I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING A CD PLAYER AND I DONT KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.WITH SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM I WANT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING GOOD BUT I DONT WANT TO SPEND 10,000 EITHER.
I am still looking. I've listned to and prefer in ascending order, the Music Hall 25, the Linn Genki and Marantz SA-14. Each player sounded twice as good as the previous one. I am still waiting to hear a Jolida JD 100. Does anyone know what that sounds like compared to any of the ones mentioned in the above paraggraph? I have never even heard a tube CD player but I am anxious to try it. I own a Jolida SJ 302 tube amp and Linn Ninka Speakers and hope they will all work well together.
Please share your comments regarding the Jolida vs. Marantz SA-14.
No, I haven't compared it to the Ahtjoeb. I listened to it instore compared to AMC and Jolida tubed units and it was clearly an improvement over these. In home it sounded comparable to an Audio Alchemy (top of the line) transport and a $1500 Dac by the kit division of Sonic Frontier (I can't seem to remember names today, and by the way they're going out of business). Deete's soundroom mods the players for about $300-400. I'm saying that on the comparison that the MH is about $650 new, unmodded and about $1000 modded. I could be off a little on the price. I looked at this unit about 3 months ago, so I'm vague.
Khenny i'm glad you posted a report on the new Prima, i've heard the Cary and was not impressed, in spite of the rave reviews on the unit. I'm after the Vecteur trans + which DAC?
I am happy with a used Cambridge Audio D500 which I picked up used in an e-Bay auction. It's the older model, not the newer SE version, so I got it for a good deal less than the price of a new one. Used with MAS Grey interconnect cables and a Belden Pro power cord, it sounds clearer, more detailed, more musical and more natural than the JVC player I was using previously. Those willing to spend a good deal more money can probably get an even better CD player, but given what I paid, and the major improvement it made in my system, it's definitely a great value 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.
Audio Research CD-1. I've waited 10 years to find a CD player this "right" for my otherwise overly revealing system. Old, familiar and favorite recordings, including VERY difficult and harsh digital recordings from the early 1980s, suddenly resolve into music, making the hair stand up on the back of my arms and bringing tears to my eyes. I hear inner harmonies for the first time, rejoice in hearing small "mistakes" by one player in the French horn section on a lushly textured Copland fanfare, can finally play my favorite Rachmaninov cello sonata recording at full volume without the harshness of the piano driving me out of the room. Differences in micing techniques are suddenly obvious and even enjoyable, and well produced recordings put the singer or soloist in the room, between the speakers. I didn't think this level of quality was possible for less than $10K to $15K from ordinary 16-bit CDs.
And while I'm at it, let me tell you what a delight it was to deal with Glen Cabana as the seller, a man whose integrity and friendly professionalism sets the standard for perfect service and support. He gave me a great price, gave me impeccable advice, and kept me posted hourly as needed. Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night and worried about having sent a large sum of money to someone you've never met, hoping you'll get the equipment you expect? I have. Well, Glen is one of those rare men of such obvious integrity and reliability that you realize your money is safer with him than it is in your own bank. Buying this CD player from Glen was the most comfortable and safe-feeling transaction I've ever had. Man, I cannot say enough good things about this gentleman. I doubt he'll ever read this, but if he does: "THANK YOU, GLEN!"
Hold on to your hats here we go............Pioneer DVD444 24/192 street price $200. match with the DAC of your choice. The top 3 DAC's seem to be in order of price lowest first. ART DI/O moded ($400.) Channel islands audio $500. with upgrade power supply or BEL CANTO DAC2 $1,300.. Any one of these combos should SMOKE most all stand alone CD players.
I have listened to the Linn Ikemi and Rega Planet. I ended up with the Cary 303. It was better than both of these contenders in openeness, detail, image and bass resolution.
I 'm using the cal alpha/delta w/96-24 upgrade.sounds very good with my arc ls16 &arc100.s thru vandersteens 2ce sig's.i just recently upgraded to the orchid aes/ebu and it totally elevated the sound of this setup-more detail , air,and soundstage than i thought the cal's could deliver.great combo,and you could find it cheap,used!also upgraded to anaconda/python for the arc's,another great step towards hearing what's on these redbook's.
