Despite the rumored fanfare out there (cd players are on their way out of HiFi), we continue to see better cd players, at all price points, hitting the marketplace.
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Sony SCD XA5400ES with the ModWright Ultimate Truth Mod. Upgraded the stock Sovtek 6SN7 output tubes to Sophia Electric 6SN7 and the stock Sovtek 5AR4 rectifier tube to a NOS Philips 5R4GYS. A pair of WyWire Juice II Silver power cords complete the package. Works really well with both my Shindo and Audio Research systems. |
Chris_Launder, Here's the link to ModWright's website. http://www.modwright.com/modifications/sony-xa5400es.php ModWright did an excellent job and the build quality was great. My analog/digital playback ratio is ~70/30 and I don't think I'll be upgrading from my digital setup any time soon. Happy Listening. |
Primare CD31 From the first time I heard this CD player in the right system (paired with i30 and ProAc R28 along with a bunch of expensive cable in a sound room) - I knew that I would never need a better one. I'm still hunting down that sound - and getting closer. Now have Primare: i30 CD31 R20 Phono Pre-Amp u-Turn Orbit Deluxe TT Music Fidelity M1DAC Epos Epic 5 Cardas Cables / Kimber Cable |
My CD system is a PS Audio Perfectwave DAC and Perfectwave Transport although I mostly use the DAC for playing Hi Res audio files off the PC. It's pretty good and I use it alot for new jazz but I still much prefer my analog system when it comes to pre-digital era jazz. My vinyl system is a Transrotor Fat Bob with the TMD magnetic bearing so there is no mechanical conection between the drive and the platter - extremely quiet. Cartridge is a ZYX Airy3 and tonearm is a Graham Phantom Supreme |
Esoteric K-03. Sounds as good as my vinyl as long of course like my vinyl that I keep is well recorded and mastered. Neither format to me is better, it all gets back to the quality. I love my LP's covers, but I can enjoy music either way. I must say though that I don't follow trends or follow reviews. I use my own ears. No PC audio for me. I like the physical. I already have enough music to last me more than a life time. |
After yet another 3 years (this thread does seem endless), I finally found a single player that would do both CDs and SACDs and sound better on CDs than my wonderful Raysonic 128. The Oppo 105 does that stunt. So, on faith, I sent the Oppo to Dan Wright for his mod. Yeah, the mod costs twice what the stock Oppo does. Then I spent another $150 buying the modded unit some NOS tubes. I'm very happy with the result, but ask me again in another 3 years :-) |
AMR DP-777 being fed by a Mac mini on an Atomic Labs Mac Mini Platform. The Mac mini feeds an iFi Gemini cable (this cable beat and displaced my former $3k Locus Design Cynosure USB cable) into a iFi iUSB and then to another Gemini USB cable into an iFi iPurifier and then finally into the DP-777. This is all powered by a PS Audio P300 (soon to be a P10). The Dac is plugged directly into the p300, the Mac/iUSB first go into an isolation transformer and then into the P300. PureMusic is the audio engine. This sounds like a very high end turn table with good redbook and especially so with hi-res pcm or DSD. It has that continuity and wide open dynamic BW I associate with (superb) analog. I know a number of $30k analog rigs that would get owned and this is not even the SE version (yet :) of the 777 :) |
I use a Graham Slee Majestic DAC from a Yamaha transport. This gives a very smooth, analogue like sound but not at all 'rolled off'. It replaced a Chord 64 where treble sounds more brittle by comparison It is the most realistic CD sound I have heard and because the DAC has coax, optical and USB inputs, I use it with FLAC and MP3 too with the same resulting sound signature I must admit I am a serious vinyl lover with a large collection dating back to the 70's and several TTs. However I also have thousands of CDs and this DAC is the closest sounding to the analogue sources that I have heard |
Still have my Theta Jade transport, Stereophlie recommended class A, purchased new back in 98. Threshold DAC2, purchased used back in 03. My first DAC was a PS Audio SL3. The SL3 was warm and smooth.. it was easy on the ears, and very pleasant to listen to, but lacked some dynamics. My second DAC was a Theta DS Pro Basic 3a. The Theta DAC sound was totally opposite from the SL3.. it was hard, glaring, super detailed and super dynamic - all of it in your face. I get the best of both with the Threshold DAC2.. it does lean more toward the SL3, but with more detail and dynamics with out that in your face crap! |
Audiofun, cut the bs. You're just one of several members on here who threadjacked the topic to divert discussion onto the virtues of computer audio which had absolutely nothing to do with the OP's question. Mind you, i've been guilty of that myself. The end result is the intent of the thread is lost which usually leads to these threads dying off. |
Melbguy: The virtues of computer audio??? really? its just a hobby and a fun one at that. I don't care one way or the other I simply saw "digital" but if you want to feign anger over something so trite and small then go ahead try to take the fun out of the discussion. I already admitted I didn't think of it as a CD player proper, no need to curse at me and become indignant. |
02-06-15: Jwm+ 1. I went from a heavily modded Ayon CD-5s to a stock Aesthetix Romulus and was amazed by how natural sounding, open and flowing the Romulus sounds. The build quality of the circuit and psu'd is superior as well. But I have to say the Vitus SCD-025 is the best single box player i've ever heard. I've heard the CH D1 which is very good & I like one or two things better with that player, but preferred the sound of the Vitus overall (especially in synergy with the SIA-025). But not cheap! The Romulus is a giant killer at its price point. I recently sold my Romulus to a guy who is upgrading it to the partial-Eclipse upgrade. He is wrapped! |
Mel, Jwm had the Romuius Signature which was very good. He now has the Aesthetix Pandora with the even higher level "Stealth" capacitor upgrade. This is a superb sounding unit and betters many analog front ends I've heard. It would be interesting(and fun) to compare this special Pandora to your Vitus player. Preference would likely be system/synergy dependent. It's near remarkable the difference these premium capacitors make when used in the Aesthetix. Jim White has a good ear. Charles, |