chebby:
Not at all.
I would buy this set-up like a shot if I could afford it.
I also hope the new range brings Rega as many kudos in the 'high-end' of hifi as they have received in the budget and mid-price markets all these years.
Also I am pleased we have someone here on the WHF (JamesAvison) who is buying the Isis. I want to hear all about it (with photos too please James) whether he lifted it himself or not
Here we go a report on the Rega Isis..........being a bit lazy this is a copy of a post on another forum, which was in comparison to the CDS3.
I can honestly say that the Isis plays music, it does not have the digital edginess of my previous CDS3 (which is still a good player).
The Isis is like a good record deck, it is effortless, lifelike beyond belief, instruments are as you hear them at concerts-real, this is without loosing the PRaT. I found myself listening to the same CD's on the CDS3, and would need to get to know them through repeated playing to get to like them, with the Isis you just throw on any CD and you are drawn in and taken on a wonderful journey into the music, to the point of addiction, you just cannot draw yourself away from the music.
Now with the CDS3/555PS this is also a good player, it brings control and authority to the music, but still does not lose that digital edginess completely.
In summary I would liken the CDS3 to a very good illusionist - where he/it distracts you by highlighting specific instruments/vocals whilst muting everything else going on in the music, the Isis in comparison presents you with the whole recording with no muting of instruments/vocals making it a much more enjoyable and thoroughly rewarding experience IMHO.
Going from a CD5 to a CD5/Flatcap to a CD5/Hi-Cap to a CDX2/XPS2 to a CDS3/XPS2 I have always felt that the Naim CD Players are very good and the difference between this upgrade path has been discernable, overall these upgrades/CD Players did not have that factor which makes them Special.
Overall IMHO, the bar has been significantly raised by another manufacturer which have produced a product that does not get in the way of the music, or add its particular signature to the music.