What is new with the Memory Player?

Mtkh1567, and all forum members,
To answer your question, I think the Memory Player's status is growing daily. At present there are 5 writers here at Stereo Times that have purchased the MP. I've received numerous emails asking questions about whether it is the "real deal" and my only steady answer has been "It's the best I've heard thus far."

I think this answers other questions that have been asked in the past on the theory the MP isn't anything more than an over-glorified computer. Well, if that was true then why hasn't anyone come up with a likely alternative as of yet?

In the past 16 months, my experiences with the MP has been far reaching and thus even more interesting since I wrote the review some six months ago. More and more staunch critics of vinyl who've heard it have been dumbfounded. For example, in addition to Saudio's above comments regarding the MP's performance in my system with the DALI Megalines and Behold electronics of a week ago, some weeks prior to his visit a HUGE German distributor had read my review with great intrigue. Obviously, he wondered if this MP was the real deal, he'd import it into Germany. This very important importer got in touch with me and asked if he could come and visit all the way from Germany. My answer of course was YES!

Much like Saudio, this gentleman stated that he's not heard anything digital that attracted him to the music like vinyl so "don't please take it personal if I don't like the sound" he forwarned. Some weeks later he arrived at my front door, we kindly exchanged some nice greetings and in short time headed up to my listening room. I am not sure, but I think it was less than 30 seconds, we downloaded a favorite classical disc onto the MP. Upon playback, I'd say in about 10 seconds, this gentleman stated he'd not heard anything like this before certainly from digital and thought overall, it probably sounded better than anything he's heard. He went on that he knew this disc intimately and that it sounded better than he'd ever heard.

The next two hours were spent confirming everything he heard in those first 10 seconds.

The next few weeks were spent with this gentleman emailing me questions as to the validity of what he heard and if it was really the MP contributing so much of the magic? My only answer was again "it's the best I have heard." This finally led to him purchasing the MP and offering me a sincere thanks for the opportunity to hear it. He's a unit in Germany and swears to it as as good as the best vinyl he's heard. Period.

I was even more grateful because I had heard of this man and knew he was a big-time importer in Europe. So, for me, it was a kind of test to see if this experienced listener had other perhaps unknown products - there are plenty abroad - that mayby none of us heard that might equal the qualities of the MP. Obviously he did not.

My story isn't the only one. Arnie Balgavis, who wrote quite an interesting review on the MP for Positive Feedback has also had the experience of taking his unit on the road to the homes of friends who too are still intrigued by this device. In each and every instance, the results were the same, the MP outshines conventional players to such a degree that in many cases it's almost embarressing. And I'm talking the serioius big boys.

Between Arnie and myself, we've accrued some serious digital players and transports over the years ranging from highly exalted Zanden (my former reference) to the latest 2-piece Esoteric stack (Arnie's former reference) and still none have taken the place of the MP. He's had his over one year as well.

The problem with the MP not selling like hot cake appears numerous. Most importantly, the software is prehistoric compared to what is possible today as Audioracle alluded to. This makes life tough for those of us who might be computer illiterate and have a tough time navigating through two or more screens doing the usual drag and paste things.

That aside, the MP still stands as the new digital reference and as of today, I'm still awaiting something which will reveal that it's nothing more than a glorified PC.

Clement Perry

Scott,
I'm glad to hear of your experiences with the Memory Player. You gave the MP the "real user" experience, not a reviewers view which many folks find hard to believe because we often are accused of being involved in politics, favors and innuendos. Of course, this is not the case here.

Quirks aside (though I've no problems with my dedicated AC cord), you hit the proverbial nail on the head describing the MP despite our industries technical audio wizards statements to the contrary.

My respect for the MPs has grown with each passing day and comparison. On the days when I tend to forget and even take for granted how actually good it is, I'll spend time listening to other players, each excellent in their own way, only to return back to the MP with a new sense of respect and admiration for its sonic superiority. More often, it's more of a feeling than a observation. Sometimes it's not something in the music that I can hear as much as how much I am moved by the grace, ease and flow of an entire performance.

Kana, FYI, the MP has been compared to many other PC based drives modified by a very brilliant designer here in NYC. In each case, none compared to the MPs sonic capabilities. None! What type of PCs these were are still unclear but I'll say most were hand made by a guy who "promised" to match the MPs internal part for part...down to the operating system. These players had high hopes of entering the market until they were compared to the MP.

The MPs software is its ace in the hole and the one thing this person could not duplicate. Hence, their performance falling way short. So much in fact, I still would have to say my Wadia 270SE or Reimyo would be preferred over these MP wannabes.

The MP, I believe, will be superceded by a superior PC based device one day. That's just the way of the world. But in the here and now, I've not seen any to take its crown.

As a matter of fact, I recently compared a very promising new conventional CD player against a very good but now discontinued Reimyo player and the Reimyo soncially aquitted itself from this newcomer to such a degree it made it very hard to even justify WHY this new device exists when products like the Reimyo wind up as classic museum pieces way before their time.

Thinking back, I was one of the first early adopters to SACD and believed it was the cats meow to digital audio. Theoretically, it still may be... but within one calender year I heard standard 16/44 players outperform my beloved SCD1 namely the Electrocompaniet and Accuphase CD players at roughly the same price. In this case, old reliable 16/44 beat out new SACDs theoretical claims and fancy advertising. That experience changed my perspective of what was still possible from "lousy" 16/44 standard discs. What I learned was 16/44 still had lots left to offer with the arrival of newer dac chips while SACD was still in its infancy and wrought with issues.

The MP is another product with an entirely different approach that has not only taken the standard 16/44 playback to levels never believed possible, it literally brings the very inner workings and mechanics of CDs into question.

Rare indeed.
Clement Perry