I disagree and as a preface I only own a CDX and not a whole Naim system. I am not sure what research you are referrign to but I hope its your own and not what you ahve "heard" or read. Remeber your rears are what matters.
For the money I feel there are better power amps and preamps out there, but to me the CD players are wonderful.
The old CD3 was exactly as you described though, right out in your face and far more "etched" then the current series 5 cd player which has it faults certainly, but fatiguing isn't the way I would chracterize it. It ultimately lacks the soundsatge and depth of other models in its price range, but its pace and rhythm made me sit and shake my posterior in the seat during an audition :-)
But the cost with Naim quickly adds up and with each power supply upgrade which has the effect of placing the component in question in the next class up, and with the exception of the cd players, place the components firmly middle of the pack.
I recomend you hear a Naim CD player with a power supply added, phenomenal to my ears, maybe yours too.
On a side note though I suspect that a lot of people have trouble adopting NAIM componentry becasue of the DIN vsRCA/XLR connections. I don't knwo enough to get into this,but I sold off lots of expensive cable an finally satrted to hear music as opposed to listening for how I can tweak the sound just a littel bit more. Happy listening!
For the money I feel there are better power amps and preamps out there, but to me the CD players are wonderful.
The old CD3 was exactly as you described though, right out in your face and far more "etched" then the current series 5 cd player which has it faults certainly, but fatiguing isn't the way I would chracterize it. It ultimately lacks the soundsatge and depth of other models in its price range, but its pace and rhythm made me sit and shake my posterior in the seat during an audition :-)
But the cost with Naim quickly adds up and with each power supply upgrade which has the effect of placing the component in question in the next class up, and with the exception of the cd players, place the components firmly middle of the pack.
I recomend you hear a Naim CD player with a power supply added, phenomenal to my ears, maybe yours too.
On a side note though I suspect that a lot of people have trouble adopting NAIM componentry becasue of the DIN vsRCA/XLR connections. I don't knwo enough to get into this,but I sold off lots of expensive cable an finally satrted to hear music as opposed to listening for how I can tweak the sound just a littel bit more. Happy listening!