Arthur1954, I have had zero issues with the slot loader on the Audiolab. I like it much better than any tray loader I've owned, takes discs smoothly, isn't noisy, and reads discs pretty quickly.....all good there I was initially impressed when I found that the slot loader mech is the exact same one they use in the flagship 8300CD player....but the sound is where the 6000CDT excels.....but use nice cables on the DIG out to your DAC |
The DAC is 80% of the SQ......so get a Denafrips Ares2 for $800 and the Audiolab 6000CDT transport only $600 and for $1400 you’ve got the SQ of a much more expensive all in one unit.....If you want an even better value in SQ....do the Audiolab transport with the Audio Mirror Toubadour IV SE from Vlad for $3500 and now your playing with the Big Boys + 10K |
@mbmi You're not going to get $10K+ SQ with a $600 transport. Had a Cambridge CXC ,which is in the same playing field as the Audiolab , as the source for either a Mojo Audio EVO or a Modwright Elysee pretty decent sound. Switched to a SimAudio 260DT transport $2800 and a whole different level of SQ. Read the Forums on the Project & Jay's Audio Transports - significant improvements in SQ delivered vs these lower entry transports. |
Where does it stop? That is totally up to the consumer. We all have our individual budget ceilings and good choices exist at multiple price points. Cambridge and Audiolab represent very good value options. However @facten is exactly right, much better is available among CD transports for a higher cost. In my opinion the Jay’s Audio CD transports and the Pro-Ject RS2T mentioned above also represent excellent value at their higher cost given the increased sound quality they are capable of. There’s something for everyone. Charles |
Well I have a sonic frontier dac and transport three with an out board power supply it is one of the best five cd playback systems I have ever heard most of that group of five systems have the ultra analog chip set in them. They all retailer for over 20 k in the day. One level down are top of the line play back systems that have 63k dac sets in th I have both a wadia and a krell with those dac chips and I used to own a ead with those dac chips. They are all in the 10k at retail price range back in the day.any will not agree with me but I have not found any streamer that comes close in sound quality. It may be the streamer I have heard or it may be the cheaper play back systems that others are comparing to streaming or partly both. |
Sparkler Audio makes a great sounding reasonably priced CD player. I have been using the s503 for the last few years and only recently added a Mojo Audio Mystique X SE. I’m very happy with the combo. The s503 has been replaced by the s515 (+/-$2K), a two box set up that sounds better than the s503 and as a transport bettered a highly modified 47Labs Flatfish. If your budget allows, the Human Audio Libretto II CD player ($10.5-11.5k depends on finish) would be on my short list. Off the grid battery powered, nos Dac, and one of if not the finest transports I’ve ever heard! http://www.sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S515_en.html http://charneyaudio.com/libretto-ii.html
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+1 @soix separate dac and transport, will get you well into the future. |
Just wanted to throw my .2cents. It's an old 90s CD player that has some awesome components, a ton of copper use, and super solid platter transport. The DAC chip set, higher end components, and "Legato Link*" make all music sound pretty amazing. *Legato Link is a filtering/EQ treatment that varied some over the years. Some thought it harmed sound, some found it enhanced. In my system it greatly benefited detail and presence along with massively enhanced the sound stage vertically and forward.
