Some advice needed

Posted by: Stephen Bennett on 02 May 2001

My system is at the moment

Linn LP12/Rega RB300(I think)/Klyde cartridge. The arm & cart are new & the LP12 serviced.
Arcam Alpha CD (Recently returned from Arcam sounding much better)
Naim 35.5/110 (probably Snapped soon)
Rega EL8

I'm looking to spend in total about £1200 over the year to upgrade. The record deck sounds better than my CD and I'd like to tackle that. Also the Regas are a bit bass light, undetailed and polite compared to my Studio TB-2's.

I don't want to have another pair of TB-2's though I do love them.

Any advice, ideas?

Regards

Stephen Bennett. Composer and sound design. (UK)
http://chaosstudios.gen-next.com

henry fool http://www.collective.co.uk/henryfool The Fire Thieves: http://tft.gen-next.com

Author of 'The Fast Guide To Logic' http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/fgel.htm
and 'Making Music with E-Magic Logic Audio http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/mmela.htm'

Posted on: 02 May 2001 by Stephen Bennett

Is the CD3 a 'can't use an external PSU', 3.5?
A CDX is out of my price range s/h I'm afraid.

It's unlikely that I'll be upgrading again for several years, so I don't want to just get a new CD player now - though I know it's the 'upgradeable' choice. What about a CD3 & a pair of Intros? Anyone using this combo? Or would I be happier with a CD2 & my Regas?

Regards

Stephen Bennett. Composer and sound design. (UK)
http://chaosstudios.gen-next.com

henry fool http://www.collective.co.uk/henryfool The Fire Thieves: http://tft.gen-next.com

Author of 'The Fast Guide To Logic' http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/fgel.htm
and 'Making Music with E-Magic Logic Audio http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/mmela.htm'

Posted on: 02 May 2001 by Steve Toy

I actually ordered a 3.5 just before the 5 came out, as it was better than the Densen B400 I was borrowing at the time, and better also, in my view, than a Linn Ikemi. My dealer then advised me to wait for the 5, which I did. We did A/B tests between 3.5 and 5 in my system (Densen/Rega Naos) The 3.5 seemed to hype the music, creating a caricature effect, it had no soundstaging as such, but was very tuneful. The 5 had more Round Earth qualities and didn't play tunes properly.
My dealer "refused" to sell it to me. In fact it was returned to Naim on the basis that it must have been faulty. It came back about a week or so later - and it was as tuneful as the 3.5, but more refined and less in-yer-face!
Maybe Paul Cocks heard an early, faulty one and the dealer didn't pick up on the fault because his ears have an underdeveloped sense of pitch.

The 5 is better than the 3.5. OK!