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Naim CD5i a decent upgrade?

Hello everyone,

My current system right now consists of the Portal Audio Panache integrated amplifier, Primare D20 cd player, and Vienna Acoustics Bach speakers.

The system sounds great... But I feel like this CD player is just missing something. I don't know what it is really. The music sounds detailed, with a great sound stage, and no digital harshness. The CD player was a definite upgrade from my old Arcam, but I feel like it is not very musical. How would I describe this?

Anyway, I am on a college budget and was looking at the Naim CD5i. Would this complement my system and give me some more musical characteristics?

Any help would be appreciated.
rtilbury
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
i have compared the primaire to a naim cd2, cd3(which i owned) and cd5i (which i auditioned). i wound up getting 'out' of naim cd players afterword. the primaire...pardon this overused description..was less 'in your face'....more like a revox or electrocompaniet.
lindisfarne
511 posts
 
I'm gonna jump on the "Naim CD is not what the cult thinks it is" bandwagon today. I love the company. I've owned MANY of their products over a 20 year period. The Naim ARO tonearm, TT power supply and 250 amp are truly spectacular products. Their CD player line-up seems to get all the great press though. Having owned 5i, CDX, CDX2 and having heard at a friend's apartment the top-of-the-line Naim CD player, I keep coming back to the same impression. Really tuneful, incisive and even fun. But...way to relentless/in-your-face to listen to for long periods of time.
rtilbury OP
39 posts
 
Perhaps the naim might not be the upgrade I was looking for... It sounds like maybe my Primare needs more credit than I am giving it.
klaudio
113 posts
 
I do suggest checking out the CD-5i v2 cd player from NAIM. Check out some other posts on this player on Audiogon. I feel it is the best value in HI-FI. Very different from the original 5i. Another Agoner pointed me in this direction. I think it is very listenable.
I have owned quite a few players in the $2000-$4000 range.
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