any CDS3 reviews yet?

Craig,

there is reference to one in the hi-fi world's reveiw of the CDX2 but as of yet there hasn't been a full reveiw yet.

I have had a CDS3 for a couple of months and it is supperior to any other machine I have heard, however you must do a comparrison yourself and see which one you prefer,

Regards

NB

CDS 3 review:

http://www.hifinews.com/content/next.html

Andrew, what ATC speakers are you using with the No.390?


Chris Bell

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Bell:
CDS 3 review:

http://www.hifinews.com/content/next.html

Andrew, what ATC speakers are you using with the No.390?


Chris Bell

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I see Bryston 3B-SST won the IESA 2003 for amplification.

Andrew,

I have always been interested in hearing that ATC/Levinson combo. I am a fan of the ATC active line, and with the 390's internal preamp, it's a trick one-box-solution. While I love my 500/DBL system, there are days I yern for smaller, more simplified system. The racks of Fraim and black boxes scares the ladies away.

Chris Bell

Many thanks for the responses - excellent, seems like October Hi-Fi news will do the business.

At the moment I'm planning (over time) to replace my whole aged system, bought as a student: arcam alpha CD, audiolab 8000A, cyrus speakers. A few years, many CDs and work stresses later, I've decided to forego a car and upgrade the hi-fi, though it'll have to be over time. Plan is (subject to demos) for CDS3, 252 pre-amp, 300 or 250 power amp, and speakers to be decided.

The alternative is the Levinson 390S with one of their new power amps and related speaker brands. I heard a system like this a few months back and it was tremendous - and cheaper than Naim due to the digital pre-amp option of course. But I do love the Naim sound so it'll be interesting to make the comparison. I don't buy this 'you either get PRaT or you get transparency' chat - and for these prices I'll have both, thanks very much! From what I've heard, both are fabulous systems, so the only loser will be the overdraft....

(have also been following NB's entertaining "My Jaw has just hit the floor" thread with great interest re. speakers...)

Craig

Chris Bell wrote:

"The racks of Fraim and black boxes scares the ladies away."

Well, you should have seen the look of here face the last time a girl-friend-to-be was at my house and put hear eyes on my model railroad...

JohanR

Hi Andrew,

Chris and I are friends - I was just over at his place yesterday listening to his new 552. Driven by a loaner CDS1, his 500 and DBLs sounded just plain great. Especially when listening from the far end of the room, 25 feet from the speakers. The sound didn't come from the boxes anymore (as it did when listening from about 15 feet away); the musicians were just "over there."

I'd like to have that system. But only if the house came with it!

I don't know what Chris is on about. He's had numerous women tell him recently that the speakers, etc looked just fine. They weren't women he was chasing, however, so maybe the problem really lies elsewhere

Wot's up with the CDS2/XPS? You certainly seem desperate to spend some money these days!

Andrew

The CDX2 is inferior to the CDS2, even with the XPS2 added in. The best combo so far is the CDS2 + XPS2. I have heard all of them except the CDS3. Speaking about Mark Levison, they make fantastic products you dont go wrong with them. The gap between Naim and Mark Levinson is shorten everyday. Naim = Mark Levison - [0.5(power) + 0.2(resolution)] + (1.2)rhythm
if you want to see how an engineer compare the 2 product lines.

quote:

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Originally posted by AndrewThomas:
In my own mind I have quite figured out whats going on there - for some reason its more fatiguing to listen to the CDS2 play loud (for those of you with an SPL meter, I'm talking about 90dB).

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Andrew,

I can't comment on the ML, but try to keep the XPS as far from the CDS as possible, and preferrably on a separate rack off to the right of the head unit.

When the XPS interferes with the CDS2 the sound goes grainy and nasty, and the bass is pinched off - it doesn't breathe.

I would expect the same to happen if any other equipment with a transformer is placed on the same rack as the head, i.e. less than about 18 inches apart vertically.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com

Some of us can't afford the space for a second rack just for the amps and PS. dag nabbit!!!

Life is analogue

quote:

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Originally posted by AndrewThomas:
If that's the case, naim need to put that advice in their manual

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But it does say in the Naim CD player manual:-


"Power supplies and amplifiers should be located a reasonable distance away from other equipment." Clear, simple, concise & idiot proof, too. For some unknown reason it then bleats on about hum! I sniff the Marketing dept on that one.

quote:

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and the dealers should hand out leaflets stating "don't buy this product without $8K's worth of fraim".

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I didn't say a word about fraim. Same would apply if it was perched on a sideboard.

And I don't think you can level this criticism just at Naim. The HiFi mags always seem to have some new wonder-rack or cone or similar which gives a big boost to some amp that I've never heard of before.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com

But have you tried your Levinson player on Fraim?

I'm making do quite nicely without Fraim, but I've heard what it can do. Its a *cost effective* upgrade (would you have paid another 1K for your Levinson player?) to almost any kit - Naim or otherwise - that is placed on it.

If you haven't heard it...

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Double bollocks with a cherry on top.

Leave my cherry out of it!

Andrew -

I'm not even gonna bother.

I smell a ban coming...I smell a ban coming...

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here