Ooooh, I've got a Rega DAC...

I'm in Lincoln plenty of dealers within 50 miles who stock Rega & Naim.... just out of interest the 3 main Rega & Naim dealers dont stock Cyrus due to reliabilty issues as I asked them why they dont, they all said the same!

Why do you ask anyway?

Interesting. I run the Rega Dac / Nait 5i-2 Amp and work very well indeed, especially matched with Motive speakers. I am waiting for dealer to come by an XS trade in to see how that works in my system. I may find that Nait 5i-2 has better synergy with Rega Dac??

I heard new CD5si + Nait XS + Motive 3 / Petite SX recently at dealer and the combo has more weight / bottom end than I hear at home. Naim sound also fuller than Rega I think. Not able to compare directly against Rega dac however. Lots of factors at play.

I would be interested to compare CD5i vs Rega Dac but ultimately I am bound to streaming as children access issues.

The indeal option would perhaps be Naim Dac / Naim XS but a looonnnnng way off for a Naim DAC!!!!

A worthwhile experiment at least. I have very fond memories of ownering Naim CD5i.

Ambrose

If you're already streaming the Rega DAC is ideal. To my ears there wasn't any perceived extra weight to the 5i but soundstage just brought the whole thing together a little better, a bit more bite.

I only asked because the dealer I use, and have used them for around six years, aren't pushy at all. They actually listen and then advise you on your given budget and sound requirements.

The Naim had more bite than the Rega DAC, and I've certainly had a love/hate relationship with Naim, so the Rega may just hit the sweet spot for you. Also, I'm not sure whether the Arcam as transport would have any influence over the tonal qualities of the DAC. To my lugs the Arcam and Rega have a analogue sound.

TBH, I would say if in doubt... you can fill in the blanks.

*Edit* In addition, I know all Uniti's CD section is based around the 5i but whether it's tuned slightly different maybe a consideration.

I believe it has, and if you attached the Rega Dac to the Naim, you would (imo) get a slightly more "Naim influenced" sound.

This shows my naivety when it comes to DACs.

I'm pretty much hamstrung by the fact that I've not heard the Rega Apollo-R or the Brio-R, nor have I heard the 5i with the Leema, so all my findings could be washed down the plughole.

If you use the Naim CD player through the Rega you're not using it's own DAC, so how does that give you a more Naim influenced sound? Bear in mind most CD players use the same CD Drive - used to be Sony or Philips, don't know what they use now.

Is it the Naim replay software and timing thing? Power Supply and conditioning?

Just some thoughts.

The first thing I remember when hearing the CD5i for the first time (against my Creek CD60) was as I think PP was saying, the music is organised so convincingly and cohesively, even if the detailing wasn't a million miles apart, I just had to have the CD5i as music was so much more enjoyable to listen to.

I think the Rega DAC is balanced out in my system against the exciting delivery of the Nait 5i-2 and very bouncy and dynamic Motive 3s.

I have to say, using Chord interconnects really makes a difference too, compared to Linn Silver and Wireworld startlight 6 which are much better with detailing and soundstage, the Chords just sound right with the Naim gear.

When i was on the market to buy the Dyns X12, the Dynaudio dealer is a Naim Dealer as well, and he have lend me a Naim 5i (the first one) with some Van Der Hull cables the 122, and i didn't like the sound of the combo, i had listenig fatigue after 2houres...! ( Naim 5i, Rega DAC, SBT, dynaudio X12)

First i switch the cables with mines ( Supra classic ) , better but didn't resolve the problem, then switch the amp ( i did not had the Brio R in that time), with my NAD 3020i and ahhhhhh, smoother, all the harshness was gone. 

Far better , and consithering that the NAD is a 30 some thing w per chanel and i did not felt like a night and day difference in the the sound, like bass depht, soud stage and detail. 

I don't know if the Naim 5i 2 has a different sound sig.

Don't know about the mk1 nait vs mk 2.

I did have a year of listening fatigue, but almost everything now sounds very listenable. I rarely have 2 hours listening however and only low to moderate volumes. I kinda had to stick it out with the SBT as a source for reasons of young children.

However, I found I had to add Wireworld mains conditioning, Sbooster for SBT and choosing the right interconnects to settle on a sound that I was really happy with. I don't know about DYNs but would not have thought that setup would be fatiguing in general. Goes to show how many other factors come into play, even before you factor in personal preferences!!!

Even though also my speakers are also very much developed around naim amplification, I found when trying the Neat Petite SX at home it was too much on my ears and had to go back sadly. Especially as the upgrade would have only cost £350.

Anyway, as long as you have got to the right system then happy days!

interesting point about I/Cs, currently demoing a Graham Slee Lautus I/C between my DAC & AMP it has opened the soundstage up and really good seperation - i also have the Spatia speaker cable but this had no improvemnt over my Carnival Silverscreen - I may try a decent Chord I/C now!

Thx for the kind remark.

I believe the transport influences the sound, and I know not everybody agrees......but people like Shooter have also witnessed it as well. IMO. Things like the design, isolation of components and power supply of the transport, all influence the sound.

You find little difference between amps, so you are very unlikely to think the more subtle changes that different  transports may bring, will make a difference - BTW. that's not a dig, but an observation.

It is worth experimenting, although I have not always found the cable with better soundstage have suited me best.  I do really like the Chameleon I/C and want to get hold of a Chord Prodac Vee to try out as prefer my old Chord Codac compared to Mark Grant G1000 and Wireworld Starlight 6.

The Starlight is very impressive and very well detailed, especially highs. Maybe bit too much for me taking into account all music tastes and also the CHord is more exciting listen which I like.