another dumb-assed newbie looking for a cd source

Posted by: Team Reeves on 19 January 2001

Hi guys (and gals, I presume?),

I've been reading the forum with much interest over the past few months and have been knocked out by the quantity and quality of experience and advice available. So...

System:

LP12/Ittok/K9_72/HiCap/140_EposES14s

oh, and a Marantz CD75II given to me by a well-meaning friend.

I'm looking for a CD source of a similar calibre to the rest of the system, preferably secondhand (I'm a BIG fan of secondhand), and preferably to keep me happy for some years.

I may have the opportunity to get an old CDI for little money(but I'm worried about the longevity), or should I hold out for a CDX (but I'm worried about support sensitivity).

Any comments ? Where am I likely to get most music for the most time for the least dinero ??

Thanks,

PS What is a mullet system ?

Posted on: 19 January 2001 by Mike Hanson

The CDX is actually very easy to site. I've had it sitting on my desk at work, on the particle board shelf in my stereo cabinet, on an MDF platform that's sitting on cones, and on Black Diamond Racing Cones directly. The only one that didn't sound great was sitting directly on the BDR cones.

I've also heard it on the floor and on a Mana Reference Table. Although the Mana was surely better than the floor, the floor wasn't all that bad either.

The conclusion here is that supporting a CDX is not a big issue. There are certainly some things that work better than others, but only one of my many trials sounded less than desirable.

In answer to your question, a "mullet" system is back heavy (named after the haircut that's short on top and long in the back). In other words, if your downstream components are much better than your upstream components, then you have a mullet system. For example, your 72/Hi/140 is not a mullet system. If, however, you replaced your 140 with a 250, then you would have a mullet system. At the same time, many people think that this is a "classic" Naim configuration.

If you were going to upgrade your amplification, the money would be much better replacing the 72 with a 102/NAPSC. With Naim gear, you're generally better off putting money into the source and pre-amp (including the pre-amp's power supply). You would be amazed at how good a NAP110
can sound on the end of a 32.5/Super.

While on the topic of 32.5/Super/110 and similar configurations, I'm officially coining a new term of "Farside System", after the comic strip characters who are all fat in the middle. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 19 January 2001 by Pete, Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know

Hi,

Shouldn't that be American system as they are mostly broad in the beam.

pete ;-)

Posted on: 19 January 2001 by Vik

The electronics in Naim's newer players are less microphonic and are easier to site. Go for it, man.

Vik
CDS1/mana diehard

Posted on: 20 January 2001 by MarkEJ

But beware of this:

There are long-standing and respected members of this forum who run CDXs and find them excellent. There are also those who find them very sensitive to suport and setup, and prone to "glare" (for want of a better term). My impression is that there are no absolutes, but it is noticeable that, of the small minority who find them fussy, quite a number have at some point used vinyl as their primary source, or still do.

My point is that if one is used to CDs, it's possible one may find the CDX easier to live than someone accustomed to vinyl only. In your position, I would find a dealer whom I could trust to have a CDX working at its best for a dem, so at least I would know what was achievable.

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)