CD player to compete with my vinyl rig?


Greetings,

I find that I have stopped buying CDs, which I regret because there is so much great new music out there.

My player is a Cambridge 640c and listening to it just doesn't do the 'suspension of disbelief' thing. It has all the right stuff: black backgrounds, dynamics, PRAT, detail, air, frequency extension, but as soon as the orchestral strings well up or the horns start, I want to turn it off. The timbral qualities are weird (especially massed strings, voices) and the sense of real people playing instruments isn't there. There's a sheen and confusion to the soundscape. My vinyl rig offers by far the more realistic experience. I have multiple copies of Mahler's 2nd Symphony on both CD and vinyl, and I never listen to the CDs any more.

I would like to find a CD player that makes me want to listen to CDs as much as vinyl!

I'm looking at reviews of the Rega Apollo R, the Teac PD H600, Audiolab 8200CD and the Decware Zen triode player. (Yes, around $1000 budget).

My rig: Pro-ject 2 Xperience/Shure V15-IV, Jico SAS, Cambridge 640c, Rogue Cronus Magnum/KT120 tubes, LS3/5a speakers, Kimber, Zu cabling.

Music tastes: Sibelius, Mahler, Bruckner, Bach, fifties torch singers.

I would love to hear suggestions from members!
Thanks
sumaato

Showing 2 responses by czbbcl

Summaato

I think HD downloads are going to become more of the norm for digital music. You could then stream it wirelessly to your main music system and go from there. I currently stream radio swiss classic from my computer through an apple airport express to my stereo system and it sounds suprisingly good and is very inexpensive to do. Streaming cd's can be done just as easily. Happy Listening

Chuck
I have a highly modded Sony SCD-1 and while it sounds very good it can not compete with my vinyl set-up (VPI Classic/Benz Wood sl & Herron VTPH-2). I think for a $1000 it is going to be difficult. I would look to the modwright sony or oppo units for reasonable money (3K including player).

Chuck