TAS Devotee converts to Naim

Posted by: Bandito on 14 March 2003

This is my first post. I have been an avid "The Absolute Sound", (TAS) reader since the early 80's. I was minding my own business till about 15 months ago when they reviewed the Nait5. What's this?

One of the best integrated amps said the review. Budget Hi-Fi has always been my interest. The main reason is playing music for family and friends that doesn't break the bank. (got my start with a book called "Good Sound" by Laura Dearborn).

To make a long story short, my journey led me to this fantastic forum. With the help of this forum I am the proud owner of a Naim/Rega system (P3/72/140). Thanks for all your posts encouraging those who need help in finding used Naim Gear. I can proudly say that it is some of the best sounding gear I have ever owned or heard.

Right now I am busy buying used records and cd's. My cd player is a Rotel 955AX. I just compared it to the Naim 3.5. Yes the 3.5 is on my short list but for $1500 CAD would the 3 be a better buy?

Thanks
Chris Bond
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Welcome aboard Chris.

Stand by for 497 views as to next upgrade, all of which will of course be The Only Way.

Go with the majority view and you will not be too far out.

Add a bit more on your profile if you would, especially about your system.

Regards

Mike
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by herm
Hi Chris,

please don't just read the forum, but go to the dealer and listen to a couple of players. Your ears should decide. I suggest you give the CD5 a shot.

Herman
Posted on: 15 March 2003 by NB
Chris,

Good advice from Herm.

Be sure you need to upgrade before you stat parting with your hard earned cash.

Are you really unhappy with your current sistem or are you upgrading because you think you need to.

Music is a matter of personal choice, what sounds good to someone doesn't necessarily sound good to someone else.

Try to avoid magazine articles and other people's opinions its only yours that counts.

Regards

NB
Posted on: 15 March 2003 by Eric Barry
I have a 955 and it's a killer. Warm and fuzzy and definitely not harsh. My CD5 is cleaner, punchier, and better, but on certain sharply recorded cds it can be a bit harsh. A hicap cures this, but now your talking big bucks.

If you put a similar (or even smaller) amount of money into getting a nice used LP12/Ittok or LP12/Akito, you would get a more satisfying improvement. However, if you play mostly cds, maybe it's not worth it. Also, you have to have a good place for it so as to avoid skipping from footfall.

The other thing you should consider is a power supply for the preamp. Makes a huge difference, and the 955 will sound better, even though it violates source first principles.

--Eri
Posted on: 18 March 2003 by Bandito
herm NB

Thanks for replying to my first post.

I took in my trusty Rotel to my Naim dealer and listened. Compared to the CD3.5. I really couldn't hear much of a difference with the CD's I brought in. However with the 2 Cd's the dealer played I noticed a big difference. I even asked him what he did to my Cdp. The difference was very apparent. Here's the conclusion I came to.

Both cd's he played had sections of long sustained notes. I think they were violins. These were very full and deep. On my Cdp they sounded thin and shallow.

If you know what qualitys a Cdp has, your source material can show that off if you choose wisely. My dealer was being very clever in his sales pitch.

Could my reasoning be right?


The Naim CD5 is $3050 in Canada and way to pricey for me.

Ericeric

Great insight into my question. I being new to Naim had forgot about the Highcap and Flatcap upgrades. And to be honest yes I should at least try a LP12 in my system.

Thanks /Chris
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Bandito:
herm NB

Thanks for replying to my first post.

I took in my trusty Rotel to my Naim dealer and listened. Compared to the CD3.5. I really couldn't hear much of a difference with the CD's I brought in. However with the 2 Cd's the dealer played I noticed a big difference. I even asked him what he did to my Cdp. The difference was very apparent. Here's the conclusion I came to.

Both cd's he played had sections of long sustained notes. I think they were violins. These were very full and deep. On my Cdp they sounded thin and shallow.

If you know what qualitys a Cdp has, your source material can show that off if you choose wisely. My dealer was being very clever in his sales pitch.

Could my reasoning be right?


The Naim CD5 is $3050 in Canada and way to pricey for me.

Eric_eric_

Great insight into my question. I being new to Naim had forgot about the Highcap and Flatcap upgrades. And to be honest yes I should at least try a LP12 in my system.

Thanks /Chris


Get the CD3. It is sold about 1000 CA now and the CD3.5 is about 1300-1500 CA. Not much difference between those two till you add a high cap on the CD3.5 but then it is not a fair comparison anymore (and a lot more money spent). I have the CD3 for 5 years and love it. This little CD got the music going well especially with latin music. The real weakness is the resolution department (comparing to the CD5) but it is not important till you play classical music. Buying used Naim you do not suffer depreciation since most used gears are 1/3 to 1/2 the original price (and you can always sell them back with little loss).
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by herm
quote:
Originally posted by Tuan:

Get the CD3. It is sold about 1000 CA now and the CD3.5 is about 1300-1500 CA. Not much difference between those two till you add a high cap on the CD3.5 but then it is not a fair comparison anymore (and a lot more money spent). I have the CD3 for 5 years and love it. This little CD got the music going well especially with latin music. The real weakness is the resolution department (comparing to the CD5) but it is not important till you play classical music. Buying used Naim you do not suffer depreciation since most used gears are 1/3 to 1/2 the original price (and you can always sell them back with little loss).


Hi Chris,

This is more or less what I meant when I said let your ears, rather than forum pals decide what you should do.

Tuan has decided that all kinds of things - resolution, upgradability - are of no account for his purposes, so why should they matter to you?

By all means try and get a A / B of the CD3 and the CD3.5. And try to figure out for yourself where you want to go in the future. Many people think "this is the last piece I'll get". But after a while they do want to get that s/h Hi-Cap or what have you. All I can say is it's handy to keep that path open.

Herman
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by Frank Abela
In my opinion the 3.5 was a good bit better than the 3. The fact that the 3.5 could be upgraded later with a power supply was just a bonus.

You have a nice little system at the moment, arguably a little source light. A meatier record deck would probably be the way to go, unless you have speakers which are difficult to drive. If you ever wish to upgrade the amp, the hicap makes a remarkable difference to a 72/140.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.