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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 6 responses by in_shore

in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Project Audio new transport using a completely new drive designed by the original Phillips designer is really something exceptional sound wise , if sound quality is what you are looking for.
At under 3K I can say with confidence it will put to shame a train load of streamers and servers ,…My reference server was the Evo Aeon at 3 times the price however though I returned the Project Audio RS2 back to the distributor I had it long enough for a good long listen .
in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Soix this past weekend we listened to the Musician Aquarius dac with various sources a couple streamers / servers including the Project transport.
 The combination of the Aquarius and transport was the biggest surprise from the others that gave up using CD transports years ago 
I’m one in the strong belief it’s what your dac is fed that lights up the experience..
in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Charles I was very impressed with the RS2 with its carbon fibre floating mechanism and it’s playback sound quality, and the retail price for what you get is a absolute steel. 
However I got spoiled and lazy managing my music library using a server over the years . 
The distributors home i can see from my back balcony I asked if I can use the RS2 once again , playback as sensational as it is a transport is a tough sell .



in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Charles the RS2 came with the upgraded power supply , I understand from Terry London’s review he used the LTS power supply that made a even bigger difference with playback . Side by side comparisons with the Evo Aeon and RS2 were remarkably similar in performance, I sold the Evo Aeon and returned the RS2 , my eye is on a Innuos Statement , ,.a previously enjoyed one that is . 

in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Charles I agree the R2s- Transport with a newly developed mechanism by the original developer of the Philips CD drives and mechanisms will not turn your transport or player into a door stop anytime soon .
Jays Audio a heavy weight contender of today’s CD transports have bought up scores of remaining obsolete Phillips CD drives and lasers for their own production .
Chatting with CD transport die hards that settled with the Jays Audio CDT 3 tell me it lays waste performance wise to pretty much any yesterday player and transports.
PS Audios new PerfectWave at 6K that would be interesting to compare ,
The Jays Audio CDT3 CD transport at $2,700.00 with recommendations of purchasing a replacement drive and laser for possible failure down the road and then the Project Audio RS2 T transport with after market LTS power supply at $3,700.00 including transport with sound quality performance and the reliability of a completely newly designed CD mechanism from an industry leader in developing drives and mechanisms found in most players and transports that were ever built .
I think most anyone would be genuinely surprised at the sound quality one can achieve with this transport with a starter high performing dac at $ 2600.00 such as the one I listened to over the weekend, the Musician Aquarius R2R dac .


in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
GeorgeHiFi a while ago we had several examples of the actual CD ripped VS streaming of the same titles one off the top of my head Dennis Drakes remaster of Ella Fitzgerald Clap Hands probably according to many that know about it the best sounding of any other reissue ever done ,
The streaming issues available weren’t this one that’s for sure.  As for appreciating a more realistic human pitch and timbre I was disappointed with the Holo Audio May KTE dac that no mater what , cable chances even another system a lot better then my couldn’t produce human timbre the other dac could perhaps the May being a R2R has something to do with it the other being a FPGA topology, maybe ,..

I remember that first track we used in the comparison, a random selection of a CD sampler, ,,..I’m not a fan of samplers anyway it was a ripped DALI Volume 5 Title Thirty Five Years the track by Caroline Henderson , Be Here Now ,..This is an exceptionally well done recording,.her pitch and timbre are absolutely stunning with the other dac , 
There are many other examples I have access to thousands of CDs and I get streaming however it really starts with a great recording.
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