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@facten .....Yes you are correct but at what price....I'm using the CEC-5 Transport from Japan...belt drive...Like Jays' but more cost effective.....the playback is flawless with the Audio mirror tubed DAC.....the sounstage is really Deep with this set up.....Live sounding. |
@mbmi - I was reacting to your comment that a $600 Audiolab transport coupled with a quality DAC will get you the equivalent of "+10K big boy" ; that hasn't been my experience. Folks understate the SQ impact of quality transports. CEC is well known for the quality of its transports so I am not surprised by your listening experience. Enjoy! |
I like going the separate route myself and you guys should definitely check out the w y r e d 4 sound 10th anniversary dac, one of the most analog sounding dacs that I've heard, not cheap though $4,500 UD but in testing it beat up on much more expensive dacs and one of their viewers put it up against his VPI turntable with a $5,000 Japanese cartridge and he said that the 10th anniversary DAC was every bit as analog sounding, I bought it and I totally agree I absolutely love it and I use it with an esoteric P10 transport. |
@beeswax , "Man, I am really SICK AND TIRED of people doing everything but answering the question." You are spot on. And honestly, if people think their $600 CD transport is the "best", and "punches above it’s weight", a "giant killer", "competes with players 10X it’s price" or whatever BS they want to put in there, well, they obviously don’t have a lot of experience with high-end CD players. They’re not even in the same ballpark with some of the brands mentioned here. But I guess if the rest of their stuff is at about the same level of quality, well then, how could they know any better? They're probably not going to hook up too many $10k CD players to their $1200 amplifier to actually see if they can hear any differences. Know what I mean? This place can be a joke sometimes.
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Nagra CD player. Separate transport and DAC which share a power supply. Musical and involving. The sound of analog. The Nagra transport made Burl DAC sound better compared to using Oppo as transport. DAC in the Nagra CD player as good as Nagra HDX cuz hitting the limit of what 16 bits can do. * Ditch the power supply that comes with the transport for the Nagra MPS that comes with the DAC. Pitily Nagra no longer makes this CD player. Hi res streaming sounds better than CD but what if internet goes down? Also Qobuz has never made a recommendation that I like. It is gr8 to have that vast selection at yr fingertip.
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I have moved on from CDP to CDT + DAC. I have many of the above in my home system but have heard intentionally made the time to receive demonstrations of many of the Brands on offer in use in other systems throughout the past decade or more. In the past year an EAR Acute CDP that I can receive demonstrations in use regularly, on a system I am familiar with has proved to be an exceptional CDP. |
I also own an Ayon CD5 tube Signature Player! Like a separate DAC and Transport. Have had Levinson 31.5 Transport and Blue Circle top DAC with separate power supply etc. There are differences in all the set ups in regards to warmth and detail and Soundstage etc. The Ayon is a wonderfully but expensive player with Streaming optional! I prefer like others to have the CD to look at the info etc. I also like the hands on experience! As we get older we get more lazy but I still like the sound better of CD compared to Streaming! Just as some prefer Vinyl to CD which I also use. It really boils down to Preference! I miss the 31.5 Transport that was built like a tank but progress marches on! There are so many other things that make a difference in the overall sound experience that are highly overlooked like the wiring in our homes! I had my Audio room rewired separate from the rest of the house and WOW what a difference that made! Speaker placement is also critical and I could go on and on but CD is the topic. I love my Ayon from Austria! Tubes all the way!
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As a further clarification to my earlier post, the Device that made myself give the use of CD a permanent role as a Source in my system is a use of a Bespoke Built Valve DAC, that as part of the design had swap out custom built decoders supplied to offer additional options on tuning the sound to a preference. The Valves used for a CD circuit idea become attractive after being loaned for extended periods, for use in my system, a few versions of modified CDP's, which were with a design to utilise Valves in various places in the circuit. From my recollections of all encounters with CD in use, the most attractive to myself and indelible as an experience are those demonstrated with Valves in use. My Valve DAC has been Tube Rolled and has a Vintage early 60's Valve as the final selection, having the flexibility to fine tune the sound with easy to exchange components, such as the Valves and Decoders has really made the interaction with the Source a Joy and one that is not such a common option if other circuitry was in use. Interestingly the EAR Acute is a Valve Circuit CDP, it was very impressive with stock tubes and has found a place of betterment using the same valves I selected as a result of Tube Rolling. The supplied info' on the positive impression Valve Circuit CD replay is able to make, is worthwhile noting and if possible, attempting to experience a demonstration, even better if able to be arranged in the home system. |
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