Longevity of Naim CD players

I don’t think there is any firm evidence on this.  I had the laser replaced on my CDS3 last year after 13 years.   It was still working fine but had just got a little noisy.  

Regards,

Lindsay

Keep going.. 

If nothing is broken why fix  ??

The Naim synergy will be missed once one piece is sold.

Get back to music 

:-))

I purchased a CD5 in 2003.  The mech was replaced in 2006. Been going strong ever since. My usage was similar to yours. I gave it and the accompanying Flatcap2 to a friend in 2015, when I replaced it with a CDX2/XPSDR, since when its been getting even heavier use.

Hope I havnt jinxed it now ????

I had my mech replaced on my 2010 CDX2 last year after it stopped reading discs. After that I thought I’d give network play a try using a 272. After a year or so I’m taking a break from streaming and going back to CD playback as my main source (I also use a P3). I never got rid of the CDX2 as I love the way it plays music and I wanted to get my 272/250 combo to sound as good. Unfortunately it can’t. Now with a 555 powering it, the CD player is better than ever and going nowhere still for the foreseeable future. The 272 is being changed to a 282 next week. There is something about the way Naim CD players sound, I love it. 

My CDS3 is 10 years old and still going strong. If it ain't broke don't fix it, is especially true with CD players.

ink04 posted:

I have a Naim CD5x & Flatcap, which I bought from new about 12 years ago. Since that time I estimate average weekly usage of 10 hours per week, it's been an impeccably reliable player and I've not noticed any drift in its performance since the day I bought it.  

Is there a typical point at which its expected that problems with mechanisms, reading discs, skipping and general issues may start occurring. 

I'm finding that I'm listening now to far more cd's than ever before, it's the lower cd price compared to vinyl  which is making the CD5x even more useful than before. I can see my average usage increasing as the player gets older.

I am considering upgrading to a different CD player, so was wondering it may be best to sell the CD5x whilst it is completely trouble free rather than wait for something to possibly go wrong due to normal expected wear and tear etc. 

10 hours a week ! My 2012 CD5XS doesn’t even get 50 hours the whole year due to restrictions (bloody family!) when I can use it at the time of day and volume I choose 

Had my CDS3 for 15 years and still going strong, must get about 3-6 hours a day usage as I work from home. On it’s 2nd transport but probably good for another 15 years or until Naim run out of parts!

Yes Alba, my CDS3 straight from factory to the top of my Fraim, untouched last 10 years except to play CD's. Hope mine lasts as long as your S1.

It's very reassuring to know that these players seem to spin cd's trouble free for many years without requiring frequent attention. 

Even though sound quality is paramount it great to know that what I invested in all those years ago will be good for a long while yet, and there's support available if the player needs any attention.

I can't remember what it cost new back 12 years ago, I have the receipt somewhere, but it's provided great value for money in my opinion. 

I have used my CDX2 from new  since around 2004 ... and still going strong and sounding as good as it ever did. For a few years I ran it with an XPS2 so it’s internal PSU was not being used during that time. The only ‘maintenance’ is every few years I tease out the rubber bands in the puck with a tooth pick so they grip the CD strongly again. I generally control it now using the Naim app via my streamer automation.

Cds2 2002 used daily, still amazing,, even better with a hiline. Best not to let them sit for long periods as thatt will dry out the  mechanism.

Sounsfaber posted:

Cds2 2002 used daily, still amazing,, even better with a hiline. Best not to let them sit for long periods as thatt will dry out the  mechanism.

Is there any science to support that, drying out of the mechanism ?What is it that evaporates ?

Calum Ferguson posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

Cds2 2002 used daily, still amazing,, even better with a hiline. Best not to let them sit for long periods as thatt will dry out the  mechanism.

Is there any science to support that, drying out of the mechanism ?What is it that evaporates ?

No, just what a person that’s been serving Naim Audio for 30+  years  told me. 

 Sounds very logical in my opinion.

Perhaps Richard can clarify as I probably remember wrongly it was one of the problems of new, but long storage mechanisms?

Sounsfaber posted:

Calum Ferguson posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

Cds2 2002 used daily, still amazing,, even better with a hiline. Best not to let them sit for long periods as thatt will dry out the  mechanism.

Is there any science to support that, drying out of the mechanism ?What is it that evaporates ?

No, just what a person that’s been serving Naim Audio for 30+  year told me. But hey what would he know. 

It was a genuine question, hurt feelings now 

My CDX2 worked perfectly for its previous owner for the first 4 years of its life. Then after a house move I think the player stayed in a box under the stairs for well over a year before it was finally put up for sale to clear space. Once it was with me and I started using it, the mech failed within 6 months. The unit was only 6 years old. So I too would say use it or lose it. 

Calum Ferguson posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

Calum Ferguson posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

Cds2 2002 used daily, still amazing,, even better with a hiline. Best not to let them sit for long periods as thatt will dry out the  mechanism.

Is there any science to support that, drying out of the mechanism ?What is it that evaporates ?

No, just what a person that’s been serving Naim Audio for 30+  year told me. But hey what would he know. 

It was a genuine question, hurt feelings now 

 Very sorry, I read it  incorrectly. changed post.  Apologies 

ink04 posted:

 

I am considering upgrading to a different CD player, so was wondering it may be best to sell the CD5x whilst it is completely trouble free rather than wait for something to possibly go wrong due to normal expected wear and tear etc. 

Cd 5 xs , so u still can use flatcap 

Finkfan posted:

My CDX2 worked perfectly for its previous owner for the first 4 years of its life. Then after a house move I think the player stayed in a box under the stairs for well over a year before it was finally put up for sale to clear space. Once it was with me and I started using it, the mech failed within 6 months. The unit was only 6 years old. So I too would say use it or lose it. 

Sorry for being pedantic but how do you know it was the year unused which caused the fail ? My guess is CD players more than other components don’t take kindly to being moved all over the place 

Morning Calum

Sure, I don’t know and could in no way prove that the year sat unused caused the mech fail. All I do know is that I’ll never let a player sit that long unused myself just in case. 

Yes, my CD5XS was unused from Jan. 17 until this month and I must admit to having concerns over that. Porsche’s are known to react badly to periods of non-use, off to get the paper in the 911 Turbo now to keep it tip-top

I had a CDX and XPS which I bought some time in the late 1990s, sold it a couple of weeks ago, still going perfectly.  Unused for about a year or more (hence the sale) but that didn't seem to have done it any harm.

Calum Ferguson posted:

Yes, my CD5XS was unused from Jan. 17 until this month and I must admit to having concerns over that. Porsche’s are known to react badly to periods of non-use, off to get the paper in the 911 Turbo now to keep it tip-top

I haven't driven my 356 for years

If you really have a 356 it is probably wrapped in cotton wool and cannot be driven unless there is nobody else on the roads (prang *!@#!!!!)

Now Im not at work I can comment.

Ok so my impression. When the CD players not being used. The lubricated rail that’ the laser runs on becomes “dry” and or attracts dust buildup. This in turn makes it harder on the whole “mechanism” to work. At a guess moisture build up wouldn’t help any inturnal parts either. 

 For those that have been around the hobby for a while would remember that most of Naim’s replacement mechanisms for the CDS 2 (VAM 1202?) had to be thrown out, they had degraded in storage to the point of being useless. Scientific evidence maybe or just plan old common sense.

Off to get a 6 pack of  beer in my Morris Minor. It doesn’t like to sit and enjoys giving me a ride to the pub once in a while you know.