I'm looking for the best red book source I can find at around $5000 or under. I came very close to buying an Esoteric DV50, but reconsidered after hearing about John Tucker's Exemplar Audio mod of the Denon 2900. Have you heard this player, and how would you compare it to the best red book sources you have heard. It's fine to have a player that will play every format known to man, and having a universal player is a nice bonus, but my cd collection is almost all red book, and I want to get the most from the titles I currently have.
smilin, remember that you can expect the Exemplar to not reach its best for 200 hours of use. It will sound pretty good immediately but will then go bad for a while.
I should also say that today I treated the 7062 pins and sockets with the full three step AudioTop Contact treatment. All that I can say is that the improvement was the equal of the use of the Siltech wire. Much recommended.
I should have the Exemplar tomorrow, It better be Great cause I have some competition, I also recieved my newly modded SACD 1000 with Alex's new DAC/volume control...sounds pretty frikin good(Biggersoundstage/betterimaging/tighter,more controlled bass/sweeter high end). Needs some time to burn in, but, I am looking forward to my own shootout with these 2 premium players. More to come.....
TVAD: I waited 6 weeks for my 2900 player. That was fine with me. It was totally worth the wait and the only cassified section on Audiogon I have been visiting these days is the software (CD's, SACD's and DVD-A) section. Hang in there, and don't forget to allow the player some break-in time. Mine really opened up after about 250 hours.
Tvad, join the ImnutzImsickIwannadabest club. Dan is modding his first 3910 as we speak.....AND technology will always be changing...so, will it be better? Only your Ears in Your system can make that decision. wink wink John is still waiting for his, as far as sonic differences for the 2900 vs 3910, I do not believe there will be any.
Tvad, I have talked to Alex, Dan, and John about the 3910, Alex is the only guy who actually has modded both the 2900 and the 3910/he said sonicly on his machines, which he says is like a custom paychev special/no longer denon, they sound the same. The real difference is the HDCD capability and higher grade video/but with alex'x mod they are ONLY 2 channel.
I geuss John is really backed up. He told me initially he could get it done in 2-3 weeks. Now it's been a month and a half and still no Denon. How long did you guys have to wait for yours? I waited 6 months for a supratek, and i don't think i can wait that long again.
Alex Paychev, and Dan Wright are already modding the 3910, so I really do not believe John will have any problem whatsoever in using his mods. Alex says his modded denons best his SACD 1000 which is a GREAT player. Dan says, IHO the 5900 is his best. I best John will have a field day with this new player. I just hope the HDCD/SACD/DVD-A sounds as good as his Redbook enhancements(hopefully better, much better)
RE: 3910 - I've have communicated with John regarding the potential modification of the new Denon 3910. He informed me that he would be receiving a unit on 9-20-04 to inspect and to begin working on a mod.
Streetdaddy: I cannot speak to all the different kinds of CR's and ways of making them, but I have put two burned discs into the Denon and they have played.
Jean, I will let you know soon, but I will not have Alexes new denon, just the SACD 1000 with his new DAC chip/volume control. Alex says the denon bests the SACD 1000, but is mor expensive too, he really replaces most all internal, Alex says. Time will tell, he is sending his new denons to the show in Colorado next month. I will have both, hopefully, in my system next week, I also just recieved Johns pre-amp today, so tonight I will play with that.
For years we have been buying cars only to find that the next year's cars were improved. Computers were another example. I too would like to hear HDCDs as I heard them on the Lindemann, but hey they still sound very good on the Exemplar.
I do wonder if the Denon 3910 will be modifiable. Does it allow the room for the tubes?
Man oh man, this audio game is a real headtrip, I am still waiting, not only for the exemplar, but for the new dac chip from apl too, than wouldn't you lmow it, denon comes out with the 3910 which plays HDCD too...yeah, what mindgames we play on ourselves here in the audio search. I guess I will just have to be patient, which, is not one of my bets virtues. I have 10 different sets of tubes to roll with the exemplar, and will be AB'ing with the APL...fun will come soon. At a $$$, just hope it's worth the $$$ and the wait. In time I will see, Or hear...
Rmihai has given us an impressive list to consider. I agree those should be on the list when you think about good cd players.
