Pretty much sums where I’m at sir so thank you. I guess I’ve hit a kind of blockage. It sounds awful but right now I just can’t face it. I should emphasise there’s nothing else terrible going on in the background here. Work is great. I’m healthy. Been a grandparent for 9 months. 14 year old thriving at school. All is good. There’s just this one thing. It is, as you surmise, a big thing as I’m definitely one of those people (as I’m sure many of us are) who cannot imagine life without playing or listening to music.
So yeah, right now, having offloaded and read many kind words in consequence, I’m at a total impasse. Can’t face working my way through it logically. Can’t face my lovely dealer who has largely had little from me but issues.
Brilliantly tonight, to add insult to injury, the power went down in our area for 5 minutes, which will no doubt encourage the power conspiracists amongst you.
As regards some of the things you’ve variously raised.
The TV sound, off the Sky box, is connected to Aux 2 rather than AV. Think it was once on Aux 1 in error but there was no detectable difference. I just like having it on the end input as it’s easier to locate when you have a sight impairment, which to be honest is another reason I simply don’t want to get involved in the many suggestions as to how to systematically solve this.
The system is powered mostly via a Musicline Powerigel bar the 200, which has pretty much always had it’s own Powerline. Yes, I have tried it on every other box. Always preferred it on the 200.
Whilst my Zu speakers came direct from Zu the impetus came from repeated demos at a Naim dealer. Whilst some Zu speakers most definitely work best with low powered valve amps that isn’t true across the board. Many work just as well with solid state e.g. the Omen Defs and Omen. Indeed the latter are designed to specifically do that. Mine are most definitely designed for valve but so were Druids and I’ve heard multiple demos where they were stunning with Naim. Mine have also spent months being amazingly dynamic and alive.
I spent 3 years auditioning speakers and thus have heard most of the suggestions being offered. None of them felt like any great leap from the Epos.
Everything in the system was purchased new. All connections have been plugged and unplugged for cleaning and connection purposes periodically.
Has the room changed? New, lower sofas in February. Located in the same positions as the previous ones. Whole family thought it the biggest upgrade we’d had in years. Opened the sound up even more.
Yes, the CDX2 is 17 years young and so the end could be nigh at any point but it’s been an absolute trojan. Not one issue ever. I’m not going to make this a Naim bashing thing. Far from it. If I didn’t love the products I’d never have gone on the journey.
Have I considered streaming? Yes, but ideally I’d rather not. I’d rather Naim still produced a player of the quality of the CDX2. I’ve heard various streaming options but the NDX2 is the first where, although it’s a different sound to the CDX2, it has the PRaT and much else besides. Sadly the money put aside for that was quickly diverted to new sofas and a major bathroom repair which regrettably failed; caused further issues and requires further repair and redecoration.
Does that cover it?
Two things leap out for me.
1 - the issue around the speakers and impedance. Could it be that over time these speakers with this amplification eventually creates an issue? I don’t have the expertise to answer that or the will/funds to change speakers so any change would be on the Naim side of things.
2 - the earth leakage question. Would that affect mids?
Anyways, to bed methinks.