoy Dire Straits and some of Pink Floyd.  When the moment grips me, I also like listening to Bach and Luciano Pavarotti.  There are many more CD's of Australian local rock and pop artists.  Kate Ceberano has a lovely voice.  If you wish to search her, have a listen to the song Pash, or "I do not know how to love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar.  The Australian musical edition.  My wife and I have seen her on stage and she performs very passionately.  Her singing and performance, the words fail me.  Passionate seems like the only word that can describe the feeling, atmosphere around her singing.  Oh, I drift off subject.

I suppose, I can open the question to the Forum.  If you were in my shoes, what would you change first?

Warm regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul

Thank you for a detailed and friendly reply

I understand your view, never heard the new Sonus Faber range myself, but some older ones which was very good albeit expensive. I have noticed some of them even have raised in value.

My generel concern was mainly putting £3K or more against a CD-player, you might be better off a cheaper source solution using the remaining cash for speakers ? Resulting in same overall cost. 

There are many good speakers below 1K mark, both used or second hand. Naim CD-players are also available second hand.

Whatever you decide good luck down under.

Warmest regards

Hi Paul

I have owned a Nait XS and CD5 XS in the past and thought the XS system was very well matched sonically and, of course, visually.  My advice would be to try to source a pre-loved CD5 XS.  It's a fine-sounding system and I very much doubt you would be disappointed with it.  As for further upgrades, rather than a FlatCap you might consider a used nDAC.  You might even prefer CD5 XS/nDAC to a CDX2, particularly for classical; I do and am not alone.  This route also would also allow you to taste local streaming at relatively low cost.

Re streaming, and your comment: "I have read that there are issues with Naim Hard Drive players listing all the individual segments of a classical Instrumental tracks and such others.  Or something along these lines.  Therefore I do not know if a iPhone App and a hard drive server is the way to go?" please don't worry.  I now listen via streaming and find it much easier to find and listen to the works/tracks I want particularly with classical.  For example, I ripped a CD of Vaughan Williams' London Symphony which has a filler track by Butterworth.  I used to order my CDs by composer using whichever came first in the alphabet when there were two or three composers.  So the CD was place amongst the Bs and often I would forget and think I'd misfiled it somewhere.  Now, using the App, I can choose Vaughan Williams under composer and find and play the symphony almost immediately.  I run something called MinimServer on my NAS which is free and was designed specifically with classical in mind.

Roger

Gigantor posted:

Dear Perol,

 

 

The reason I started looking for a new CD player happened after reading a review of my old Marantz CD-85 which stated that the CD-85 frequency response rolled off, ended after 15 kHz.  Having read this I felt some what cheated that I was missing out on the high frequency of the top 5 kHz, namely 15kHz to 20kHz.  Possibly my 55 year old ears may not hear this high these days.  Though as I mentioned.  I still felt some what cheated.

.......

I suppose, I can open the question to the Forum.  If you were in my shoes, what would you change first?

Warm regards,

Paul.

I’d be wary of letting reviews influence you too much. I googled your CD player and found the following lab report 

It's difficult to final fault with this player as there seems to be no performance area where it falls down. The intermodulation distortion results are excellent, ultrasonic noise is well suppressed and the signal-to-noise ratio is better than most. Low level linearity is not perfect, but is good nonetheless.......

Ideally fix a budget you can afford or are willing to pay back if buying on credit ( personally wouldn’t recommend for a leisure pursuit this but your circumstances may put the purchase in the health investment category). 

Then you have 2 options. Head to a friendly dealer, preferably with  a Nait XS in stock and ask for advice on how best to improve your system with your budget. I’d be surprised if both source and speakers can’t be improved appreciably. Speakers need to be assessed in your own room and your dealer should facilitate this. If not go further afield. It’s not speakers you hear it’s the speaker/room interaction. That’s why there is so much agreement about Naim sources but little convergence with speakers. Others here will be able to give you an idea of what would go with your amp but I heard Neat sounding very well fronting a Naim Uniti so I’d certainly recommend adding Neat to any audition. You can get good value on ex-dem and preowned from dealers.  

The other option is to buy second hand and this gives the opportunity to sell on at no or very little loss if things don’t work out. A buy to try strategy. You can get stunning value in speakers particularly if you’re able to travel to listen and collect. 

If you let us know where you’re situated those who live near can recommend some good dealers. 

