Naim cdx2.2

Hi-Fi Corner
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Good morning, I have a Naim CDX2.2 Supernait3 + Hi Cap Dr system and Sigma Acoustics Ouverture 2018 speakers with AMT tweeters. The 230V power cables are Duelund DCA12 220V, the signal cable is Mogami 2534 and the speakers are Kudos KS-1. The sound is very analog, but to my taste, a little amber-toned and not very open and airy. The CDX2.2 will certainly characterize the sound. I wonder if adding some kind of power supply would open up the sound? Or will I have to replace it with another player? Which one? Thanks

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A Naim XPS makes a significant difference, bass especially, not more bass as that would unbalance the sound, but bass feel & power.
Overall it brings more/better definition, sound stage and a sense of realism.

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With a very quick search I found a review suggesting those speakers are fairly warm sounding. I haven’t heard them though. Whilst I definitely agree re the benefits of an XPS power supply, I would wonder if these define the character of your system?

Are you sure the power cables are working for you? Easy to swap back to OEM and a no-cost test. Some people find non-original power cables on Naim kit can slightly deaden the sound.

Bruce

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I’d undo my last change and see if the characteristics change and then move on from there. I’d certainly demo alternative components at a time starting with the cd player.

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We found that adding a power supply to the CDX2 brought about a step change improvement, not an incremental one. Highly recommended.

best regards, BF

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Hi,

I’m normally the last person to suggest change wires but my experience is that upstream of amps Naim electronics work best with Naim cables. So I would in the first instance reinstate the Naim wires. Speaker cable? Maybe Kudos KS1 or perhaps some Chord Odyssey (available 2nd hand).

Beyond that XPS2(DR) is a great upgrade makes the CDX2 more analogue. Available on a certain auction site.

Good luck.

Regards,

Lindsay

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7

Adding an xps to your Cdx2 will definitely open the sound. It’s transformative.

When your Cdx2 will die, you can keep the xps to power for example an Ndx2.

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I wanted to point out that I had the motherboard replaced at the Naim authorized service center in Lasa di Piacenza. This is a procedure that Naim recommends every 10-15 years on its players. So, everything is original.

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I wasn’t aware Naim recommended any sort of service for CD players.

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Good morning, I replaced the original rigid feet with the more modern soft Naim ones, and the sound is now more focused, open, and airy. It’s always interesting to hear the differences Naim power supplies bring.

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They don’t. Only repair is recommended. You need to be careful due to the risk of the mech failure while being transported.

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Characteristic. The power cables can add to that. Throw in speaker cables as well.

This, make a baseline with the grey interconnect, Naca5 and standard powelines.

Then add XPS (DR) make sure it’s serviced or within the interval. Take it from there.

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If it’s a 2.2 then it’ll have a digital output?

If so, then would another option be an nDAC (a truly wondrous beast that turns up on the infamous auction site for around a grand - there are two at the moment), and ultimately you could add an XPS to the nDAC?

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15

Sage advice. This way you can add either XPS or nDac, whichever comes up first, and eventually both.

Then if/when the transport finally dies it’s easily replaced with eg Audiolab and you’ve still got the Naim sound.

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Good morning, thanks everyone for the advice. The PSU is something I’m looking for used. It’s a good deal, as it happens. In exchange for the NDAC, I thought about an NDX2 in the future and possibly connecting the CDX2 to the streamer and powering it via the XPS DR. But I was able to verify that by reinstalling the original feet (the rigid ones instead of the soft ones), the sound gains significantly in airiness and openness. With the soft feet, the bass increases but not the extension, but it slightly muddys the mid and high range, losing definition and clarity.

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Any thoughts on going back to OEM power and interconnects etc? It is a free test, assuming you kept the originals.

Bruce

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Good morning, I also replaced the power cables with the original ones, and the sound opened up and became even clearer. The Duelund power cables, although excellent, are on the warm side of neutral, and I didn’t like that with the CDX2.2. Thanks everyone for the advice

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