CDS3 appreciation, after a service

I'm guessing yours was already a later mech Vam1202 model Chris, at that price. Mine is a late Vam 1250 model from around 2007, still sounding great, owned from new and thus far not a single glitch, playing every CD  asked of it.

Great to hear your machine is sounding so good!!

At a speaker dem on Saturday when a NDS was used  I wasn't the only one of the view that the Naim CDPs presented a more vibrant musical image than the equivalent streamers.  My CDS3 is a fixture. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Lindsay, i have been of that opinion since the streamers were introduced. Nothing in the current Naim line up would sway me from my CDS3, streamer wise.

I heard a statement with the CDX2/555PS into Statement and into S800 and it sounded pretty amazing to me.  I used to own a CDS3/XPS2 but I strongly prefer the CDX2/555PS, it is a very meaty and punchy sounding machine. CDS3 is excellent, and having owned all of them CDI, CDS1 (2 times), CDS2, CDS3, CDX2 - you can't go wrong with any of them. I had a home demo of the CD555 and that was unbelievable.

Regards Devraj

Yes i used to own the CDX2/555PS Dev, great machine, but after a couple of years swapped it out for a CDS3/XPS2. Never looked back.

Hi Chris,

Good news, for a such a service it was a bargain indeed !

Regards

Roberto

The Strat (Fender) posted:

At a speaker dem on Saturday when a NDS was used  I wasn't the only one of the view that the Naim CDPs presented a more vibrant musical image than the equivalent streamers.  My CDS3 is a fixture. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Hi Lindasay, not  a surprise, according to my dealer a high quality cd player is tonally richer with a better cont of decays.

Regards

Roberto

i am actually toying with the idea of also having a CD player -- which one not sure yet -- cant afford CDS555. i have happy memories of CDS3 when i owned it. Good you are happy with the revamped CDS3 Chris...

enjoy

ken

Indeed me and friend did a demo of HDX/NDAC/555 against CD555, and even though the share the same DAC chip, they do indeed sound different 

The CD555 sounded so much better and it is the best CD player I have ever heard.

There is no doubt when I hear the CD 555, it simply is the best source that Naim make.

Dev B posted:

I heard a statement with the CDX2/555PS into Statement and into S800 and it sounded pretty amazing to me.  I used to own a CDS3/XPS2 but I strongly prefer the CDX2/555PS, it is a very meaty and punchy sounding machine. CDS3 is excellent, and having owned all of them CDI, CDS1 (2 times), CDS2, CDS3, CDX2 - you can't go wrong with any of them. I had a home demo of the CD555 and that was unbelievable.

Regards Devraj

Interesting . I used to own a CDS3/XPS2 and I too prefer my CDX2 albeit vanilla - for the same reasons you do... I think the CDX2 is one of those CDPs that really needs a top amp to let it shine in its own inimitable way  - its gorgeous with a 252DR - I shudder to think how good it must have sounded with a Statement .

Chris - great to read you are enjoying your revamped CDS3 - and given the improvement you state - a veritable bargain of a service.

Simon

Nice one, Chris.  And that seems a bargain of a price.  Lots of happy CD replay ahead of you now.

Mike

Glad to hear your CDS3 is feeling so much better Chris. Mine has been away at Naim hospital for a long time now - hopefully when it returns it will sound as good!

Paul

Paraphrasing an Audio Reviewer, there are two types of audio components worth owning, the best, and very close to the best!  And the Cdx2 falls into the latter category.

 Thanks ladies and gentlemen for confirming my upgrade path.

Cdx2/HCDR/3 x 250.2/Briks

SCDR- allows A-B with HCDR

555PS - beefs up the 2008 Cdx2 mk1

Snaxo - Active Briks!

PS, I know Simon, 555 PS non-DR

Thanks!

Allante93!

Allante, just to mention my preference for the 555PS non-DR was with the NDAC, I am not a fan of the 555PS on the CDX2, and the NDS sounded the best with the 555PS(DR) ... but either way you will, I'm sure, enjoy your CDX2 mk 1

Thank you all for your generous replies. It's great to feel the love for a rather non vogue-ish player.

Mine went in for repair/ service with a VAM1250 mech and came back with a 1202. I was told in advance by my dealer that there was a flat fee, irrespective of whether the mech needed changing, or not.

Paul C, a great shame that yours is not back yet. I remember reading about yours, and your thoughts prompting me to get mine in. I think you will be very happy with its performance when it arrives. I know this is no consolation but mine has never sounded anything like this good in all the time that I've owned it.

Best,

C.

Good to know it's a flat fee Chris. I thought the change from 1250 to 1202 was circa £600 as the player required quite some circuit modification. The flat fee is good news for all 1250 owners when the time comes..... i hope not for several years on a personal level.

Hi Chris,

great to read of your positive experience. It was very similar when Naim replaced the VAM1250 transport in my CDS3 and serviced the player at the same time. It came back sounding more wonderfully musical than I ever remember it being before.

As Gary recalls, the mech swap was £600 a couple of years ago, so we also have a "Naim reduces price!!!" shock headline too. 

Delighted for you.

Best regards, FT

Thanks FT. It's good isn't it!

Love your headline  :-)))

I will admit to being apprehensive as to the price of the service/ repair, so I jumped at the flat fee. My hope was that the mech would need changing, making another repair a few years down the road less likely.

Best, C.

It is not difficult to resist the siren voices extolling the virtues of streamers when you have a CDS3/XPS2 as a source.

SteveT

Dev B posted:

I heard a statement with the CDX2/555PS into Statement and into S800 and it sounded pretty amazing to me.  I used to own a CDS3/XPS2 but I strongly prefer the CDX2/555PS, it is a very meaty and punchy sounding machine. CDS3 is excellent, and having owned all of them CDI, CDS1 (2 times), CDS2, CDS3, CDX2 - you can't go wrong with any of them. I had a home demo of the CD555 and that was unbelievable.

Regards Devraj

First off, I would like to apologize for straying off topic, but Dev in your experience what would be the best PS to couple with a Cdx2 mk1.

Eyeballing. a SCDR, so System will look like:

Cdx2/282/SCDR/3 x 250.2/Briks

First off Dev, I assuming that was the 555PS DR version powering the Cdx2/Statement!

I've heard some say the natural partner is the XPS2 DR, and the 555PS is to analytical, and over powers the Cdx2.

Some say the 555PS non-DR is a better match than the 555PS DR version.

What's your take, with my setup?

A. 555PS

B. XPS2 DR

C. 555PS DR

Thanks in Advance!

Allante93!

Hi Chris, isn't it great when things snap into place again! How would you say your CDS3 now compares to your LP12? I still don't have a CD player and will probably get one when I move the setup into the back room so that SWMBO can listen to her CD's. Will probably get a Tuner. I had been thinking about a Unity and using the line out but recent threads revitalising interest in the CD2X and CDS3 have got me thinking...

Congratulations Chris - I happen to love my CDS3/XPS2  

Chris - has your XPS2 had the dr treatment?

Does the DR treatment on the XPS2 make a noticeable difference?  I only ask because I cannot upgrade my Supercap for my 52 or my 250 amp.

SteveT

Lindsay - No it hasn't. I tried a 555PS as I thought I would favour that but I was ambivalent about it. 

DRing the XPS2 could be a very good alternative but having experimented recently with interconnects I'm inclined to get a Sarum Super ARAY interconnect first.