Hi to all of you.

I am planning to buy new: either a CD5x + Hi-cap, a CD5x + Hi-cap + Hi-line, a CDX2, a CDX2 + Hi-line or the brandnew HDX. And maybe NAC A5 with monted spades.

My question is: does (my present set) Supernait + Stageline + Flatcap2x sound better than Supernait + Stageline + Hi-cap (latest model)? I am using a Rega P3 + Sumiko Bluepoint special Evo III. In other words should I trade the Flatcap2x for the new Hi-cap? I have tried to search the Naim forum but haven’t found anything more specific than that the sound of every source improves when connected to a Hicapped amp.

I have a set of Van Buren Heros speakers (beauties). The dutch dealer of Naim recently has become distributer of Van Buren. They consider the sound of Naim a very good match with the sound of Van Buren (as do I).

Next Tuesday afternoon (12th of august) I will have a demo: Supernait, Flatcap, Hi-cap, CD5x, CDX2, HDX, Hi-line and NAC A5 with monted spades. All on Van Buren Heros.

So I have a Cambridge Audio Azur 840C. And I thought to buy me a new cd-player. I am fond of the sound of Naim. First to further thoughts stated in the first centence. Yesterday (8th of august) I tested my Cambridge Audio Azur 840C against the CD5x on the Supernait and the Heros speakers, and found the Naim better (of course). A hole lot more to the foreground and clearer voices, far more seperation of the instruments/voices (like all the playing artists are standing close together on a small stage compared to every playing artist has more room to play on a bigger stage). Easier to listen to (takes less of an effort to clearly hear everything being presented). Slightly more detail. Tighter bass. But I would like to experience a bigger difference. Hence my plans…

Responds of any kind are very welcome indeed!

Try the CD5x with a flatcap 2x. It takes on a new life
There is a review on the mater. Search the forum for a thread called "naim review database" or something like that. You'll find the CD5x reviewed with and without a flatcap

Regards...

quote:

Originally posted by PP:
Next Tuesday afternoon (12th of august) I will have a demo:

So welcome to the forum.
Another thing you can do is ask the dealer to let you listen to the players at home.
The best way to understand how different machines work in your own room with your amps.
Get a Naim that's your gain.

quote:

Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:

quote:

Originally posted by PP:
Next Tuesday afternoon (12th of august) I will have a demo:

So welcome to the forum.
Another thing you can do is ask the dealer to let you listen to the players at home.
The best way to understand how different machines work in your own room with your amps.
Get a Naim that's your gain.

Gianluidi has said the most important advice. There are so many variables at the dealer's even if he is trying to match your kit. At home you can apprecaite things much better

The difference in the CD5x and CDX2 is punch. The 5 is more to some people's liking because it is smoother. The CDX2 is a bigger scale, but some don't like the in your face quality.

An extended home demo would be best as others have said.

quote:

Originally posted by PP:
Next Tuesday I will have a demo: Supernait, Flatcap, Hi-cap, CD5x, CDX2, HDX, Hi-line and NAC A5 with monted spades.

PP,
Welcome to the fast growing group of Naimlovers in Holland.
Out of this equipment I made my choice last year (and heard recently the HDX in a demo) and I concluded that you become more qualities like wider stage, better separation of instruments, more details, nicer bass and a more quiet sound out of the better units.
In my ears CDX2 gives much more than CD5x,
Supernait with FlatCap is better, with Hi-Cap is much better, so these machines are worth the money I think.( If you want: the XPS2 power supply makes the CDX2 even a dreammachine).
HDX I heard in a dealerdemo: as a CD-player the quality seemed on the same level as the CDX2 with a little different character. Playing ripped music was miraculous, I think om CDS3 level, and all that out of the same CD-disk... !
Only you can choose: is the extra quality worth the extra money ? And others said already: after the demo listen the equipment in your own house !
Lots of succes with your voyage of discovery.

Paul
Wapenveld, Holland

Hi PP
Budget is a big thing, I have a CD5X, great player but is so much better with a FC. Demo this combo first before aiming for bigger, more expensive kit / the 5x is really a great player when setup well.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Labrador:
Welcome to the fast growing group of Naimlovers in Holland.

Second, nice to see there are still more Naim lovers in Holland!

Regards,
Michel

Thank you all for all your responds!

Nice to get the feeling that I'm being taken serious . Thanks for the support.

I will seek to start the demo at the bottem with listening to the flatcapped (2x) CD5x (already tested the bare CD5x).
And I will ask the dealer to let me listen to the equipment at home. To get that done with the HDX won't be easy. So far there seems to be just one piece available as a demo and it is needed for the many planned demo's througout the country the coming period. But I will most certainly ask! See what happens...

