Naim CDS3 CD Player
Twelve years after Naim revolutionised the design of Compact Disc players, the new CDS3 sets a new standard for high quality Compact Disc replay.
All the trademark features of a Naim player are brought together in the CDS3 along with a host of new and innovative engineering solutions pioneered during the development of the flagship NAC552 and NAP500 amplifiers. Together with the elegant styling, the result is a new reference.
The CDS3 features the latest generation Philips CD10 transport using a high quality hall motor disc drive VAM 1250 mechanism. The crucially important suspension system for the transport consists of three precisely tuned leaf springs to optimise servo operation. Two further independent suspension arrangements isolate both the digital and analogue circuit boards from the environment, using optimally damped spring decoupling.
The Naim-designed e.f.m signal "eye pattern" processing filter precedes a Philips CD10, SAA 7324 servo controller chip which is responsible for transforming wave patterns into digital data, error correction and all transport drive functions. Following this, the digital data is routed to a 24-bit - 8 times oversampling digital filter with HDCD decoding. The data is then sent to two (one per channel) Burr-Brown PCM 1704-K, 24-bit mono D to A converters. HDCD decoding is only activated when playing encoded discs.
A separate, fully optimised master clock controls digital to analogue conversion and the clock circuit configuration and layout are engineered to minimise jitter that is further reduced by special Naim designed data re-clocking circuitry. A seven-pole analogue filter follows the DAC to remove spurious noise. The current to voltage conversion stage and all analogue filter stages use discrete transistor amplifiers to optimise performance.
The CDS3 has 26 low-noise, regulated power supplies on the main circuit board, fourteen on the analogue output board and four on the servo board. Power for the whole machine is provided by the XPS power supply, which has six separately regulated, very low-noise outputs. Thus all critical circuitry is triple regulated.
Naim research proved that divorcing the main power supply in this way is wholly beneficial, whereas the more common arrangement of housing the converter circuitry in a separate box causes many problems. ****PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NAIM XPS POWER**** ****SUPPLIER IS NEED FOR THE CDS****
To minimise coupling of external vibrations from the housing to the drive, as happens in the vast majority of players that use a drawer loading mechanism, the CDS3 has a simple and straightforward top loading system. Discs are held securely to the drive spindle by means of a low-inertia, resonance-controlling magnetically attached disc clamp, a technique that ensures rigid coupling (and mild damping) without adding to the task of the drive servo mechanism by increasing rotational inertia.
Worthwhile user features have been incorporated in the CDS3: in addition to a clearer layout of the back panel, an RC5 port has been fitted (with the further option of an RS232 port), allowing seamless integration into even the most complex of home installations. In common with the flagship NAC 552 pre-amplifier, the CDS3 has user-configurable outputs, offering a choice between the preferred DIN or RCA phono outputs, allowing the CDS3 to be used with a wide range of other manufacturers' cables and components.
All the main control functions of the CDS3 are handled by a microprocessor running software written by Naim.
Every aspect of the SAA7324 servo controller/decoder functionality is under software control with the Naim-written code allowing all areas of performance to be maximised. For example, the machine optimises the transport parameters for each disc as it is loaded. In addition, care has been taken to ensure that the player/user interface is as logical and intuitive as possible, with extra features such as Display Off (providing improved sound quality) and Program Cancel, whereby the listener can quickly select tracks not wanted to be played.
The CDS3 is at the top of Naim's CD hierarchy, which allows someone to purchase a CDX2, to upgrade by adding an XPS and finally, trade up to a CDS3 with the XPS. The highly sophisticated power supply features a toroidal transformer and 6 power regulators, ensuring complete stability of the ultra-sensitive circuitry.
The Naim CDS3 establishes a new reference point for natural musical reproduction, providing the involvement of the very best analogue sources combined with tremendous consistency and reliability.
- Naim's top level CD player
- Sophisticated power supply featuring toroidal transformer and 6 power regulators
- 24-bit up-sampling for outstanding sound quanitity
Naim XPS Power Supply
The XPS is a simple and effective upgrade to enhance the music-making ability of your Naim Audio source component. As one of our most flexible performers it can be used to upgrade our CDX2 CD player and DAC digital to analogue converter, and it is also suitable for use with our NDS, NDX and ND5 XS network players and HDX hard-disk player/server. Its large toroidal transformer features four separate windings, coupled to six low-noise regulators and benefits from Naim Audio DR voltage regulator technology
FEATURES
Four isolated transformer windings with six low-noise DR power regulators - configured as two isolated regulators for digital at 15V, isolated /-10V for DACs and isolated /-23V for analogue stages
All-new Discrete Regulator (DR) configuration, delivering Naim Audios best-ever standards of stable, low-noise power
Brushed, black-anodised aluminium chassis plus anti-vibration feet
TECHNOLOGY & CRAFT
The Naim Audio XPS is a highly sophisticated power supply with six separately regulated, very low noise outputs, featuring a toroidal transformer and six power regulators. These supplies are branched and re-regulated, some twice in the CD player.
The addition of anti-vibration, resonance-controlling feet complement the elegant cast and extruded anti-magnetic chassis protect the sensitive internal components from resonance and microphonic vibration.
The XPS was updated in 2012 as a result of a two year project to develop a new discrete regulator (DR) for Naim Audio power supplies. The new Naim Audio DR now features, alongside improvements to the mechanical decoupling and internal layout. These enhancements, developed through intensive listening tests, significantly raise performance and make music even more communicative and enjoyable.
A TECHNICAL WHITE PAPER ON THE NAIM AUDIO DISCRETE REGULATOR TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE HERE.
Please note: only new classic series XPS units are compatible with the NDX network player, not Olive versions. The old Olive XPS is still compatible with CDX and CDS model CD players, the HDX hard disk player and the DAC digital to analogue converter however. Please consult your Naim Audio retailer if you are unsure of compatibility.
