I think dealers are free to do whatever they wish - they are free agents. Fact is that anyone buying a secondhand CD player these days should be well aware that mechs are a possible and likely point of failure, and have been pretty much since the very beginning of the format. Likewise, replacement Mech supply has always been an issue for the entire industry. Naim has done better than most here in supporting their customers over the longer term, even going as far as re-engineering a discontinued player to take a different (but available) mech, but these days it’s harder than ever to maintain this.
Graham, in your situation I would take back the player and, perhaps seek out one of a few “kitchen table” repairers who may be able to resuscitate your player with scavenged secondhand parts. The fact that an official factory repair may no longer be possible due to lack of new replacement mechs, need not mean that your player can’t be fixed by other means. The VAM1205 was fairly widely used so it may well be possible. Would be shame to otherwise scrap the player.
Last year when I wanted to PX my LP12 and CD5 SX against the Linn Klimax DS/3 Katalyst, they would only take the LP12.
They advised that due to parts availability they did not want the CD5 SX as there could be a potential issue with honouring a warranty if a repair was needed.
Fully understood where they were coming from on this.
DG….
Although in principle I agree with your comment, aren’t we breaking forum rules with such a comment
Possibly, but in a situation where official repair is no longer possible, the point is one that I felt important to make, so an exception was appropriate.
A valid suggestion, I think - and I am pleased that an exception can be made.
The problem is (IMO) an obvious one. What is the provenance of the salvaged or other parts used - and what warranty or support does the repairer offer…?
That’s an unknown (I guess you would need to ask whoever was doing the work) and also outside of the scope of discussion for here.
I’ve had to scrap a Cdi and a CD5xs due to mech failure - the CD5xs over 2 years ago. Both went back to Salisbury. Wanting to stick with Naim I replaced with a Core. I now view CD players like Cartridges, they wear out and have to be replaced. Viewed like this the pain is much reduced.
Just raising the risk…
I hope that the VAM1250 in my CDX2 (2002 build) continues to work - and such intervention is not needed.
(I bought my CDX2 fully aware of the potential problems, but thinking worst case it could be converted to the later VAM1205 transport. Sadly that’s not an option now.)
I think you mean the VAM1202 - the VAM1205 was the predecessor to the VAM1250.
Sorry Richard, but you are then possibly suggesting this is the approach for any Naim product that is susceptible to fail and no longer serviceable, possibly even amps which are generally highly reliable products, although this is becoming less so with stuck relays and reed switches etc…
Personally I think with the prices that Naim pin on their products, I think they should be serviceable which is one important reason why many people buy and support this brand of HiFi
They are serviceable as much as is possible, however there’s not much you can do when a critical component such as a CD mech becomes impossible to reliably source and your stock of spares is eventually exhausted. As I say, Naim have done much better than most herein AFAIK continue to look for reliable stocks of 1202s.
I probably do…
I mean the transport that superseded the 1250, in the CDX2.
Yes, that was the VAM1202.
I think Naim have gone as far as they can in terms of customer service , a couple of years ago, my CDX2 was outperformed by a humble Audiolab CD transport , I was in touch with them over something else and they were horrified by the situation .
The CDX 2 went back and became a digital transport (CDX2.2) into my Nova (and very good it sounded)
It got complicated when I switched to a Nait 50 and my other CD player had been given away , I went to a Naim CD5si and installed isolation feet and a Chord Shawline DIN cable as well as a Chord Shawline power line
It sounds good , but it was as far as I could take it and remain with Naim.
My idea was to have a two box audio system, I now think this is a pretty good set up , but not as far as getting the best out of my Nait 50 .
My choice is either a DAC with the CDX2.2 or a CD from another manufacturer at a higher level, which looking round looks like TEAC or Denon
I do hope the OP can get the replacement part from cannibalising another machine , which seems to be the only option if the parts are not available .
In the meantime here is my CD5si (spot the deliberate mistake - Ha )
I would love a DACV1 to go alongside my Nait 50 ,so I could restore the CDX2.2 to the rack to fit alongside the Nait 50 but they don’t seem to come up that often with dealers in second hand HiFi.
Although I don’t have skin in this game - I long ago ditched CD for streaming - might this suggest it’s time to open a conversation about what CD players from other manufacturers will give a good enough SQ when fronting up NAIM boxes?
Probably best it’s started on a separate thread to this one.
Its quite a good idea - a thread on good-but-not Naim CD players and/or transports.
Prior to my CDX2, I had first Arcam then Rega.
Pucks upside down
Well spotted , it was the only one .