Sustaining Naim CDPs - An Appeal

Hi would you say the cyrus cdi is more detailed than the cds3 and stage width/depth. It’s on my short list having got rid of cds3
Thanks

My CDS/CDPS is nearly thirty years old and I believe is on its original mechanism. It was last serviced just before i purchased it twenty years ago.

It owes me nothing and still sounds fantastic. I fully intend to use it until it fails, and when it does fail i will be very disappointed to have lost such a wonderful machine. If it could continue to be maintained i would be pleased, but I don’t expect it to be possible.

My main worry at the moment is whether to have the CDPS serviced, as the cost may end up being wasted if the mech fails, but then again its twenty years since it was last recapped and it don’t want it to fail and take out the head unit.

The other issue is i cannot find another streaming source which can match it for performance.

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Naim has stored an extra mech for each CD555 it manufactured, just in case. Speaking of just in case, I acquired one of them for mine…just in case.

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The Cyrus CDI XR is a fine player however not close to my CDS3. Plenty of PRAT and works well with all Naim electronics. Comparable to Naim CDX but smoother less edgy. Half case width so room for the power supply when available in the US.

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Problem sorted with cds3 player regarding mech :thinking: got rid of player 3 weeks ago. Didn’t want to keep it knowing it will fail again already had 2 mechs since VAM1250 was replaced.
After careful listening its the Cyrus CDI XR that wins even out of the box it runs rings round cds3. Very detailed huge sound stage, width, depth and clarity. Very dynamic sounds even better now after 4 days constant burn in. Also pre ordered PSU XR ( will be next year before it’s available huge waiting list )
The phantom black finish is superb blends with naim gear.
My advice is off load cds3 while you can and use funds to buy another. Also Cyrus offers 2 year warranty and spare loading mechanisms for 10 years. SMS in Nottingham make servos etc for Cyrus :grinning::uk::uk:

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Mine is back with a new dac and sounding incredible, naim made the best cd players, I have not heard other brands even come close, I will be the last owner of my cds3. It’s the only player that makes me question the LP12’s superiority.

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Perhaps Naim could contact this company for the manufacture of replacement mechs built to original (or improved) specs. I am no expert but I would have thought a supplier to the medical and aerospace industries could manufacture some CD mechanism, especially as the design work has already been done…

No doubt there are cost issues and some may fear IP problems, but that doesn’t seem to stop the aftermarket/pattern parts business from supplying the automotive industry. Just Google car parts for a typical German car and there are masses of original, OEM and non-genuine parts out there. As mentioned above, one can even build a brand new MGB from aftermarket/Motor Heritage parts. A CD player, no matter how good, is not more complex/difficult to make than a whole car!

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You are assuming that naim want to find a solution. They may well not. The volumes will be low, so costs for something bespoke will be high.
For me, If I wanted to play cds, I’d buy a cheap, but good transport like a couple of the ones mentioned above. I sold my cd5xs for a number of reasons.

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I was informed by a Cyrus technician 2 weeks when I made enquiries regarding mechs, they buy the loader mechanism in (more cost effective they keep spare loading mechanisms for 10 years servo components are constantly being developed. Cyrus have maintained the same slot loading for years and have no reason to change it’s design only the servo evolution to read correctly first time from the disc. The main circuit boards for all Cyrus units are manufactured by SMS in Nottingham then shipped back to Cyrus in Cambridge.

SMS manufacture the servo board - the chip, software and electronics that controls the laser and sled, how they move and how they read the disc - is a bespoke Cyrus design, and built by their manufacturing partner SMS in Nottingham. Cyrus then marry up the loader mech with the Servo board to create the SE engine.

Having got rid of my Cds3 to private buyer about 3 week ago I have no regrets the imminent demise of the mech is not worth the wait.
It was serviced January last year, got it back June, 3 weeks in mech failed ( the dreaded ERR ) 5 weeks later another vam1202. Player ok till a few weeks ago yep you guessed it sometimes ERR reared it ugly head again. Time for it to go let someone else deal with it.

