Novafidelity/Cocktail

[hmibennett]

We are downsizing (getting old!) and I want to put my CD collection (about 700 or so, classical music in all forms) onto a hard disc system. I have been fairly impressed by reviews of both the Cocktail x30 and the NovaFidelity x40.

I have a NAD C350 amp and both (elderly) Mordaunt Short Pageant and Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers available.

My question is this: would I be better off with the x30, with its inbuilt amp, or the x40 linked to my NAD amp? And which speakers are likely to pair best with either set up?

Any advice/thoughts would be much appreciated, as I have no technical knowledge or understanding!

 

[Andrewjvt]

Have any knowledge on the novafidelity range but if you are happy with the nad sound id stick with that

 

[ifor]

I'm not sure how this helps with downsizing unless the CDs are going to be boxed away in the attic

 

[hmibennett]

Well, yes - CDs will be boxed up and put away.

 

[davedotco]

The Cocktail audio products are neat 'hi-fi' solutions to the whole ripping/streaming issue, great for anyone not really wanting to mess with computers, I can really understand the attraction.

My personal choice would be to use the X40 with a pair of active speakers and keep the box count down, using an integrated amp adds a lot of unnecessary complication. The X40 with a pair of Adam Artist6 floorstanders or the tiny AVI DM5s would make a very tidy system.

If that is too big a step at this stage, just use the X30 with whichever speaker you prefer.

 

[Vladimir]

Looks like the Cocktail Audio - X12 is a CD Ripper - Music Server & Streamer. The X30 ad X40 come with integrated Class D amps. The OP can get the X12 with 2TB HDD (£500) + active speakers of choice.

However, I see a review on Amazon UK which is not very encouraging.

You thought you would use the X12 to rip your CD collection? Well, this it will certainly do, plenty of storage capacity, but the tray is pretty flimsy, not made for hard use, better go steady. Alright, it will do just fine to play those audio downloads gathering dust - so-to-speak - on the PC. Yes it most certainly will but - er - best load these up the old-fashioned way via a USB stick. The networking instructions in the manual are anything but clear - no plug and play here! I have yet to fathom how to connect it to the home network, and I'm not sure it will turn out worth the effort!
Nor have I yet found any CD which is recognised by the alleged on-line database.
But really it's best-suited to light-ish stand-alone use isn't it, as a music centre for the 21st century?
So, where's the smart-phone, connectivity? MP3? I-Pod? Read the manual very carefully and you will find you can connect an MP3 player, but nothing about the others. I'll suck it and see when I get the chance.
It is set up to connect to a Quobuz account if you have one, but no word in the manual whether it will only stream or whether it will download direct.
One serious technical gripe, it's very, very easy to 'freeze'. It will come back OK if you switch the power off, then on again after a few seconds, but don'ttry to step it from function to function otherwise than via Home, and even then it will sometimes go off in a sulk!

IMO, best to rip those 700 CDs with EAC into FLAC format on a PC, then put them on a good streamer. The CD ripping facility is pointless if it will be a one time use and come with a compromise at everything else in the unit.

 

[Covenanter]

Andrew Everard gives the X40 a glowing review in this month's Gramophone.

Chris