Hi Gentlemen/Ladies,
After posting on here a few months ago regarding fancying a change from Linn to Naim . I took the plunge and now have a Naim Nait 50 (which I love) … I did my due diligence on the forum and have paired the Nait 50 with a pair of Neat Motive sx2 speakers…so far so good. Naim is a totally different listening experience to my previous Linn kit …no opinion on better or worse…its just different and I am really enjoying the change …no regrets. I have a LP12 with Akito arm and Audio technica cartridge…its sounds so revealing and detailed.
The next part of the conundrum is what CD source I should pair the Nait 50 with…I have a Linn Genki…but enjoy the minimalist look of the Nait 50. What CD player should i consider …have read good reviews about the Rega Apollo (concerned about its reliability) what CD player should I match with the Nait 50…what CD player would be an upgrade(Most Important) on the Genki…appreciate some opinions please
Good evening,
Really depends on your budget, as you say Rega are an obvious candidate, if not I’d look closely at Marantz, and there is still the Naim CD5si.
Good luck,
Lindsay
Thanks for such a prompt reply…budget £ 750-1000
Arcam cd5? Or there’s a roksan k3, both within your budget.
In which case I’d try and stretch to Naim 5si.
Hi Robert
Try and find a pre loved Naim CD5XS
It’s perfectly matched to the Nait 50, I’ve got mine running as a transport with the Naim nDAC with Nait 50 but could also use with a pre loved Flatcap XS power supply
Or just use it as standalone , it’s a wonderful CDP highly recommended
Lindemann Network bridge streamer/DAC or Bridge II with Apple CD. You just connect the USB port on the back off Lindemann and off you go. I don’t have it but have considered it.
Very sensible.
I’d buy the best Naim CD player that you can afford.
(or just rip your CDs and get the best Naim streamer you can afford).
Wouldn’t you need play /stop etc buttons, or is there a remote that operates the cd rom drive?
Indeed a gorgeous sounding player, alas Naim no longer have replacement lasers.
My informants advise me that there may well be some available
I’ll see what I can find out
The highest level you can afford, leaner sound than Naim but their later/latest models should be a good match and these are now very reliable.
Before you added budget I was tempted to say Rega Isis valve.
Now I can’t even say Isis or Saturn.
The obvious candidate is Rega Apollo - discontinued but widely available.
More important - its still supported.
I’d no longer risk a Naim CD player (lotto for support) but indeed a CD5XS with matching Flatcap is really good too - as long as its not a doorstop.
I’d avoid the entry level CD5i/Si players, they are not up to other Naim players at all.
Genuine or fakes on a certain auction site?
FYI, have just purchased a Teac PD 505 transport. Still early days but enjoying it. Downside of course is you will need to add a dac. Maybe this will be a fatal negative for you (?).
I didn’t go down the Naim route because of the laser issue and no digital output.
Exposure…… maybe worth a look?
Good call.
Clever device! More “computer” than an audio interface.
You’re probably right on this Lindsay based on what NeilS has advised
However there might be a few lasers floating around here down under which I’ll try and find out
You may be able to locate the CDP that was manufactured in the final years so that should last a bit longer
All a bit hit and miss by the looks of it.
I now have a CD5XS and CDX2.2 with either as a back up, hopefully they don’t go belly up at the same time 
Cheers