Hello
So correctly thinking a new CDP and love naim-so cd5si it is
Concurrently thinking of moving to 282 preamp, with maybe a view to separates
I know both subjects have been covered separately previously
But I’ve seen some comments that cd5si can appear exposed with upgraded amps.
So considering my future plans, would welcome thgts on whether cd5si is a poor idea
Hmmmm. Options 
I’ve heard the CD5si a few times, albeit with XS and SN integrated amps. It’s okay and works well enough… But I might consider there are better CD players, if that’s your primary source and your intention is for NAC282?
Naim CD5XS and CDX2 is a better choice, the last examples being made in 2018. So, now getting on for 6+ years old. Needs to be said, dubious outlook for service and maintenance. So maybe that’s not a viable option.
As a better alternative to the CD5si, maybe consider the shoe box size Cyrus CDP’s ?
Have you considered a CD transport and separate external DAC ?
Many here have opted for AudioLab CDT 9000.
Maybe add a pre-loved Chord DAC. Or a nDAC.
My own reference point is CD5 XS → nDAC → NAC282.
An Innous ZENmini mk 3, with Chord Qutest comes close with SQ.
Go listen to a few CDP’s, separate CD transports & DAC combo’s.
Maybe also Innous servers.
Have some fun along the way.
Good luck.
R
Agree with caution expressed - as a CDX2 owner.
Exactly 
I’m in the same boat.
CD5 XS in our house.
Thanks for replies. Realise it’s all dependent on my user experience. But my worry is I get disappointed quickly
Was looking at other cap if I break budget-which are luxman d-03, Bryston cd-3 or marantz sa-10
I’ve had marantz for years and like the sound. Luxman not listened to but read that not a great match with naim
Bryston-just come up in my research
Any views of these (I see Bryson not really mentioned on here)
I would definitely encourage a bit of caution and hearing a few options. The 282 may well show up that CD player.
I am a big fan of Naim CD players, and use a CDS2. However, when it dies, I will either rip CDs to a Core or get a good CD transport (Audiolab?). I can play either through the streamer and it’s DAC (NDX2/XPSDR in my case). and there’s nothing to choose between them for SQ.
Perhaps increasing streaming at the expense of CD buying will lead more people who still want access to their CDs as well as streaming to do the same.
Even if you don’t want to stream now, that sort of thinking suggests that separating CD transport and DAC now may give you more flexibility and/ or VFM later. After all, someone buying a CD player and (perhaps later) a streamer has bought 2 DACs but only needs one.
Exactly
Given Naim’s absence in the CDP market I’d look at Marantz or Rega.
Thanks a lot for coming back. Really helpful.
However whilst you can never say never, I am pretty sure I will not go streaming route. If anything I want less internet connectivity in my life (realise that is perhaps a fools errand and also ironic considering i am responding on an online forum!)
I was at a Naim dealer a few weeks ago, and another customer asked me to join him for a demo, stating with a CD5si/Nait5si. It sounded pretty good with the dealers choice of easy-to-drive speakers, but the guy had some more demanding Dynaudios which the Nait clearly couldn’t handle. So he tried a NaitXS3, and that was slightly better with the Dynaudios, but only when moving to a Supernait 3 did they really start to sing.
The problem then was that you could really hear the limitations of the CD5si. The dealer then hooked up a better CD player (Luxman, I think) that he recommended as a match for the Supernait, and the sound was transformed into something much more enjoyable. So the CD5si was removed from the listener’s shortlist.
Given that the 282 is a couple of steps up the Naim ladder from the Supernait, I think you’ll find the limitations of the CD5si even more obvious.
Remember that if you rip your own CDs and then play them with a network player, it’s entirely within your house with no internet involved. ‘Streaming’ can mean both playing your own locally stored music as well as using something like Tidal or Qobuz.
The question is whether you want to spend £4,000 on a CD player - the CD5si is nowhere near good enough for a 282 etc amplifier - or whether a used NDX2 or ND5XS2 might be a better bet. Rip the CDs to a NAS and you’ll get SQ way above the CD5si.
