Naim CDX 2.2 needs love

Hi-Fi Corner
81

Soak mode on the later CD5 firmware (begins with a flashing zero), counts unrecoverable mistracks beyond the error correction’s capabilities. This could be due to a dirty/damaged disc, tired laser/receiver diode or mechanical issues with the sled drive (among others). The player will count up to 10 errors & then display “Err”. A total loss of tracking will also result in “Err”.

The early CD5 firmware didn’t count minor mistracks (displaying a flashing track number) & only recorded “Err” on a total loss.

Regards

Neil.

2 Likes
82

Any facts to refute it? (didn’t think so)

I’ve never had a CD/DVD player crap out on me except my CDX2. Yes, that’s an n-of-one, but it’s consistent with may reports on this and other fora. I’m guessing less than 50% of the CDX2 (and other NAIM) players are operational by now.

83

All guess work , you might be right but who knows

My experience opposite of yours - had Naim CDP’s since they were invented , none of them have “crapped out “ using your words

Currently using CD5XS and CDX2 and all good

8 Likes
84

@bevo - pretty please, can I have one. Your choice :rofl:

1 Like
85

Ha ha

In a word - NO :zany_face::face_with_tongue:

1 Like
86

@Bevo I was just kidding!

But..but…but, you happen to be the perfect lab rat, :rofl:, I am curious if you’ve tested the CDX2 vs CD5XS? I also have a Naim DAC - that has a XPS DR. While, I play my CDX2 directly into the Supernait3 (+HiCapDR), I would consider looking at a CD5XPS, if my CDX2 fails completely.

Thank you!

87

I know you were kidding

CDX2 is better than the CD5XS as stand alone products and so it should be for price difference

Add a nDAC to the CD5XS and it’s a different matter , gets close

I’m currently using the CD5XS as transport into the NDX2 dac - very enjoyable

3 Likes
88

I hear a lonely CDX2, crying. Oops - I don’t hear it…it’s not plugged in :folded_hands:t3:

89

Good to know. Fingers crossed, my CDX2 can be resurrected back to life. Hope is all we have! :smirking_face:

90

I don’t know - a question best answered by FNNA.

1 Like
91

Am I allowed to suggest adjusting the laser gain? It’s not a “mod” just an adjustment.
(Tiny increase - usually just a tiny plastic potentiometer)

Caveat - ask a competent person to make the adjustment.

It’s a bit of a last resort, might fix the issue and give you another year of service?

Bottom line though is that if it is the laser, it’s on its way out…..

92

It’s worth checking as under the 2021 right to repair legislation such information is to me made available unless CD players were carved out .. as there were some types of products delayed to 2026 such as laptops and smartphones. I also don’t know the status of obsolete products though… anyway worth checking.

93

If you’re prepared to search about in the old forum, there was a fairly long thread at the time the nDAC was introduced, mainly about a careful assessment by a dealer of the effect of adding the DAC to CD players, including a comparison between CD5XS + nDAC and CDX2 bare. IIRC the title included something along the lines of “A dealer writes”, but I may have misremembered.

Roger

1 Like
94

Through having owned and loving these products the CDX2 has a very different presentation to the NDAC. Yes they both used the Texas Instruments PCM1704K but other large differences elsewhere including major differences with the DSP… with the NDAC using Analog Devices over sampling and IIR low pass filtering, where as the CDX2 using the Pacific Microsonics HDCD DSP.

95

Hi @Richard.Dane FNNA reached out to me and suggested I send the unit for replacement of the radial crack on the platter. Unfortunately, if the issue is beyond simple alignment and platters they can’t replace the laser or the VAM since those are not available.

It’s located in Quebec - Canada and I am in Seattle. So assessing the impacts of transportation :rofl:.

1 Like
96

@Simon-in-Suffolk i might do a A/B tonight.

I have an nDAC/XPS DR that I use for streaming from my Mac/Qobuz/Audirvana thingi.

That thought hadn’t occurred to me. I have also loved the CDX2 bare so much that I never bothered, and once I added a HICAP to the SN3 - the sound from the CDX2 became so sweet.

That’ll be an interesting listen! :smirking_face:.

4 Likes
97

Time for a road trip/short holiday?

I would say that Quebec’s lovely this time of year, but that rather depends on how you feel about temperatures with a minus sign in front of them.

2 Likes
98

I normally draw the line at 0F. But in this case - I might have to make an exception :rofl:.

1 Like
99

Just think in terms of real temperature values which is the kelvin scale, so on that basis its pretty warm😉

2 Likes
100

Sad news. Over the past week, the skipping got worse. I ended up taking the CDX2.2 for a platter repair —which led to a mech replacement, and nothing worked.

Unfortunately, the CdX2.2 has been retired. A beautiful spinner - surreal sound. Onwards!

4 Likes