Power Supply for a CD 3.5

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/flatcap-to-cd-35

nsajuve posted:

Which Power Supply should i get to :

1. Be compatible with the Cd 3.5.
2. Allow a future upgrade of my Nait 5si.

2. The Nait 5si cannot be upgraded with a power supply - so somewhat difficult to recommend one.

If you mean change your Nait - the answer on the CD 3.5 is probably still FlatCap, in any of its manifestations.

Hi. Yes i meant the cd 3.5...

Since i see many flatcaps around...is there any prefernce? I mean is there any standing in terms of performance?

What about a hicap? The olive series?

Until recently I had a cd 3.5  powered with an Olive flatcap. They were bought new back in 1999 and provided much musical enjoyment over so many years. I changed the olive flatcap for a new flatcap  XS in 2014 using the 2nd output to power a headline. I found that both power supplies made a significant musical improvement to the stand alone player. An HDX has now replaced the cd3.5.

Nsajuve, yes there is a minor preference for the Flatcap 2X or later (i.e. Flatcap XS). This is because the earlier model 2 had slightly different grades of supply.

Frank.

You may also find that a signifant performance gain can be had from send both units to Naim for servicing. Specifically the Nait which will be long overdue for recapping. I think servicing coupled with a Flatcap would be great value for money. Would also give Naim the opportunity to inspect the mech on the 3.5 and confirm it still has enough life in it to be worth adding a power supply.

I wouldn't send the CD3.5 anywhere.  If it's working well, leave as is - shipping puts the delicate mech at risk and if it dies then Naim may well have now run out of replacements.

Richard Dane posted:

I wouldn't send the CD3.5 anywhere.  If it's working well, leave as is - shipping puts the delicate mech at risk and if it dies then Naim may well have now run out of replacements.

That is exactly what i'm going to do ... i've just spotted an olive hicap which is recapped and fully guaranteed. 

I have my doubts about the choice between the hicap ( the olive version ) and the flatcap x2s though. 

I've contacted some Naim dealers... and all of them are suggesting me to sell the cd 3.5 since the laser mechanism is not available anymore... 

Any suggestions?

The money you'd get for the 3.5 would be minimal. I'd keep it until it dies and then upgrade. Stick with your original plan to get the PSU. 

Many years ago i owned a CD 3.5 with olive Hi-Cap. Finding a used one shouldn' t be so hard.

Regards

Roberto

rsch posted:

Many years ago i owned a CD 3.5 with olive Hi-Cap. Finding a used one shouldn' t be so hard.

Regards

Roberto

Same here into a Nait 2 then Nait XS feeding Neat Motive 2s , a great little system and the HiCap worked a treat . 

Peter.

I think i would buy an olive hicap ... Besides the transport... is there another problem with the cd 3.5 ? i mean ... is there any other "future" problem that i should be concerned of?

Not really - pucks can wear and slip (easy to replace) and the internal caps will age, but not a lot else to go wrong. It's a decent player that should last a good while yet. 

I still have a cd3.5 and flatcap bought new in 1998/9 (with a hi-line on it for some years now). It's great IMO, no plans to change it whatsoever. Certainly when demoing all that time ago, I remember the flatcap making a big difference. (As did the hi-line!)

The original transport did fail a few years ago and naim replaced it with a newer version after which it was even better!

It's usually best to stick with the power supply that was designed for the CD player, so an olive flatcap for a 3.5. Adding a Hicap can overdo things - at least that's what happened when I tried a Hicap on a CD5x. 

Fantastic combination there... i hop they will do the same with mine. 

Thank you all.

Add FC for cd3.5 - The sound is much better than without FC. More Bass, etc.

It would sound a lot better still if it wasn't sat on the power supply. Try it.

JamieWednesday posted:

I still have a cd3.5 and flatcap bought new in 1998/9 (with a hi-line on it for some years now). It's great IMO, no plans to change it whatsoever. Certainly when demoing all that time ago, I remember the flatcap making a big difference. (As did the hi-line!)

The original transport did fail a few years ago and naim replaced it with a newer version after which it was even better!

 

Slightly OT but i love that TT Jamie. 

nsajuve posted:

 

The plan is to buy a power supply in order to improve the system's overall performance and to guarantee a future upgrade of the Nait 5si. 

 

If you're planning to upgrade your amp, I would do that first, then get a PS to match the new amp. For example, if you get a Flatcap now, you may end up with an amp that really needs a Hicap. 

Hi Chriss... Infact i was planning to get  a flatcapxs or a hicap olive... One question i have is about the olive hi cap... Does it power two devices at once... For example a naitxs and a cd 3.5... Or should i go with the flatcap xs instead...

I want to thank you all for the replies... 

Slightly OT but i love that TT Jamie. 

Yep, I'm quite fond myself

No fiddling required (apart from regular dusting!) and not many about it seems

nsajuve posted:

Hi Chriss... Infact i was planning to get  a flatcapxs or a hicap olive... One question i have is about the olive hi cap... Does it power two devices at once... For example a naitxs and a cd 3.5... Or should i go with the flatcap xs instead...

I want to thank you all for the replies... 

Only a Flatcap will power 2 devices at once.