This is a v good point and something I’ve looked at. But there are some technical pieces that you need to apply with your router for this to work properly (this may be easy I don’t know)
We listen to loads of radio. I bought a musu for the kitchen-internet radio from round the world. But we’ve been heavily put off WiFi devices-constantly dropping in and out. Realise a musu is not an ndx2 but wife (the boss) is definitely against it
Plus-ndx2 plus hard drive/NAS say 8k To save cd space? Not sure
There are lots of other reasons-
evident obsolescence in tech-not because your product is no longer the best, rather the 3rd party you rely on no longer support the tech you have e.g. iPhones and wired earphones
Streaming platforms-not sure (and I know they vary) they support new music
Lastly dopamine chasing. People I know who stream don’t seem to be able to listen to an album. Too easy to click to something else. My experience is best albums take time to love. Streaming platforms take that away imo.
Lastly concept of economic rent.
I know people love streaming and I am a novice. But I like simple as possible.
It’s worth looking into. I have over 4,000 albums on a NAS and listen to them just like I would a CD or LP. Just because it’s on hard drive storage doesn’t mean you regress to the attention span of a gnat. It’s entirely up to you.
A well set up wired network is easy to achieve. You shouldn’t have dropouts, if well done it just works.
Agree totally. You don’t need to touch the internet with streamers. Also don’t forget that audio streaming is now well over 12 years old and there lots of cheap second hand streaming options that will easily out do a cd player. For example since Linn switched to their new casing there are loads of second hand akurate and especially klimax level ds streamers available all with dealer upgrade options.
But something like roon as a curation engine and a streaming service like qobuz is just lovely especially if you like jazz and classical. So much music to enjoy and lose youself in.
I am sure that it’s great, just not for me.
If naim made a cdx2.3 or similar I would bite their hand off. I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone
Question is-if naim hadn’t moved to streaming focus, I wonder if streaming would be so popular on here?
I also wonder why it’s not popular in Japan (arguably a major home of tech)
Anyway-going off topic a bit. Everyone has been v kind in giving me a steer on the cd5si and next steps
Hi Straydog. Totally understand and keep enjoying your cds! There is something magical about handling physical objects. Thats why I reverted back to vinyl from cd in 2014 - its just lovely to handle them!
The cd was probably taken as far as it could go with the inherent issues with the cd transport and the fact that it is not a very reliable way of storing digital audio. Linn stopped making cd players years and years ago in favour of their streaming devices because they rapidly outstripped the cd player and honestly have got massively better every 2-3 years since with dac and power supply upgrades. So that explains why cd players died out.
I live in the best of both worlds now - vinyl when I want to handle the physical object and music service streaming with all my cds sitting the loft but all available at the touch of a button! Enjoy.
Thank you badger. Yes the LP12 is also on my wish list. A wonderful piece of equipment. How old is vinyl now-100 years?
Maybe the process and the physicality are more attactive for some people. Or maybe I’m just a Luddite!
An Audiolab 9000CDT costs under £1000. A s/h Naim nDAC costs about the same - remarkable VFM and plenty good enough for an upgrade to (say) 282/HC/250.
For what you want, I suspect the only downside is that that is 2 boxes - the upside is a great source that few £2k CD players can match (or at least I can’t think of one).
I’d agree with the idea of a CD transport with an nDAC. I used a CD5XS as transport into nDAC for several years (and still have the CD player). And it can be made even better by adding a power supply such as XPS.
And if you do decide at some point to go down the streaming route, an ND5XS2 used with the nDAC would make a fine combination within the Naim ecosystem.
Roger
Don’t be fooled into thinking that endless bits of additional network hardware, configuration, and expensive audiophile equipment is necessary to get good results from a streamer. People like to tweak this stuff, just like they do with their hifi systems, as endless threads on this forum will show you.
All you need to do is connect a streamer and server to your router, go through a one-off initial setup procedure (which your dealer should be able to do for you) and you’re ready to go.