How the HDX works
HDX has been developed to combine the convenience of a digital music device with the performance of a true Naim source component. As with all Naim products, the HDX's award-winning performance results from achieving the optimum balance of electronic and mechanical engineering.
- Audiophile playback electronics
HDX playback begins with a unique Naim-designed, multiple power supply PCI interface that feeds the audio data to the digital-to-analogue conversion stage. The HDX's playback electronics borrow heavily from the established Naim practices that produce the World's finest sounding CD players. They incorporate multi-regulated power supplies, Burr-Brown digital-to-analogue converters, ultra-low jitter re-clocking, seven pole analogue output filtering, and every last thing we know about maximizing musical sound quality. Even an optional external XPS or CD555PS power supply can be connected for even greater musical performance.
- Simple and bit-perfect CD rippingRipping CDs with an HDX could not be simpler. Open the CD drawer, insert the CD and in a few minutes you have a bit-perfect copy. You can make bit-perfect rips of around 600 CDs to the HDX and low cost overflow storage for up to 20,000 albums can be fully supported on your home network. The technology of ripping is anything but simple, however. To achieve its bit-perfect copy of the CD data the HDX employs some of the most advanced data reading and error analysis algorithms ever deployed in the pursuit of sound quality. They are unique to Naim, too.
- Your music collection -
automatically catalogued and in one placeBrowsing your music collection with HDX is a breeze. No more peering at shelves of jewel cases and promising that they'll be in alphabetical order one day. Each CD ripped by the HDX is automatically catalogued through enquiry to an on-line database and its data added to the internal library. - Simplified music search and selectionSearching for music is not limited to albums and tracks. Want to search by composer, performer, artist, orchestra? Go ahead. Can't remember the name of the Chris Squire album you ripped that Mel Collins played sax on? The Naim Extended Music database, with the power of AMG at its heart will find it for you. Remember the smallest detail and all your music is there at the touch of a screen. And by the way, the Chris Squire album was Fish Out Of Water.
- Secure music storageYou can spend a long time ripping music, and we've all heard stories of hard disk failure and data lost for ever. That's why the HDX has two 400GB drives and a scheduled automatic back-up routine that regularly copies the contents of one to the other. A hard disk can fail, but your music will be secure.
- Controllable from your PCWith an HDX connected to a home network you don't have to be in the same room to browse your music library. The Naim Desktop Client is a Windows PC application that can control your HDX, browse its music files and handle player setup and maintenance easily and intuitively.
- A choice of user interfacesThe HDX incorporates a front panel touch screen that offers all the control you'll need. But perhaps you fancy controlling the HDX from the listening position? Well, connect a small display screen, or even your television, and you can operate the HDX with its remote handset. Or perhaps you want to run the HDX wirelessly from your laptop? Easy; use either the Desktop Client application or a web browser. There's a USB touch-screen option too.
- IP-enabled for multi-room replayAs well as a stand-alone hard-disk music player, the HDX can be used as a music server that can provide up to six different streams of music simultaneously over a home network. Install an HDX and you've installed the heart of a multi-room audio system too. To find out more about Naim's multi-room system NaimNet, visit www.naimnet.com
- Functionality overview
- Naim CD player sound quality
- Bit-perfect CD ripping and data storage
- Network connection for automatic cataloguing and metadata acquisition
- Two 400GB internal drives for storage and back-up. Performs an automatic back-up routine that regularly copies the contents of one to the other
- Front panel touch screen and intuitive user interface
- Naim Extended Music Database for simplified browsing and detailed search
- WAV, FLAC, AAC, WMA and MP3 (non DRM) files played from any USB connected or network shared storage device
- 24 bit/192kHz internal architecture with support for hi-resolution audio formats
- Upgradeable with external Naim XPS or 555 PS power supply for even greater musical performance.
- IP-enabled for audiophile multi-room replay of up to 6 streams over a home network
- Operates as a CD player
- Will connect to network along with your other network hardware using existing standard networking cables.
- Control is via HDX's front panel touch screen. Option of additional control through your television, PC or laptop using HDX's desktop client or any flash-enabled web browser, wirelessly connected web tablet, USB connected touch screens and remote IR handset.
- Naim Desktop Client for browsing music files, player setup and maintenance.
- Design features overview
- Independent and separately grounded multi-regulated power supplies for analogue and digital stages.
- Burr-Brown PCM1791A digital to analogue converter
- Naim-designed PCI audio and drivers with ultra low jitter clocks
- A seven-pole analogue output filtering using Burr Brown OPA604 op amps.
- Custom designed monolithic air core transformer isolated analogue output stages.
- Separate toroidal transformer and linear power supply for audio circuits
- Electrical isolation of data lines and clocks
- Ultra low noise triple-regulated power supplies
- Naim reference non-magnetic, low-resonance low microphony case
- Technical Specification
- Line outputs
- DIN and RCA
- Frequency response
- 10Hz - 18kHz ±0.1dB
- Output levels
- 2.1Vrms at 1kHz
- Output impedance
- 22 ohms nominal
- Phase response
- Linear, absolute phase correct
- Distortion and noise
- <0.01% 10Hz - 18kHz at full output level
- Disc compatibility
- Red book compatible CD, CDR and CDRW
- Mains supply
- 100-120V or 220-240V, 50/60Hz
- Dimensions
- 87 x 432 x 314mm (H x W x D)
- Weight
- 10.8 kg
- Finish
- Black
Simple Search Function
What the Press Say
HDX has received some excellent reviews from some of the most respected HiFi publications.
"Naim makes hard-disk music an audiophile reality, and in some style – this is an amazing product, and capable of serious performance."What HiFi? Sound and Vision awarded the HDX 5 stars in its November 2008 issue.
"A wonderful machine, whose music-making is addictively persuasive" and "We didn't expect to be won over by a computerised box of tricks, but we have."HiFi Choice, HDX 5 star review,
October 2008.
"The Naim HDX is both extremely easy to use yet highly accomplished sonically" and "If the idea is to listen to as much music as possible, as enjoyably and effortlessly, I can think of nothing else right now that comes close."Hi-Fi World, in '5/5 globe' review,
November issue, 2008.
"Beautifully built, intuitive in use and expandable, the Naim also sounds like it's worth every penny of the asking price. This really is hard-disk music coming of age."Gramophone, October 2008
"This Naim combination with music archive gained the right to call itself the worlds first 'Audiophile Hard Disk Player'."Stereoplay, Germany, commenting on HDX's pairing with Naim's 555 PS power supply.
"A miracle ripper" and "A crucial experience to watch the HDX work, a winner in more than one discipline."Audio, Germany