CD5i
Posted by: Deeply on 21 February 2004
Has anybody out there had a CD3 vs CD5i dem, and if so how did they compare? Or would the £825 be better put towards one of the older (discontinued - second hand) models?
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by J.N.
Welcome aboard
I use a CD3 (refurbished by Naim with a new transport). A CD5i must be better, if only beacause of the lessons learned about dealing with microphonics via the new case work.
Naim kit has an excellent reputation for longevity and serviceability, but good quality CD players tend to get used more that your average junk, and so they suffer mechanical/transport wear.
It can cost around £350 to service and replace the transport in a CD3.
Buy a new CD5i.
Good luck.
I use a CD3 (refurbished by Naim with a new transport). A CD5i must be better, if only beacause of the lessons learned about dealing with microphonics via the new case work.
Naim kit has an excellent reputation for longevity and serviceability, but good quality CD players tend to get used more that your average junk, and so they suffer mechanical/transport wear.
It can cost around £350 to service and replace the transport in a CD3.
Buy a new CD5i.
Good luck.
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by NB
I heard the new cd5i yesterday at the hi-fi show and I thought it sounded awful.
Seriously listen to some alternatives and see which sounds beter to you, I wouldn't rush out to buy one.
Regards
NB
Seriously listen to some alternatives and see which sounds beter to you, I wouldn't rush out to buy one.
Regards
NB
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by Deeply
Thanks for the welcome.
I've been using the CD3 from new since 1996. It was by far the best CD player in the £500 to £1000 range when I auditioned it, and I've been pretty happy with it. It's main vice is that it can sound a little forward on some discs, but then again it can sound absolutely stunning on the right material.
I don't want to make a sideways step, which was why I was wondering about something like an old CDS mk1, which are coming onto the S/H market at quite low prices now.
I've been using the CD3 from new since 1996. It was by far the best CD player in the £500 to £1000 range when I auditioned it, and I've been pretty happy with it. It's main vice is that it can sound a little forward on some discs, but then again it can sound absolutely stunning on the right material.
I don't want to make a sideways step, which was why I was wondering about something like an old CDS mk1, which are coming onto the S/H market at quite low prices now.
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by NB
Also consider a second hand CDX, that would be a real improvement over your CD3 and prices are falling.
Regards
NB
Regards
NB
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by airdavid
Sorry, but CD3 was at the same level of newer CD5, while CD5i is at lower level of CD5, so CD3, though older than CD5i, is higher than CD5i, isn't it?
Regards,
David
Regards,
David
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by Linds
Bristol 5i 5i arrriva
I heard the combo of Nait 5i, CD5i and arriva with 1 or 2 Rs depending if you're reading the price list or the sign in the dem room......
I thought it sounded grim but I couldn't necessarily pin it down to the CD5i. I've demmed a Nait 5 at home with my Credos and it was rock solid, room-filling with bass to move those 8" drivers at volume about 9 o'clock.
Didn't quite find the arrrrrivas behaving the same way with the Nait 5i. Which is so different 5i vs 5 or arrrrriva vs Credo?
!!! There's always money somewhere for the next upgrade... !!!
I heard the combo of Nait 5i, CD5i and arriva with 1 or 2 Rs depending if you're reading the price list or the sign in the dem room......
I thought it sounded grim but I couldn't necessarily pin it down to the CD5i. I've demmed a Nait 5 at home with my Credos and it was rock solid, room-filling with bass to move those 8" drivers at volume about 9 o'clock.
Didn't quite find the arrrrrivas behaving the same way with the Nait 5i. Which is so different 5i vs 5 or arrrrriva vs Credo?
!!! There's always money somewhere for the next upgrade... !!!
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by kj burrell
I got a good deal on a CD5 a couple of weeks back. I think the prices might be dropping as the 5i picks up loads of good reviews. It runs through a Nait 5 which, again, I picked up as "old" kit is being offloaded. It seemed to me that the 5 was a better bet as I can upgrade and all that. And I have to say, moving up from an Arcam 8/Rega Planet the difference is phenomenal.I'm new to Naim but have already caught the upgrade mindset. Btw : there's a good CD5/NAIT5/Flatcap 2 on e bay at the moment, currently bidding around £1500 the lot!
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by Pictish
I'm very glad the prices are dropping a bit - picked up an ex-dem cd5 for 700 on Friday. Its been playing non-stop through my Nait5 all weekend, sounds fantastic and IMHO far better than the cd5i I had demoed recently. Next step a flat-cap2 though by the looks of the bidding on that one on ebay (currently at more than the new price!) I'll stick to picking up a guaranteed ex-dem unit from a dealer somewhere.
Mike
Mike
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by kj burrell
The www.TomTomAudio.co.uk site has got a couple of s/h flatcaps for under £400. From browsing some other threds this seems to have a good reputation.
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by Deeply
quote:
Sorry, but CD3 was at the same level of newer CD5, while CD5i is at lower level of CD5, so CD3, though older than CD5i, is higher than CD5i, isn't it?
Regards,
David
Well yes, that was the point that I was trying to make. I wondered if the lessons learned by Naim since 1996 would give an advantage over the older player.
Deeply.
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
quote:
has got a couple of s/h flatcaps for under £400
For similar money, or not a lot more you could have a Hicap, which, if you don't need both the supplies of Flatcap2, will be a very significant upgrade to the CD5.
Personally I'd skip the Flatcap.
Andy.
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by ClaudeP
quote:
For similar money, or not a lot more you could have a Hicap, which, if you don't need both the supplies of Flatcap2, will be a very significant upgrade to the CD5.
Personally I'd skip the Flatcap.
Based on my experience with the CD3.5, there should not be a big difference betwee flatcapping or hicapping a CD5.