What's Absolute Best Upsampling CD Player $2K-$3K?

Dear Tekhifi: Very nice system you own. My advise is that you can look to: Classe, Ayre, Naim, Meridian, SimAudio and the top Denon.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Tekhifi,

Since you dropped the upsampling requirement I'll weigh in. I went the non-upsampling route. I purchased an Alesis ML9600 CD player/burner and hard drive recorder (40GB) that was modified by Tube Research Labs($1500). I also purchased an Audion Mirror non-up/oversampling DAC available on Audiogon that has 4 DACs/channel with Burr-Brown op amps in the analogue section ($500). So far I am very happy with the sound I'm getting using the Alesis as a transport with the Audio Mirror DAC. If I want I can take advantage of the Alesis as a CDP and get upsampling as well.

TRL will mod just about anything, most notably the Sony 595 ($700). There are some TRL threads you may want to check out. Others you may want to look into: SimAudio Moon Equinox and Eclipse, Cary 308T (hard to find used), and Jolida JD-100 (don't be put off by the price and avoid the mods - unless you send it off to TRL). I also have checked out prior to my purchase the CEC TLZ-51 transport and Benchmark DAC ($2300). This was an impressive combination. I just decided that I preferred non-up/oversampling.

Good luck with your search.

Not too many good ones stock, but the McCormack UDP-1 is a good choice.

Tvad & Germanboxers: FYI - Alex' latest bit of magic is to DOUBLE the number of DACs/channel, so there are now 4 DACs/channel. With my old DAC's only having about 150 hours on them, cold out of the box the new mod sounds like the upsampling is on, BUT ITS NOT!! WHole new level of transparency and musicality when the Upsampler is on, and again, this player is nowhere close to being broken in yet.

Obviously this is system dependent. There are many in this price range. I would look at Cary, Ayre, Meridian and Musical Fidelity.

The tray and puck arrangment are not a problem, even with a shelf above. Easy to reach, right in front.

Tvad, a small correction...Alex primarily uses the "upsampling" board to convert 16bit to 24bit words before going to the digital filter. At first he synchronously oversampled to 88.2kHz, but now has decided it sounds best at 44.1kHz...just using it to expand the word to 24 bit. I think there are only two of Alex's units that oversample to 88.2, the rest (most recent) stay at 44.1.

How is your player sounding? Mine has about 500 hrs on it now and sounds incredible. I originally was seriously thinking about taking Alex up on returning it because it was merely "decent" for the first 150 hrs...I'm glad I stuck with it. I must say that it has forced me to rethink some things because I've always been a skeptic when it comes to "dramatic changes" upon burnin. I've always noticed small changes with burnin, but nothing comparable to what I found to be true with the APL. The engineer in me hates when this happens!! LOL

Gentlemen, you have all given me a good insight into the availability of players in the $2K-$3K range. It seems this thread drifted into the EC territory a bit. I have no issue with EC and would certainly consider it, except I don't know how convenient/inconvenient the top loading aspect with the clamp would be. Does this EC have a tube sound or more neutral sound?

Also, I am not particularly set on an upsampling CD player. I have flexiblity in that respect. Just looking to maximize my dollars. One of my concerns of a modded player is the performance and "re-saleability". Any comments and other recommendations? Thanks

(1) Electrocompaniet is out of business; and

(2) There is no agreement that upsampling CD players necessarily sound better (the ARC CD3 Mk II at $5k, and the Zanden DAC at $15K, are two great players that intentionally avoid upsampling).

I've owned for quite some time one of the finest CDP's I've had a chance to hear. While rather unknown to the audience in the States, and not enjoying the lofty desirability status of some of better-known products, Gamut CD1 is a spectacular machine, IMO

I owned an EMC-1UPSE, great player, very analog sounding with a deceptive amount of detail. Excellent player to get rid of a case of digititis, or bleeding of the ears as it is also known. I just bought an Ayre CD-7e and it is still breaking in but I am very impressed with it as well. You can get a new one for $3000 or used for less, but it competes with anything under $5000 for sure. A little more energetic than the EMC with a bit more pronounced top end, but very musical to be sure. Another one everyone raves about at this price is the Resolution Opus 21 but I have not heard it and cannot comment, but you may want to check it out as well.

The EMC-1 is a wonderful sounding unit. I heard this on many occasions at a local dealer and was mightily impressed. I ultimately got the ECD-1 DAC and used this until I crossed paths with a Manley Ref DAC. For the value, the Electrocompaniet products on the used market are tough to beat.
John

Jeffjarvis: Yes I've seen them. I don't know anything about them. Are you familiar with them? I think they use a spider clamp to place on top of the CD.

I see Electrocompaniet sell, second hand, sell in your price range.
Look for the EMC 1-UP.