Comparing these CD players with my gear...

Hi rhljazz, 

That's the thing... I'm fresh out of CD players right now. What would you recommend from the list, or not on the list? 

What do you guys think of the Theta Miles? I used to have one (and loved it) but I different gear at the time. Any comments on how a Miles would sound with the rest of my gear? I have the opportunity to buyback the one I sold another audio friend a while back. He wanted a black one (mine was silver). 

As for the Naim, there is a guy selling a CD3 or CD3.5 (he cannot confirm). It's listed here and it titled: "The Naim Label CD 3.0" If you look at the pics of the rear, it states 3-5, which confirms a 3.5, as well as Aux DIN, but the serial number to the right, matches the box, which states CD3. I've talked to the seller and he cannot confirm... only saying the original had it upgraded, or perhaps upgraded to the 3.5? So what do you guys think? 

Those all look nice, but I guess I should've given my budget... max is $500. 

The Naim comes with a chord din to rca cable.

No, the Miles is non-xlr.

Thanks to everyone and all your comments/suggestions. Based on what I read (both here and in magazine & online reviews), as well as comparing the other players listed to my previous players; and considering my budget, availability and personal curiosity, the two finalists are:

Naim CD3.5
-or-
Theta Miles

*Cast your Vote!*

Some prior player background:
My most recent player was a Rega Apollo. Before that, it was a Micromega Stage 3. The Stage 3 was a fantastic sounding player, but those old units are plagued with issues--everything from display to output sound. It was a very smooth and refined player. The Apollo was great too, but not as refined as the Stage 3. What I noticed on the Apollo was the ever so slight upper treble pronunciation. What the Rega had over the Stage 3 that I liked was the sense of rhythm and beat. I found myself foot-tapping more when playing the Apollo. Both players were great with imaging & soundstage. The Apollo R is out of my price range, as it the Micromega. As for music, I listed to pop, rock, metal, ambient, classical. Though most of the time it’s pop, rock, ambient/atmospheric and some metal. I know I indicated I used to have a Miles previously (two in fact). However, I never used it with a dedicated preamp; therefore never heard it with the volume control function deactivated. They were always used being connected directly to a amp. I've since come to learn how important a good preamp is to the sound of a stereo system, and now a wonder what the Miles would sound like on the Creek? But, at the same time, I've never owned a Naim and have heard, and read some wonderful things about all of their players. I do love the british-sound.   

*Cast your Vote!*

Hi George, 
I think the Miles has both. In fact, I've read the advantages of using 1-bit, multi-bit and DSP. It's all prefence I guess--as well as how well designed the analog stage is. I've had great sounding players that have used each type.

Here is what the Miles has:

2 x PCM67P-J - Motorola DSP

From what I read, the PCM67 is a hybrid 1-bit COSM and 18-bit multibit DAC. Then add Theta's DSP and the Miles has it all. :)

Will do jafant... I chose the Naim. Never had one before, so I gotta check it off the list. :) 

Hi mahler123 and everyone... 

No, I don't need a bunch of extra features. This is for a straight 2-channel system, so no need for blu-ray or USB. I went with the Naim, so that should give you a good idea :)

I have an old iPhone 5 & that I use exclusively for streaming Apple Music... which is connected directly into an HRT iStreamer, then into my Creek integrated via DH Labs Air Matrix RCA's. I also sometimes use my iPod Classic, which contains about 2000 songs from my CD collection... downloaded in AIFF format.

As for the DAC discussion; for me, I just go with what sounds good to my ears because ultimately that's the bottom line here. Some of my favorite CD players had DACs from Phillips (TDA1541A, TDA1305), Burr-Brown (PCM54), Wolfson (WM8740), dCS ring (Arcam Alpha 9), Cirris Logic and others. Whether they're PCM, multi-bit or 1-bit doesn't matter to me. In the end, what I'm hearing is the manufacturer's interpretation of the analog stage. 

  

The Naim CD3.5 has arrived. I've been listening for a couple days now and my initial impressions can be summed up in three words: MUSICAL and RHYTHMIC. The third word, DETAILED, I noticed later as I was listening to more complex material. I have a test disc that contains everything from Smashing Pumpkins to Mozart's Requiem, and the 3.5 played both very well. Even my harsher sounding CD's sound great on this machine.  

As for cables, the 3.5 came with a Chord Company Cobra (Original Series) DIN to RCA. Since there is DIN on the Naim side, I have no way to test cables to see what my DH Labs Air Matrix interconnects would sound like with the Naim. My speaker cables are the matching DH Labs Q-10's.  

More listening this weekend...