I am considering either upgrading my current system CDX/XPS,82Super, 135's, SBLs. My CDX and 82 sit an a Mana amp stand (phase 1). I am considering either upgrading to:

1. 52
2. CDX,82 to phase 2, 4 tier amp stand for XPS,Super&135' & Stands for my SBLs

The cost is similar or very close. I didn't want to post this on the Mana forum because it is to promotional for me. My concerns with the 52 are that it might reveal the limit of my CDX and push me to a CDS2. I am concerned the Mana will bring out something negative or just change the character of the sound making it different and maybe getting away from the "Naim" sound. What would you vote for and why?

John

John,

IMO, your setup deserves a CDS2 first and foremost. I think most people would agree CDS2/82/Super sounds better than CDX/XPS/52/Super. As a source component, the CDS/X really deserves to have its own dedicated supports and I would suggest you trade your 2-tier for a Reference Table plus X-tier for your X number of black boxes.

James

For James:

I borrowed a CDS2 for two weeks and was not knocked out by what I heard. The player is better but with my setup the differences where not important to me. The Mana stand significantly closed the gap between the players. This is why I am considering a 52 instead.

For the Mana I was sold on getting a 2 tier for the source and preamp. Have you done a side by side comparison or is the setup you are recommending waht was sold to you?

Thanks for your input!

John

John

I would recommend getting a soundstage under your two tier rack. This will bring big improvements for not much outlay.

Once you have tried that, you will no doubt be tempted to go for a 4 tier and SBL stands. These will give you better sound when (if) you splash out on a 52 - a no waste upgrade path. But even if you go for a 52 second, you won't regret the soundstage!

dozy

John,
My system is pretty much identical to the one you will reach if you get the 52. I cannot comment directly about the 82/52 upgrade as I went straight from a 72 to a 52. However, Nic Peeling did this upgrade a while back and was suitably impressed if I recall correctly. Having said that, I'm also a Mana fan and have posted on the various Mana upgrades I have done to my system. The CDX is now at phase 6 and sounds sublime. Don't worry about it being on a separate source only stand (if you go that route). It is not really that important. Getting power supplies/power amps on a separate stand to source and pre-amp is probably more important. If you do this try and keep to two separate stands only as it will ease the burden if you decide to add more and more soundstage layers under your racks. I would endorse the advice to get a single soundstage and try this versus a home loan of a 52. This should give you a fair idea of the relative merits of each route. Whichever way you choose to go I doubt that you will be disappointed.

Regards

Neil

Neil:

Thanks for you input. It sounds like you have a CDX/XPS,52. Does the CDX sound negative in anyway wih the 52? Hard? Bright? to forward? Or have you found the soundstaging to help in this regard? I love the presentation of the CDX and really don't want to be forced into a CDS2 because of something negative the 52 reveals. I like to receive other peoples opinion who have lived with the equipment as well as home demos, as demos can be very limited in what you learn.

Thanks
John

John,
I've tried the CDS2 on home loan twice now (first time the output stage got fried by the XPS. Naim fixed everything up. Turned out that a short had developed in my connector cable). Second time I had it for about a week. This was on top of Mana phase 4 at the time (with 52/super/135's on phase 2 and SBL's on phase 2). The CDS2 definately had more detail at this listening but I felt it lost something in terms of timing, attack and musicality compared to the CDX.

If you live in the West Midlands area why not e-mail me and we can arrange for you to pop round and have a listen. I tired e-mailing you earlier today but my message got bounced.

Regards

Neil

John,

quote:

---

For the Mana I was sold on getting a 2 tier for the source and preamp. Have you done a side by side comparison or is the setup you are recommending waht was sold to you?

---

I have always subscribed to separate stands for separate sources (where viable, of course) and to this end, my LP12 and CD2 sit on their own Soundshelf and Soundtable respectively. I did try parking the CD2 on the 5-tier (top shelf) with a view of mounting the LP12 on the Soundtable, and found that it didn't sound as good. Admittedly the differences were not significant, i.e. the Mana Effect was still there.

If you already have a 2-tier for your CDX and 82, then multi-phasing it will magnify the Mana Effect. You mention that the CDS2 provided improvements in areas you do not care about. What were these? I have heard the CDS2 on several occasions and it is a significantly more musical machine than CDX/XPS. Perhaps you value the hi-fi aspects more. If so, I'm not sure the 52 will float your boat as much as a stack of Mana. Can you possibly try before you buy? I couldn't.

James

If it doesn't come out of the 82 it doesn't matter how good the stand is.

Chris

James:

If you look through some of the prior threads I wrote a significant amount about the differences. I came to agreement with Arthur Bye that using a television as an anologue the CDX was flat with the contrast slightly turned up and the CDS was flat with the color slightly turned up. For me the increased contrast gives a more live realism in the timing and attack. Is this real or not real, I don't care. When I stopped analyzing (left brain listening) the CDS2 emotionally (right brain listening) didn't provide me with anything more. I listen mostly to Jazz. The CDS2 resolved the sounds of the instruments better but I felt at the expense of the timing and attack. I am not the only person who feels this way. IMO the CDS2 provided more Hi Fi gains rather than musical. Just my 2 cents.

John

Neil:

I don't know why my e-mail doesn't work. I will try yours.

OK you don't have that option listed. Try johnlitt@infoserve.net

I would love to hear your opinions. I live in Canada so I don't think a demo is feasable. Thanks
for the offer.

John