>Vinyl playback systems and vinyl itself are too inherently coloured. But I might be wrong of course.<
And of course, you are......
Oz |
Hi folks, what is the holy grail here: to make a CDP sound like vinyl or to make a CDP sound like live music? To me vinyl doesn't sound the same as live music. Vinyl playback systems and vinyl itself are too inherently coloured. But I might be wrong of course.
Chris
dazzdax@xs4all.nl |
Audio Alchemy DDT/DDC (early 90's) connected a TCC TC-7510 24bit/96khz D/A converter via River Cable Digiflex Gold Plus coax |
My response on 7-30-05 is no longer accurate.
I am now the proud owner of a McCormack UDP-1 Deluxe and I am very happy with it. It is an excellent player. |
A 12 or 15 year old Music Hall CD32. I use it as I expect my digital playback to sound like digital - I'm not disappointed... |
Lector CDP-7TL, and an AMR CD-77 soon... |
Modified Sony SCD 777es, but it falls FAR short of decent vinyl and cannot touch good/great vinyl. It is listenable, but the only time I reach for a CD is if someone else wants to hear it, or if I'm gonna be reading, or writing while listening...
O
o
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Lexicon, yep I know you guys are jealous :0), truth be told it is smoother then my dads Esoteric DV60. |
Esoteric DV-50 un-modified. |
A Musical Fidelity Nuvista 3D, so smooth and detailed...still doesn't beat vinyl though. |
>>I bet we all believe our CDP is the most "analog" sounding one.<<
I don't.
Nor do I expect my digital front end to sound "analog like". |
That is a real consensus and I bet we all believe our CDP is the most "analog" sounding one...excellent thread! I use McCormack UDP-1 original and guess what, it is as close to analog as it gets (kidding!). |
Ayre Cx7e, hopefully to soon be upgraded w/ Ayre C5xe. Wonderful players, IMO, and AMAZING customer support. |
Linn Unidisk 2.1, or at least until around a week ago (I just sold it). If I get another player, it will likely be an Ikemi or a Unidisk 1.1. Right now I'm exploring wireless network options, and so far I must say I really miss my CD player. |
Wadia WT 2000 with TEAC P2 VRDS mechanism upgrade, via Aural Symphonics ST Optimism V.2 glass fiber cable into Wadia 27 DAC. DAC to preamp: Purist Venustas XLR. Power cords, transport = Purist Venustas, DAC = Purist Dominus.(these are upgrades from my 7/05 post). The changes have brought my digital system just nanometers from my analog sound. But a nanometer is as good as a mile IMO ;--)
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Sony XA9000ES with Audioquest NRG-3 power cord and home grown interconnect made from 24 gauge solid (1+ve/2-ve) OFC/silver coated wire-wrap by Alpha Wire.
Dum de dum . da di da |
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A Symphonic Line Reference one-box cdp -- for the last 7yrs.
It still works OK, a bit long in the tooth... it's satisfying AFA digital goes |
A cheap CD12. ala Linn Akemi... it kind of sounds analog like a CDP that a good TT maker would want to listen to, if it came to playing the Shiny silver stuff and it didn't break the bank.
Happy Listening! |
Apple iBook into Audio Research DAC5 sounds pretty damn close to my VPI Scout into Audio Research PH3 phono stage... |
Parasound CDP-2000 Ultra... |
Sony 9000es as transport, running into Scott Nixon tube DAC. Surprisingly good and very inexpensive. |
Wadia WT2000S transport w/ XLO glass cable to a Wadia 64.4 DAC to preamp w/ Venustas XLR. Had 'em for 15 yrs. Haven't heard everything else, but haven't heard anything better. |
Ram tosh 3950 with superclock 3...very analogue-like in its presentation..... |
Oracle CD-2000 Transport
Reimyo DAP-777 D/A
Stealth Sextet Digital Interconnect
Stealth Indra Analog Interconnect
Amazing combination |
Museatex Bidat with current upgrade supplied by John Wright, which includes considerable work on the analog end. There is a thread about the amazing performance of this unit+mod as performed by Mr. Wright, who worked with Ed Meitner on the original design. |
modified toshiba sd-4960. very detailed, musical and non-fatiguing. |
I use an TRL modded Alesis ML9600 as my transport and an Audio Mirror D1 DAC. Very analog. I get my turntable back from SOTA today fresh with an upgrade from Star to Nova status and I can honestly say I'm not as excited as I thought I would be. This digital set up has made that much of a difference to me. |
Dopogue,
Why not use your Sony XA777ES as a transport for your ack dack? It's a great transport, or is the Toshiba better?
Rob |
Wadia 302 with MIT cables, audio research vs55, marsh p2000t, and proac future .5. It's very revealing and I never tire of listening to it, but viny (rega 25, benz ace, ar ph5) still blows it away. |
Warm, rich but extended...nonfatiguing in an analog way. |
A Shanling SCD-T200 modified by Underwoodhifi. Sound is remarkable. I have a Acoustic Signiture Final Tool with a Graham 2.2 and Ortofon Kont with top of the line Kimber cables. Is it as good as Vinyl? No. But I can sure live with this player. It helps bridge the gap between Vinyl and Digital. Use Bedini Clarifier, SST silver treatment and PS Audio Statement powercord and Herbie's cd mat. Mike |
Jack thanks,I do apreciate it. |
Jayctoy: Yes, I had a DAC6 and modified 1000 in my system for well over a month, (which should be ample time for break in, especially with a used unit). I mention this over at the "Is the TRL 595 really that good?" thread just FYI.
