Plugged in my new CDX2 on Friday night and nearly fell over.

I used to have CD3.5/HC and now I wonder why I put up with that for so long.

I started playing selected tracks and found that I was FORCED to listen to the whole CD. I wanted to play my whole collection again.

I think for the first time in months, I wasn't listening hard to my hifi but I was falling inlove with the music all over again.

Now I know where I'm heading for next... XPS. But I just wanted to ask you guys what you would recommend when upgrading the backend. I have 72/140/HC. For significant improvement should I consider 282 or olive 82/52 and should I go for 180 or 250? If I was to move to new kit what would be the natural path?

Cheers.
Kid's in heaven!!!!

I'm guessing since you have a HC for the 282 you may as well reach for the 250 if you can. I have a 200 and it's very good and great value, but from what I hear the 250 is stupendous.

-Mike

Nice one Kid. This was from cold huh? My box arrived last Thursday and I didn't like it much until it had been running for about 2 hours. Four days on it's all WOW! BLOODY HELL! and other similar evpressions. I WANT an XPS2 also, but I must let it burn in first.

There seem to be a few new CDX2 owners in here of late. Lucky us.

I'm posting on my originial pre dem thread as the player burns in. Having gassed on and on for a month I might as well report on the whole experience from dem to burnt in.

Question: there's a hole in the base at the front below the Naim logo - any ideas? Bulb/LED replacement perhaps?

Cheers

Harry

Sundance

Is'nt it great. The good news is if you can afford it there is more to come.
In the new stuff I would recommend planning for at least a 282/run off your HC to start with. In the amp dept. the 250.2 is a great choice. Once you have recovered funds a SC2 can go othe 282. I agree with you and would do the XPS2 first of all myself since I thought it had the most impact, provided you defintely plan the other upgrades. All this of course should be demoed to make sure it suits you're ears.

There is a lot of merit in the older kit especially since a 52 can be picked up for a nice price 2nd hand and of course the mkI 250. It all depends whether you are into the old sound which is more "in your face" than the new series, or think you would like a slightly more refined presentation but still with plenty of PRaT.

The one thing for sure you will enjoy the experience.

regards
GEOFF

The boring old fart

quote:

---

Question: there's a hole in the base at the front below the Naim logo - any ideas? Bulb/LED replacement perhaps?

Cheers

Harry

---

Harry

From memory I think you are referring to the area where the metal rod the drawer revolves around when it swings in & out on is mounted'into the case bottom. That is not a hole all the way thru.

regards
GEOFF

The boring old fart

Harry,

I don't know whether it has something to do with the little silver caps that can be put on the front of them if you fancy a little stainless steel!!!!

Mike, I've started saving already lol

Kid

quote:

---

Question: there's a hole in the base at the front below the Naim logo - any ideas? Bulb/LED replacement perhaps?

Cheers

Harry

---

I think the hole is the IR receiver for the remote.

I don't know if it's so applicable to a 72, but I upgraded my 62s to an 82, and found a big improvement.

Paul

Congrats Sundance - you can expect the CDX2 to get better still after another month or two. Mine did!

I can also vouch for the NAP250. I bought a SH one (olive) to replace a 180 a few weeks ago and the improvement is not subtle, it sounds so much more effortless - much more space and separation, better resolution of both large and small dynamic changes, and much easier to listen to. 250.2 better still no doubt, but I haven't got that kind of money at the moment!

Getting the CDX2 first is definitely the right decision though.

Congrats, Sundance and Harry, I've never had this moment when the CDX2 replaced "something else", because I had it with my initial Naim system (together with 112/150), but I know that it took me seconds with my dealer to decide that the step from CD5 to CDX2 was huge.

On the upgrade questions, everything has been said, here and in other threads:

XPS
282
250

Best regards, freundliche Grüße

Stefan

It's just so crazy how incredible it makes you feel when you know you're finally getting to the sound you want... funds permitting of course. Makes me more keen to win the lottery!

