Which Second Hand Naim CD Player?
Posted by: Dave Mudie on 03 October 2003
I currently use an Arcam Alpha Plus CD player. The rest of my system is as follows:-
Linn LP12 (Valhalla) with Alphason Xenon arm and AT-F5 cartridge (in need of replacement), Naim Nait 3 amp and Proac Tablette speakers.
I am considering a second hand Naim CD player at the moment. In my price range are CD3.5, CD5 and CD2. Which of these CD players offers the best sound quality? Finally would any of these CD players approach the sound quality of my LP12?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Linn LP12 (Valhalla) with Alphason Xenon arm and AT-F5 cartridge (in need of replacement), Naim Nait 3 amp and Proac Tablette speakers.
I am considering a second hand Naim CD player at the moment. In my price range are CD3.5, CD5 and CD2. Which of these CD players offers the best sound quality? Finally would any of these CD players approach the sound quality of my LP12?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by NB
hi Dave, welcome to the forum.
The one name you didn't mention was the CDX. I am sure there are earlier models within your price range.
The CDX is a great player and has the potential of being up-graded with the XPS when funds allow.
The CDX will get close to the sound quality of your Linn but will offer a different sound.
Regards
NB
The one name you didn't mention was the CDX. I am sure there are earlier models within your price range.
The CDX is a great player and has the potential of being up-graded with the XPS when funds allow.
The CDX will get close to the sound quality of your Linn but will offer a different sound.
Regards
NB
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Phil Barry
The question can't be whether the CDP will be close to / as good as / better than your LP12; the question has to be 'which of these CDPs will provide the greatest musical satisfaction'.
Of the 3 you've named, only the CD5 provides me with musical satisfaction. I ahven't listened a lot to the 3.5 or 2, but then they never produced much that made me WANT to listen. The CD5 did.
But YMMV.
Phil
Of the 3 you've named, only the CD5 provides me with musical satisfaction. I ahven't listened a lot to the 3.5 or 2, but then they never produced much that made me WANT to listen. The CD5 did.
But YMMV.
Phil
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Markus
It would be hard to compare cd2, cd3, cd3.5 and cd5. They were all excellent when they were new. I have a hunch that I would be satisfied with any of them (I use a 3.5) but you may have higher standards than I do...
Given the relative ages of these players I'd go for the newest one I could find. The cd5 seems to be very highly appreciated.
Markus
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Given the relative ages of these players I'd go for the newest one I could find. The cd5 seems to be very highly appreciated.
Markus
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Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Tim Jones
I've heard all of them. The CD2 is without question (don't even think about it 
) the most musical and the best VFM.
Tim
) the most musical and the best VFM.Tim
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by David Stewart
CDi is possibly a bit of a dodgy bet because of dwindling parts availability. CDX is hardly in the same price range as a s-hand 3.5 or even a 5. The CD5 is probably the best bet although personally I like my hicapped 3.5 - different sound from the 5 though!
David
David
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Bob Edwards
Dave--
Out of the players you listed, this is easy: The CD2 is the way to go.
Bob
Out of the players you listed, this is easy: The CD2 is the way to go.
Bob
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by prowla
From my experience, CD3.5 is good, CD3.5/Hi-Cap is better, CDX is bloody good.
Some time around next May, I hope to be able to report that CDX/XPS is really bloody good.
Paul Rowlands
Some time around next May, I hope to be able to report that CDX/XPS is really bloody good.
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Chris Dolan
quote:
I hope to be able to report that CDX/XPS is really bloody good.
Paul
You really need to raise your expectations for the CDX/XPS - and even then you won't be disappointed.
Dave
My answer to your original question would be .... try and go for the CDX. I won't bore you with my negative views on some Naim CD players!
Chris
Posted on: 04 October 2003 by David Stewart
Lets get real here - A CDX is a great player, but into a Nait3 and Proac Tablettes would make a bit of an unbalanced system!
From his original post, I also doubt the cost of around £1400-1500 would be within Mr Mudie's budget - but I may be wrong!
A CD2 would probably cost around £800-900, a CD5 in the region of £700-800 or a CD3.5 £500-600. All of these would be an all round better bet than the CDX.
Personally I'd recommend auditioning a CD5 if you prefer a more relaxed sound, or the 3.5 for something a bit more 'in yer face'. A FlatCap or Hicap will provide a major improvement to either of these when some more budget is available.
Given the configuration of the LP12, the CD5 will probably compare quite favourably.
David
From his original post, I also doubt the cost of around £1400-1500 would be within Mr Mudie's budget - but I may be wrong!
A CD2 would probably cost around £800-900, a CD5 in the region of £700-800 or a CD3.5 £500-600. All of these would be an all round better bet than the CDX.
