What Hi-Fi? Verdict
The italic 'i' mod makes a good machine even better – the CD5i MkII is the most enjoyable sub-£1000 player on the market
Pros
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As communicative and musical a player as you’ll find for this kind of money
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great build
Cons
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If analysis or sonic purity is your thing, others can do it better
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Naim's much-admired entry-level CD player, the CD5i has been replaced by this, the CD5i. Spot the difference? So subtle is the new player's italic i, some person in the company's packing department has decided to make thing clearer by calling it a CD5i (MkII), which is what it is. Officially, though, it isn't.
As is often Naim's way, this new player is all about evolution. Outwardly, it looks unchanged from the original, though much work has gone on inside. The highlights are an improved circuit layout with better quality components, a change of DAC, and some tweaking of the power supply filtering. These revisions make a good player better.
No communication breakdown
Let's get one thing clear: if you're after the purest, most open sound for the money, this isn't the player for you. The CD5i's sound is more about solidity and organisation. Not the most glamorous-sounding traits we admit, but think about what these qualities impart, and you realise how important they are.
So, while the player's outright detail resolution is at a level that we'd expect in this class, the Naim's talent is to arrange all this information in a direct and communicative way. Music – no matter how complex – makes sense through this machine. You're left in no doubt as to what the artist wanted you to feel and, when you think about it, you can't ask much more from a hi-fi.
Traditional brand strengths such as strong dynamics and impeccable timing have much to do with this, but we also think the improved treble refinement helps, too.
And while it can be critical of recording quality, this is one unit that won't sound dreadful even with rough recordings. Like any good player, it's equally at home with Jay-Z or a Mahler Symphony.
There are rivals that are better at analysis than the CD5i, but if you want something to make your music thoroughly enjoyable, start right here.