I just want to confirm the posts of Ferrari & Telescope trade - the Music Hall MMF CD-25 is a "Must Listen" CD player. I just bought one a few days ago; and even with only about 12 hours of playing time it just sings! Warm, smooth, and lots of detail. There is a really nice guy who has a listing in the CD section; who is selling these great units for $529.00 delivered anywhere in the lower 48 states. Get one now - you won't regret it!
I need advice from someone with broad experience. What is better to buy good digital DAC (P1A/P3A from Perpetual Technology for example about 1500$ used). I have old Arcam ALPHA6 player or maybe to buy used Wadia 830 (about 2k$), or Used SACD player from SONY (1.5k$). Please take into consideration only quality of CD playback.
A used Meridian 508.24 is as close to a "sure-thing" recommendation as there is for cd players, in my opinion, especially when factoring in cost effectiveness. Meridian's 506.24 (new or used) might also be considered, along with Theta Digital's Miles. Are balanced outputs a consideration for you?
I WOULD CONSIDER MERIDIAN 508.24 AS EXTREMELY MUSICAL,HOWEVER FIND THETA DAVID MORE SWEET AND EXTENDED,IT PLAYS 24/96 .NEW $4500 USED $2000 .IF YOU WANT DVD PLYER ALSO YOU CANNOT BEAT THE TONAL DIMENSION AND SOUNDSTAGE.IF YOU WANT ADD DIGITAL TRIPHAZERS TO YOUR PRE/PRO PATHS AND YOUR AMP ,IT WILL BEAT ANY SYSTEM ,triphazers!!!!
Recently heard the Music Hall CD player. Most impressive at $595.00,damn little can touch it in any respect. For a few bucks more can get the Rega,but why? The Music Hall is that good.
Pioneer DV-444: Slim and good-looking in silver finish with blue readout. Plays everything, including MP-3s, has progressive scan, and can be had for $220 on eBay. And it sounds really good right out of the box and gets better with a minimum 100 hour break-in. Surely, for the money, this can't be beaten?
I must say that all the CDP mentioned above are all great players. What it really boils down to after reading all you can read and asking all the correct questions is---how does this particular player sound with my equipment, to my ears. I have just finisned auditioning a bunch of players, and for my money, I chose the Electocompamiet EMC-1 mk2. For me--nothing else even comes close !
I feel that the C.E.C. TL51Z offers a well built belt drive 192/384 upsampling with 24bit capability.This player weighs 28lbs and has balanced outputs,and it only costs 1200.00 with a special power cord.
Here's another person telling you the KPS20i is still one of the very best cdp's you can buy at anu price. It's quite rare on the used market, but worth searching for.
As a matter of fact, someone is actually offering the 20i/L version (with built-in preamp and volume control) for an astonishing $3100 here on audiogon right now. If that unit is up-to-spec this is an incredible bargain.
the cambridge 500se is an excellent choice.it has a updated 24 bit 192khz dac.very airy and defined.if you shop around [audiolab] you can get it delivered for about 400$
If you can find a (now discontinued, I believe) Sony SACD 333ES, jump on it. Add a set of Black Diamond Racing cones underneath, and you've got truly listenable digital sound with the benefit of SACD capability. No, it's not the be-all end-all product, but it's VERY good, and I heard a rumor that you can get them on closeout at Best Buy for like $400. $60 on top of that for the BDR cones, and you're in business. Good luck!
Pbb, I know what you mean. Took me a while to understand "running a HT PC/SPM XLR CDP/Pre for a nice tight sound" !...sounds that way, huh? Can't help you with S/W off-hand, 'cept in my other world it's steering wheel, of course.
Re the ARCAM's PRaT, I will back off a bit and state that my results were with the thinner chassis'd ARCAM 9, and WITHOUT an iso shelf. Sticking a Neuance or Rollerblocks under the FM23 may really get it to boogie? Good luck.
Subarguru, Sorry not in real time here: pace, rhythym and timing, I guess. Well, I have trouble with the concept at any rate. I still can't figure out s/w though. I should be working right now, so goodbye for now.
Subaruguru, hate to sound thick but what is PRaT? Come to think of it I have a problem with a few other abreviations also that I see used in this forum. "S/W"?? comes to mind. I don't have time to go through the posts to piece these together. If you have time just to through together a few lines, please provide me with the less obvious ones and their rough definition. Thanks.
I liked the ARCAM's tonal integrity , bloom and utter harmonic naturalness, too, but felt it had serious PRaT problems compared to the Rotel and ALL other contenders. Just seemed to dance with two left feet.... Certainly a rich sound with lots 'o finesse, though.
