The Rotel RCD-1072 employs an 18 bit DAC but don't let that fool you just because it's not a 24 bit. I love mine and as I've said in a number of other threads, I believe it excels at playing smooth jazz (i.e. Boney James, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Norman Brown, etc) and that's what I use it primarily for. I have a 2nd Marantz CD player I use more for classic rock where I need a bit more slam and punch. Van Morrison CD's sound fantastic on the Rotel.
Rotel 1072 vs. Arcam CD73
Does anyone have any further thoughts on this subject? I've read the posts of the previous months and have previewed both players but am still having trouble arriving at a decision.
Unfortunately I had to hear each player at two different dealers, through two different amplifiers and two different sets of speakers. The Rotel had a commanding sound which is very detailed, whereas I didn't find much noteworthy about the Arcam. Later, after reading various reviews, I found that there is some agreement on this: people say the Arcam has a more "natural" and relaxed sound that you grow accustomed to and grow into while Rotel has a brighter, more enthusiastic sound. However, they also seem to say that the Arcam is better built, with the Wolfssen DAC, 24 bit, while Rotel uses older Burr Browns (how many bits?).
Reviewers seem to disagree about which has the wider and deeper soundstage. Does anyone have any opinions?
My intuition says to go with the Rotel, but I know my ears and tastes well enough to know that what I like on first listen is often not what I really like long term.
Furthermore, my receiver is an HK AVR-110, and the speakers are old Boston Acoustics A150s. With these speakers, I feel also that the brightness of the Rotel is a better companion than the Arcam.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately I had to hear each player at two different dealers, through two different amplifiers and two different sets of speakers. The Rotel had a commanding sound which is very detailed, whereas I didn't find much noteworthy about the Arcam. Later, after reading various reviews, I found that there is some agreement on this: people say the Arcam has a more "natural" and relaxed sound that you grow accustomed to and grow into while Rotel has a brighter, more enthusiastic sound. However, they also seem to say that the Arcam is better built, with the Wolfssen DAC, 24 bit, while Rotel uses older Burr Browns (how many bits?).
Reviewers seem to disagree about which has the wider and deeper soundstage. Does anyone have any opinions?
My intuition says to go with the Rotel, but I know my ears and tastes well enough to know that what I like on first listen is often not what I really like long term.
Furthermore, my receiver is an HK AVR-110, and the speakers are old Boston Acoustics A150s. With these speakers, I feel also that the brightness of the Rotel is a better companion than the Arcam.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.