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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Naim CD5 CD Player/Recorder by Jakkar

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REVIEW: Naim CD5 CD Player/Recorder

205.216.233.197


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Model: CD5
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $2250
Description: Naim's new entry level CDP
Manufacturer URL: Naim
Manufacturer URL: Naim

Review by Jakkar on April 14, 2003 at 07:26:03
IP Address: 205.216.233.197
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for the CD5


I am a new owner of this CDP and as my player is not properly "broken in" I can only speak to impressions fresh out of the box. This player has displayed a marked improvement over all CDPs I have previously used including one I thought was excellent, the Cary CD-308. As can be seen I am not using this player in an all Naim setup instead I am using a Rogue Audio setup. Right out of the box this player made CDs I had previously thought of as subpar sound better than I had every heard them. For example, I love the CDs but I could never understand why so many audiophiles were singing the praises of the new Johnny Cash albums. There just seemed to be too much "glare" on these CDs with the Cary. I put the one I think sounds the worst "Solitary Man" in the Naim and I was shocked by the music I was hearing. Cash's voice and previously unheard inflections were finally coming through and it was as if I could feel the emotions Mr. Cash put forth. Other CDs I have feauturing large choral ensembles always seemed to break apart on the top end during powerful sections. The same CDs now are much clearer and "life like". I have found woodwinds and strings to be eerily "life like" with this player. I hope to add the Flatcap power supply soon which I have found during experimenting at the dealers seems to simply present a wider soundstage with a little more bottom end. I think this player is a real standout in the sub 3,000 price range and should definitely be auditioned.


Product Weakness: DIN cables very hard to come by especially when you need to go from DIN to RCA. The remote is set up to control Tuner, Preamp and CDP so I often find myself trying to use Tuner buttons to control the CDP.
Product Strengths: Big "you are there" factor, clean clear sound, makes previously average CDs sound better than they are, if you did not look at the display you can put your ear up against the player and never know if the thing is playing a CD or not, very good build quality.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Rogue Audio Magnum 88
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Rogue Audio Magnum 66
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Naim CD5 & Cary CD-308
Speakers: Triangle Antal 202
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost Solar Wind Din-RCA
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Classical, Folk
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: None
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week so far
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Richard Grey's Power 400
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Naim CD5 CD Player/Recorder - Jakkar 07:26:03 04/14/03 ( 0)