Got to look at the Stage 3 today - the laser has already been replaced once, and a bit of a bodge job IMO, plus the disc tray belt was kaput. I stripped it, replaced belt and re-did all the 12.4/05 wiring (after confirming correctness of wiring [replacement mech had a different connector on it I guess, so a transplant was done] based on my working Stage 5 which I stripped the mech from). Laser tries to read (up/down and moving outwards a bit to try a 2nd time), but disc doesn't spin. Tried the Stage 5 mech, and bang it works. So need to dig a little deeper into the faulty mech - surprising that a replacement mech is also giving problems.
I also compared the stage 3 and 5 (I've never seen internals of a 6 before) - history suggests Stages 1-3 were first versions of players, and then Stages 4-6 pretty much replicated them but with a power switch. I'd say that is false. Stage 5 DAC board says it is a stage 5 or 6 DAC. The Stage 3 states only stage 3 & has 2 transformers instead of one on the 5, plus about double the regulated stages. Implementation quality is of the same standard as the Stage 5. Even the servo board is different - again, more regulators and larger board.
One thing that is better on the later models is the casework - glued front panel and disc tray aluminium panels on early models (starting to fail), bolted on the Stage 5. Rubber grommets to decouple mech from chassis on 5, not there on 3. However Stage 3 casework is damped with bitchumen, Stage 5 not.
If I had to guess, Micromega sacrificed ultimate sonic quality with better cosmetic quality. Shame.
Full photos below. How does it sound? Better than my Woodside CD3 TDA1541A player with Flea! I kind of understand why Naim chose this as a replacement when stocks of the TDA1541 dried up.
It's been playing for 5 hours now, and I'm hearing things I never heard before - I even swapped back to the Woodside when I heard a bumble bee at start of track 2 of Lamb 5 on the Stage 3 that I'd never heard before. I heard it on Woodside as well but at a lower level, but had never noticed it before! It is a little uncouth compared to the Woodside, the edges of notes are blurred, but I assume that is the Flea on the Woodside.
Once I get a working replacement laser for the 3, I'll sell the 5 I think. Then I can play with a Flea in the 3
Reliable sources of Philips 12.4/05 mechs anyone?
Richard
Photos
Stage 5 DAC board;
Stage 5 servo PCB;
Stage 3 DAC;
Look at the difference
Stage 3 servo PCB;
Side by side;
Bodged Stage 3 laser mech wiring;
Slightly better rewire (shame, given mech is faulty
);
Making remarkably sweet sounds;