I want to replace my Naim CD 5 player,but I am on a budget

[nbaptista]

Hi all,
I want to replace my Naim cd 5 player,but I don´t want to spend more than 600-700 £
For that kind of money,what can I get?It must be new,because the reason I want to replace the Naim is it age!

[Peter Stockwell]

Hi all,
I want to replace my Naim cd 5 player,but I don´t want to spend more than 600-700 £
For that kind of money,what can I get?It must be new,because the reason I want to replace the Naim is it age!

Just get the naim serviced, if you still like your naim player. Or if you don't like it get a squeezebox, or something similiar and stream your audio

[Ali Tait]

Agreed,buy a Squeezebox and a decent dac.

[nbaptista]

Just get the naim serviced, if you still like your naim player.
Good idea.What I like of the Naim is the Prat,I wonder if I would get it from an Exposure,a Creek or a Rega for example?
But as important as Prat is the musicality

[technobear]

See if you can get to hear the new Audiolab 8200CD. It's £700. Not sure how much it is in Euros. It's apparently a very very good CD player and also a very very good DAC so it keeps your options open for the future. I haven't heard it yet though.

I like the Exposures, haven't heard the Creeks and have hated all the Regas.

[nbaptista]

I´ve heard a Cambridge 650 C.Good timing and punch,it was a surprise,I thought that Cambridge was more relaxed.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I had a cd5, I was never overly sure about it... I think get the same "prat" (or at least what I think peat is) out of my linn ds without the brash hard edges i felt i got from the naim cd5, I think you will be suprised how good a computer based source can be! Id sell the cd5 whilst it still has good value... naim are going down the computer based source route and it's gonna effect second hand naim cd player sales if it hasn't already... £600-£700 is surely enough to get a pretty bloody decent streamer and dac! Make that step, you wont look back ;)

[nbaptista]

But the Linn costs more than 1000£,no?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Sneaky ds doesn't ... :)
I wasnt really suggesting that the majik is better than the cd5, more that what I think of as "prat" is atainable without the brashness that some naim kit puts out. The idea of prat is, I think, synonymous with naim kit, I was trying to reasure you that you might find prat from other brands ... But a presentation of prat that is less brash...
Does that make any sence? Sorry for the confusion ...

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Marco, help me out hear, I know you know exactly what I'm trying to say!

[nbaptista]

I know what you mean!

[DSJR]

CD5 needs a FlatCap2 at least to even begin to work properly...

Rega Saturn anyone?

[Marco]

Marco, help me out hear, I know you know exactly what I'm trying to say!

Lol - I think you're explaining yourself perfectly well, although I've never found Naim CDPs to sound brash when used with all-Naim electronics (synergy at work!), as long as Naim speakers are avoided, which can have those characteristics.

Nuno,

What exactly is it you dislike about your CD5, and what system are you using it with - could I have a full list of everything you're using including cables, please?

There may be factors other than your CD5 that are responsible for what you're experiencing.

I'm a great believer in getting to the root cause of a problem, rather than disposing of a perfectly good CDP, when the blame *may* lie elsewhere :)

Marco.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

cd5/flatcap2 nac82/hicap/nap180 pmc fb1+ speakers... my set up when i found this forum... Brash...
but then i dont like cd players... antiquated and past their best if you ask me ;) (says the man with eyes for a vintage turntable)

[Marco]

Lol - each to his or her own, matey.

I ran CDS2/XPS (then later XPS2)/NAC52/Supercap/NAP 135s/Spendor SP100s for nearly six years, and 'brash' it wasn't...

CDPs aren't antiquated and past their best if you own one that's been designed properly in the first place ;)

Anyway, I simply want to check with Nuno in case the problems he's experiencing are due to something else other than the 'brashness' of his CD5. I like to be thorough! :)

Marco.

[DSJR]

Marco, the CD5 could take your head off when used on its own, as could the old CDX, irrespective of the systems they were used with. In the case of the CD5, a FlatCap mellowed it just enough to enable its use with non Naim equipment. The price when new was stupid though and totally uncompetitive, but not now.

The replacement CD5x (IIRC) was in a different sonic class altogether, but again, in the sub £1000 region, CD has NEVER sounded so good as it does via Cambridge and, I'm sure, the new Audiolab 8200 series players and I suspect that older budget/mid price favourites from Arcam, Marantz and Sony could be beaten nowadays.

