PRaT, Musicality, Detail, Analog like sound

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!

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...)

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

Detail, dynamics.

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.

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!

A wonderful, assertive music maker. Build quality, reliability.

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/

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Nowt. I am of the Naim sheep. But really, various upper end Classe, Talk Electronics, Musical Fidelity, Rega and NAD CDPs

A wide and deep soundstage. Vocals are projected powerfully. Lovely treble.

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.
Highly recommended for its musical abilities. It will provide many years of satisfaction and will date very slowly as Naim only updates it players every 6 years.
OK, I am a Naim convert but others have used it outside a Naim system with very good results. If you are an audiophile with a modest income like me BEWARE! You might just have to fork out £**** after listening to it.
I am a medic in training in the UK, if there are any crazy audiophile medics out there in cyberspace, I would love to hear from you.

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 508 24bit, Linn Ikemi, Arcam FMJ, Naim CD5

Just listen to the music.
DIN connect included.

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.
It will take about a month to warm up to its true potential, but saying that out of the box it sounds fantastic.

I am using my CDX with a Naim 72 pre / HiCap / Naim NAP 250
and Shahinain Compass speakers.
The sound is very impressive, the soundstaging is truely wonderfull. The detail is really excellent.

I have not heard the CDX connected up to the optional power supply which costs as much as the CD player, but it's meant to offer another step up in quality thats meant to be worth the money.

I would make sure that you have a good support for the CD player, at least make sure that the level is spot on or else you will not hear it near to potential.

Loan one from a dealer, listen to the music....enjoy.

Similar Products Used:

Naim CD5 / flatcap2

Very natural unfatiguing sound,amazing build quality.

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.
I was useing Nain's CD3.5 and was never really that happy with it so a friend suggested the CDX. The first thing you notice is how Rugged this machine is in comparison with the Ikemi, it gives the impression it will last you a life time.

After extensive listening I found the Naim presented a much darker warmer sound over the Ikemi, and a complete improvment over the CD35, as Hi Fi News once said it really does give you a flattering imitation of an LP12.

In closer scrutiny when comparing the two players the Linn would always give a higher level of detail where treble was concerned, especially when listening at lower levels however the sound the CDX presented was solid and far more natural.

In conclusion both these players are fine machines it's really down to individual taste, it is however worth noteing my system comprises of LK140's driving Aktiv Keilids, so contray to popular belief you can now mix Nain with other makes.

To give 5 stars would be unfair cos I think there is always room for improvment, maybe adding the XPS would tip the balance!

Happy listening

Similar Products Used:

CD3.5, Linn Ikemi

CDX plays music.

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.

A friend and I compared his Linn Ikemi and my Naim CDX over 2 hours. The system we were using was his Naim 102 + 180 + Hicap with B&W 804 speakers. The earlier comparison between my friend's old Arcam Delta 2 box player and the Ikemi immediately showed that the Linn was in another league from the old Arcam. There is a marked difference as you lift the massive CDX with its pull-out drawer, into place compared to the featherweight Ikemi, with that lovely slim loading tray. However, all the music we listened to on the Ikemi and CDX showed the Naim player to be the one we preferred. The difference between the two players was marked, and although we both felt th CDX was the better player, we both also felt that the Ikemi was extremely good. I had recently auditioned Marantz CD-17 Ki sig, Creek CD 53, Naim CD5, Musical Fidelity and probably more, but felt the Ikemi was a much more communicative player than these. The CDX had great naturalness and maintained a grip on the music that allowed the feeling of the music through. The bass and mid-range was more solid and the soundstage better defined, taller and wider. It was not all in favour of the CDX as the treble detail and texture was better on the Ikemi, and on some tracks I would at first prefer the Ikemi's performance, as the CDX would at first sound slightly dull in comparison. However after half a minute or so, the togetherness, solidity and control of the Naim would have won us over. Most of the music we listened to was electronic but did include vocal and electric and acoustic instruments also. Perhaps the Naim had an advantage with whatever synergy might exist within the Naim source and amplification.

I felt that my own system, Naim 112 + 180, with PMC FB1 speakers which is less powerful but probably more revealing, would have been even more favourable to the CDX as the Ikemi's more forward treble could have got a bit too much. Of course the CDX is £450 more, but the possibility of upgrading with the external power supply must be an incentive to those who think they might ever be able to afford it. I wouldn't describe either of us as Naim devotees. I listened to plenty of other amplifiers before deciding the Naim's played the music best all round at the price.

Similar Products Used:

Naim CD5, Creek CD 53, Musical Fidelity CD3, Marantz CD17 KI sig.,Cyrus, Linn Ikemi.

Amount of ease,transparency,detail and well defined bass.
In short:VERY,Very musical

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.
The same goes for CD-players. 16(!) came and left my house.
Lately I was pretty happy with my previous Naim CD-player 3.5 + flatcap (PSU)
But....this week I had the chance to get my hands on a s/h
(well,s/h...it's only 2,5 months old!) Naim CDX and get a fair price back for my CD3.5 + f/c.
So,here's my experience with the CDX:
the music is presented with so much ease and detail.
The mids are very open and the bass very is punchy and controlled. Voices and instrument sound so natural,like I never experienced before with CD.
(in my own livingroom,that is!)
Is has strengths that remind me of a good turntable,and that's about the highest compliment I can give to a CD-player. The price is high,but for me it's a garantee for years of musical enjoyment!

Similar Products Used:

Naim CD-3.5 + flatcap (powersupply)