Just out of curiosity: Are there any thoughts out here about how the cd5x compares to the cd5i (in absolute as well as relative (compared to cost) terms)? Did anyone demo both of them?

Martijn

I haven't listened to a 5i. To my ears the CD5X was between the CD5 and CDX2. With the best will in the world I can't see the 5i in that league but some may prefer the sound. Is it possible for you to listen? I appreciate it might be difficult.

Cheers

Harry

In HiFi Choice or Hi FI news this month CD5i has received a 91% overall sound with several players!The CD 5i won ,so it should be a good cd player

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

quote:

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Originally posted by HTK:
I haven't listened to a 5i. To my ears the CD5X was between the CD5 and CDX2. With the best will in the world I can't see the 5i in that league

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Well, if you haven't heard it yet, maybe you shouldn't even try to see it that way

I own a 5i and (so) I think it sounds quite good. For what it's worth, I haven't read a review in the magzs that wasn't delighted about the 5i (Nuno mentioned one, but there are several more; check www.naim-audio.de for some German reviews).

But let's not discuss the 5i on its own merits. I was curious about how the 5x (which costs twice as much) compares to it.

Regards,

Martijn

I demoed the 5i with the 5 (sorry not de 5x) But the difference was so small that i couldn't hear that. I did the demo at snijders hifi rotterdam. I pluged the 5 on TUNER and the 5i on CD. Same input only other name. So i put twon of the same CD's and switch between them. It was very very very small. Only the upgadability is a good function of the 5. But if you want to up grade with a FC2 (minimum) you better can go for the 5x. becouse €1950,- + € 890,- makes €2840,- wearas the 5x cost €2350,- (i thought)

When you go for sh stuff it becomes an other story.

My CD5i sound realy great. After 2 month he is realy warmed up

What's the rest of your sys?

btw: for another vs you could check topics from CD5 vs CD5x and CD/HC vs CD5x fe

NAIM: NAIT5,CD5i, Interlink
Dynaudio: Natural One

I dem'd a run in CD5i vs a CD5/hicap.
As the 5x is meant to be better than the 5, should be a reasonable comparison to use.
In my opinion, the 5 was definitely better overall, particularly in depth, scale, smoothness. However, it wasn't better in every way. The 5i seemed to have more "groove" than the 5/hicap and IMO was slightly more fun.

The key problem with both the 5/5x/hicap combinations is that they're getting rather close to the cost of a CDX2. Bearing in mind the performance gap that others have commented on, the right step doesn't appear to be CD5i to CD5x to CD5x/hicap to CDX2, but CD5i to CDX2.

Robbert, Mr_S,

Apart from the cd5i I've got a nait 5i en B&W nautilus 805 speakers (connected with NACA5).

I'm not thinking of upgrading as yet. I've only got the stuff 6 weeks. First impression was quite good, but after one day and some more intense listening I started frowning a bit, because the system didn't sound as good as during the demo. But... I was well aware I had to be patient en let the stuff burn in. It definitely sounds better now than a few weeks ago. I'm not sure whether I can expect more improvement from now on. At the moment I'm quite happy with the sound though (maybe just a tiny little bit too bright on some records), and I'm also well aware things are never perfect (financial limits, no matter at what level, always mean: compromise).

Anyway, as I said I was just curious about how the cd5x compares to the cd5i. I've demoed the cd5 as well, and I didn't consider the price difference with the 5i justified.

Regards,

Martijn

I listened to 5i/5/5hi/5x all through 5i amp and arrivas.

I couldnt tell between 5i/5.

The 5x was wat ahead of any of the others, including the hicapped 5!

It really is worth the extra if you can afford it. I couldnt afford the extra so had to settle for a 5.
The 5x is very very good, is on a different level to the 5i/5.

I've heard both -- tried very hard to save some money by getting the CD5i, but just wasn't compelling enough. It came across as a little "rough around the edges".

The CD5x is more refined and, for want of a better description, more like a CDX2.

It's true that the CD5x/HiCap combo comes pretty close to CDX2 in terms of price, which is why I intend to simply enjoy the CD5x on its own merits without worrying about getting a *cap.

Tze

Sure the worthfull up-grade will be the CDX2. And still should you do it for that money.

