Want to experience tubed CDP?

Thanks for your comments!

Jburidan, have you compared the Cairn and Ah! side-by-side? I would love to hear what the Ah! brings to the table over the Cairn. If you could email me or post more information on your comparision it would be greatly insightful to me. Thanks!

Rene, thanks for your thoughts on the Prima. I am hoping to attend HE in NYC, if only for a day. I might have to try to stop by and listen to all these players. I have found, the only way to really know, is to bring it home and slap it in your system for a month though, but at least I could get some preliminary thoughts at HE?

Joe, I saw that Geoff would be using your Granite 657 on May 21st in the invite, but unfortunately I will be in Vegas that weekend. Well, I guess it isn't that unfortunate. ;)

The Granite is on my list of players to listen to though. Hopefully another time?

Well, I brought home a Jolida JD100a and have spent quite a bit of time with it. It is a great player and portrays a very warm presentation. It soundstages like a champ, expanding the soundstage beyond the speakers; my Cairn seems to take it to the speaker edges only.

Both players have precise imaging, but the Cairn seems to portray a more precise tonal accuracy. It also has a bit less background noise coompared to the Jolida. The Jolida is so seductive, but it does give up some detail to the oh-so refined Cairn. The Cairn is definitely pulling more detail off the disc.

The Jolida adds a little height to the soundstage, while the Cairn is definitely deeper. If the soundstage could be diagrammed from above, the Cairn would have a tigher arc than the Jolida, where the Cairn goes deeper, and the Jolida goes wider.

As far as bass goes, the nod goes to the Cairn, it is juut tighter and punchier. The Cairn wins with PRAT, but the Jolida IS seductive. The Cairn has always pulled me into the music, and I am impressed with how much so the Jolida does this as well!

I am curious what a mod or tube change would bring to the table for the Jolida? I am using EH tubes right now. I love the seduction of the Jolida, and I think it has given me insight into what a tubed CDP can bring to the party, I am just curious if I can give up all the things that the Cairn does so right?

Both players are impressive and I could live with either - almost depending on mood, deciding which one to pop a disc into?

Decisions, decisions...

Triode and Larry, I was simply floored by the BAT/Focal/Shunyata room at HE put on by Sounds by Singer! I would love to bring home a BAT CDP, it's simply out of my range at the time being. Someday...

Newbee, I do like the idea that with a tubed CDP you can 'voice' it to your personal preference, I am just wondering if I will gain all the things that the Cairn does so right with a simple tube change? Some of the shortcomings (or differences) seem insurmountable by simply changing tubes? But then again, what do I know, I am still new to this whole world of tubes! ;)

Rene, thanks for the suggestions. I am using a Signal Cable HC digital PC with the Cairn & Jolida. Is the VH a far superior cable? I've had good results with the Signal.

Restock, since you own both the Jolida and the AA Prima, what are your thoughts between the two? Will the AA get me what I am missing from the Cairn with the Jolida with that seductive tube sound??? I could afford a used AA Prima if I sold both the Jolida and the Cairn.

Then I'll hear the Granite and want that. ;)

Thanks for all your help guys!

Rene, sorry, just noticed you have a Jolida amp and not the JD100. Got confused there for a second. ;)

This weeks' trip to Vegas I am finishing and punchlisting a renovation project for our company, and I am pretty booked.

Next week I fly out again (with the wife) for the AIA conference, so I am hoping to explore outside of the city on Saturday. Your the second person who has suggested Zion to me. Might have to check it out?

I noticed a Prima listed on here now, so maybe I'll pick that up to A/B/C with the Cairn and Jolida. ;)