Like I said, the Rega Saturn is sonically excellent I think and is certainly a trusted reference at the £850-ish price point and from a firm with great after sales service too, as well as a healthy suspicion of all things "digital."

[nbaptista]

Nuno,

What exactly is it you dislike about your CD5, and what system are you using it with - could I have a full list of everything you're using including cables, please?

There may be factors other than your CD5 that are responsible for what you're experiencing.


What I dislike about my CD 5?Maybe I like more a soft sound,like Nad or Rega!But I like the Prat and musicality of CD 5,I think I will follow Peter´s advice,and get the CD 5 serviced
My system
Naim CD 5 /FC2
Densen B 110 amp
Epos M 15 speakers
Audioquest Midnight speaker cable
Atlas Equator IC

[DSJR]

Lol - each to his or her own, matey.

I ran CDS2/XPS (then later XPS2)/NAC52/Supercap/NAP 135s/Spendor SP100s for nearly six years, and 'brash' it wasn't...

CDPs aren't antiquated and past their best if you own one that's been designed properly in the first place ;)

Anyway, I simply want to check with Nuno in case the problems he's experiencing are due to something else other than the 'brashness' of his CD5. I like to be thorough! :)

Marco.

Marco, the CDS2 wasn't anything like the lesser and far cruder sounding Naim players. If anything, it was ever-so-slightly "creamy" in its delivery and had bass power and authority missing in most other CD players at the time, except maybe the expensive Krells. I'd have loved one at the time and should have bought one when I could have afforded it - and all this through a Mayware adaptor too........ :eek:

[DSJR]

What I dislike about my CD 5?Maybe I like more a soft sound,like Nad or Rega!But I like the Prat and musicality of CD 5,I think I will follow Peter´s advice,and get the CD 5 serviced
My system
Naim CD 5 /FC2
Densen B 110 amp
Epos M 15 speakers
Audioquest Midnight speaker cable
Atlas Equator IC

Try a Mark Grant HD1000 interconnect! Available on sale-or-return, it might just restore enough of the scale and power to enable you to keep the CD5.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I take your point about Naim CDPs, and agree, although I also had a CD3.5 and CDX (with various Naim pre and power amps/PSUs) before I got the CDS2, and none of those were harsh either.

Nuno,


What I dislike about my CD 5?Maybe I like more a soft sound,like Nad or Rega!But I like the Prat and musicality of CD 5,I think I will follow Peter´s advice,and get the CD 5 serviced
My system
Naim CD 5 /FC2
Densen B 110 amp
Epos M 15 speakers
Audioquest Midnight speaker cable
Atlas Equator IC.


First of all, I agree with Dave about the interconnects. I thought you'd posted on here a while back that you were going to buy some Mark Grants? :scratch:

Get some G1000HDs, Nuno - you won't regret it. I reckon that some of what you're hearing is down to the Atlas ICs, and to an extent, the Audioquests.

Ok, you have the makings of a good system. For me, the star of the show is the Densen, so if you want to change your CDP why not go for a Densen to match your B 110?

A B-400XS, for example, is a rather more 'analogue' sounding CDP than the Naim, and has the 'PRaT' you seek.

I'm sure that if you sold the CD5 (how old is it?), you could find a second-hand B-400XS somewhere at a good price and use the funds you get for the CD5 towards it. Or you might be able to buy one outright - I'm unsure how much used B-400XSs go for now.

Or, another option would be an Avondale-modified Arcam CD5 (AAA5) or Avondale-modified Naim CD3 (ACD3). Both do the 'PRaT' thing with aplomb, and sound smoother than your current Naim player. The mods don't cost a fortune either, and nor do the necessary donor units.

Have a think about that :)

Marco.

[nbaptista]

Thank you,Marco.
I suspect that the problem might be on the position of speakers,too,because I don´t have enought space to position them OK.A Densen 2nd hand cd player might be the way to go!

[Marco]

Nice one, and don't forget some G1000HDs ;)

You're welcome. And now the search for a B-400XS begins!

Keep us posted how you get on :)

Marco.

[DSJR]

Quick question, how do you go about prompt service with Densens? I remember the early CD players weren't too reliable and they're getting old now.

AACD5 and ACD3 are good as Les W can refurb the CD-M9 mechs inside (all of these are fifteen years old at least).

