I have a small shop in my home where I sell equipment , and I am not writing to try and sell anything her , but i do have a story I would like to share.I started with Micromega players Stages 1 through 6 (they all sounded very good but could be a little quirky)and then went to the Naim CD3.
When I switched to the Naim I was first impressed with the build quality and soon forgot about as the player began breaking in. The player had everything just right considering the price. I found myself listening more and more and noticed myself enjoying the music more than the gear , which is why we all do this.
I sold that player and replaced with the CD3.5. The overall sound was very similar but with better detail , bass extension and imaging. I then added a FlatCap and then things really started to come to life. Everything became more defined with a more solid sound and an overall ease of presentation.
2-3 weeks ago I sold that combo and brought in a CDX for a customer who wasn't ready to take it right away and he wanted me to check it out and put some hours on it.
What a mistake! I have never heard a player that was able to out perform a Turntable but it happened. My t.t is an Oracle Delphi mkIII, Premier FT-3 , Townsend "the grail " m.c. , and Lehmann Audio Black cube Phono. A friend was listening as we played a Vinyl-CD showdown , He turned to me and said that I better buy a real expensive cartridge if I was going to keep the CDX.
The CDX is in short an excellent Vinyl playback system , and do not listen to one unless you can afford it , or you like to torture yourself. It really is that good.

A truly great player. Instruments sound REAL, voices sound NATURAL, music sounds like the magic that it is, instead of a digitally based reproduction. The scale and manner in which the music was presented was also incredibly engrossing and addictive. I auditioned this player in a relatively conservative naim system at the HiFi Centre here in Vancouver (thanks again Greg and Igor!) and ended up buying one. The only consideration with naim equipment is keeping the piece within a naim system; for whatever reason, naim gear sounds it's absolute best within a strictly naim set-up.

Soon after beginning my quest for a new stereo system, I decided that I liked the Naim sound. While other brands might occasionally offer more detail or accuracy, the Naim gear provided more musical pleasure. Because my ultimate goal is not a state of hyper-analysis, Naim seemed like the way to go. Due to the availability of used equipment, I broke the rules a little and purchased the amplification first (NAC 102 and NAP 140). Usually it's good to go source first, but I was pretty sure that I would go for a Naim player of some type.
I have 15 CDs that I use to do a full audition of equipment. I started running these through the CD 3.5, and I was generally impressed. After a few tracks, I noticed that there was some harshness on some of the more demanding tracks. I was using Royd Albions for the test, which can be forward themselves, so I wasn't too concerned. Just for comparison's sake we changed over to the CDX at this point.

Not only did the harshness fade, but the entire stereo image blossomed. The sense of space was remarkable. We tried changing back to the CD 3.5, but the soundstage shrank too much. At this point I decided to skip the 3.5 for the CDX. This was a tough decision, though, as the CDX is twice as much money as the 3.5.

A week later I was at another shop listening to Naim SBL speakers with a CDX front end. I remarked that the 3.5 had sounded quite harsh compared with the CDX, and the sales guy wanted to hear it for himself. We threw on the same two tracks that had really exemplified this, and the CDX handled it with aplomb (as expected). Then we tried the CD 3.5. Although the soundstage shrunk a little, it was not nearly as dramatic a change. And the harshness was not evident at all. This was clearly different from my initial perceptions a week ago. The difference: a Flatcap was powering the 3.5.

I realized that with the audition of a Flatcap, a CD 3.5 could come remarkably close to a CDX. You can definitely hear the difference in an A-B comparison (more space, deeper sound, more grip, etc.), but I felt that the 3.5 could easily hold its own. In fact, after comparing it with a number of other players, I decided that it was definitely the best player for the money (including the Flatcap, of course).

I may still end up upgrading to the CDX at some point in the future, but for now the 3.5+Flatcap is a consummate joy. This player will transport you deep into a musical wonderland.

I have just acquired the Naim 3.5 CD player last month. I must say I started off as a Naim bred enthusiast owning the Naim line of amplification more than a decade ago and now still hopelessly hooked on the Naim sound. There is a slight twist here. I sold off my Nami SBL speakers, Naim 72 pre amp, HiCap and 250 power amp a few months ago. As I hardly had the time to listen the latter system in my puny living room and the SBL speakers need to breathe! I thought I could live without music. Then it dawns upon me that I need a decent hifi for my again puny bedroom.
To be honest, I did not want to spend much on the system to start off with. So I just listen to some 'budget' systems and nothing exciting happens until one day a friend who is also a dealer in Naim offered me or rather loaned me a system to try in my bedroom setting. The system is: Naim 3.5 player, Onix OA21 50 watter with its power supply and the Rega EL8 floor standing speakers.

