CD 3.5 & Flatcap - is it dim or me?

Mind you sometimes they both go hand in hand

Steve B

quote:

---

However, the Naim logo on my CD 3.5 has gone from bright to dim - noticably so next to the other components. Any idea why?

---

Unless there is an actual (electrical) problem with the FLATCAP *, it's possible that it's the fascia itself--the screened black logo overlay's position varies from vintage to vintage; you see this especially on older large-case fascia.

Dave Dever, NANA

* - I'm not referring to the mute circuit / logo thing on the older CD players; could be a bad regulator, on the rare possibility that something might be wrong.

quote:

---

"Not as exciting to listen to"
That's why I havn't done it.

Mr Pig

---

As it feels a lot closer to Juan's CDS2, I'm happy. It still has more PRaT than the Thunder II I borrowed.

Stephen

quote:

---

I'm not saying the Flat cap isn't a good idea, I just didn't want to lose something to get something else

---

Well as long as it's nasties that get lost, surely that's a good thing! Anyhow, I'll choose what's best.

Stephen

I think you misinterpreted Stephen's initial post. He said that the logo *on the 3.5* is dimmer with the flatcap attached than when not. Does this indicate a problem? Voltage difference with the flatcap perhaps?

Stephen -

Sounds like a setup issue to me. The 3.5 is better in *all areas* with a cap fitted. Oh, and excitement from edginess doesn't count

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

You're also right about the sound. Edginess can sound exciting but, like bass, I only want it when it's supposed to be there! The FC removes the overall edginess while retaining the properties that make the 3.5 fun to listen too.

So far anyhow!

Stephen

I'm still confused as to why plugging in a Flatcap shouuld make the logo dimmer than with the FC removed though.

Regards

Stephen

PS The high frequencies on Anja Garbereks 'Smiling and waving', which were extremely shrill on the bare 3.5 & unlistenable on my old Arcam are fine now. Hurrah! And the bassoon still sounds like a bassoon. Hurrah!

Yup you are right I don't have a clue.

Regards

Stephen

PS Logo dimmer = more music perhaps

David

With a little help from previous postings on this topic, I put it all down to the differences in alignment between the graphics and the dimensional differences between the fascias themselves. I also deduced that the relative ages of the units, and the inevitable parts and specification changes that are to be expected during the passage of time, must play some part.

Well, all that satisfied my obsessive compulsion until...yes...the 3rd of my Naim bits, the Flat-Cap arrived. By comparison to the other 2 units, the Flat's logo was like a star going super nova on the Discouvery Channels mockups. Its shade of Green is much like that of the 3-5 and its serial number is also quite close, as its previous owner (hi Mike) had purchased it new around the same time that I had acquired the 3-5. However, when piled into the Sound Org rack's lowest shelf, it made the two original inhabitants' logos seem similarly dimmer by comparison. I remember having a very Mullet like thought...'hey this thing is powerful man!'

Well one night, after a particularly Mick Parry like single malt experience, I thought that I would relax on the floor in front of my beloved black boxes while listening to a bit of low level, soothing, 'I will survive this' type music (now there is a thread topic starter for the Music Forum if ever there was one...has it been done?).

Well, when this old racing machine decides to head back to the garage after thinking that it is still in its competitive prime, it does so quite reluctantly. Every so often I would open my eyes to check that the listening room had decided to stop rearranging its boundaries in the interests of acoustical experimentation.

Well, lo a behold, my Naim boxes had gone forth and multiplied! Had my wonderful wife gone and bought me a new piece of kit? No way man! The Naim boxes were actually flying!! Not only that but, all of their wonderful little dancing green logos were the exact same shade of wonderful Naim green and of equal lumens. I somehow decided that it would be best to just follow the lights and, alas, I am still here to relate this tale of wonderment.

The moral of this story is, that our Naim boxes are just messing with our heads. Someday they will reveal their true nature to all of us. I have seen the truth, your day will come too. It is just a matter of time. In the meanwhile just go along for the wonderful ride.

Craig
PS. of course another reason might be that, like fine jewelry, it merely depends upon what angle you look at them from. Nah, that can't be it!

There was an article in HFN & RR going back about 2 1/2 years which compared base 3.5,+ Flat-cap and + Hi-cap.

There summary, as was mine, is that stay with FC and then go to CDX. The major gains are with the FC and the HC is a bit pricey for the gain. But be careful, I did't find a bare CDX much better than the 3.5 + FC when auditioned -- the drama and life did not improve as much as I would have expected.

Only trust your own ears!

Phil

I listened to both combos and while the difference is not enourmous it is there. With a Hi-cap IMHO even less of the deviant edginess is present.

Regards, David

quote:

---

Craig, I believe you are on drugs.

---

Since losing my virginity in 1974 while listening to the Canadian pressing of PFs DSOTM in a small border town near the state of Michigan, I have never required more than 6 hours of sleep in a given 24 hr period. The only artificial means by which I can sleep soundly for longer periods is if I were to consume a whole pan of Betty Crocker hash brownies, followed by copious copulation, and ultimately crashing in a heap at the foot of my kit. It is then, and only then, that the little Naim Logo Light Fairies carry me off into a long and blissful dream walk from which I awake 'Mick Parry like' remembering nothing of the experience (but, like Mick, wondering how my underwear went missing).

These days I mostly prefer to remain straight and soberly productive for the remaining 18 hours per day. Well at least during the work week.

Craig
Jeopardy Audio Consultants
'Ask us no answers and we will tell you no questions'