Naim CDX CD Players
Naim CDX CD Players
USER REVIEWS
[Aug 24, 2003]
Robert
AudioPhile
Strength:
PRaT, Musicality, Detail, Analog like sound
Weakness:
I don't know if the DIN can be really considered a weakness or not. I just know it makes it harder since there arn't many cable manufacturer's that make DIN to RCA cables. Chord is hard to beat so I'm not sure what is better in their line than the Cobra II that I'm using. Any thoughts by others on this are welcome. This player is so wonderful that it easily lives up to all the praise by the previous posts. It is so musical from top to bottom that it just sucks you into the music. I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from it to get to bed at night. That's when you know something is just 'right'. I'm not going to go into all the adjectives but I will comment that this player will greatly benefit from proper setup. The whole player was designed for absolute top performance from the chasis to the feet and power cord. DO NOT change either or it will screw up the famous Naim PRaT (pace, rhythm and timing)that their CDP's are known. The shelf will also benefit the perfomance a great deal since maximizing the reduction of vibration can be heard. There are some out there that say that this is a sign that it isn't designed well. Wrong, it clearly shows that this player is so musical, so detailed, so analog sounding, just so 'right' that not the best setup or care can be heard. Anything at the highest levels of audio is this way. I even unplugged my DVD player from the Theta Casablanca I'm using and I heard even a greater level of clarity appear from top to bottom. I heard that preamps can do this as well and not just AV preamps. The Casablanca is a top notch preamp and will embarass a lot out there. Definitely looking into having a dedicated AC line added as well. The CDX will allow you to just enjoy the music. Inexperienced listeners may overlook this CDP since it isn't the typical hyped CD digital sound out there. It is just so smooth, detailed, musical and balanced that you just get into the music and stop analyzing your system. Wow, I guess I did use a lot of adjectives even after I said that I wouldn't. I'm not even using the XPS or the XPS2 power supplies that takes the player to an even much greater level of performance. I've heard that you shouldn't listen to the optional power supply unless your ready to buy it on the spot because its that good. Naim doesn't make changes that often but when they do it's worth it. Not like some manufacturers that change some tiny thing in their line every 6 months so they can keep having their products hyped in Stereophile and other audio mags out there. Good Listening! |
[Dec 08, 2002]
matt
Casual Listener
Strength:
understated (this is a cdp for people whose record collection is worth more than the electronics they play it with). great foot-tapping factor. upgrade path to CDS II through the external power-supply (although the supply alone will set you back as much as the CDP itself...)
Weakness:
the high-end is a touch bright in my taste. the external power supply is outrageously expensive. not as good as the linn cd-12, or the Naim CDSII but a quarter of the price... those pesky DIN plugs... why can't the other brands just accept how simple, efficient, and great they are and just comply ? i went through a hefty number of 2-2.5k, and above cdp's before deciding the cd5 was the closest to the price/sound ratio i was looking for. then listened to a cdx. and got one second hand, for the same price as the new lower-end model. this is not whiz-bang in your face kit. it looks pretty understated, it doesn't blink in your face, and it does just one thing : play circular, silvery (or golden), red-book compliant digital media, even if there are a few scratches on it (the error-correction is more than acceptable, as long as you aren't playing frisbee with your cd's.). and that, it does great. there's no feel of added gimmickry to the path, and, to cut it short, it gives you the feeling of being in the venue whatever you're playing was recorded in, not in some overblown and artificial soundscape. this is a highly-focused, and highly involving, piece of kit, and may not be as laid-back as some of the alternatives... Similar Products Used: i auditionned the following before chosing... audioaero prima 24bit, audiomeca obsession, kheops & mephisto, classe cdp-1, rega planet & jupiter, linn genki, ikemi & cd-12, naim cd5 & cdsII, primare |
[Nov 05, 2002]
jim022
AudioPhile
Strength:
Detail, dynamics.
