Hi folks.
Went to see (not hear) a CDS-II/XPS today. The reason I didn't hear it is that it was a flying visit, really to scope out a couple of things (availability, new price and to have a look at the thing) and I have to say that it's a bizarre looking beastie indeed. But then, it's the sound that counts, and if it's half as good as you lot claim then it's well worth checking out!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am planning to borrow said CDS-II/XPS and a CDX/XPS at some point in the next month or so (prior to April) and when the new tax year comes I might just indulge... 
A few of questions that perhaps someone could answer:
(1) What is the warranty/guarantee on the CDS-II/XPS (and also the CDX)?
(2) I am concerned about what I am led to believe happened in the case of the CDS, i.e. parts availability problems, leading to repairs requiring a complete update to the player. What are the weaknesses of the CDS-II in terms of build (i.e. what tends to go wrong if anything) and has Naim protected its customers from a similar thing happening to the CDS-II?*
(3) Is there any performance constraint on how close the XPS can be located to (a) the CDS-II and (b) other sensitive equipment, e.g. preamps? I would probably site the XPS above the CDS-II (on the lower tier of a wallshelf) and have the CDS-II sitting on the top of my 3-tier rack (below the shelf)
(4) Has anyone tried the CDS-II with the better Nordost interconnects, specifically SPM Reference? This is what I use and I am keen to get feedback on whether it's a synergistic mix or whether (like the Chord Anthem that I heard on Monday/Tuesday) it perhaps might not be the best thing to use? This is a v. important consideration.
(5) If I buy a CDS-II, do I get the connecting lead for attaching it to the XPS? What about a standard DIN:DIN interconnect - is this included too?
(6) Have any revisions occured to the CDS-II since launch that might make a new model (i.e. 2002) more desirable than an earlier model?
That'll do for now. Gotta do this right, as I am assured by my dealer that prices will rise by a few percent in April, which in the scheme of a six grand CD player is quite a lot of beer money!
Of course, if I can find a s/h CDX, or CDX/XPS, then I'll jump at that, so if anyone wants one I will pay a good rate for a decent one - contact me privately if you are looking to move up the ladder or across to another brand! This would, of course, enable me to phase my upgrade as the rest of you do...
Yours, bewildered by the magnitude of spending that amount on a CD player,
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 21 February 2002 by Top Cat
Of course, I wouldn't even buy an interconnect without a one week home demo, that goes without saying. What I'm trying to do is clear up a few things aside from demonstration, which is taken as a no-brainer. Dealer has agreed a one week demo in any case, as I'd expect and demand for a product of that price.
My heart isn't set on it, though, but I do believe in doing my research, and some things are just difficult to establish - of course, my dealer could answer some of those questions, but I believe in the consensus of the forum, and feedback from actual owners.
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 21 February 2002 by Happy Listener
TC,
So many questions! I think you might do better to spend some time with the dealer and look down the back of the racks, for there could be issues for you here!
In order:
1- Naim and g'tees -- to my knowledge it's the standard 12m's from the shop etc but we are talking serious kit and the dealers I know say it does not go wrong!! Yes it needs a service now and again!
2- Dunno - there are answers to this point on other threads but with an anticipated 10 yr lifespan, is this really a major concern? Technology may be well beyond CD by this time!
3- Location -- I have mine on an ugly wallshelf due to usual domestic trade-offs but supported by Pulsapoints -- a dramatic improvement at moderate volume.
4/5- The interconnect for the power is via a Burndy, which is stiffly constructed and about 2'6'' (perhaps more). You should give as much distance as you can but you may be limited by the cable if you are tight for room behind your stands?
The Burndy comes with the XPS.
I have not tried any other inconnects (yet!).
6- dunno
Be warned once you hear a CDS2, you will not want a CDX!!!!
Phil
Posted on: 21 February 2002 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Top Cat:
(1) What is the warranty/guarantee on the CDS-II/XPS (and also the CDX)?
12 months.