Personally I'd recommend auditioning a CD5 if you prefer a more relaxed sound, or the 3.5 for something a bit more 'in yer face'. A FlatCap or Hicap will provide a major improvement to either of these when some more budget is available.
Given the configuration of the LP12, the CD5 will probably compare quite favourably.
David
Posted on: 04 October 2003 by prowla
quote:
Lets get real here - A CDX is a great player, but into a Nait3 and Proac Tablettes would make a bit of an unbalanced system!
Used to be an LP12/Ittok was OK into a Nait, so why not a CDX?
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 04 October 2003 by David Stewart
I doubt that into a Nait3, the CDX would outperform a 3.5+Hicap which would be £400-500 cheaper! It's also likely a CDX would be too revealing for the Nait and might show up it's shortcomings, particularly with the Tablettes.
In my experience an LP12/Ittok does not suffer from this problem, but thats just my view.
David
In my experience an LP12/Ittok does not suffer from this problem, but thats just my view.
David
Posted on: 04 October 2003 by prowla
Hmm - we do seem to have drifted from a "big-endian" approach to a more level accross the board one these days.
Paul Rowlands
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by Bob Edwards
David--
A Nait 1 had NO trouble showing the (dramatic) improvement an XPS brings to a CDX. So my advice would be to get the best player he can; out of the players he listed, I think that is the CD2 by a wide margin.
Best,
Bob
A Nait 1 had NO trouble showing the (dramatic) improvement an XPS brings to a CDX. So my advice would be to get the best player he can; out of the players he listed, I think that is the CD2 by a wide margin.
Best,
Bob
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by garyi
Don't discount the CDi it was built like a tank. Mine is an early one 91 I think and is totally perfect no skips no bumps in the night.
Check the nextel ring, if its in good nick might be worth a punt, espcially as you can get the price right.
Check the nextel ring, if its in good nick might be worth a punt, espcially as you can get the price right.
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by Mat Bon 0013
Another vote for the CDi 
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by Richard Paget
I auditioned the cd2 v cdi and thought the cdi much better for my ears. Currently Naim can still repair the cdi otherwise the cd2 mech can be fitted fit(sounds a little worse-was fitted in the last cdi's as standard). The cd2 was produced as the source of cdi mechs stopped--not becuase it was 'later and better'
CDS2 was produced in similar circumstances but had a huge amount of work thrown at it to make it an upgrade from the cds1.
If considering a cdx get a CDS1(better IMHO) and NAIM can replace the mechanism they have some from all the cds1-->2 updates(why they ran the scheme)--they break v.rarely-and you can tell about nextel ring abuse when you buy it--it's not hidden. Use a regularly cleaned 2 ring puck and the nextel stops wearing any further--it's the noisy slipping that does it(a slight compromise in sound--but still better than a CDX IMHO--the one I borrowed anyway).
£1400 will get you one(occasionally lower)--naked cdx money.
In the end it all depends on the 'character' of sound you like best --as source components even Naim cd players have differing presentations. It's difficult to compare without a back to back--near impossible S/H I was lucky.
Regards Richard
CDS2 was produced in similar circumstances but had a huge amount of work thrown at it to make it an upgrade from the cds1.
If considering a cdx get a CDS1(better IMHO) and NAIM can replace the mechanism they have some from all the cds1-->2 updates(why they ran the scheme)--they break v.rarely-and you can tell about nextel ring abuse when you buy it--it's not hidden. Use a regularly cleaned 2 ring puck and the nextel stops wearing any further--it's the noisy slipping that does it(a slight compromise in sound--but still better than a CDX IMHO--the one I borrowed anyway).
£1400 will get you one(occasionally lower)--naked cdx money.
In the end it all depends on the 'character' of sound you like best --as source components even Naim cd players have differing presentations. It's difficult to compare without a back to back--near impossible S/H I was lucky.
Regards Richard
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by ebirah
Another vote for CDI or CDS. I've had both and both are astonishingly good VFM at the current s/h rates. When I last enquired from Naim, there was no problem repairing either. I found the CDX and CDI a little different in presentation terms but approximately equal overall. If cost is an issue, then the CDI gets you similar performance for a lot less wonga. The CDS is in another league - Big Boy stuff.
Steve
Steve
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by prowla
I didn't like the original CDS when I heard it when it was new. Naim did a promotion in the early 90's where they'd give you a free CD if you had a listen. I went to a dealer and had a demo. After a couple of CDs, I suddenly found myself listening to LPs on the LP12 they happened to have in the same room.
Paul Rowlands
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 05 October 2003 by kevinl
CD2 is my preferred player of this lot. The CDi is still a great player but long term life expectancy will be low due to availability of transports. The CD3 and 3.5 are simply not in the same league as the CD2. I haven't listened to a CD5 so I can't comment