jsbach1685-
the Naim will sound good w/ your Creek amp. Keep me posted as you massage this spinner into your system. Give the player 200 hrs. to settle prior to any critical listening.
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jsbach1685, when you look at what makes the high end CD players distinct from the cheaper ones, it usually boils down to the vibration control, power supply, output stage and the DAC.
That is why there is such a large market in modifying CD players. Owners of lesser quality machines can buy a CDP for, say, $700, then spend $1,500 - $2,000 on getting it modded. For less than $3,000 they have a player that can compete against +$5,000 machines.
Instead of going the modding route, you can easily bypass the built-in DAC with a higher quality one. There are several stellar DACs to chose from in the $500 - $1,000 range (used). Paired with DAC, your CDP merely functions as a simple transport.
And adding dampening to your unit is pretty simple. I have used Plumber’s putty in the past as it never dries out. One container ($6.95) can easily cover the inside of any CDP.
Last year I upgraded from my trusty Sony S9000ES SACD/CD (one of Modwright’s favourites to tweak) player to an Esoteric DV-50S. I bypassed the Sony’s DAC when listening to CDs by routing the signal through a Teac UD-501 DAC. I was surprised how close this combination was to CDs on the Esoteric (the Esoteric was clearly ahead, but not by as much as I had expected). SACD performance wasn’t even close, however.
But the biggest consideration for choosing any component is synergy. Simply adding a $10,000 CDP into your system is no guarantee that you will be able to hear it perform to its ability.
YMMV.
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Thanks! for sharing- nordicnorm
I enjoy Esoteric for SACD playback only. I was not impressed w/ the DV-60 rbcd playback. I have always wanted to audition the DV-50S.
It still has quite a following.
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Nordicnorm,
Congratulstions! You had navigated yourself toward the same set-up I have. Sony S9000ES into a Teac 501. If you still have that equipment, here is what I have that takes the music to a "whole nother level".
In-between the Sony and the Teac, I inserted a Wyred-4-Sound Remedy Reclocker. To maximize the Reclocker, I purchased an iFI power cord to upgrade the stock cord. The power cord upgrade is a "must".
The resultant sonic improvement nocked my socks off. It added a great deal of extra detail, helping to individualize the various instruments playing ensamble. The added clarity also added a great deal of presence, imidiacy, and slam to the music that I never had before. Not louder, just way more noticeable.
While it added a lot of detail, it didn't make things too sharp, especially in the upper mid-range and the upper frequencies. So vocals and transients didn't become brittle. Soundstage was improved ever so slightly - just a little more depth.
So, if you still have that old equipment you might try the Reclocker. Like I said, it was a huge upgrade for me.
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toolbox149 -
Yes, before upgrading to the DV-50S, I had considered the W4S reclocker.
But then a DV-50S came along at a price I couldn't pass up! ;^)
I still use the Teac for my digital files. Great unit! |
nordicnorm-
what cabling are you using in your system?
Which cabling did you use w/ your 9000ES ?
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jafant,
I'm using Teo Audio GC liquid metal interconnects and Grant Fidelity
MSC-2.5 Pure Copper Reference speaker cables.
My digital coax cable (from S9000ES -> DAC) was Canare (forget which model now).
cheers,
Norm
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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...
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Good to read- jsbach1685
I look forward to a proper review soon. A few years ago, I heard a Naim system and really enjoyed the "sound".
Keep me posted and Happy Listening!
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Hmm mgreen....you mean I can resurrect my old Rotel CDP out of storage in my garage and achieve the same level of sound as out of a Linn CD12 or an Esoteric K1? Thanks for the tip.
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jsbach1685
how ya doin' out there? Still using the Naim CD 3.5 spinner?
Happy Listening!
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I am currently using one of my many blue ray players as a transport. One that still has digital outs, which has disappeared on most low level players. I'm running it to a Music Hall dac.
The problem with a blue ray player us that you don't have a repeat function and you need a video monitor to change settings.
I like the NAD, or Rotel in the less than $500 category and will probably buy one myself |
in the less than $500 category the Cambridge Audio CXC is better option a pure CD transport without inner DAC. |
Remember now too the NuPrime CDT-8 option at $800. |
nordicnorm
which spinner and cabling are you using now?
Happy Listening!
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