A balanced second system

Posted by: Bosh on 23 April 2002

I would like to upgrade the CD for my second system (Arcam alpha/ Rega 2+super bias/ Nait 2 / Kan1s)which I feel is its weakest link

My options (ignoring the ageing CDi and CDS)would seem to be the CD3/3.5, CD5 or a CDX. I am keen to keep sources reasonably balanced and not keen to go up to a second LP12. How do these compare with the Rega 2 and Rega 3?

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by Manu

If you have the budget, the answer is obvious: CDX.
Otherwise, IMO, the best value for money is a SH 3.5+hicap,... and a XPS for your main system!

Emmanuel

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by ejl

I think even a bare CD 3.5 is a good match for a Rega P3. Demo any hicap/flatcap additions to the 3.5 carefully; the improvement is modest, IMO, and may not justify the price.

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by Bosh

Manu

The XPS is but a dawn away (it comes tomorrow)

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by Manu

Bosh
Sleep well tonight, cause you will be screwed to your listenning chair for hours tomorrow. Screws will loose only to change CD

Ejl,
Redo the test, you have missed something, a Hicap transforms a 3.5.

Emmanuel

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by ejl

Manu,

Although I haven't re-done it, I did several tests with/without Hicap on my 3.5 over a period of weeks. Maybe I'm missing something, but I really couldn't notice a major change; a minor imporovement in the openness of the soundstage, but not much more.

OTOH, a Hicap greatly improved my 32.5.

Posted on: 23 April 2002 by Rico

Bosh

in view of it being a second system, and that you don't want to expose greatly the LP source, CD3 is fabulous VFM. Sounds good, and plays music to boot! You should be able to pick one up £325-£450-ish. Fine player.

You have neglected the venerable CD-2 from your shortlist.

Great as the CDX is, I suspect it will not meet your "don't expose" requirement - the £1400-£1800 bracket in which CDX sits (used) is a load to spend on your "second system" - value here is for you to judge, how much time you spend listening etc.

HTH, YMMV etc.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio