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"Analog" = bloated, rolled off, soft and mushy?

I don't have much experience with many CD players, but with the few that I do, it's been my experience that tube output stages that supposedly give an "analog" quality to CDs, really sacrifice transparency and excitement. They sound euphonice, but ulitmately, kind of boring.

The last high end player that I owned and loved was a Wadia 860x. I'd like to find a universal player that gives me the Wadia excitement and neutrality, and have considered one of the APL, Exemplar and Modwright modded units, but the best of them use tube output stages, and this really makes me hesitate. Are they "analog" sounding and excellent, because they give you that tube sound, but sacrifice the detail, clarity and drive that I loved in my Wadia? Don't get me wrong, I love tubes, but I'm not so sure they belong in CD players. Am I wrong?
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Showing 2 responses by dennis_the_menace

dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace OP
467 posts
 
I've only heard one tubed CD player, BAT VK D5SE, (we've had a discussion about it), and it was definitely warm. It's my only experience with tubed cd players, and it has made me questioning if they are generally like the BAT.

I guess more specifically, do the modded units with tube output stages sacrifice detail? are they warmer than neutral? are they transparent?

I have a feeling it depends on the design. I'd like to hear some feedback about the modwright, exemplar and apl sonic signatures, and what exactly is meant when someone says they sound "analog".
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace OP
467 posts
 
before this turns into a tubes vs. SS thread... can anyone speak to the sonic signatures of the modwright, apl, and exemplar modded universal players? and what does it mean, when someone says, it's the most "analog" sounding player?
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