Is CD really a 'dead' format in 2014?
CDS3 is rather special ,particularly if your a vinyl fan. I love the convenience of streamers and several Dacs that i have tried , but still prefer the sound quality and presentation of the CD player
CDX2 sounds a bit more digital , but if you like an analogue sound then the CDS3 is hard to beat
I purchased my second CDS3 (2012 model) about 6 months ago and wont be changing it for a long time to come
I would most certainly buy a good old fashioned cd player not this hear today gone tomorrow new trendy stuff.
The hard drive could fail to back up the back up.
I've got my heart set on either a new (or nearly new) Naim CDX2 or a carefully used CDS3 but it has been pointed out to me that I might be better off investing in a streaming device such as the Naim NDX.
What do people think? Is CD really a 'dead' format in 2014?
Also remember if buying a naim cd player that they consider needing a new laser mech every few years to be perfectly normal. The problem with this is after the years go by the mechs have historically become unavailable, meaning your cd player becomes an expensive doorstop.
We bought the CDi new in about 1992 and it's still going strong without ever needing a new laser. Witch Hat Audio and I think a few others can still get the parts to repair them. Avondale had or maybe still has a large supply of CD3 mechs I think.
It was a cd3 that I had problems with. It was a few years old, about 6 from memory. I called naim and was advised this was normal and that I had been quite fortunate as some go in as little as three years. They had no more mechs available so I went to avondale whom claimed they had some. After four weeks with avondale and many calls my cd player was returned to me. It didnt have a new mech as promised, it had been repaired. It worked fine but looked like a bad attempt at a diy repair. I was gutted and sold the player.