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difficulty finding CD player match for Magneplanar

I have a California Audio Labs Mk II CD player (CAL) that has one channel going out. I might be able to get it repaired (if I'm lucky), but I wanted to listen to the latest CD players to see if I could find a replacement.

I home-trialed an Arcam FMJ-something at around $1000 U.S. Too bright, not enough bass, not enough "power" to drive rock and jazz/fusion.

I home-trialed the much-vaunted Rega Saturn. Not enough "power" or bass for rock/jazz fusion, upper midrange and highs OK, but lower midrange sounds like being in nosebleed section of concert hall (very distant and hard to understand).

I've got Magneplanar MG-IIIa speakers, original Adcom preamp and 60w/ch. amp.

It seems to quite troublesome to find a CD player for the Maggie's in my listening room that isn't too bright or too distant and has enough power/drive/authority and solid bass to really drive electronic music.

Neither player was really involving. They seemed to present information off the disk, but just didn't grab my interest. Pretty boring. Good detail, good this, interesting that, but in the end, not enjoyable.

Others have raved about Arcam players and about the Rega Saturn, but they haven't worked for me in my system.

Anyone had similar experiences with the Maggies and found any players that worked better with the Maggies?
timoteo

Showing 3 responses by philjolet

philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
My Muse model nine CD player has superb bass, it really has that quality that makes me want to listen again and again. Another classic is a Meridian 508/24, very engaging.

fwiw both these players are a bit old but stand up very well.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
Timoteo

after dozens (if not hundreds) of posts saying Maggies need tons of power and my own experience, I know 1000 watts can be a wonerful thing. About 90% of posters agree.

If you need a CD player and use it with 60 watts I am sure you can enjoy them too!

have fun.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
Timoteo,

I have owned Plinius SA100 MKIII (100 wpc), Rogue 120M (120 wpc) and borrowed ML 383 (100 wpc) and they all got appreciably loud but sounded a bit sluggish. It was only when I got an Innersound ESL amp (400 wpc this special amp with a bigger than normal power supply had nearly 1,000 wpc into 4 OHMS) that is specifically designed for this type of speaker (current driven) that they really sounded alive and dynamic.

I agree with everything you say and thought the same things myself but learned I had not heard the Maggies at their best the expensive way!
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