Best CD Player? Naim CDX, Naim CD5, Linn Ikemi

[Arthur Collins]

I want to buy a top-notch CD player for my system. I realize that the
new formats are coming, but I have a lot of CD's and the reality is
that probably any new combo players will be a comprimise for regular
redbook CD's anyway. My system currently consists of Linn AV-5140B
Speakers (Aktiv), 3xLK-140 Linn Amps,
Linn Sondek LP-12 current spec, Linn Kollektor Preamp, Linn Mimik CD
Player. I had intended fully on buying the Linn Ikemi CD player which
had seemed to get universal praise and would be a good match for my
system. However, I got an oportunity to evaluate the new CD-5 from
Naim at home in my system and gave it a spin out of curiousity, having
never owned any Naim equipment and thinking it quite quirky. I thought
it totally cranked, it was dynamic, detailed and very alive. It made
my system come alive, much better than the laid-back polite sound of
the Mimik. I evaluated an Ikemi at home later on and was disapointed,
it was a big improvement over the Mimik, and the sound seemed much
more detailed, but was sort of thin and soft compared to the grab you
by the N*** sound of the Naim. So then, I sort of wished I had never
taken the Naim home, but decided hey, let's try the CDX. I thought the
CDX was terrific as well, I have a much harder time deciding whether I
like the CD5 or CDX the best though. They both sound great, the CD5 is
more upfront than the CDX, but the CDX still is great sounding and it
does HDCD. I am wondering what peoples experience with these 3 players
have been, I am leaning towards the CDX, but am a little hesitant in
that I was worried about it's synergy with my all Linn system. The
sound is great. I also wondered what people thought of the Ikemi, it
seemed nice and maybe I didn't listen to it well enough to hear it's
highly praised attributes, but I seemed to think the Naim was just
more grabbing. Also, at lower volumes the Linn was not engaging at
all, I thought the CDX especially and the CD5 to a lesser degree was
still engaging and vivid at lower volume levels, although I can't
explain why the level would impact the overall sound that much.....
Anyway, any experinces, advice whatever would be appreciated.
Art.

[Dori Pratt & Tom Pettigrew]

Have you been to the Naim Forum?
http://naim-audio.infopop.net/1/OpenTopic?a=cfrm
You will get tons of Naim biased info there. I would say that if the CD5
and the CDX are a toss up, than you need to decide first if the upgrade
path is something yo will follow, ie adding a posew supply. Then the CDX may
be the way to go, as you can add a XPS, then get a CDS2. If the upgrade
path is of little importance than get the CD5 for $2000 less and buy music

[Robert Neill]

My recommendation is that you stretch for the CDX and plan to add the
XPS external power supply as soon afterward as feasable. I don't
think there's a better cdp around until you hit The Next Tier, which
begins at $11K and ascends rapidly thereafter. The CDX/XPS is a
superb machine, balancing resolution, dynamics, and 'musicality'
wonderfully. It would be at home in any system under $50K. I agree
with you about the Next Format. Whichever wins, just plug it into a
separate input. I very much doubt any combination is going to do
justice to our red book cds, of which I also have a HUGE pile.

[Stewart Pinkerton]

rne...@clarku.edu (Robert Neill) writes:

>My recommendation is that you stretch for the CDX and plan to add the
>XPS external power supply as soon afterward as feasable. I don't
>think there's a better cdp around until you hit The Next Tier, which
>begins at $11K and ascends rapidly thereafter.

There is, actually, it's the Arcam CD-23, and it's a *lot* less than
$11k. You may *prefer* the quirky Naim sound, but it ain't accurate!

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is art, audio is engineering

[David Hayes]

pat...@popmail.dircon.co.uk (Stewart Pinkerton) wrote in message news:<9h8g...@enews1.newsguy.com>...

> rne...@clarku.edu (Robert Neill) writes:
>
> >My recommendation is that you stretch for the CDX and plan to add the
> >XPS external power supply as soon afterward as feasable. I don't
> >think there's a better cdp around until you hit The Next Tier, which
> >begins at $11K and ascends rapidly thereafter.
>
> There is, actually, it's the Arcam CD-23, and it's a *lot* less than
> $11k. You may *prefer* the quirky Naim sound, but it ain't accurate!

So we should listen to so-called *accurate* hi-fi rather than
components we *prefer*? Kinda takes the fun out of it, doesn't it?