2. digital
  3. 1158549557

The most revealing redbook/dsd player under 10k?

I am looking for the most revealing CD/SACD player that cost up to a 10k budget. Due to the complexity of some of the music I listen to, a less revealing player would losing detail on 1 or 2 instruments during the most congested section of allegro concertos; or unable distinguish the minor, or the split second effects that were applied during a piece of electronic music.

I have heard
Emm lab CDSD/DCC2 combo
dCS Verdi/Elgar
Esoteric UX-3

In the above the dCS seemed to be the most revealing to me, but I could be wrong because they were different systems...Emm wasn’t even in the US.

I am looking to purchase a player that’s the most revealing and build my system around that principle. Please give me some recommendation for which to audition, thanks.
trackmango
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Following your last post, Trackmango, I'd ditto Tvad's recommendation of the APL NWO2. Source and preamp in one. I heard the previous iteration (NW01) play some Rachmaninov, and was overjoyed to actually hear each instrument remain distinct from the others, no matter how complex the music was. Not a hint of compression, or the blurring of one instrument into another, the player maintained a precise orchestration over the music itself in a way I've not heard in any other system.

Best of luck!
amfibius
282 posts
 
Considered a Cary Audio CD-306? It has been very well reviewed. I have not been able to compare mine with equivalent high-end CDP's apart from the Musical Fidelity kW. The Cary yields more detail and sounds more dynamic, but the MF sounds sweeter. That's on SACD.

If you are going to listen to RBCD only, I would recommend the Consonance Droplet. Half the price of the Cary, and has the Cary's measure in dynamics and imaging. Bass is more authoritative on the Droplet but can sound bloomy on the wrong tracks. If styling is important to you, IMO the Droplet kills the Cary for looks.

The other contender (which I have not had a chance to listen to) would be the Accuphase DP-78.
trackmango OP
6 posts
 
Tvad, where can I hear these New world order player? At CES maybe?

I was not able to find much information on these NWO players on APL's website (aplhifi.com I assume). What are the differences between NWO1, 2, 2,5?
Post removed 
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
There may be an owner in the LA area, but I'm not certain. I used to own an APL Denon 3910, but I have since sold it for financial reasons.
According to APL, there will soon be an LA-area owner willing to audition the NWO-2.5. I'm sure APL can give you more details.
More to discover