Greetings from Patrick Palermo

Hello Patrick,

To make the general point: If I have power supplies (and I do!) I prefer them on the sources rather than the amplifier.

So, for instance, CD5x/FC2x, SN, and the other half of the FC2x on a Stageline could be very nice. Or if you were to go to the next level of CD player up - the CDX2 - then CDX2, SN, and Hi-capped Stageline might also very nice, although some might argue that this would be overkill with a Rega Planar 3.

Others would put the HC on the SuperNait though. Only you can decide! So enjoy your audition and welcome to the Forum.

Best wishes, Chris

Hi Chris,

Will remember your suggestions and will try them out. More variables than I thought. But I have a long breathe and hey, it's all for a worthwile cause! Thanks to you too.

Greetings from PP

Hi Patrick,
I have looked around for info on the van Buren speakers, but although I found their site I can't seem to find prices etc, and there is nothing showing on the Latham (Nl) site.

The set-up ( excluding speakers )you describe is one which I am looking to purchase, so I would be interested as I have not yet settled on which speakers to get.

Cheers

Barrie

Hi Barrie,

The designers of Van Buren have a shop/showroom in Bergambacht. Contact Them

Cheers to you too.

Patrick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

Patrick,

Demo carefully and listen to the set-up for a while. I know that most people posting prefer the HC2 with the SN. However after extended listening, in this case I think the SN performs better with the FC2x. While it is immediately obvious that there is more detail and presence with the HC, I really feel that the music loses something with this combination (HC). The presentation feels heavy and almost too slow and loses the PRAT which it has with the FC2x. I had difficulty listening to the SN/HC2 and got tired of it after a short period. I know this bucks the "upgrade" ladder, but in this combination this is what I heard. If you prefer this combo then you can use the FC2x for both SN and CD5x.

I'm waiting for the HDX to demo and think if you are considering the CDX2, you might want to wait. Initial reports from my dealer who had a short time to listen was that as a CD player it was on a par with CDX2 and replay quality better.

Hi Barrie,

I have noticed that my message has been edited (I'm sorry, Adam Meredith). I seem to have written some things that are not allowed on this site (a site). I'm a first timer on a forum of any kind. I will meet someone from Van Buren and someone from Latham tomorrow. I will certainly report your complaint to them. Maybe they want to be contacted directly in case of questions?

I just want to inform you / answer your questions.

I hope this message is in order now. Otherwise I don't know wahat to do anymore.

Greetings from Patrick

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the info, it is not too much of a complaint about the speakers it was just that I was just interested in getting some information on them, I did drop a mail over to van Buren, so hopefully I will hear from them soon.

Best regards

Barrie

Hi Patrick,

Well, you've had some advice from the Forum, more importantly you've had some dems, so how's it going? What are your thoughts?

Regards, Chris

Chris, I had a demo. It lasted for about two times two hours with a break in the middle. I prefer the HDX. I ordered one. I am on the waitinglist in Holland. Around the first of oktober the importer, the dealer and I expect it to arrive.
Didn't ask for the CDS3. Over budget. Didn't listen to Supercap on HDX. Will do so when I have the money, otherwise I fear that my joy could be tempered and I don't want that! I expect you would like to hear my findings. Here they come.
The sound of the HDX differs from the sound of the CD-players (CD5x/CDX2) all together. It's very easy to listen to. I thought that the bass sounded less loud. Measured it with a meter and I didn't see a difference on the meter. So I was fooled? The bass sounds so precise that it is hard to be believed. In fact I experienced the overall sound to be precise. ! Everything I heared on the HDX breathed the air of ease and self-evidence. The progression of sounds on a guitar speedily played can be heared clearly. On the CD-players those type of sounds seem to somewhat flow over into each other. In my experience details are portrayed in such a way that they belong more to the music as a whole than just being added sounds.
To hear the nuances so clearly! Quite an experience!
The control seems to be endless and effortless.
It sounds more refined and realistic to me.
I will not demo the equipment at home. I was utterly convinced by the sound. The demo was with the same other equipment as I have at home. Supernait and same speakers. I would like to add that I have absolute hearing. I am not trained to know the exact words to every different sound, but I certainly can and could hear everything everybody I ever met (some musicians, some musicmasters and others) could point out to me (and I to them of course).
I am looking foreward to the arrival. Having some difficulties in waiting, but nothing that can't be overcome.
A homenetwork is needed/neccesary. Bought a router and an external harddisc (750Gb). Ready for the future!
Greetings from Patrick.

How much does the HDX cost in The Netherlands?

Hello Patrick,

Thanks for letting me [us] know how it turned out. I don't like to be left hanging by a thread, so to speak.

Enjoy your music through your wonderful new Naim gear.

Best wishes,
Chris