[Marco]

Email Thomas Sorensen directly at Densen, Dave. He's the main man and extremely helpful.

I'm pretty sure that they will still service their earlier players :)

Marco.

[DSJR]

Not the same as getting it done locally (in the UK) though, is it???

[Marco]

No, but Nuno lives in Portugal, ya dafteel! :lol:

;)

Marco.

[nbaptista]

Rega Saturn anyone?
For that kind of money,I would prefer a Linn Sneaky.And what about a Rega Apollo,I can get it here for 590 €

[The Grand Wazoo]

Thank you,Marco.
I suspect that the problem might be on the position of speakers,too,because I don´t have enought space to position them OK.A Densen 2nd hand cd player might be the way to go!

This sounds a little like trying to fix a broken arm by putting a bandage on your foot! Maybe finding a pair of speakers that you can accommodate properly in your room would be a better solution than changing your CD player?

[John]

Can you give us pictures of your system layout it might help us to advise better

[nbaptista]

the main problem is the distance bettween the speakers,is only 1 m 36 cm

[Marco]

Oh dear...

Marco.

[nbaptista]

Marco,
What about the Apollo?Many argue that is better than Jupiter,but I don´t know...

[Marco]

The Apollo is a good CDP, and definitely an option, but personally I'd stick with the plan for the Densen, or look into the Avondale options I mentioned.

*BUT*, you must sort out your speaker positioning situation A.S.A.P. With your speakers only being 1.36m apart, you'll be lucky if you're getting stereo! ;)

Marco.

[The Grand Wazoo]

This is as I expected, you really do need to sort this out first, otherwise you will simply be wasting your money on a new CD player.

If your room is narrow, can you try firing them across the room? This is often better anyway, as speakers can respond well to having space to the sides.

[John]

If you can find a way to have more distance with your speakers as Marco and Chris say it really will help.
Until you get this issue sorted any upgrade will make little difference and you getting no way near your system potential

[nbaptista]

Now the distance is 1, 46 m .That´s all I can do for now,until I can remove some shelves.The stereo is a bit better,now!You were right,The Grand Wazoo!I need to fix this,first! ;)

[DSJR]

back to Rega CD players as an aside - ALL of them are good, even the dear old clamshell Planet that started it all for them (as long as a "Couple" or similar but better? MG1000HD interconnect is used).

Hifi dave has them both and finds the Saturn better. Whatever I/we say about the CD5, you need to aim higher eventually, whatever you do..

I can't remember the interconnect you're using. The Mark Grant 1000HD cable has a total lack of "hash" which many amateur listeners in a certain audio mag regard as "detail" and "excitement." As a result, it won't add any more dirt to what's coming out of the CD5. Give one a go as soon as you can.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Now the distance is 1, 46 m .That´s all I can do for now,until I can remove some shelves.The stereo is a bit better,now!.........I need to fix this,first! ;)

Good stuff!

[nbaptista]

Yepp. After that,looking for a new source,following the "source first principle".
A Densen 400 XS would be fine:guitar:

[nbaptista]

Anyone knows when will be released the new Rega dac?

[StanleyB]

Are they going to sell a DAC as well? Jeez, like a lot of UK companies are now jumping on the band wagon.

[hifi_dave]

Is that the 'band wagon' that started rolling around 25 years ago ?....:scratch:

The Rega DAC will be £500 and available in November, with any luck.

[StanleyB]

Is that the 'band wagon' that started rolling around 25 years ago ?....:scratch:
Nope, the one that started a few years back when customers started looking for a DAC1 type performance at half the price. The £400 price range is finding itself heavily populated by the month. Not that it is going to affect me mind you. I don't have to worry about the 60% dealer margin, which will allow me to stay in the entry level price range with a midrange to high end development program.

[DSJR]

With deepest respect Stan, Rega give little more than half your quoted margin on their goodies as far as I'm aware. I wonder how much better than the Naim DAC it will be ;)

[hifi_dave]

'Budget' DAC's have been around for years. For instance, back in the 80's we sold around 1500 Dac-in-the-Box from Audio Alchemy. A stunningly good DAC at £199.00 even with a dealer mark up.

[John]

I think the biggest change in DAC use has been computer audio for a few years DACs were nearly a thing of the past but now seen as a good way to get great audio at reasltic prize levels