colasblue
pfm Member
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
The CDS2 was indeed replaced many years ago in Naim's range (though not due it having bad SQ), but I do not agree that it and all Naim & Linn CD players were or are 'half-baked crap'. Do you also regard the NDX2 + XPS2DR as equally 'crap'? After all, it sounds very like the CDS2.
You also say that I can buy a digital source to beat the newer Naim products (NDX2 + XPSDR again?) for £1K. Which one is that?
The NDS has now-obsolete streaming architecture, but sounded good to most in - about 2012. However, a lot has changed in streaming in the decade or so since it was introduced, and the choice of DAC chips is only a part of that. I certainly regard that NDX2 + XPSDR as better in SQ and functionality than the NDS.
Second-hand prices are often a good indicator of where VFM lies. Th fact that a 30+ -year-old 250 power amp (with a service in the last decade) sell for more now than it did when I bought it is a hint on VFM. Similarly, NDX2s do not seem to be valued like (say a Cambridge CXN (V2). By contrast, a Naim Core certainly works well, but the second-hand prices suggest that 'the market' regards the new price as perhaps twice fair value compared to competition.
CDS2's have a mechanism that will not last forever, yet still sell for £1500+ and we have all seen the prices of very second-hand LP12s. The same effect may benefit you if selling a set of NAP135s.
It is possible that all that second-hand demand comes from idiots who do not have your judgement or hearing. However, that is not the only explanation for the divergence in views.
Define better!
Sounds better to you - can't possibly comment since everybody's perception of sound is unique to them.
Measures better - certainly!
Topping D90 SE - second best measuring dac so far tested by Audiosciencereview.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90se-review-balanced-dac.24235/
What I can say is my CDSII was bettered by what I had three upgrades and twenty years ago and my current equipment is better still. I haven't directly A/B'd any of it against Naim's current top stuff since there isn't going to be any question of me shelling out for Naim's current top stuff.
I'll also state for the record that I've never heard a 500 series system actually sound like anything I'd be remotely interested in buying. They seem to completely destroy all musicality to my ears. Quite the reverse of Naim's most often stated selling points in fact (ie PRAT and boogie factor)
I did have a listen to a Chord Dave but ultimately chose not to go there since it seems to rely mostly on upscaling and other tricks when used in non direct conversion mode and I assume all of those tricks will become available through offline file processing at some point.