newbie is lost on what to buy .......

Posted by: Biddler66 on 02 November 2018

Hello everybody, please go easy on me ......

I have a unitilite at mo and input with a RP6 and have Kef500 speakers. I only use system for vinyl and CD as broadband is rubbish where I live and streaming is not an option (plus I have load of old vinyl I could never part with)

I am in a position now that I want to upgrade the amp(s) and CD.

I was thinking of going to a 282 pre and 250R power and a CD5 CD. I have been having a search and this seems a pretty good set up. As is always the way I then looked and next step up 252/300DR. Then I started getting confused with power supplies ....

The 282 has a power supply by sounds like it needs to be upgraded to get the best, whereas the 300DR has a decent power supply already ?

Long story short I am going to listen to both to see what I like but feel lost over what I actually need for each set up so I can cost them and work if the difference in cost/sound between the 2 is worthwhile to me. I would prob need to upgrade turntable and speakers but that depends on how much I spend on amps/CD so that would be for next year .....

I am in no way a hifi "buff" but love music and have it playing in the house pretty much all the time and do appreciate a good sound even though I know nothing about hifi and so far have been led by guys in shops .....

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Biddler66

Sorry, I am going round in circles .... I mean could I power it from the HiCap and if not if I upgrade to a Supercap could I power it from there.........

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by hungryhalibut

A CDS3 needs an XPS, XP5XS or 555PS in order to function.

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Biddler66

Bodger posted:
A second hand CDS3 from a dealer would fit the bill. Lovely player but needs an offboard power supply. They are very affordable these days and was for a time, the Naim flagship player.
Interesting you went for 282/250. My first Naim amps were 282/300. Partly to avoid upgrade temptations for as long as possible.
Dave

Ha, I did think about that as well, and then thought about 252/Supercap and then suddenly the bill was going up a lot, plus I need to buy a rack and upgrade my sources/speakers so I purposely did not go down that route as I dont really want to upgrade for a good few years after getting this set up sorted.

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Biddler66

hungryhalibut posted:
A CDS3 needs an XPS, XP5XS or 555PS in order to function.

Thank you

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by hungryhalibut

The CDS3 is a wonderful player, and will be great coupled with an XPSDR. If you get both used you are looking at under £4,000. Alternatively a CDX2 would still suit your new system and you can add a power supply later, should you wish to. Bear in mind that the CDS3 has a top opening lid, so needs to be in the top of the rack.

I’d suggest doing a bit of research. You can search the Forum and you can find manuals online, which will tell you what needs what to work. This will put you in a stronger position and help you make an informed choice. Asking here is great, but you only get personal viewpoints. For example, I really don’t like the CDX2 and find it unmusical, yet others love it. There is no right answer here, it’s all very personal. And that is even more true with speakers...

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Cdb

If you are considering a second hand CD player I strongly recommend you call Naim support and ask them which models are currently repairable - the availability of transports is the principal issue, I believe. In my experience it’s only Naim centrally that has accurate information on such issues. I have a late CDS3 and when I bought it they had transports available for that model (they can convert older versions of the CDS3 to the later transport, but it requires significant adaptation and therefore greater cost).

Clive

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Biddler66

hungryhalibut posted:
The CDS3 is a wonderful player, and will be great coupled with an XPSDR. If you get both used you are looking at under £4,000. Alternatively a CDX2 would still suit your new system and you can add a power supply later, should you wish to. Bear in mind that the CDS3 has a top opening lid, so needs to be in the top of the rack.
I’d suggest doing a bit of research. You can search the Forum and you can find manuals online, which will tell you what needs what to work. This will put you in a stronger position and help you make an informed choice. Asking here is great, but you only get personal viewpoints. For example, I really don’t like the CDX2 and find it unmusical, yet others love it. There is no right answer here, it’s all very personal. And that is even more true with speakers...

100% agree and thank you. Trouble is I don't have the luxury of sampling either before buying when connected to what I have (as both will have to be used), so very much in the dark, hence my idea of buying both and then selling what I don't want. I fear my lack of knowledge could bite me in the XXXX if I did that though .,....

Posted on: 13 November 2018 by Biddler66

Cdb posted:
If you are considering a second hand CD player I strongly recommend you call Naim support and ask them which models are currently repairable - the availability of transports is the principal issue, I believe. In my experience it’s only Naim centrally that has accurate information on such issues. I have a late CDS3 and when I bought it they had transports available for that model (they can convert older versions of the CDS3 to the later transport, but it requires significant adaptation and therefore greater cost).
Clive

Very helpful, thank you.

Posted on: 14 November 2018 by hastings

You could consider a CD transport/DAC combo. The CD transport could be anything from a (better) dvd player to more expensive options from Cyrus, Project and others. Cyrus and Project are invested in CD tech so they are a safer bet than Naim for the long term. You could use a Naim streamer for a DAC or perhaps a Chord DAC (which many here use).