So it's 282/250/HC with SC eventually. But for now, its warm up - improve, burn in - improve, XPS2 EUREKA!

Cheers Chaps.

quote:

---

Four days on it's all WOW! BLOODY HELL! and other similar evpressions. I WANT an XPS2 also, but I must let it burn in first.

---

I'm sure that the CDX2 is a great CD-player, but what I find more difficult to understand is,... how come some new CDX2 owners already feel the need to upgrade by adding an XPS2 so soon.

I'm still using a CDX(1) for about 2,5 years now, and never thought about upgrading to an XPS, because imho it already sounds great on its own.
(ok, also because it's too expensive and hardly showes up s/h)

Perhaps if I ever heard what my CDX would sound like by adding the XPS, I might feel different though

On a Dutch HiFi forum I often visit, there was some conversation going, last week about (Naim) CDP's that could be upgraded by adding a seperate PSU.

One regular visitor there said:"A good CDP should already have the best/biggest PS internally"
"People shouldn't be 'misguided' by offering the chance to 'upgrade' by paying insane amounts of money for only a black box with a PSU in it"

Hmm,...imho he does have a fair point.

Although I can also confirm the improvement by adding a .cap to a CDP.
(once added a flatcap to a CD3.5)

regards,
Alco

Alco

The guy is talking rubbish. At the end of the day does the improvement brought about by the addition of an xps offer good value for money within the context of the total system? There are not many out there who do not love what an xps (1 or 2) does.

The key word the contributer falls over with is 'internally'. It is the act of removing components such as transformers away from the more 'delicate' cuircuitry that adds so much to performance.I don't really blame him for his mistake, after all it is one which nearly all competing manufacturers of cd players make!!!

HI,
I had a CDX2 into a 102-hicap-180-sbl's on Mana
I auditioned the 282/XPS2/250-2.
As a result of that audition I went 282 1st, then XPS2, then Fraim, then 250-2 last in terms of bang for buck and sound per pound etc.

Then i changed the sbl's to sl2's.

andy c!

In my case the answer is simple Alco. Having heard what a Hi Cap did to my CD5 I am left in no doubt as to the potential sonic benefits of adding and external power supply to a Naim CDP. Of course it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that any such upgrade will only be undertaken after a long home trial of the XPS2. So why am I reaching for my cheque book already? See my answer above

Thanks for the relpies about the hole folks.

Cheers

Harry

Sundance, congratulations. It appears you err like it then

Oh god...how many more threads like this in which I will sheepishly have to offer my congratulations before I finally acquire one for myself...!!

Regards,

JonR

That all depends Jon. How flush are you?

Have you heard a CDX2 in your system yet - sorry, I can't remember. If you haven't then cheer up, you may hate the CDX2!

PS sorry about ignoring your kind offer in the other place - I'm not very good at checking PTs. I will try harder.

Cheers

Harry

As another 5 day old owner of a CDX2 (one of many, it seems) I can only echo Harry's observations - it just keeps on changing every day. Just when you thought it could not get any better, it does. The 'medium' is disappearing and the music comes closer.

BTW - one small question to other owners - when my CD tray is closed, it actually goes a couple of millimetres beyond the plane of the front of the player, i.e. it travels a bit too far in, especially on the left side. Does not seem to affect function though, but just wondering whether mine needs a little adjustment or something...

I think the CDX2 is a great player, for a CD player. My reason for considering an XPS2 is to close the gap between it and my TT. However, I am not sure whether £4.5K is money well spent on an intrinsically inferior medium (CD).
Cheers
Simon

Just wanted to echo the PSU debate. Every PSU add on or upgrade has made a significant difference to my system - from a HC on a 72, SC on an 82, even Lingo on an LP12!! And of course they are generally re-uable (my old HC is now powering my SNAXO)
Have now ordered an CDX2 and will be placing an order for an XPS2 very soon. On demo the addition of an XPS2 gave a much more natural/analogue feel to the sound.
The interesting point of comparison for me of course will be between the CDX2 and LP12...
Any thoughts