Naim CD5 XS CD + HDCD Player Complete w/ Remote, Manual, and Box - With RCA Outputs
General:
We don't see much Naim audio gear into the shop, but it is absolutely one of our favorite UK based companies. They are known for their industrial plus minimalistic design, and high build quality.
The analog outputs on this unit are also worth mentioning , as it supports the famous Naim style connections AND standard RCA so you can use it with just about any system!
This is my personal Naim CD player that I've enjoyed for many years in my home and home office systems. It's part of a Naim system I purchased many years ago that I'm soon listing for sale here. However the rest of the system is vintage 1980's "Chrome Bumper" style and figured I would list this separately since it's from the late 2000's.
This CD5 XS is excellent player with some awesome features. To start, like some other Naim gear, you have the option to run a separate upgraded "Naim FlatCap XS Power Supply" power supply (not included) which is a simple way to improve power and noise rejection
Also in classic Naim style the entire CD pull out tray is custom designed and manufactured to reduce resonance. It is also incredibly cool and is very nice to operate.
Included with this CD5 XS is the original box with inner packing, manual, Naim official NARCOM 5 remote, the important CD transport transit screw, and even its original power cord making this an uncommon complete set.
SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
The top cover has some signs of fading, also has some slight wear on the screen. Otherwise the condition is very good with minimal wear.
SkyFi Technical Notes:
When you first power on the player using the rear-mounted hefty power switch, I've found that inserting a CD and hitting play within the first minute or two afterwards can lead to a delay in the CD beginning to play. This CD5 XS has been like this since I purchased it several years ago, and the solution that always worked for me was to just leave it powered-on in my Naim system - or wait a minute or two before pressing play.
Lived in my home and home office systems for several years, and tested for several days in the shop before listing to ensure zero playback issues.
Also tested with HDCD playback and working as shown by our photos indicating the player recognized and played the Tool HDCD album "Lateralus". An excellent album no matter the format, only made better when listening to the higher-quality HDCD output.
More about HDCD from Wikipedia:
High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) is a proprietary audio encode-decode process that claims to provide increased dynamic range over that of standard Red Book audio CDs, while retaining backward compatibility with existing compact disc players.
HDCD was a favorite for several artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Beach Boys, all of whom have had many titles in their catalogs reissued in this format.
More about HDCD from Wikipedia:
HDCD encodes the equivalent of 20 bits worth of data in a 16-bit digital audio signal. High Definition Compatible Digita is a proprietary audio encode-decode process that claims to provide increased dynamic range over that of standard Red Book audio CDs, while retaining backward compatibility with existing compact disc players.
HDCD was a favorite for several artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Beach Boys, all of whom have had many titles in their catalogs reissued in this format.
Brand Background:
Naim Audio founder Julian Vereker MBE (1945-2000) was a racing car driver, entrepreneur, and self-taught engineer with a deep passion for music. Spending his spare time listening to and recording his friends playing live in the 1960s, Julian found that playback on his system at home fell woefully short of the experience he craved.
Not content with second best, he decided to design his own amplifiers and loudspeakers, ignoring accepted wisdom, and focusing on aspects of performance that made music burst to life. These first designs laid the foundations for a range of iconic and award-winning hi-fi products that would reach well into the next century.
Ownership:
Second Owner
Connections:
RCA, DIN, SPDIF, IEC power
General Sound:
Smooth, uncolored, undistorted natural and clean
Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.
Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested on our bench with both CD and DVD. XLR and RCA working as they should.
Included:
New official Naim Remote sourced from the UK, Original Box, Original manual, Original power cord,
Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing
Reviews:
Click Here
Link to Owner's Manual:
Click Here
Specs:
- Frequency Response: \\(10\text{Hz}\\) to \\(20\text{kHz}\\) (+0.1/-0.5dB)
- Line Output Level: \\(2.1\text{V RMS}\\) at \\(1\text{kHz}\\)
- THD+N: < 0.1% (\\(10\text{Hz} - 18\text{kHz}\\) at full level)
- Output Impedance: \\(10\ \Omega\\) (maximum)
- Load Impedance: \\(10\text{k}\ \Omega\\) (minimum)
- Digital Outputs: 75 \\(\Omega \\) BNC (transformer-coupled)
- Analog Outputs: 1 x DIN (recommended for best performance), 1 x pair RCA
Media & Formats
- Supported Media: Red Book CD, CD-R
- Disc Loading: Manual swing-out drawer using a low-mass magnetic puck clamp
Dimensions:
432 mm (17.0 inches) wide by 70 mm (2.75 inches) high by 301 mm (11.85 inches)
Weight:
13 lbs.
Approximate Age:
2009
Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best
Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Good
Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better
Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect resistors and other passive components for signs of overheating. When the unit is first powered on we check the drawer mechanism function.
After the visual inspection we connect the CD Player RCA outputs to our Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates a real world input impedance and allows us to monitor the output on an oscilloscope. We start with a test CD with precision test signals to verify proper output on both channels. If the CD player has balanced outputs these are also tested at this time.
If this check passes, we move onto evaluation with actual music CDs. We listen for clicks, skips, and drops during playback. At this time we also check the transport functions including Play, Pause, Stop, Repeat Track, Next Track, Previous Track, Fast Forward, Rewind, and programming if applicable. If the unit has a remote control, all remote control functions are verified.
If the CD player is capable of SACD playback we test its ability to read SACD layers on multiple discs including standard and hybrid SACD's. At this time we also check the unit’s digital outputs where applicable. If SACD layers are being properly read we should see the digital outputs mute during playback. On redbook CD playback we verify that each digital output maintains proper lock on our bench DAC.
After bench testing is completed, CD players are set up for testing on our long term test rig. During extended testing we make sure that unit can play through several different discs from beginning to end with no skips or lockups.
