Is this a mullet system?

Posted by: Chris Bell on 30 July 2003

CDS1/552/500/DBL

My 552 landed this afternoon. Here is a quick recap of the last three hours:

Hour One: System sounds thin, no dynamics, boring. Serious case of buyers remorse.

Hour Two: Hey wait, something is happening here. There is more bass, and wait, I've never heard that instrument before. Buyers remorse beginning to wain.

Hour Three: Oh my god, my DBLs have suddenly doubled in size...where did all that texture come from? Large smile across my face.

More to report after break-in.

Chris Bell
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by Minky
Where's the mullet in that lot ?

You have a few more "Oh my god's" to go yet me old china. You did remove the transport screws I take it ?
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by Chris Dolan
Chris

You are clearly excited by the new piece of kit
quote:
System sounds thin, no dynamics, boring
Well there's the CDS for you.

quote:
Oh my god, my DBLs have suddenly doubled in size

I'm not convinced that's a good thing...especially in a small room.

Have fun Wink

Chris
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by joe90
If you mean 'Mullet' as in the system is 'back-heavy' then I would say yes it is.
That 552 will prompt rapid salivation over the prospect of a CDS-3.

I'm not sure whether I envy you or feel sorry for you... Wink

Joe90
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by Steve Toy
Hi-fi is a syntagmatic chain

I read a couple of years back in Hi-fi+ that the preamp is the link in the chain where most of the sonic/musical info can potentially be lost. I am a believer in such a notion, especially when the front end is digital.

A relatively poor preamp will only strangle a relatively decent digital source component.

Thus, if I had the following system: CDX/102/Hi/250 or even a CDX2/202/Hi/250, I'd get an 82 (or 282) before I got an XPS(2).

I suppose that with a vinyl source, things may be different...

I did hear what a 552 over a 52 could do with a mere CDS2 Wink as well as a CDX2/XPS2 and the difference was a no-brainer.



Regards,

Steve.
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by Chris Bell
The CDS1 is a loaner till my CDS3 ships. I had been listening to a CDX2/XPS2, which was very good, but CDX2 needed be sold off to make room for the new player.

I must confess, the CDS1 holds its own in comparison to the CDX2/XPS2.
Posted on: 30 July 2003 by sean
Chris,

Mullet or not who gives a flying ****, I bet your system sounds amazing. I'm due to recieve my 552 next week and as you could imagine am looking forward to it quite a bit. My CDS3 is just over 6 weeks old and I've been away 4 of those weeks so is still sounding a little stiff. I think it will take a little longer to fully run in.

Just a 500 to go and I'll have the same system as you so would like to know how you get on with it all. What did you change from when you go the 500? I have a six pack at the moment.

Anyway congrats and enjoy,

Sean.
Posted on: 31 July 2003 by Jason Milner
Sounds like the CDS1 is making more of a "big hair" system than a Mullet Wink

Maybe we could sponsor a "Mullet of the year award". Richer Sounds are selling an "Acoustic Solutions" (no, I've never heard of them either) CD player for GBP30 (USD50) - try feeding one of those into an active 552/3*500/DBL for the ultimate Mullet experience Big Grin
Posted on: 31 July 2003 by Philip Pang
CDS1

quote:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System sounds thin, no dynamics, boring
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well there's the CDS for you.


That's the un-run-in 552 burning in, but certainly not the CDS1, for those of us who have owned and enjoyed one for a period of time before. My ex-CDS1 never sounded anywhere near thin, or boring, and neither did the 2... Big Grin

If anything, the 1 till today still sounds analogue, full, thick yet clear, with enough PRT to shake off the competition by some distance. Just that its presentation in comparison to the 2 (and now the 3 which I haven't yet heard) does mask some fine detail, and therefore sounds somewhat veiled, and perhaps more "conservative". However in the conveyance of the music's emotional content, and for sheer involvement, it still does justice as Naim's previous reference, and more than adequately holds its head high even when compared to today's competition.

Good listening all; the music's groovin' frightfully more.

Regards

Philip

naimniac for life