I can answer my own question above as I recently acquired the AA prima. compared to the stock xa777es the prima's soundstage was only slightly smaller with a sound that was slightly less room filling but big enough that it was still very very enjoyable. the xa777es did have better tonal balance (ie more seamless across the frequencies)but I dont know whether that is only because relative to prima the sony was far more dull with less sparkle and excitement and in that, the whole musical presentation "appears" more seamless. the sony is really good and i like what it can do but my personal tastes edged out and preferred the prima. easily. the sony to me seemed more "brainy" while the prima more "heart" without being tubey. The prima seemed closer to being a "musical instrument" and the sony more closer to being a "machine"
the sony was very resolving but it didnt lift the information to the level of emotion and music as could the prima. This is a bigger fault imo than a slightly smaller soundstage and a little less tonal balance. both machines are "great" and i suppose I could live with either but having "tasted" the prima I like what it does and so it will stay in my system and be enjoyed. |
Vertigo: As an owner of a Sony C333ES and Prima Mk2, I have to say I totally agree with all your comments on the comparison of your XA777ES vs. your Prima. In my world, I clearly prefer the Prima's style over the Sony's. |
Vertigo, you once again confirm a strong consensus on the Prima. |
Hi All,
Does the new prima has volume control?
It wasn't mentioned in their website.
Thank you. |
I can't imagine the Prima not having volumn control. |
I own the Prima MK II SE DAC and it is a wonderful piece that does have volume control. Probably more like the Capitole II than the Prima CD player. |
While the Prima MK I CDP did have an analog volume control, the Prima CDP MK II did NOT have a digital or analog volume control. I am not sure about the newer MK III (?) version of the CDP with the new faceplate.
The Prima MKII DAC does have volume control. |
Thanks for all replies. Just got news that the Prima MKIII does not have volume control. |
Have the new AA Prima cd player up and running.Connected balanced via Ridge Street Audio Poiema !! XLRs to my Gryphon Callisto 2100,driving my beloved Merlin VSM-MMs.
I think the Prima is FANTASTIC !! Quite a statement, considering it replaced the Mark Levinson 37 and 36s combination .... |
So what was it that made you decide to go ahead and buy the Prima, Blue? Why did you decide to buy new as opposed to used on a'gon?
Happy Listening! |
Just to show you that I'm teachable: I love my Prima, but indeed, digital has come a long way in the past three years, and I certainly realize that the Prima, while amazing in the $3k price range is not the end all. It's always been the source, IMHO, that is the most important component of one's sytem, with the speakers, of course, being right behind. I've been doing (there goes the upgrade itch. It's your fault Stan) oodles of homework and have been speaking with owners of the APL Denon 3910. That is going to be my next purchase this spring. You'll see a Prima for sale on the 'gon, then, if one of my friends doesn't buy it. What has been wonderful about my research is finding audiophools who have owned not only the Prima, but the Capitole MKII, as well. Have had all three to compare in their systems and went with the APL 3910. I realize another league altogether given the price. It will be awhile before I exude my impressions, but I promise not to be too nauseating...lol.. don't hurt me Stan.. peace guys, warren :-) |
Sent APL a mail once,regarding pricing on the APL modded Denon,unfortuanately,got no response...Then asked a friend who owns an APL Denon to ask the person at APL to kindly answer my mail.Turns out he thought I was an African scammer ... !! Did not want to answer my mail for that reason...
No "CE" marking on the APL,so import not possible...
Regards
"Nigerian scammer" |
Anyone here owned both the philips and the new sony transport version want to make a sound comparison? |
All I can tell you is that the transport on my used Prima is totally dead according to my local audio guy. He said it would be a minor fortune to get it fixed because AA mods the transports somewhat I assume to fit the rest of it. This one has to be the older one a Philips I assume and the tube used for the output is a 6922 type. I rolled it to my liking. I can tell you this Warren I miss my Prima it made my whole system relaxed and I didn't find it forward at all. Right now I bought an older Granite which has excellent detail retrieval is musical but I miss the Prima it was sublime. I have enough clarity in the rest of my components that I don't need a super crisp CDP.
Does anyone know how I can replace the transport without going to AA? Thanks in advance.
P.S. Warren I listened very carefully once again to "broken in" Druids. Your right they are not exactly clock radios but....I start a thread to discuss that. |
Mechans ;
I too have moved from the AA Prima to a Granite . I have found that the Granite is just more of everything that the Prima was . I am curious as to what about the Prima that you prefer . What speaker and amp are you using ? |
The Granite?? I tried the 657 head to head with my Prima 2 and the Granite was the clear loser. My audio buddies and I were surprised at how poor it was in soundstaging and dynamics. It sounded shut-in and weak and we all agreed. I can see why Mechans wants his Prima back! |
Different strokes for different folks !
I find the Granite to have more extension, detail, PRaT and musicality in my system! And I use an Audio Aero Prima Integrated amp . I would have thought that system synergy would have been a factor. It clearly was not! |
Mechans: Which version of the Prima are we talking about here? From your description (6922 tubes) it seems like your (dead) player was the older MK I version. The newer version uses tiny super tubes, which are soldered in. As far as I know transports for the MK I are difficult to come by; the newer MK II has as far as I know a different transport which may or may not be replaceable at this time.
Also, there is supposedly a big difference in sound between MK I and MK I according to the Soundstage reviews.
Rene |
Yes indeed the Prima I had was definitely the older model. I do have to disagree me and my pal Trelja both own Granites. I bought mine after hearing his for a long time. We also did an A/B with an Electrocompianet EMC 1 up, which I had loved from multiple auditions. The granite was actually more extended and had more weight. The sound staging isn't the worlds best but its true its timing = PRAT is superb. It was the winner, much to my surprise. |
Now thanks alot everyone. I was trying to find out some solid info on the AA Prima MK ii player. Does it sound smooth? Does it deliver bass weight and impact? Is it foward or laid back sounding? Is it bright or tilted towards high freq.?
These are all questions I have.
Looking for a good anwser in this thread is like listening to a Monty Python comedy skit. " Yes it is" " No it's not"
" Is too" " Is not". Remember the dead parrot routine? |
How does the Prima sound compared to the CEC TL51XR? |
