CDS 2 question

Posted by: davidf on 15 January 2002

I have just acquired a s/h cds2 and it sounds great. I noticed from the get go that when you push "start" that the machine makes some whirring noises that sounds like the motor or other mechanical noises. It lasts for a few seconds and then the music starts. If you mute the sound of the music while the disc is playing, then from a few inches away, one can hear the sound of the motor whirring. You cannot hear this from more than a foot or so away from the machine. Is this the normal pattern? I dont remember this happening with my old cdx. Any input appreciated. thanks, david.
Posted on: 15 January 2002 by David Dever
You need a new clamp3, as it's slipping on the hub. We'll send one along with your tuner service.

Dave Dever, NANA

Posted on: 15 January 2002 by davidf
what is a clamp3? Is this the newest puck? The cds 2 I am using is three years old. Has the puck changed? It is still a bit hard to understand why the sound I am hearing would be from a slipping puck. I certainly hope that is all it is. thanks dave. david.
Posted on: 15 January 2002 by Richard Paget
If its a clattering noise its your non repairable nextel ring wearing away!!!--as the cd slips on the little mount disk.
use blue tak to clean the black nextel ring and then pack the rubber rings of the puck with bluetak(until they are a round shape again) to stop the slipping--whilst awaiting your new puck's arrival.

Another tip is don't leave the puck in place when not in use--remove the disc and puck from the machine storing with puck rings up(to help stop them becoming oval in shape)--also avoiding the grease from your fingers getting on to the rubber rings or around the hole of the disc
particularly bad discs may need a ring of masking tape around the hole on the label face where the puck sits.

Unlike everthing else Naim makes--the Cd players are fragile and don't last forever.
Its not just replacing the caps every 7yrs in a Naim cd player.

As a more vintage CDI user I can see the results of the wear--and a very expensive transport replacement awaits.---I'm just about to order my 3rd puck in 2 yrs!!!!!-(the bluetak packing does affect the sound quality by the way-so no long term fix)

No one told me of the meticulous care that was needed and the warning tell tale 'noises'--so my all black nextel became scored in a matter of months after buying my CDi 2nd hand.--I even posted on this forum about how many of my discs would not read with the old 1 ring puck that came with it from one of the largest Naim dealers in the country.-no warning response.
I had been using a last forever £150 Marantz player beforehand so had no idea.
My LP12 is also very fragile(much more than a marantz turntable)--but its fragility is described in the manual at least--i.e don't move with platter in place.(harsh but true)


All a bit of a pain this extra care-esp. removing the disc each time--no just poressing 'stop' as you run out of the house when late--but this non-robust nextel puck system must sound better or Naim wouldn't have chosen it.
I also understand that the flat CDSII puck works better than the 'tophat' puck of my CDI or the CDS1.
Naim went from 1 ring on the original CDI puck to 2. The 1 ring sounds significantly better to my ears--but will play only about 30% on my CDi-without the destructive clattering.Therefore I use a 2 ring.

This later series puck modification I can only guess was due to long term test results and customer feedback/waranty problems.--shame my dealer had no clue about it!!!

I'm so happy with my excellent Naim gear--and Naim's record of being able to take 20yr old amps and for a very modest service price make them sound as good as they did new must be near unique

BUT perhaps the TLC req'd with their CD players(earlier ones at least)-is not as widely discussed as maybe it should be.(what about the unofficial Naim FAQ)

Posting here and Nana sending a new puck will possibly have given you a few extra low cost yrs from your player.

Cheers Richard

Posted on: 15 January 2002 by dave simpson
Anyone from Naim/NANA care to confirm better (sonic) results with new-style cdsII flat puck vs. old style css top hat on old cds/cdi? (I'd try it but the thought of a cd and/or puck dislodging in my cds makes me queasy.)

"Naim went from 1 ring on the original CDI puck to 2."

Richard, always thought both were supplied with the players when they were new. (2 ringer only ever intended by Naim for "problem" disks, in other words, not for normal use.)

BTW , you're right, the two ringer pucks suck. I trimmed 1 o-ring off my two ringer and made it an "extra" 1 ringer for puck rotation. (Guess I've been lucky over the years and never found an unplayable cd that wasn't cured by the hub/platter/puck cleaning procedure in the manual.)

regards,

dave