Naim CD5si

This is a wonderful CD player, and a steal at the price. It’s the latest one Naim has made, and they still offer it at $2000. I originally purchased it as a floor sample from Hawthorne because I thought my venerable CDX finally had pooped out.

The CDX features the incomparable Philips VAM1205 drive, which is utterly unavailable, except for dismal Chinese knockoffs that even don’t fit, no less perform.

I played it about four hours after warmup, and truly liked what I heard, but then managed to fix the CDX. What can I say? I love my first wife.

THE NUMBERS, ETC.

Sampling Rates

USB : 44.1kHz - 384kHz (16 to 24bit)

S/PDIF : 32kHz - 192kHz (up to 24bit)

Streaming Sources

• CD Formats :
  Audio CD (Red Book, CD and CD-R)
• CD Ripping :
  Create bit-perfect copies of your CDs, store them on the local storage and play back.
• WiFi :
  Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac) with internal antennae
• Memory Card :
  1 x SD Card
  Max SD card storage: 32GB

Control

• App control : Focal & Naim App
• Control system : Zigbee RF bi-directive remote control
• User control product 
• Bi-directional ZigBee remote and front panel.
• Inter-product communications with NSS 333 via ZigBee
• Optical 3.5mm output for synchronised control of compatible products
   

Power Supply

• Automatic standby time : User selectable (2 hours) : ON/OFF
• Power consumption in standby mode : < 0.5W
• Consumption in normal use : 15 W
• Main power supply : 100V, 115V or 230V, 50/60Hz

Physical Specs:

• Analogue gain :
  29dB / Max volume at 15,5dB
• Analogue Outputs :
• Digital level :
  2.1V at 0dBFS at 0dB
• Headphone outputs : 1 x jack 6,35 mm
• USB ports : 2 x USB Type A socket (front and rear - 1.6A charge) Note: analog output only

So this is virtually new, in pristine condition. Comes with remote, power cord, puck, and 5-pin DIN cable. Never smoking nor pets.

WHAT HI-FI REVIEW:

“The CD5si, though, is a particularly exceptional example of Naim combining a superb sound with great value for money....

“The CD5si bends over backwards to deliver an exuberant and enjoyable performance, and it was its unmatched enthusiasm and concrete drive that we took to instantly.”

“As always, the Naim delivered a hearty performance. Detailed and confident with dynamics, it embraced the quieter parts of the piece gracefully before climbing up to the crescendo with explosive drama and intensity.

“If anything expresses the scale of this track’s grand magnitude, it’s the CD5si.”