Modded players have never been of interest to me. There are warranty and resale issues that I can't get past, and I completely understand why someone might choose to never buy a modded player. However, the buzz on this player made me think twice, and eventually I decided to take a shot.
I spent several days trying to decide between the Exemplar and the Esoteric DV50. I'm sure you really can't go wrong with either player, but I went with the Exemplar because I came to trust the designer. The Exemplar is for the person who wants good video, and the absolute best audio. Most of the effort and the dollars are spent on getting us as close to the music as possible, and John Tucker has years of experience turning good products in to state of the art audiophile quality products.
Will this player live up to the hype? Is it one of those products that is red hot for a few months and then fades? I have never been so uncertain about any purchase, but, I'm counting the days until delivery, and can hardly wait to try the player in my system.
Rmihai,since none of the players you mention are up to the level of the EMM and since I find the Exemplar clearly superior to the EMM, I can only conclude that you have not heard the Exemplar. I recently heard the EMM DCC2 and the new EMM transport in a good system for many hours. I would not even consider replacing my Exemplar/Denon 2900 with the new EMM.
Well, seeing how people who have either had, or a/b'd it with the meitner and audio aero capitole units think it's a contender, i think it deserves a shot. I will be getting mine in a week and i'll let you know what i think. I have owned a resolution audio cd 50 and opus 21, electrocompaniet emc1 and the audio aero prima. These are some great players, and with the addition of dvd and sacd, for under $4000, i think it will be a good multi-format player.
I dont think so. Look for : NAIM AUDIO CDX 2 SPHINX Project 32 SIMAUDIO Moon Nova ELECTROCOMPANIET Emc 1 MERIDIAN 596 SONY SCD - 77 ES ICOS CD Pro NAIM AUDIO CDX MERIDIAN 588
I took the plunge and I can hardly wait for the player. How will it compare with my Electrocompaniet dac? How about different tubes? I could go on-- 711 is right that waiting sucks, but anticipation ain't bad!
Well, maybe you're right. I called and left him a message today and he called back and said it would be done today and shipped out Monday. Then i truely will be done. I have other things that are important, and can't keep spending all my money on audio!!!!
John is great to work with, as far as timeframe, I cannot comment. I helped to sell a few extra, plus i am buying his pre-amp, so maybe I got a little ahead of myself. John is busy, don't call just once and wait, call again, and again..you will talk to him...the not talking is the REAL issue here IMO.
Well Guys, John has had my Denon for 5 weeks and i'm still waiting. Hopefully it will be here soon. I have tried to call him a few times to see how it was going and he hasn't returned my calls. How long did you guys have to wait? I sent him the full amount, i hope that doesn't put me at the end of the list. I should have learned this lesson after working with home repair people!
I can't tell you if exemplar is THE answer, I can say it is very good, and mine will hit my office in the am. with the siltech wiring. I also am waiting for Alex paychev to finish putting his new chip in my SACD 1000. Both units sound wonderful...And soon I will be able to compare. John is also sending me his new Pre-amp to check out. I have a feeling I will love it.
Awe yes if you are in the Seattle area go to Premeir Audio and give Keith will give you a demo take a listen to the line stage at I beleive $2300 I could be a few hunderd off. All I can say it with the exempler line stage coupled with the modified denon runing through a pair of JM Lab BE edition it gave my bat vk-51se a run for its money I`m not going to tell you it sounded better I will tell for the price it`s not a bad buy plus it`s made up were I live in Everett Wa I was thinking of giving him a call to see if I could pick his brain. David
You should read the other Exemplar thread that by now is at a lower position in this forum. It has many respones about the Exemplar Denon. I have had mine for almost 2 months now and have about 250 hours on it. I am blown away by how good it is. It has steadily improved over the break-in period to the point where I can't imagine getting better sound than I heard last night listening to Bill Evan Sunday at the Village Vanguard SACD. I now spend all my time shopping for music.
Hi, I ordered mine one month ago and am still waiting. I'll let you know when i get it. Having a one box player with ability to play dvd's is perfect for my setup.
I know two dealers who on getting the early version of the Exemplar/Denon 2900, have been unable to sell TEAC DV50s any more. It is by far the best sacd and cd player I have heard, but I know others who agree on sacds, but think the Reimyo $14k cd player is better on cds.
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