My primary source is a modified Scully 270 (capable of playing back 14 inch reels at 30 IPS) and my over 300 production and safety masters. (That's about as close to the "reel" event as you get.) Don't you think?
My comparisons via digital are with CDR burns of my safety and production master reels. When I listen to digital sources, I ask myself: How close does it sound to playing back my master reel? It's a wonderful (first hand) comparison tool.
So, as we've established, 15 and 30IPS master reels are my reference. For a detailed idea of my system, check out "Jack Seaton" Inmate System over at Audio Asylum.
I forgot to add my Mapleknoll Airiadne Signature (predecessor/design for the Walker) and various cartridges including the Clearaudio Insider Ref, Koetsu Rosewood Sig. Plat., Benz Ruby, and 4 different variations of the vdH Grasshopper (GLA CMA, CMN, GLN).
I also have a near complete Blue Note record collection (1500 and 4000 series) and about 1/2 of the 5000 series 10 inchers.
Best wishes,
Jack |
I have a Jolida JD100 which is about as good a cdp I have heard at any price.
BUT.......it gets very little play time. Whenever I listen to a seedee I feel as though I am wasting precious time which could be spent listening to a rekkid......
Oz |
Jes45, you have Meitner combo? what is the rest of
your system? |
Jes45-
Well, after minimal burn in the TRL Sony 595 sounds very very good already to my ears. It has an immediacy, smoothness, detail and presence that I have only heard in TT/analog setups.
I will keep you posted and probably do some kind of review on AA or here after a few weeks after full burn in.
Just wanted to check to confirm that my very initial impressions were not just new buyers goggles (or ears).
Thanks for the info. |
What do I think of the TRL modded 595 Sony? It took about 3 weeks or better to break in, but your initial thoughts are correct. This player defies all logic. It's inexpensive, is a lightweight at 12 pounds, yet sounds more analog and more accurate than other considerably more expensive players I had considered.
I've found myself not listening to reel tape playback and LP's as much as I used to. Digital used to fatigue me, I'd get maybe an hour of listening in at best. Now I listen longer than I should, which has my Wife a little upset, but hey, the music is good!
I'd hook the TRL 595 up and give it a listen, then get back to me. |
I have a Naim CDS3. I listen to CD's about 35% of the time. I actually prefer opera on CD (longer sides and MUCH easier to find my place in the libretto). For other classical music, CD's can be better where the lp was not well-mastered and subject to break up. But, for jazz and pop vocals, CD's rarely match LP's for their presence and liveliness.
The Naim CDS3 is a great CD player, one that I much prefer over the Sony SCD-1 SACD player that it replaced in my system. But, if one is looking for a CD player that sounds most like an LP set up, I would suggest looking at Audionote DAC's. I've heard the DAC 4 balanced and the DAC 5 signature, and they are terrific, albeit at breathtaking prices.
By the way, my analogue rig is a Basis Debut V (vacuum) table, Vector arm and Lyra Titan cartridge. |
Jes45-
What do you think of the TRL modded Sony 595?
I have been getting into vinyl mostly lately and sold my main digital source (a nice Cary 308) as even that couldn't quite get me the immediacy and presence of analog.
I had decided to just live with my Pioneer DVD/CD player as a digital source.
I kind of stumbled upon the TRL mod via a review on 6 moons and some people on AA High Rez.
Well, long story short I decided to give it a try and I also wanted to fool around a bit with SACD.
I just got mine from Paul Weitzel on Friday and it is burning in as we speak.
I did sneak a listen after about 40 hours.
I think it is going to be very nice-what are your thoughts? |
I use a Rotel RCD990 I bought over 8 years ago. Still haven't found any reason to replace it! |
I use a Tube Research Labs modified Sony SCD 595 player (I bought mine at Best Buy for $150) plus the TRL mod at $550 plus shipping. For more info, do a search over at Hi Rez Asylum, there has been much discussion about TRL mods over there. |
CEC TL2 with Meridian 566DAC(20bit dual differential) connected with a Apogee Wide eye. Power cables by JPS Labs digital AC to both transport and DAC. All source powered by PS Audio Powerplant P300 set at sine wave. |
Jolida JD-100 modified version |
I use the dicklicht model 69 from Germany, on good recordings , it just throbs with musicality, it's a little larger model than most, a little intimidating at first glance, but flows like silk, building to a climactic ending. |
In addition to my analogue rig, I also use my Ayre CX-7, which is a very good sounding CDP. Throw a couple of good recording CD such as TAS2003, Diana Krall's The Look of Love and The Girl in the Other Room, then you know what I'm talking about.
I also highly recommend Audio Note's DAC if you don't mind having two boxes. For ultimate sound quality, of course analogue is king. But I can live with just a CD set-up as well, because playing CD is much more fuss-free and convenient - that is important when your objective is to enjoy listening music and not spending your valuable time on tweaking about analogue set-up. |
MF Tri Vista, but now it is used primarily as a DAC for my Apple Airport Express. I find my digital listening is relegated to background music from iTunes playlists on my LaCie Big Disk Extreme, and any serious listening is to LP's. The more I listen to LP's the less satisfying is digital, and that is also true for my non-audiophile skeptical friends who come over to listen. |
My CEC TL-1X and Audio Logic 24MXL DAC sound great for CD, but it's still not vinyl. I like my CD's a lot now, but I love my vinyl. |
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Museatex Melior Bitstream DAC (modified) / Sony DVP-S9000ES transport. Very analog sounding, but no, it is not a substitute for the real thing. |
