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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 15:25:31 GMT
Bare in mind, I'm not talking about the later 3.5 model. This is the plain 3, fitted with the Phillips mech and hyped DAC. Can't recall the model number, sorry!
Someone fairly local has a CD3, and might consider on selling it. Might buy it to use in my headphone rig.
I know what the 3.5 sounds like. It's bright and forward. Is the CD3 similar?
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 27, 2018 15:48:45 GMT
No, it’s like a baby CDI. Not as good though but similar voice. Just less weight.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 19:21:45 GMT
Ah OK. Thanks Andrew.
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 27, 2018 20:57:16 GMT
I’d say try and get it for less than £300 and you can’t go wrong. They are an easy sell and I reckon they will only go up in value. Be warned though, it will make you nostalgic for getting another CDI  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 21:47:46 GMT
Yeah might give it a try.
S.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2018 12:01:43 GMT
You can close the gap between CD3 and CDI by putting a heavy weight on top of the CD3. The less substantial casework is a weakness. If somebody told me this, I would be unlikely to believe them but it really does give the player more gravitas. Give it a go if you get one. It is also sensitive to what it sits on. Mana works a treat but other things will probably work too.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 28, 2018 14:01:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 21:50:04 GMT
The CD3 is here. This example looks to be one of the earlier models. As it doesn't have the second (white) plastic transit screw to secure the board. Stand corrected if I'm wrong.
Only briefly listen through headphones. Sound is clean and quite communicative. Most CD Players should be like that really!
I notice the unit feels heavier than the CD3.5. Guessing because CD3 has bigger power supply?
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 27, 2018 0:44:16 GMT
The CD3 is here. This example looks to be one of the earlier models. As it doesn't have the second (white) plastic transit screw to secure the board. Stand corrected if I'm wrong. Only briefly listen through headphones. Sound is clean and quite communicative. Most CD Players should be like that really! I notice the unit feels heavier than the CD3.5. Guessing because CD3 has bigger power supply? S. Nice player IMO. I rated it more highly than the 3.5 and they are incredible value when you consider the build quality. I mainly used mine with Tma3 or Schiit Asgard 2 and RS2es. It never disappointed. I reckon it might have a decent stay. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2018 5:02:23 GMT
I notice the unit feels heavier than the CD3.5. Guessing because CD3 has bigger power supply? S. The transformer is the same one between both models iirc. The transformer in my 3.5 says CD3 on it. Dont know where the extra weight comes from. Maybe you are imagining it ? |
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Post by dsjr on Aug 27, 2018 12:12:36 GMT
Les W can give chapter and verse on what is sensibly possible with one of these. You're still stuck with the Naim output buffer circuit though, but not many seem to mind this |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2018 12:16:14 GMT
I notice the unit feels heavier than the CD3.5. Guessing because CD3 has bigger power supply? S. The transformer is the same one between both models iirc. The transformer in my 3.5 says CD3 on it. Dont know where the extra weight comes from. Maybe you are imagining it ? Maybe I'm getting weaker S. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2018 13:23:08 GMT
MALTEESERS........STUCK TO BOTTOM OF CASE.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2018 8:27:55 GMT
malteesers. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm The Avondale modded cd3 is very good from what I have heard. New clock and psu, added psu for output stage, regulator modifications and other stuff. Yummy. CD3 uses split rail power supplies unlike the 3.5 which is positive voltage only. I only wish naim had put the same dac chip in the 3.5 that the 3 uses. My 3.5 doesn't sound much like the stock unit anymore due to my inability to leave the bloody thing alone. In fact the pcb has been in and out so many times it is a wonder it still works at all. Harshness has disappeared mind you  |
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Post by antonio on Aug 28, 2018 9:41:47 GMT
I would not doubt your ability to improve the cd play Stu.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 28, 2018 21:46:11 GMT
I agree with Stu. The CD3 has an advantage in having the TDA1541 DAC. It’s still one of the most natural sounding DACs I’ve used. So many of the payers I have liked have used it.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 31, 2018 19:39:44 GMT
My mate is using a CD5 with a big Gordon Wellford power supply. He says it lifts it to match and maybe beat his Meridian 602/606. I liked the. cd5 but it was beaten by the CD3.5 when I owned both. I liked the CD3 more than the CD3.5 so the extra PSU must be good.
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Post by dsjr on Aug 31, 2018 20:07:02 GMT
The Meridian was not good I remember. Very syrupy sound and aparently, the two boxes didn't electrically match properly in terms of impedance matching. Paul Miller did the review I remember.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2018 20:07:40 GMT
I've read many postings describing the CD5 as warm sounding.
S.
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Post by dsjr on Aug 31, 2018 20:13:06 GMT
When new, the CD5 was relentless and toppy. Maybe all these years later, it's smothed off a bit. It needed the extra power supply badly I remember.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 31, 2018 20:38:29 GMT
The Meridian was not good I remember. Very syrupy sound and aparently, the two boxes didn't electrically match properly in terms of impedance matching. Paul Miller did the review I remember. I hadn’t heard that.i thought they were meant to be a bit special. I’ve never heard them as far as I can recall. My mate has had several sets though, so I may have done and forgotten. He gets new stuff weekly and has done so since long before I met him 30 years ago. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 31, 2018 20:40:37 GMT
I've read many postings describing the CD5 as warm sounding. S. I thought it was very similar to the CD3.5 albeit a bit more diffuse and slightly less coherent. I had the Planet alongside both of them. None differed greatly in tonal balance and all were pretty close. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 31, 2018 21:44:37 GMT
When new, the CD5 was relentless and toppy. Maybe all these years later, it's smothed off a bit. It needed the extra power supply badly I remember. Makes me wish I’d tried a psu with mine. The flatcap always seemed very poor vfm but it was a good visual match. Still, I’m very happy with my Sonneters and there’s no need for add ons. Now I have a Sedley to go with the amp, cd and DAC. Not sure how I feel about the rising box count but we will see when I get round to listening, |
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