Never understood how such a luxury product, with such build quality, doesn't come with a five-year warranty.
quote:
(2) I am concerned about what I am led to believe happened in the case of the CDS, i.e. parts availability problems, leading to repairs requiring a complete update to the player. What are the weaknesses of the CDS-II in terms of build (i.e. what tends to go wrong if anything) and has Naim protected its customers from a similar thing happening to the CDS-II?*
Naim bought a large stock of CDSI transports when they were discontinued by Philips. These lasted some years, but eventually ran out.
Naim then offered the CDSII upgrade in order to tempt CDSI owners to upgrade *before* their players died. Any transport recovered which is in good condition is tested and returned to spares.
Not ideal, but a sign of the lengths Naim will go to in conditions not of their making.
quote:
(3) Is there any performance constraint on how close the XPS can be located to (a) the CDS-II and (b) other sensitive equipment, e.g. preamps? I would probably site the XPS above the CDS-II (on the lower tier of a wallshelf) and have the CDS-II sitting on the top of my 3-tier rack (below the shelf)
Put the XPS as far away as possible. In fact, I'd suggest the burndy is not long enough if you need to place the XPS to the left of the player (cannot achieve a distance of more than 6-8 inches).
quote:
(5) If I buy a CDS-II, do I get the connecting lead for attaching it to the XPS? What about a standard DIN:DIN interconnect - is this included too?
Burndy lead comes with XPS. A DIN-DIN is supplied with the CDSII.
cheers, Martin
Posted on: 22 February 2002 by Top Cat
Has anyone ever disliked the CDS-II/XPS in comparison to (say) the CDX/XPS or even the humble CDX?
Things are moving fast, I can't buy anything until April (dividend and tax reasons, nothing sinister but I ain't paying 40% if I don't have to!) but I can always stick a deposit down in the meantime if I likes what I hears.
To Bob: Valhalla is something for another year, I think - the dealer I spoke to yesterday basically suggested that, like crack cocaine, you avoid it like the plague lest you end up remortgaging your house or selling your car. That's enough for me to want to leave it well alone for the time being. Just knowing it's there means that should I ever win the lottery or go bananas and want to spend £2500 on a 1m interconnect, then I can 
Actually, your calculations seem based upon US prices - either the Valhalla is a heck of a lot cheaper in the US or the CDS-II/XPS is a lot dearer. In the UK, CDS-II/XPS is £6080, Valhalla 1m DIN:DIN is approx £2500, i.e. approx. 40%. Less 20% would take it to 33%, or £2000. Still a lot of cohooneys in anyone's book. Of course, with some SPM to trade... STOP IT, no, no, don't even go there...
Some other thoughts. Does the CDS-II head unit give off any stray magnetic fields? I ask because my cheapo Marantz does, and the DNM preamp therefore hates being near to it. The CDX I tried earlier this week was fine, so hopefully the CDS-II would be fine.
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 22 February 2002 by Top Cat
quote:
It's worth noting that you vastly preferred the bare CDX vs. the SimAudio whatchamacallit? Around here they're about the same price, but in your area the SimAudio seems like a startlingly poor value if is performs below a "mere" bare CDX.
Score another one for Naim.
Mike, yes, I did. However, a few points to note:
Simaudio was demo'd in context of my system pre-Nordost SPM and Red Dawn speaker cable, and also on a rack which I now consider vastly inferior to my current rack. Also, the SimAudio didn't have it's correct spiked feet, so we were using it without them. So, in essence, it wasn't conducive to a one:one comparison. What it did do was detail, far in excess of the CDX, and transparency, but it wasn't as musical.
However, saying all of that, it is priced to compete with the CDS-II/XPS, and so (even when not optimally setup) if it can't hold a flame to a CDX without XPS, then perhaps it is an intrinsic characteristic of its sound that just doesn't do it for me. For comparison, a Micromega player of many years vintage and dodgy transport was in some ways superior to the more expensive Simaudio, although round-earth attributes were inferior to my ear.
So, I may give the Simaudio another chance, but I think the Naim CD sound is almost certainly the route I wish to take.
