Why "Source 1st" advocates have a tough time

[O'Shag]

When I upgraded my Naim CD5i to a Naim CD5x with FlatCap-2x power supply, the difference was jaw dropping. This upgrade alone had more impact than upgrading my integrated amp to separates. However, there's no need for me to convince anyone on a source first approach, go audition several Naim CD Players from the CD5i to the CDX2 with XPS2 and you'll quickly understand for yourself.

Or go audition a Rega Planar 3 versus a Linn LP12 with a quality tonearm and power supply, you'll quickly appreciate a source first approach, and begin to understand why Naim, Linn, Cyrus and the likes have always taken this philosophy. You've clearly read all the praise regarding all of these CD Players, but why comment without first listening and making your own judgment

Great front end you've got - I'm familiar with the CD5X with the flatcap 2X power supply. My friend had this CD front end but replaced it with a wadia setup. I think he regrets having sold the Naim. On the subject of source first...I think that while such players as yours do stand above most, the gap between the majority of CD players/tranport DACs has narrowed. One can spend 1,500-2,000 on a source and it will be close in performance the $10,000 source - you'll get 95%, and to hear the extra five percent (which does make a difference) the rest of you system has to be up to snuff - as you said.

A player like the Cambridge Azur 840C can convey the music very effectively, as can the Benchmark DAC 1 coupled with a low cost CD transport. As good as your Naim, no, but not too far off. Whereas, the speakers, preamp and power amp make a huge difference. The way I think of it; and while this does to a lesser degree relate to the front end, the preamp and amp can be seen to be equivalent to a video scaler. How well can they blow up the low level signal and feed it to the speakers? There is a big gap between ok preamps/amps and really good ones just as there is between an ok scaler and a very good one - price has nothing to do with it but good pres/amps will usually cost more. For a speaker to present a full-scaled sonic picture to the listener is difficult. The amp has to be able to capture all the low level detail, and blow it up while maintaining accuracy. Toobs are good at this, but sometimes at the cost of other important factors.

Analogue/Vinyl is a whole 'nuther story, and one can't really compare it to digital in the same sense as we've discussed above. One rig can sound very different than another.