Tube CD player?

I had two Jolida JD100, a Granite 657, an Opera Consonance Reference 2.2 and an Audio Aero Prima mk2 (I've had a bunch of solid-state cd players too). My favorite of the tubed group is definately and without a doubt the Audio Aero.

The Jolidas were nice but a little slow, the 2.2 is very very similar but perhaps with a tiny bit better imaging even when the Jolidas had black plate 5751s. The Granite was not very good - it is veiled and its dynamics fall short compared to the AA. The AA seems to do everything right - it isn't very analytical but all the detail is there and it has body and texture as well. Great CD player for the money and gets my highest recommendation.

Arthur

Saki - as far as I can tell, you are the only person that has had transport problems with the Prima. I know several other Prima owners that haven't had any issues and mine is going on two years old, played everyday, and it hasn't ever missed a beat. You just had bad luck like anyone one else can have.

As for the Granite, I had the opposite experience. I have a local Granite dealer and wanted to like it but any way I tried it, it had poor transparency. The SS output was better but still a big step down from the Prima Mk2.

Maybe the Granite is overly sensitive to cables and my cables didn't work for it but in any case, I didn't like it. Goes to show, you have to try things for yourself and in your own system!

Arthur