NAIM CD3.5 or wait a little longer for a 5 series

Posted by: Potiriadis on 17 December 2003

Hello

I'm seeking sage advice, random opinions and plain old heresay with regards to the following:

I have been offered a CD3.5 for £550.00, I can afford this now, but at a bit of a squeeze I can afford the flatcap the seller is offering for a further £200.00. The dilema is that it is only going to be another hundred or so pounds for a CD5i.

From a practical point of view I've got a flatcapped nait 3r so there may be an argument for staying with the same generation of kit and opting for the advantage of a clean power supply through the flatcap, rather than the modern CD5i.

There is also the pointless aesthetic view that the CD3.5 and flatcap will match the looks of my current kit.

Opinions and slander welcome.

Help Bunnys everywhere!!!!!

No Seriously, everywhere!!!!!!!
Posted on: 17 December 2003 by J.N.
Naim kit is an excellent s/h buy generally; but CD players do suffer from mechanical wear and dying lasers. And do bear in mind that proper Hi-Fi CD players get a lot more use than the average mini system.

If the 3.5 is 'original' my advice would be to wait for a new 5i.
Posted on: 17 December 2003 by Martin Clark
Alternative viewpoint: buy the CD3.5/Flatcap and have music in your life now. It's still a classic Naim giant-killer in my estimation when compared with the offerings of other manufacturers.

Live with it, and when finances allow, go listen to a CD5i, or consider upgrading the Flatcap to a secondhand Hicap - the cost will not be far different. Who knows, you may well prefer it.

The point is, you can have your cake and eat it too. If you prefer the CD5i you could then easily sell the CD3.5/Flatcap for what exactly what you paid for it. You will have heard the alternatives, so can make the choice based on personal experience over a period of ownership. Enjoy!
Posted on: 17 December 2003 by Haroon
Or buy just the CD3.5 (you might be able to neg a lower price too i would think, in light of the CD5is arrival). You could then use the flat cap from the nait and with the money you would have spent (on flatcap/hi-cap/cd5i) you could convert the nait into a 92 and add a power amp like 160/140. well that would be my route Wink
Posted on: 18 December 2003 by prowla
Is a CD3.5+Flatcap better than a CD5i?
Do you want something to match your Nait3R?

Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 19 December 2003 by TommyT
Potiriadis,
You have a private topic.
Regards,
Tom