I did not have the time nor the energy to go on an audition rampage. A dealer was nice enough to let me try an Arcam FMJ CD23 at home for a week. I think there is something to the dCS converter thing. After one day I decided to go for it. You can say that my venerable JVC 1010 could not, after so many years, put up much of a fight. However, it was good while it lasted. I think time has shown that their focusing on jitter as a source of digitalitis was correct. The Japanese are not deaf you know. (Somewhat interesting aside, I remember reading about a doctor well versed in human hearing whose contention, based on research it seems, is that different nationalities hear somewhat differently depending on what the dominant range of frequencies is in the language they speak. This was years ago. If memory serves, is name is Dr. Tomatis. Such an assertion, if made today, could founder on the reef of political correctness though. End of digression) The uncertainties as to new formats are such that I don't see how someone should mortgage the farm to get a very expensive cd player that can't be upgraded. Insofar as the ones which offer upgrading capabilities, another dealer steered me right when he said that they are so expensive as to make the purchase of a less expensive model, followed by something good in a newer format, less expensive than an all out frontal assault on the biggies. I was eyeing a Simaudio Moon, It's built about five minutes from my home, but price-wise, it is something more like the distance from my humble abode to the moon (pun intended). My recommendation based on a home audition vs. a few minutes of in-store audition of a Sugden (no opinion), another player of French manufacture (hate to be vague, but c'est la vie)(no opinion) and a half hour in-store audition without my own recordings of a Rotel RCD 991, good player for the price. I was forgetting, also spent a little in-store-between-more- important-stuff time with a few other low priced players. Somewhat interesting point: three separate dealers used the Rotel RCD 991 as a foil in trying to sell me something else; in two cases more expensive (one dealer an Arcam or Naim, the other a Linn), the third one, curiously enough, was trying to push a player that is almost half the price of the Rotel: the Roksan Kandy. This last unit, was the most surprising of the runners-up, so to speak, considering its price. It was auditioned under pretty bad conditions. The dealer was a very nice guy, the room was awful, (a throwback to the wall of Japanese speakers days) it was compared with a Rega Planet through Roksan electronics and Paradigm 40 or 60 speakers with unknown (well to me at least) recordings. My conclusion, the Rega was a letdown considering its build-up, both in writing and word-of-mouth. Somewhat sombre, heavier in its presentation, but it may be worth a listen in a better overall system. The Kandy, at least in contrast to the Rega, evidenced a more light weight presentation in a way, that made the music a lot more airy, lively in its overall character, and the instruments better defined. In closing, given half a chance at a home audition any one of these players may have stood a chance at adoption. In the brief period I have had with the Arcam, I have not lived to regret my purchase yet. The reason: the retrieval of details and the rightness of the tone of the instruments. Woody instruments sound, well, woody and brass instruments, well, brassy; a better sense of the harmonics of the instruments (guitar, piano, reeds) which are not portrayed with that sort of one dimensional, one note/one frequency quality. Call it bloom if you want. It simply sounds more like musical instruments in the room. Can't say much more than that. Insofar as 'mo better stuff but used, I just ain't got the time.
Granite Audio tube CD player, I have one, better than Sony SCD-777ES in SACD, in both my system and my friend's Don's (the Granite Audio owner's) systems. I have heard it. Retail $2900 but advertised for less by Quest for Sound. A real bargain. Is it the very best, that I can't say, but its awful good!
All the players mentioned are great and its much easier to get good digital sound now than 10 - 15 yrs ago. I especialy endorse the above opinions of the Musical Fidelity A3, Arcam fmj or alpha nine for straight-up engrossing musicality. I also heard the Micromega stage 3 and thought it was pretty good (now they're up to stage 5 I think). Those are all open, fast and musically engaging types of players. If you want something more smooth and listenable try California Audio Labs, Meridian, or Rega (all great players...just not my style). p.s. if anyone is absolutely strapped for cash and needs a cd player the TEAC PDH-500 at a mere $250 is a sleeper (low bass is not convincing but upper midrange very exciting and detailed, not boring at all!)
linn ikemi for its price range it easily equals the mark levinson 39. All of the sony's with the exception of the TOL sacd player are flawed thats why they need modified. Also for it's price range the arcam fmj 23 is really nice.
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