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 22 February 2002 by Top Cat
Great articles, by the way. Valhalla must be very special indeed, but I had no idea it doesn't fit easily into DIN plugs - which would be a real bummer as I've no choice on my preamp, and I sure wouldn't want to get it modified.
Heck, what am I saying? Valhalla's just too dear for me. SPM Reference will have to do
Getting back to the CDS-II thingie, I'm chasing up a few leads right now, and if everything goes according to plan I may end up down that route sooner than I had ever planned...
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 22 February 2002 by David Dever
quote:
Never understood how such a luxury product, with such build quality, doesn't come with a five-year warranty.
The equipment does here in the U.S., maybe Canada as well (Emanuel, are you out there?)--though there are significantly larger geographical reasons why this might be necessary. (U.S. shipping is also a real sketchy proposition, sometimes.)
BTW, this extended warranty is at the discretion of the local distributor, not provided to us by the factory, and it does cost us money. Also, it applies only to the original retail purchaser.
Many of the big "high-end" manufacturers have longer warranty periods as well here in the States (if you can remember to wake up soon enough to use it).
Posted on: 26 February 2002 by Top Cat
Thursday through until Tuesday, longer if required (I've been advised not to pay too much heed to any impressions until at least Friday, to allow for CDS-II settling and warmup).
Have been informed that I'll "like it - a lot" and not to bother even considering the CDX/XPS - it's a case of CDX alone, or go straight to CDS-II/XPS (for the extra cash) - dealer's personal opinion, of course.
By my calculations (and based upon agreed dealer price on CDS-II/XPS) the jump in price from CDX/XPS to CDS-II/XPS is going to be < £1000, so I guess that's what's called a no-brainer... perhaps!
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 March 2002 by Top Cat
Hi folks. Got CDS-II/XPS home, setup, had a listen. First impressions: great build quality, very solid. XPS hums a lot when powered up. Quite a lot, audible from listening position, louder than vinyl noise at normal moderate listening levels - although I do have a very quiet turntable.
Anyway, the sound: too early to say. I was told by the dealer to suspend my first impressions for at least 24 hours. Nevertheless, had to have a listen to see. Sound is currently different to, not necessarily better than, a CDX without XPS. I expect this to change. It's a little harsher, but better in the bass (this CDS-II hadn't been used in the previous 10 days before moving to my dealer's branch; it's probably temporarily traumatised, although the screws were secure and everything was well packed). Less air and space between instruments. Sounds bold, but a little congested. Did I mention fantastic bass? Lots of it, too. A bit fussier with CDs and puck centering than the CDX. Burndy cable is a bitch of a thing, difficult to route.
I'm using the stock Naim interconnect, works fine with the DNM preamp.
Overall: a little disappointing, but expected as it has been from cold. Have left running on a very low volume since midnight last night - will have another listen at lunchtime. I expect it to have picked up significantly by then!
Oh, before anyone asks, yes, I removed the transit screws (all four!) and the XPS is on a shelf as well.
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 March 2002 by Top Cat
Don't get me wrong, I'm confident that it will continue to improve, and last night Tahra said some surprisingly complimentary things about the sound ("sounds more like your turntable than your old cd player", etc.) even though I was still a tad unimpressed.
I guess that the CDX must warm up more quickly than the CDS-II, given that it impressed much more at an earlier stage. Or maybe the CDS-II is a shift away from the sound I'm aiming for - ironically - although everything I've been told, read or heard would suggest otherwise.
Very keen to give it its full chance, though, and the discount I have negotiated on a new one is a real temptation...
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 March 2002 by Top Cat
Yeah, if I go for it the plan would be to put the XPS as the very first component from the floor - i.e. below the CRimson power amps and DNM Primus power supply (soon to be Six
). This would maximise the distance between XPS and CDS-II.
Spellbinding seduction? Look forward to it. Tonight is expensive champagne and a meal out for another reason, though...
The lengths I have to go to to get new hifi through the door
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
