The best CD Player for the money

I haven't ween Jolida, so here it is. I suffered through the misfiring 600's, stuck it out, and got one of their new JD 100's. Transport problems have vanished and the playback is still grainless and musical but has picked up more detail along the way with its 24/96 dac. Previously I owned an Onkyo, was happy to change to a Sony ES, and then much relieved to switch with Jolida. No contest each time.

I ran a Sony ES until someone brought over a Jolida tube player, and I've never been tempted back. I wrote about that on an "Audioreview Best Buy" Sony ES review, and for that I was tarred and feathered. Sorry, it's just the plain truth.

Kanna, I too live in Sac and have visited Deetes several times. Do you remember what Jolidas you wee comparing the Musichall with? According to Bill Baker of responseaudio the JD100 and Musichall 25 are basically the same unit except the Jolida has a tubed output stage. The Jolida sells for $900. I would be very surprised if a modified Musichall sounds as good as a JD100. Not saying it doesn't - I haven't heard one.

Markenetz, that means the the Gamut is three times as good as the Jolida 100 w/ NOS tubes, whereas I can't find any thing to improve on using the Jolida. Something is out of whack.

You guys! The question asks, "... For the money?" I'm sure the Ayre or the Shigaraki, or the Wadia etc. are great cd players, but for the money? IMO the law of diminishing returns starts early in digital playback.

Chriskeating, I auditioned a Wadia. I also read a review of the Shigaraki. The two sound like they are similar in their high frequency comb philosophy. I'll pass.

Ritteri, a thread is only as good as it's contributors.

You are right.

Hooray!!! Make lots of plaques, for my system, and class D and SET system owners I know who have tried NOS DACs as well.

I'm going to have to throw another curve. The best cd player FOR THE MONEY is the incredibly low priced Liteon 2001 ($153). It also happens to be the best for the money DVD, DVDA, DVDR, DVD anything, MP3, MP4 player.

Turn the page, it's a new era.

Milen007, check out Kusunoki's explanation.

http://www.sakurasystems.com/articles/Kusunoki.html

Hi Dbld, you don't make those fixed voting machines, do you? :)

Well, that is what I am saying, there is still no free lunch.

I heard the APL on two systems, one being mine. Synergy is the thing. For a particular SET system, it breathed dynamics and presence into the system. In my own highly resolving system, it sounded like a basket of bones. As for the Toshiba, don't get me started.

I will try the Oppo. If it is a little better than the Toshiba, than it will still sound awful and will be returned to the store just as fast.

Tvad, my system is open to anyone who want to listen. Hear mine first, then plug in yours.

Tvad, anyone here needs to hear my system as is, then supplant their CDP or DAC in place of mine for a new listen. The differences will be astounding.

The Toshiba was awful.

Jp1208 I don't really know what model APL. It was more than a year ago, so I'm sure there have been some major improvements made since.

Synergy is always the key. On it's native SET system. the APL (in NOS mode) performed admirably.

My system tends to disagree with most digital front ends.

Dana Carvey came from my world dontcha know.

OVERSAMPLING on my system, and the very fine SET systems I know suck. Plain and simple. It is a system thing.

The problem with SACD is that your choice of machines is limited. None are non-oversampling, and if you want to hear it all (believe me, there is a whole lot more contained in 16 bit than most people know), try a really good non-oversampler.

Tvad, I have heard lots of oversamplers on other systems that would make the NOS players sound wimpy. There, does that suit you?

My system shows the outright supremacy of NOS over OS digital. The difference is not small.

Gryphonaudio, If you were a local, I would challenge you to back up your talk with an audition. I will swear on a stack of holy books my no filter DAC will out shine the Mikado in every category on my system.

Call it a highly confident opinion if that is your preference.

Tvad, my opinion is shaped by the listening of digital filtered players at my location. Non believers have left believing. This is my system I am writing about. I have witnessed the same results with excellent SET systems.

Tvad, that is not the case at all. My doors are open for anyone who believes they can change my mind. Should the challenger prevail, I will humbly acquiesce.

Tvad, this is not a question of preference. It is a question of live vs. Hifi. Everyone who has listened to the difference here agrees with me. One recent visitor brought a very loved SACD player. He now owns the AMR-CD 77.

All I need to do is run the collector's disc, "Lavin," on and play Sylvie Courvoisier's first four plucked piano string notes. The digital filter players, in varying degrees, truncate the decay, blend the harmonics, and blanche the tone.

Tvad, I am reporting what is happening here, with my system. No, other systems will probably not mirror my findings. That does not negate the amazing things I am finding about with my system.

You assume to much saying anyone reading this exchange would not gain from comparing their players to mine here. You are just saying no one can change my mind, so why bother. That is not the challenge. I want to know who is going to be the first visitor whose opinion does not change.