Boy! I was convinced! My system with the Naim front-end has so much smoothness and detail and the slam is there though not quite as pronounced as the SBLs. However then I had the Harmon Kardon CD player which is kind of aged and did not go full justice to the previous system. Now with the Naim 3.5 CD player and the respectable Onix amplification, the Rega speakers dance! The whole system also matches my little room specs and my bed now becomes a hotseat. I have found a constant companion to live with.

My god Dennis, you should have sold the SBLs and kept the rest! Well, to each his own.
I first lusted over the CDS six years ago, and now, after owning 5 highly respectable players (some more expensive than cd3.5), the naim kit still sounded the best -- no second thoughts.

I am still in my honeymoon phase with my cd3.5. I've heard everything from discmans to Rega Planet to Thetas to Mircomegas to Wadias to the 25K Burmiester/Boulder combo. Naim seems to have gotten the balance of their electronics SO RIGHT that while others might be more detailed, more warm, more whatever, the Naim sounds just RIGHT. I'm still rediscovering my cd collection as I'm writing this.

If you are rich try the CDS2, or the CDX - imagine the 3.5, but 10 times better (NO JOKE)!

For people planning on getting Naim products, you might like to know that I have yet to find an "Ex"-Naim owner, a Naim owner twenty years ago is most probably a Naim owner still, while we still have upgraditis, we rarely stray from the RIGHT path. Try finding another hi-end company with such strong customer loyalty.

Visit our site and join the conference to see what the fuss is all about.

Remember, if Hi Fi is about getting the music to sound RIGHT, with Naim, you just can't go wrong.

The only problem is if I give the 3.5 five stars, then how shall I rate the CDX and CDS? Ah, what the heck...

I purchased the Naim 3.5 about 1 month after comparing it with the Rega,Macintosh, and Krell.The Naim had the warm , exacting style and just
allows you to sit and truly enjoy the music.

The player is coupled with NAIm 102/180 (amp-preamp) and KEF REf3 speakers.
I usually cant wait to go home and rediscover my CDs.I did add the Flatcap
at the same and noticed a richer, fuller sound--definitely worth the extra
$ 700.

george

Across the board "balance", ease of use, simplicity of design, reliability.

DIN output limits your choice of interconnects if you are using it in a system with a mix of equipment (not a problem in an all Naim system).

This is the only piece of audio gear I own that has remained constant for the last 3 years. Amps, preamps, speakers, etc.. have come and gone but the Naim has stayed. I feel you would have to spend significantly more money to get superior performance. It is fabulous on all types of music.

Similar Products Used:

Theta Data Basic w/ Pro Basic III

The Naim CD3 is a CD player for people who still aren't thrilled with the sound of CDs. Music flows out and is very smooth. It doesn't have an etched quality to the sound. It's great to compare vinyl vs. CD with the Naim. Finally, I have a CD player that competes with the Townshend turntable. It is usually a toss up as to the superiority of one format over the other. Some CD pressings are rendered more musically involving than their vinyl counterpart. I didn't get this with the California Audio Labs Icon II. I can now sit back, relax and enjoy both formats with their inherent strengths. I found my player on the internet with a Chord interconnect (needed for non-DIN preamplifiers) for $1000. I haven't heard many $1,500+ CD players, but I don't care when this one is so enjoyable!

It's musicality, non-fatiguing listening, great design.

DIN connector. Could have more depth.

I've been using this unit now for 2 1/2 years whit a Kimber PBJ interconnect That was far better than the one supplied for use with components other than Naim. I have recently upgraded to a Wireworld Equinox III, now available from Wireworld with a DIN connector Truly a switch worth
every penny. The highs are delicate without being thin, the bass is deeper and tighter and the overall presentation much more open. If only I could have try this interconnect 2 years ago.

VERY musical, rhytmic,build-quality

price, that's all folks..

To me this is the first cd-player that can compete with the
Rega Planar-3. (not that it sounds the same though)
It's so damn musical that it'll let you concentrate on the
music, instead of anything else, like it's sound or weaknesses of strengths. It can be a bit forward to some
people's taste but combined with Naim amplification it just sounds superb!
I also tried the Rega Planet, hooked up to my nait-2. (because of the rave reviews) What a dissapointment!
From 1989 till now I had about 12 (!) CD-players and 1 turntable (Rega-P3) The Naim is the first (though also the most expensive I had,I must say..) that makes me feel happy
and comfortable listening to CD. I don't have the Rega-P3
anymore, 'cause I have about 400 CD's and hardly any LP
anymore, And it's so damn hard to find some decent LP's
here in my area.
So, thumbs up, for the Naim-CD3.5

(btw, could anybody tell me if it would be worth to update
my Nait-2 for a Nait-3, or would it be wiser to spend that
money for new speakers ? (I now own Monitor-Audio's MA-1,
but want something better..)

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Cyrus,Marantz 63-KI