there is no best cd player for the money because there is no best cd player. this maxim applies to all components.
the designation "best", encompasses many variables. the variables and the priority attached to each is a subjective judgement.
without absolute standards/criteria, there is no best anything.
it would be better to use the words "preferred" or "favorite".
i think people looking for guidance should be very careful about following pronouncements as to the "best" anything. |
considering all of the responses and all of the suggestions, it seems the question posed has no definitive answer.
why not set a price limit and just listen ? make sure you have some criterion as to the sound you seek. |
in spite of all of the posts regarding the best cd for the money, the question has no definitive answer, because the criterion set for evaluating sound varies among listeners.
there are many posts like this, with different components as subjects.
instead of eliciting a response to a question like this, listen and do research for yourself.
if i may make an analogy , asking for the best component for the money is like asking for the best wife, subject to some personal consideration. |
i have a vincent cd-s7 dac which is the best player i have heard in my system, and based on what i have heard at shows, it would probably be my favorite player at any price. it retails at $3000. |
the Vincent cd-s7 dac is distributed in Canada. read my review. it is on the website audiophilia.com.
here is the phone number for the distributor : 514 225 2337. |
having reviewed both. the difference is night and day. the marantz is highly resolving and thus you are at the mercy of recording quality. however it has added features , such as sacd, which Improves the sound, compared to redbook. it produces a more full bodied sound, greater spatiality and greater bass extension. it also plays high resolution files or HRx (Reference Recordings hi rez discs).
the Vincent has a bit of tube warmth and is more forgiving of problem recordings.
you can read my review by going to the archive section and search for digital components.
it is hard to pick one or the other because features are different and the sound of each is a polar opposite of the other. |
hi nonoise:
I did not give the Marantz player any recommendation. I reported what I heard. I never recommend components, because I try not to influence the reader.
roy harris |
hi ghosthouse:
I have the teac cd-3000 in my stereo system and am almost finished with the review. it will appear on audiophilia.com.
I will report on this thread when it is up on the web site. then we can talk about the teac and Marantz if you want. |
hi nonoise:
i do have a unique reviewing style. i pride my self in not revealing my preferences in a review.
i just reviewed another player which will be appearing on audiophilia.com, which i will probably buy. i will explain my reasons for doing so. |
hi audiolabyrinth:
i did not say that i favored the marantz over the vincent.
the two brands have a differnt house sound.
the vincent has a tube circuit which is tube sensitive. i have tried many combinations of tubes. i have owned the cd-s6 for 6 years and reviewed the cd-s7 dac.
i also reviewed the marantz sa-14s1.
i know its sound. i will not say one is better than the other. it is like apples and oranges. it is a matter of taste.
when you are a reviewer, you become less judgmental about sound, and let others decide which is better.
you have strong opinions that i respect. please try not to misinterpret what i say in the future.
this message is for ghosthouse:
i finished the TEAC review. it should be on the web site shortly. |
hi ghosthouse:
the review of the teac cd-3000 is on the website.
my take on the Marantz vs the teac:
the teac, while "neutral", is somewhat smoother in the Redbook mode.
they are about equal playing high resolution files, and the Marantz is a better SACD performer. |
at this juncture, I will not purchase the marantz, and because of the Vincent's limitations--no SACD or acceptance of high resolution files, and the fact that I own three other tubed players, I will not purchase the Vincent.
my issue with the TEAC is that it lacks liquidity. It is ruthlessly revealing of recordings, but may be invaluable when reviewing other components.
if I were to buy the TEAC it would depend upon the price. |
hi ghosthouse:
I could not find the quote you cited. I would say however, that I was not making a comparative statement between the teac and the Marantz and Vincent.
if you could cite the part of the review you cited, it would be easier to give a definitive answer.
given the information, I would guess the explanation is either one of the following:
a comparison between redbook and sacd or redbook and hrx
or
a general statement of a comparative nature relative to a number of cd players I have auditioned, but not suggesting that the teac exhibited these properties but that the Marantz or Vincent did not.
so , without further information, I would say it was a general comment comparing the teac to all other players I auditioned prior to reviewing the teac.
I would however, say that it is more likely that I am comparing redbook to another layer.
I would like to comment about the Marantz vs the tac.
I found the Marantz, while highly resolved, sometimes it was distracting and seemed that the level of detail exceeded that which one would experience when listening to
live music.
for me the teac is ideal for reviewing, because it is an honest player.
it removes a source of coloration that other players have.
i'm not sure. I may buy it myself. my ps audio perfect wave dac is in repair.
I would like to compare the ps audio pwt and pwt to the teac, in redwood mode.
one other issue with respect to the Vincent I do not understand.
the sound of the cd player changes from day to day.
yesterday it sounded very full bodied and today it sounded more detailed. I had played a cd for 48 hours prior to listening to the Vincent, and then observed the tube warmth. I turned it off and listened again today. the tube warmth disappeared.
by the way, you need to use a CD mat with the teac. i'd suggest the millennial mat. it really improves the treble response. the millennial mat is a carbon fiber mat. |
if the quote was found in the Redbook section , than my statement applied to a collection of digital hardware that I had auditioned prior to the review. it was not meant specifically as a comparison between specific cd players, but rather a collective memory of the music sounding "better" on the reviewed component than it did on other digital products I had auditioned to date. |