Bearing in mind the cds3 was not developed much towards the end of 2000. Mine was a 2006 plate, the Cyrus cdi xr I bought this week has 14 years development over the cds3.

You are captivated at the difference in every way it runs rings around the cds3.
I’ve also placed an order for the Psu xr ( not available till next year) the waiting list is massive.
To be honest I’m having a rethink about my naim gear and seriously considering moving back to Cyrus.
The icing on the cake is Cyrus are British :uk::uk::uk::uk: owned and manufactured that’s what I want :uk::uk:
Maybe naim could possibly approach SMS for servo boards etc :thinking: somehow I feel that’s been done my advice is off load cds3 get funds while you can towards another player

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The Cyrus XR stuff looks impressive. Shame the new psu is no longer compatible with their last range.

Hi Thegreatroberto it is a very impressive finish superb in every way I’m very picky with my hifi. Gone over the Cdi xr with a fine tooth comb :face_with_monocle: it’s beautiful. Really really impressed Cyrus have come a long way over the past 15 years (when I had the Cyrus cd8 se it was not good unfortunately that’s what spurred me onto naim) to be honest the servo evolution was in its infancy 15 years ago. I believe the servo is very complex and very few if any manufacturer will develop the software themselves.
Many buy in the complete mech I doff my cap :cowboy_hat_face: to Cyrus for what they have achieved it takes guts and huge amounts of money to develop the software.
Speaking to someone this week high up Cyrus have a passion for cd players ( sold all over the world huge demand I had to wait 4 weeks for mine) and see players as a niche market (vinyl :thinking::grin:) with steady sales. I am very seriously considering moving from naim in the new year to Cyrus :uk::uk::uk::nerd_face:

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That’s the problem with CD players. They are extraordinarily complicated things and therefore can be inherently unreliable. I bet Naim are glad to see the back of them.

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I’m not assuming anything - rather merely stating that, if there was a will, I’m sure that in our world of 7 billion + people, somebody/some business would be capable of manufacturing and supplying replacement mechanisms for Naim (and other brand ) CD players.

Is there demand? Only Naim and their dealers know that based on how many people approach them for repairs to their existing CDPs. TBF, perhaps Naim don’t really know either as I wonder how many enquires regarding CDP repairs actually get back to Naim themselves? If dealers think repair supply will be problematic/hard work they might just say “No hope on that one, buy this new XYZ instead”.

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Another Mario with a CDS3…that make it the 3rd Mario that owns or used to own a CDS3 that i „know“
Seems like a popular name - or a popular cd player :slight_smile:

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Are they really though? Famous last words but in our family, over the past 30 years, I’ve only known one CDP and one DVD player actually ‘die’ due to not being able to read a disc - a few draw mechanisms have failed but they have all been repaired - ironically this is one area that Naim CDPs should not have an issue with. Including those in cars (which are subject to a more hostile environment than those used at home) that is twenty - thirty players and thousands of hours of use. The CDP was a budget Sony (£140) and the DVD was a TEAC, both of which were probably repairable but it was decided that it wasn’t worth doing based on the original cost and advancement of tech (Blu-Ray). Neither of these were players costing thousands of pounds where a repair would have been clearly more desirable than a trip to the tip!

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Maybe buy his as well, owning 3 CDS3 bought from 3 Marios would be quite unique

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Nah, think i‘m done here. And he ain‘t sellin‘

That’s the reason why naim followed Linn years ago they being the first to drop cd players. Let us not forget owners who paid the thick end of £12000 for cd players then left with no backup :scream::scream::scream::scream: shafted or what

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Are you happy with the new one? (I am very with my new toy after we sorted out a little snag earlier tonight :joy:)

I have owned two CD players (neither Naim), and both lasted about 10 years then started to have problems playing. I concluded that was normal lifespan, and switched to streaming instead of buying a third one. Unlike amps and speakers, CD players have a limited life, presumably due to the mechanical precision required for a laser to accurately track the spinning disk.

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