Naim CDS3/XPS2 vs Meridian 800 vs Linn Unidisk 1.1

It's too bad that I cannot conveniently hear these equipment for now. Yet from the purely financial angle, it seems to make sense that the CDS3 would have an edge. Both Linn and Meridian spend their effort not just on CD but the multichannel decoding. Whereas CDS3 is a dedicated CD player. On the other hand, how would you compare the CDS3 with the 800 and Unidisk 1.1 on soundstage performance? Do I guess correctly that the 1.1 performs the best when it comes to soundstage?

Regarding the natural sound decay, is it reasonable to parallel what you said to Chesky vs Linn classical recording. Chesky definitely keeps you interested, while Linn has the frothiness, open aire bloom.

Thirdly, Stereophile suggests that the 800 has more punch while the 1.1 has more aire. Would you agree with that assessment? Is this a serious or a subtle difference between the 2 pieces?

Finally how significantly different, sound-wise, between the XPS2 and the upgraded 555PS?

Thanks.

To get the mentioned desirable sound, is it right that you must hook the CDS3 with an Audionote DAC? Basically the Naim provides that serious kick and fast rhythm. While the Audionote rounds off the rough edges with its natural timbre, sweetness, and a more intricate soundstage.

For pop/rock music would you rank between the 3 players (CD sound only), in the respective system that you heard, regarding how well they come out of their box and grab you? I am now switching gear toward about being fast, transparent and authoritative as if you are watching a live band.

Please by all means do comment on the XPS2 versus 555PS power supplier on sound performance if the performance difference is striking. Thanks.

I do listen to both classical and non-classical music. This does make it difficult to pick out stereo equipment. For pop/rock music, a number of people and now you also do seem to favor Naim for the liveliness, fast and forward presentation.

For classical music we are needing both very wide soundstage for the many instruments and the clarity to cover the entire frequency spectrum. So far we talked about Linn having that upper frequency and the effortless sound relative to Meridian. You talked about the CDS3 for its natural timbre and its surprise performance on soundstage. What would your ranking be for the 3 pieces in regarding to (1) natural and effortless sound for the entire frequency spectrum, and separately for (2) wide but non-colored soundstage. Oh I am sure for such high-performance pieces like these 3, the dealers did use their best or about the best peripheral equipment. Thus it's not a direct comparison but it has to do. When I manage somehow to audit these pieces, I am going to face the same handicap of mismatched peripheral equipment.

Would you agree that for those who listen to all kinds of music like myself, Meridian is a good promise for its not too tart not too sweet design on all the criteria discussed. Thanks.