General Naim CD Transport Question

Posted by: Aric on 27 September 2015

Does Naim have a general rule of thumb in keeping CDP transports stocked for repair purposes? More specifically,  since the CD5 XS was introduced in 2009, are there any definitive thoughts or plans to still be able to offer a replacement transport by year 10 (i.e 2019) or 15, etc.?

 

Thanks

 

Aric

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by ianrobertm

Broadly, AFAIK, Yes.

One for Richard to respond to on specifics, or someone from Naim.... 

 

If your player is still current, then transports are still available - simple. 

Naim History is here - https://www.naimaudio.com/product-history

The CD5XS is still in production, so no worries - yet.

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by Richard Dane

I'm afraid I can't help on this. One for Naim I think...

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by Aric

Thanks Gents. I just purchased a used (circa 2009) CD5 XS, which works and sounds brilliant...but trying to calculate when I should ship off to AVOptions for a transport change. 

 

At the moment the plan is to send off in another 2-3 years once it makes sense to recap and would probably replace the transport at that time...assuming it's available

Posted on: 28 September 2015 by Richard Dane

I believe that Naim's view is that CD players should only be serviced and transports changed when there's a problem or they stop working reliably.

Posted on: 28 September 2015 by Joolzdee

Why is that Richard? It seems universally accepted that amps and power supplies benefit from servicing after 10/12 years.... but not CD players? Just curious.

Posted on: 28 September 2015 by badlands

I would think that the train of thought is if it isn't broke leave well enough alone, a new transport can go out at anytime, ask me how I know? Whereas an older one that has been problem free can last sometimes for much longer than one expects it to. Just an FYI.

Posted on: 28 September 2015 by Aric
Originally Posted by badlands:

I would think that the train of thought is if it isn't broke leave well enough alone, a new transport can go out at anytime, ask me how I know? Whereas an older one that has been problem free can last sometimes for much longer than one expects it to. Just an FYI.

Understand your POV and it's appreciated, however, I'm curious what Naim feel is the prudent, general course of action with an aged CDP - potentially right before backup transports are obsolete. 

 

Perhaps the best course is to just buy the spare transport, have it delivered, and then send it off with the player in the future for servicing if anything goes awry

Posted on: 29 September 2015 by Richard Dane
Originally Posted by Joolzdee:

Why is that Richard? It seems universally accepted that amps and power supplies benefit from servicing after 10/12 years.... but not CD players? Just curious.

CD player transports don't respond particularly well to couriers.  Best only subject them to such rigours when absolutely necessary.

Posted on: 29 September 2015 by gary yeowell
My CDS3 was purchased new by me in 2007 and has stayed on top of my Fraim ever since, with the odd move to my office system upstairs, so probably only moved 3 times in its life, and only 20 metres away. It will get a service only when, and if, the transport fails. I know several CDS and CDS2 players that are still going strong after some 15-20+ years of service that are still on the original transport. If it ain't broke, don't fix it..... My S3 sounds just as good today as it ever did.
Posted on: 29 September 2015 by The Strat (Fender)

Is it not possible to ask Naim if they can reserve you a transport for when required?  Richard will advise yto ask Naim which I will!!!!

Posted on: 29 September 2015 by Richard Dane

I don't think reserving a mech with your name on for future use is possible, but then again you could always ask...

 

You could buy a VAM1202 from who knows what source, and squirrel it away until that day arrives, then send it Naim, but then it may die getting there, or in storage or during test, or fitting, or may just not pass any of the QC tests, or...  

 

I'm sure many here have seen the piles of trays of VAM1202s at Naim that don't quite make it to production.  Who knows, once they're disposed of by Naim maybe they somehow end up being sold on for £20 or more elsewhere..?  After all, they're still VAM1202s, still basically "new" and many probably still work (just not quite as well as they could). Even Naim are not above getting their fingers burned in the NOS CD mech market when they tried to secure more supplies of CDM9s some years ago.  

 

Bottom line here is that the NOS CD mechanism market is a minefield, none more so than with the VAM1202.