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Wadia think about expensive CD Players ?

Hi , I live in an area where its difficult to demo the really high end digital gear. Honestly I dont mind paying a high price for CDP Playback , but w/o a demo , Im wondering if its worth it. Let me define worth it if I may. Will a top of the Line Wadia for example sound clearly better than say a Rega , or a Sony ES. Im not expecting it to trounce it, Im just asking if you have the bucks , is the improvement clearly audible ? Im looking for warm ,detailed involving sound, my speakers are Electrostats, Amp top of the Line Sunfire. Appreciate your thoughts .
transporter

Showing 3 responses by newbee

newbee
4,794 posts
 
FWIW, I suggest that you research all of the top CDP's before you commit without listening. You say you want the CDP to be warm and detailed. Detailed (or bright or forward) is easy to comeby. Neutral is to be desired. Warm is tougher. Detailed AND warm are almost mutually exclusive. I've never heard anyone call a Wadia or Sony "warm". If you want something to err on the warm side or at least be neutral think of something that has tubes in it (and all of these aren't warm either!).
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Transporter, I settled on a BAT VK5 some time ago and it has served me well - it is detailed, fairly neutral, smooth, and gives you a hugh soundstage w/out being bright. You can change its tone slightly by rolling tubes. If I had to settle for a SS unit, unheard, based on what I have read and my priorities, I'd probably take a chance on the Electrocompaniet - it has an excellent transport as well as DAC and you can get them slightly used for 3000 to 3500. I think that the higher priced CDP's could be worth the price if, and only if, you have the ancillary equipment and room which will allow you to hear the subtle differences involved.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Well, as much as I think speakers (and the amps used to drive them) are ultimately the most critical part of a system, 2nd only to the room in which they are used, I sure can't buy into minimizing the differences in CD players. But I will agree that amoung many of the best players many of the differences that make them great will not be apparent unless you have the rest of it pinned down. So if you can't hear the differences in digital playback units, the real question is why you don't hear them, not if they exist at all.

By the way, I think your "abstract assumptions" may be my observation realities.
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