My next up-grade will maybe being a FC or HC for my nait5. i didn't demoed yet but i hear that the difference between the FC and HC is very small. But the price difference is very large. Does any have demoed this yet? Mr sukebe maybe?

And maybe a bigger power-amp such as the NAP200. But first i have to save some money for it.

And Mr S you'r right the 5i rocks and let my room and kids swinging.

edit

quote:

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Originally posted by pete8883:
I listened to 5i/5/5hi/5x all through 5i amp and arrivas.

I couldnt tell between 5i/5.

It really is worth the extra if you can afford it. I couldnt afford the extra so had to settle for a 5.

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Why did you spend € 600,- more?? For the upgrade posibility?



NAIM: NAIT5,CD5i, Interlink
Dynaudio: Natural One

quote:

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Originally posted by pete8883:

The 5x was wat ahead of any of the others, including the hicapped 5!

It really is worth the extra if you can afford it.

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Pete,

How would you describe the differences?

Martijn

quote:

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Originally posted by Martijn:

Well, if you haven't heard it yet, maybe you shouldn't even try to see it that way

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You're welcome

Harry

quote:

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Originally posted by HTK:

You're welcome

Harry

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Now we're getting somewhere...

Martijn

quote:

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Originally posted by Martijn:
Pete,

How would you describe the differences?

Martijn

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It was just played the music much better in all aspects that you would expect, when I listened to the hicapped 5, I had to listen to the track right through to appreciate what the hicap was doing to the 5, when my dealer hooked up the bare 5x as soon as I heard it, the sound (donald fagens IGY track) was instantly better, much more space between instruments, cleaner sound and simply more refined.

quote:

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Originally posted by Martijn:
Pete,

How would you describe the differences?

Martijn

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It was just played the music much better in all aspects that you would expect, when I listened to the hicapped 5, I had to listen to the track right through to appreciate what the hicap was doing to the 5, when my dealer hooked up the bare 5x as soon as I heard it, the sound (donald fagens IGY track) was instantly better, much more space between instruments, cleaner sound and simply more refined.

I don't understand how anyone can not hear the differences between the 5i and the 5. The 5 is clearly better than the 5i. I listened to the 5i, the 5 and the 5x. I was planning on buying the 5x, but was considering buying the much cheaper 5i if the differences were minimal. After listening to the 5 I just was not interested in the 5i anymore.

quote:

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Originally posted by KenRose:
I don't understand how anyone can not hear the differences between the 5i and the 5. The 5 is clearly better than the 5i.

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I think they are voiced diffrently. It seems the 5i went back to more or less, the old style Naim sound.

A 5 is probably a better all-rounder and has mroe of midrange presense and does round earthy things. I see the opinions can be polarised.

For my money, if i wanted the 'traditional' Naim sound, I'd go with a CDX instead. It sounds purer.

A 5i sounded as if it was trying too hard to impress.

As far as a 5X goes, I wasn't too keen on it. It is more refined. It does 'air and stage thing' even better than the both 5s and you can hear the lovely inner details. A microdynamics improves, too. Here, you can tell it gets closer to a CDX2. But not quite. The focus is too much on the midrange and up. The music floats without an anchor. It's not quite a 5 and certainly not a CDX2. It's in sort of a limbo!

[This message was edited by kuma on Fri 24 September 2004 at 5:48.]

[This message was edited by kuma on Fri 24 September 2004 at 5:53.]

quote:

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Originally posted by kuma:

I think they are voiced diffrently. It seems the 5i went back to more or less, the old style Naim sound.

A 5 is probably a better all-rounder and has mroe of midrange presense

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Interesting. Do you think the 5i lacks (to some extent) "midrange presence"?

Martijn you got a PM

NAIM: NAIT5,CD5i, Interlink
Dynaudio: Natural One

quote:

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Originally posted by KenRose:
I don't understand how anyone can not hear the differences between the 5i and the 5. The 5 is clearly better than the 5i.

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Neither do I. The one I heard, I was assured, was run-in, but the 5, from cold, walked all over the warmed-up 5i. The 5i does indeed sound like it's "trying too hard to impress" and tripping over itself in the process, producing a jumbled glob of noise between the speakers.

A CD5 into olive amps sounds pretty good though

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