Weakness:
Too upfront, flat imaging and poor error correction on less than perfect CDs. I listened to this and the Linn Ikemi as I am looking to upgrade my Cyrus Dad3Q. The system was all Naim. My overall impressions were of a very detailed player with excellent dynamics and channel seperation, however the sound was slightly harsh, which must be attributed to the higher than average rated THD. The Linn was altogether smoother. My main concern was that the CDX skipped repeatedly on a particular CD that the Linn had no problems with. At this price point I find this unacceptable hence my rating. For sound it gets a 4/5. Overall, very good but over priced and under-engineered. Similar Products Used: Linn Ikemi, Cyrus DAD3Q, Krell KAV250cd, Primare D30.2. |
[Nov 04, 2002]
rocketeer
AudioPhile
I am listening to music through a naim 72+hc/140 amp compo over dynaudio contour loudspeakers and have upgraded from a cd3.5 to a cdx one week ago. My first impression in brief: compared to the cd3.5, the cdx is a quantum leap in all aspects. The degree of authenticity of the music played with the cdx simply will leave you breathless. For me, it is the best cd-player i ever heard. Of course, i did not listen to all players on this planet, but since the cdx is "far better than i imagined" my overall rating is 5 stars. I have no doubt that nowhere and never one could get a better player at this price tag. i'd love to give dozens of stars for value rating, instead of only 5! |
[Feb 01, 2002]
mikesae
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
A wonderful, assertive music maker. Build quality, reliability.
Weakness:
Silly RC layout, sensitive to support and mains quality. In addition to the other reviews- A league above the similarly priced CD5/Hicap. If you run an all-Naim system, a CDX upgrade is a no-brainer and will embarass other, more expensive makes. If you have another make of hi-fi, the CDX may semm like worst thing CDP ever created. Synergy is the key here. See CDX gubbins @ http://members.shaw.ca/mikesae/ Similar Products Used: Nowt. I am of the Naim sheep. But really, various upper end Classe, Talk Electronics, Musical Fidelity, Rega and NAD CDPs |
[Feb 10, 2001]
Khaywee Toh
Audiophile
Strength:
A wide and deep soundstage. Vocals are projected powerfully. Lovely treble.
Weakness:
Pity the upgrade to the XPS power supply is so expensive. You'll be cruising for a bruising if your wife finds out. I have owned this player for two weeks and found it to be an excellent machine. Listening virtually to my whole CD collection again and enjoying every moment of it. My previous player was a Micromega stage 3 which was a good player 6 years ago. It had a great sound but was not very reliable. The Arcam FMJ had a very similar sound to the Micromega, great speed and bass but things tend to get muddled up with more complex passages. With the Linn Ikemi the resolution was very good but the music soundstage was very small. The naim CDX was a revelation. My whole room was filled with a wide expanse of music that had layers of depth, allowing you to differentiate between the instruments even when the going got tough. The treble is detailed but not overbearing nor metallic sounding. I have heard from previous reviewers that the sound gets better after a longer run in period and I am certainly looking forward to it. Incidently, I am using the CDX with a Naim 92, flatcap, 2 nap 90s and Epos ES 11's. Similar Products Used: Meridian 508 24bit, Linn Ikemi, Arcam FMJ, Naim CD5 |
[Nov 14, 2001]
Lino Deera
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Just listen to the music.
Weakness:
none This is one hell of a CD player, it's a CD player that is so good that it's nearly as good as a top flight turntable. Similar Products Used: Naim CD5 / flatcap2 |
[Jan 26, 2002]
Steve P
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Very natural unfatiguing sound,amazing build quality.
Weakness:
Can be choosey with some discs! I was interested to find the reviewer below comparing Naim's CDX with Linn's Ikemi so the following may benefit some reviwers. Similar Products Used: CD3.5, Linn Ikemi |
[Jan 23, 2002]
Bill Boyd
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
CDX plays music.
Weakness:
Could do with more detail in treble. My CDX is an ex-demo machine and really was a revelation after listening to the other players above, the best of them at home over several days. I couldn't bear to part with £1300, which I could afford, as none of the players at that price delivered a sound I could live with. Strangely, I found myself being happy paying much more for a player I loved the sound of - after I'd found a way of finding the money. Similar Products Used: Naim CD5, Creek CD 53, Musical Fidelity CD3, Marantz CD17 KI sig.,Cyrus, Linn Ikemi. |
[Sep 23, 2001]
Alco
Audiophile
Strength:
Amount of ease,transparency,detail and well defined bass.
Weakness:
It's price, looks a little dull,weird RC that I had to get used to. About the last 4 years I've become a big Naim-enthousiast. I've had about 14 different amp over the last 13 years. Going from NAD's to Accuphase,but the little Nait-2 came into my house 2 years ago and it's still at the heart of my system. Similar Products Used: Naim CD-3.5 + flatcap (powersupply) |