3.5 vs CD5 any point at all

Posted by: David Quigley on 12 October 2001

If you could upgrade from 3.5 to CD5 for $2-300 would there be any real benefit or is it just sylistic diffences?

Current set up hi/3.5/hi/72/140/pro-ac 1SC

Regards, David

Posted on: 12 October 2001 by Phil Barry
Since I found the 3.5 to be far more digititis-inducing than the 5, it would make sense to me.

Are you able to listen to the CD5 next to your 3.5? That's the acid test.

Phil

[This message was edited by Phil Barry on SATURDAY 13 October 2001 at 01:10.]

Posted on: 12 October 2001 by David Quigley
...and does that mean that you prefere the 3.5?

Unfortunately unable to do an a/b very easily.

Regards, David

Posted on: 12 October 2001 by John C
There is no difference whatsoever. Well a little But get a Cap or save toward a better player.
To my ears the 5 series CD player is not a big step up from 3.5. The Nait 5 is way better than the Nait 3 however.

John
Mind you I fall into the Petrik classification of saying nothing of importance but saying it often so..you probably ought to ignore me.

Posted on: 12 October 2001 by Phil Barry
Sort of. Digititis makes me want to tap my feet straight out of the room. 'Digititis' to me is an upper mid lower treble harshness and congestion that I absolutely hate to listen to.

I never really liked the 3 or 3.5. Neither ever involved me in music. I did hear a 5 system with FC2, and that did get me involved in the music, but the CD5/FC was probably $2500 plus my old Sony and wasn't worth it. The economics in your case are much different. It's best if you can hear the 2 players side by side, but to me the CD5 is easily worth $300 more than a 3.5.

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 13 October 2001 by ebirah
...I thought the CD5 was much better than the 3.5. Rather less Naim-like in some respects (smoother, rather lush) but very involving and more tolerant of non-Naim components. I'd also consider a s/h CDI - they're much less than a s/h CDX but are a fabulous player - I use one in a 72/hi/250/shahinian arc system and it's not at all embarassed next to the LP12/ARO/Armageddon/Klyde.

Steve

Posted on: 13 October 2001 by Steve Toy
Then my dealer had me audition a 5 against it.
The 5 was better.
A few unavoidable hi-fi cliches will explain why it was better.
Forget it! I'll just say that it was better because it was better that's all.

Just kidding!

3.5: Overtimed the music - caricatured the performance, IMHO. The soundstage was all pushed forward, and there was no focus.

5: A more refined presentation. Followed melodic threads with ease, and did female vocal presence like no other at the price.
Image focus was like good vinyl.
The timing cues were more complex, included a notion of musical flow rather than just emphasising leading edges.

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one wink
Steve