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Better CD Sound: The Search

Went Big into Vinyl last 2 years, then re-discovered my many CD’s, mixing it up plenty now.

I continue to try and find a CD Player with better sound than my existing cheapo Sony Changer that surprisingly keeps on keeping on.

I am hoping recent upgrades to the system will more readily reveal differences:

99.9999 copper speaker wires and interconnects, locking rca connectors, mx110z tube tuner/preamp overhaul by Audio Classics; cayin a88t bias by VAS; 16 ohm L-Pads replacing 8 ohm pots; and finally a I bought a sound meter to balance/refine the speaker’s L-Pads (it ain’t easy) for the best sound ever.
.....................................

CD Quest So Far:

I want dual processors, go used to keep cost down, even consider older vintage.

1. my Onkyo Grand Integra (DX-7500 I think), fixed the damn drawer opening problem several times.

2. This cheapo Sony Changer given to me, eh, use if for parties, why not.
surprisingly sounded as good as the Onkyo to me and friends, gave the annoying Onkyo away.

3. tried used Oppo 83 Video Player for it’s audio

Laser was weak, ’no disc’, found it is a common problem with heavily used lasers. Back it went

4. lightly used Oppo 105. Everything worked, but didn’t sound better than the Sony. Oppo is big, single, expensive, not sellers fault, so I sold it myself rather than return it, lost $205. on that attempt.

5. ’new original stock’ KLH (made by?). played a few discs, then the discs started mis-tracking on discs I know are ok.

found small black bits clinging to the surface in the area of the problems (cds play from the inside out, just guess how far out). Turned out, the belt(s) were dried out, thus when put into motion after years of storage (where?), they shed bits of rubber. Back it went, full refund including return shipping. never compared it to the Sony’s sound

6. Resolved: if vintage, make sure belts are available, get a low price, open it up when it arrives, watch it move ... use, replace belts, return as last choice.

7. Just Bought Two, in transit, One Single; One 6 Disc Changer. (both with oem remotes and power cords, most for sale are missing).

a. Denon DVD-2910 Single Player (big dent on the top. $52. del’d, eBay) (crutchfield keeps old info on their site)
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-6TIPMQKBMUZ/p_033DV2910B/Denon-DVD-2910-Black.html

b. Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 six disc changer (open box/demo) ($51. delivered) (bserplus.com)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_164CDC34/Integra-CDC-3-4.html

c. a bag of belts. because I will be keeping something, and I have other old stuff with belts
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334135204014

d. spare rare OEM remote for Integra 3.4, eBay

Keeping My Ears Crossed!

elliottbnewcombjr

Showing 4 responses by fleschler

fleschler
2,046 posts
 
@charles1dad My friend/neighbor has a high end system. He has 3,000 CDs and only plays them after ripping them using EAC to a thumbdrive. Then it goes to a Berkeley, then a Meridian UltraDAC, then an Audio Research SP28, then the amp/speaker. He controls everything from an large laptop 17" computer and volume from an ancillary mouse. However, he has many other gadgets in the way. Through his YG Sonja 2.3s, the sound is quite analog-like. It’s just too much work for me.

I just ordered the PS Audio PW Transport in October (they are backed up due to lack of boards) to go with my COS Engineering D1v DAC. Hopefully, that will sound as good as my 1987 CD player (the only one that sounds as good as analog to me until recent expensive CDPs above $10K. I tried the Cambridge CXC-thin, hard, forward and lacking in bass. The Denon 3910 was the best of a dozen DVDs and better than my EAR Acute as a transport but had a bright sound even with warm sounding digital cabling (Harmonic Tech from 10 years ago). I also saw Guttenberg’s comparison of the Jay’s Audio to the Project transport, the latter which he preferred. However, he also noted that the former appeared better conceived and built than the Project. Well, another month from now, hopefully I will know if the PS Audio is "good enough."

 

fleschler
2,046 posts
 

@jafant The Kyocera 310.  I've owned/heard over 50+ CDPs from the 80's 90's and 2000's (Denon 1500 was okay).  I also owned a Cal Audio Tercet III and Muse Signature 9.  The were vastly inferior with the Muse sounding awful replaced by a Marantz 63 prior to the EAR.   

I haven't had as much bad experience with analog, keeping my 32 year old SME IV (modified) arm, Benz Ruby 3, VPI TNT V1, phono stage, pre-amp (both custom subminiature tube designs by Grover Huffman).  With the Kyocera, I get at least an analog sound with ample tight bass, neutral mids, ample ambiance, smooth highs and most important the coherent sound like analog recordings.  I have not heard in my system, high end CDPs such as Luxman, MSB, Meitner, Meridian, Esoteric, DCS, etc.  They should be better but I'm trying to build a system using a separate DAC and transport.  The Kyocera is very long in the tooth and may fail any day now to age (caps, laser, etc).

fleschler
2,046 posts
 

The last Sony I had, used as a transport was the 777ESD. While full sounding, it also was very dark, lacked ambiance and detail.  Great remote too and full featured!   Used as a CDP, yuk! Could be the old caps and the power cord (but the Kyocera uses only A/C lamp cord yet sounds great). I had at least half dozen earlier Sonys 520, 620, etc.

fleschler
2,046 posts
 

@jafant - Checked and oops!  My Sony is the 707ESD not the 777ESD.  The 777 is a later version without the full set of features.  Sorry.

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