Naim Audio CDX Review

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Naim Audio CDX
4.6 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.6 out of 5

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Dpaws.'s Review of Naim Audio CDX CD Player

24th Jul 2002

Overall Rating

4.5 stars
  • Value for money
    4.5 stars
  • Features
    4 stars
Good Points

Awesome sound - really does rock your socks off.


Bad Points

Price I suppose, old fashioned styling, those DIN connectors lol yawn...


General Comments

With this Naim Audio CDX CD player, I presently use a Meridian 208 / DAC7 and Stax 313/303 with a pair of Nordorst Blue Heaven interconnects. Trust me, the Stax can't lie!!! Music - Marillion Sugar Mice, Annie Lennox live, Billy Idol White Wedding, Pink Floyd Shine On

Started off listening to players around the £1000 mark ish - Arcam and the MF 3.2 just shout too loudly, too brash ARGH. Linn Ikelmik (?) beautifully detailed, relaxing and accurate but sterile. Meridian 507 very similar to my 208, their 588 very much like a Linn but velvety, if that makes sense - more of a chill out Sunday evening after a big meal with a glass of heavy red wine.

Naim CD5 - hehe like being shaken by a terrier - loved it, but it was lacking in detail and vocal emotion was somehow lost in the mix - I suppose like being at a live gig stood at the back of the room. Add the Flatcap and the vocals / midrange comes forward out of the mix, maybe a little too far, overshadowing the boogie factor - my feet weren't tapping as much but I felt more involved. Not bad - but not the be all and end all - I felt I wanted a bit of the Linn or Meridian detail.

Errrr he fetched a CDX....... Wow !!! Hehe full blown rock n roll baby - Now I felt I had moved to the front row at the gig - soundstage was fantastic - vocal projection superb - could focus on the vocals but my whole body was still rocking. All the detail was there if you focused on it but somehow I was too busy being rocked. Loved it to bits.

Errrr then he fetched the power supply - nasty man!! It really can't get better can it? Err YES! Basically the same wonderful mix as before but with more raw emotion, a velvety hue and superb detail just like the Meridian 588 but with a very, very serious boogie factor.

Now got to speak to my partner.... darling..... lol

I'm going to wait for the new styling cos I love the buttons and the new logo - I wouldn't want to hide something so cute.

Don't take my word, have a listen - it really is fantastic. I just daren't try a CDSII.......

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Members' Comments onDpaws.'s Review

  • adrian winder on 17th Dec 2007

    Very subjective, straightforward clear language, tells it like is and how you want to hear it! Good, helpful review.