Description
General:
We don't see much Naim audio gear into the shop, but it is absolutely one of our favorite UK based companies. They are known for their industrial plus minimalistic design, and high build quality.
The analog outputs on this unit are also worth mentioning , as it supports the famous Naim style connections AND standard RCA so you can use it with just about any system!
This is my personal Naim CD player that I've enjoyed for many years in my home and home office systems. It's part of a Naim system I purchased many years ago that I'm soon listing for sale here. However the rest of the system is vintage 1980's "Chrome Bumper" style and figured I would list this separately since it's from the late 2000's.
This CD5 XS is excellent player with some awesome features. To start, like some other Naim gear, you have the option to run a separate upgraded "Naim FlatCap XS Power Supply" power supply (not included) which is a simple way to improve power and noise rejection
Also in classic Naim style the entire CD pull out tray is custom designed and manufactured to reduce resonance. It is also incredibly cool and is very nice to operate.
Included with this CD5 XS is the original box with inner packing, manual, Naim official NARCOM 5 remote, the important CD transport transit screw, and even its original power cord making this an uncommon complete set.
SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
The top cover has some signs of fading, also has some slight wear on the screen. Otherwise the condition is very good with minimal wear.
SkyFi Technical Notes:
When you first power on the player using the rear-mounted hefty power switch, I've found that inserting a CD and hitting play within the first minute or two afterwards can lead to a delay in the CD beginning to play. This CD5 XS has been like this since I purchased it several years ago, and the solution that always worked for me was to just leave it powered-on in my Naim system - or wait a minute or two before pressing play.
Lived in my home and home office systems for several years, and tested for several days in the shop before listing to ensure zero playback issues.
Also tested with HDCD playback and working as shown by our photos indicating the player recognized and played the Tool HDCD album "Lateralus". An excellent album no matter the format, only made better when listening to the higher-quality HDCD output.
More about HDCD from Wikipedia:
High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) is a proprietary audio encode-decode process that claims to provide increased dynamic range over that of standard Red Book audio CDs, while retaining backward compatibility with existing compact disc players.
HDCD was a favorite for several artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Beach Boys, all of whom have had many titles in their catalogs reissued in this format.
More about HDCD from Wikipedia:
HDCD encodes the equivalent of 20 bits worth of data in a 16-bit digital audio signal. High Definition Compatible Digita is a proprietary audio encode-decode process that claims to provide increased dynamic range over that of standard Red Book audio CDs, while retaining backward compatibility with existing compact disc players.
HDCD was a favorite for several artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Beach Boys, all of whom have had many titles in their catalogs reissued in this format.
Brand Background:
Naim Audio founder Julian Vereker MBE (1945-2000) was a racing car driver, entrepreneur, and self-taught engineer with a deep passion for music. Spending his spare time listening to and recording his friends playing live in the 1960s, Julian found that playback on his system at home fell woefully short of the experience he craved.
Not content with second best, he decided to design his own amplifiers and loudspeakers, ignoring accepted wisdom, and focusing on aspects of performance that made music burst to life. These first designs laid the foundations for a range of iconic and award-winning hi-fi products that would reach well into the next century.
Ownership:
Second Owner
Connections:
RCA, DIN, SPDIF, IEC power
General Sound:
Smooth, uncolored, undistorted natural and clean
Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.
Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested on our bench with both CD and DVD. XLR and RCA working as they should.
Included:
New official Naim Remote sourced from the UK, Original Box, Original manual, Original power cord,
Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing
Reviews:
Click Here
Link to Owner's Manual:
Click Here
Specs:
- Frequency Response: \\(10\text{Hz}\\) to \\(20\text{kHz}\\) (+0.1/-0.5dB)
- Line Output Level: \\(2.1\text{V RMS}\\) at \\(1\text{kHz}\\)
- THD+N: < 0.1% (\\(10\text{Hz} - 18\text{kHz}\\) at full level)
- Output Impedance: \\(10\ \Omega\\) (maximum)
- Load Impedance: \\(10\text{k}\ \Omega\\) (minimum)
- Digital Outputs: 75 \\(\Omega \\) BNC (transformer-coupled)
- Analog Outputs: 1 x DIN (recommended for best performance), 1 x pair RCA
Media & Formats
- Supported Media: Red Book CD, CD-R
- Disc Loading: Manual swing-out drawer using a low-mass magnetic puck clamp
Dimensions:
432 mm (17.0 inches) wide by 70 mm (2.75 inches) high by 301 mm (11.85 inches)
Weight:
13 lbs.
Approximate Age:
2009
Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best
Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Good
Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better
Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect resistors and other passive components for signs of overheating. When the unit is first powered on we check the drawer mechanism function.
After the visual inspection we connect the CD Player RCA outputs to our Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates a real world input impedance and allows us to monitor the output on an oscilloscope. We start with a test CD with precision test signals to verify proper output on both channels. If the CD player has balanced outputs these are also tested at this time.
If this check passes, we move onto evaluation with actual music CDs. We listen for clicks, skips, and drops during playback. At this time we also check the transport functions including Play, Pause, Stop, Repeat Track, Next Track, Previous Track, Fast Forward, Rewind, and programming if applicable. If the unit has a remote control, all remote control functions are verified.
If the CD player is capable of SACD playback we test its ability to read SACD layers on multiple discs including standard and hybrid SACD's. At this time we also check the unit’s digital outputs where applicable. If SACD layers are being properly read we should see the digital outputs mute during playback. On redbook CD playback we verify that each digital output maintains proper lock on our bench DAC.
After bench testing is completed, CD players are set up for testing on our long term test rig. During extended testing we make sure that unit can play through several different discs from beginning to end with no skips or lockups.