This can be an exciting time and a decent Rega CDP into Nait XS into say a Neat iota or Russel K red will be a lovely system. 

Don’t rush and try not to let what other people say (even my wise words!) convince you to disbelieve your own ears. 

Enjoy the ride, it can be great fun in itself. 

Regards,

John. 

.sjb

Dear John,

Thank you for finding this review of my CD player.  I know I enjoyed it for some reason.  As I have previously mentioned that I am a specification's kind of guy.  It is a fault of my training in The Royal Australian Air Force,  I was an electrician before joining and became a Radio Technician Air post graduation, specialising on F1-11'C's employing the Pavetack upgrade.  Then I took up a secondary course as a Calibration Technician, Metrologist.  I can not even begin to tell you of the equipment I have worked on.  All Primary or secondary standards.  I then left the RAAF and worked for Hewlett Packard Australia in their Primary Standards Laboratory.  I analyse and analyse again and calibrate or repair equipment to an uncertainty (accuracy) of +/- 5 parts in 13 decimal places.  These are time frequency standards..  Atomic Clocks.  I am now back as an industrial electrician earning three to four times my previous income as a Standards Engineer.  Go figure?

I have enquired with my local Naim dealer in Melbourne Australia and he does have a demo unit of a CD5 XS which he will work out a price for me.  I emailed him this morning and as the shop is closed.  I do not expect to hear back until after tomorrow some time.

Unfortunately, possibly like most of us.  I have larger dreams and aspirations than my pockets can afford.  I must say I am very happy with my amplifier a Nait XS2 with a class "A" headphone ampler output.

I am back in dream world again and after purchasing a, possible Naim CD5 XS.  I might splurge on an excellent set of headphones.  The "Focal" brand comes to mind.

My dear wife does not enjoy music to my level (God Bless her) and is very happy with a $90 semi-portable Bluetooth speaker stack she takes from room to room as she cleans or sleeps.

I have approached my local Naim dealer here in Melbourne, Australia.  After a bit of a search there are quite a few Naim Dealers.  Though the closest to me is Audio Trends, which have no or demo only units for sale.  There are other dealers in Melbourne and I may have to give them a call.

I suppose purchasing a secondhand, demo CD player is pretty safe.  Not like a motor vehicle or rental car that may have been thrashed during its life.  Until today I was fixated on the CDX2.  Though my wife has stood in and brought me back to reality and I think a Nait CD5 XS will be more than adequate.  It only depends now after the possible purchase of the CD player if the outboard power supplies will still be available when I have the necessary funds to revisit this possibility.

We have some house renovations that I may have over budgeted for.  If there are enough excess dollars?  A semi-new CD player might be coming my way.

Thank you for your post John.  It was very much appreciated.

Warm regards,

Paul.

Inverloch, two hours drive east of Melbourne, Australia.

Dear Roger (Peakman),

I wish to thank you for your valuable response and replying to my enquiry.  I have posted (as I go through my kind responses from Forum Members) to a previous post.  I always like purchasing new,  Though as I have stated my local Naim Dealer has a Demo Naim CD5 XS.  I will listen to his advice, applicable warranties and the wise voice of my dear wife.  We are undertaking some renovations in our new home from a previous owner and hopefully there will be a few dollars left over.  Off subject we give monthly to our preferred charity.  Though my dear beautiful wife owns two pugs and a French Bull Dog.  The pug that is 7 years old has cataracts over both eyes.  I was informed to budget $6k AUD.  Though have now been informed to expect $4kAUD.  There are a couple of other expenses.  Though hopefully when all is done.  There will be enough to purchase a Naim CD5 XS demo unit.

Dear Roger, Thank you for your post.  It gives me reassurance that second hand is still desirable.

Warm regards,

Paul.  Oz.

Hi Paul

As good as the headphone amp in your XS is, its not doing real justice to the very expensive Focal range imo

Such phones will benefit from a dedicated HP amp, no surprice really.

I use a Violectric HP amp, made in Germany, indeed much better than my SN2 headphone output, which might be on level with yours.

Offcourse it will depend on headphone specs, some are really easy to run from a iphone etc.

Looking in pricerange for near everybody, say below £150, market are full of great alternatives, Beyerdynamic, AKG, Sennheiser to mention a few, you really need to listen first as comfort play an important role.