Harman Kardon HD970 CD player
Greg Wormald
I picked up one of these on spec. the other day after hearing Trevor
rave on about them and thought I'd post my first impressions.
This is a nice looking unit, slim with the top half in black with the
display behind the plastic on the right. The bottom half is brushed
chrome and silver-grey.
There are a variety of inputs and outputs, and other digital sources can
be input into the unit to use the decoder. As well as CD's the unit will
play MP3 CD's with full navigation, and CD text is displayed.
It's a bit slow in the initial reading, taking about 8-10 seconds to
display the contents of the CD. All is forgiven when it plays though.
This is the first CD player I've used that makes me want to turn the
music up louder and play another album.
My vinyl system does this routinely and despite trying 6 or 7 CD players
over the years, I always end up turning the music down and eventually
OFF.
Here, the music is presented with great detail, revealing instruments
that I hadn't remembered were there. The upper registers are great, with
cymbals that shimmer, and without any 'tizzy' sound that used to make me
tired and seemed to irritate my ears.
Voices are reproduced with clarity and seem to stand out from the mix,
similar to the way my Troika produces them. The emotions in the singer's
voice is recovered better than any other player I've tried and, again
like the vinyl, produces shivers down my spine on favourite tracks.
Jennifer Warnes 'Famous Blue Raincoat' album is going to be played again
today!
The drums have real kick, I can actually feel the notes hit my chest,
and the lower bass registers are better than I've heard before. In my
opinion CD has always done bass guitar well and this unit does them
exceptionally well. There seems to be more 'vibration' in the notes, as
if I'm really hearing the strings moving. Stanley Clark will be going on
the player again today too.
This unit is a keeper.
Anybody want to buy a highly modified Marantz CD63?
Thanks for the heads-up Trevor.
Greg
Phil Allison
"Greg Wormald"
> I picked up one of these on spec. the other day after hearing Trevor
> rave on about them and thought I'd post my first impressions.
( snip whole pile of spew inducing, utter bollocks )
Michael Jones ( Audio Enz ) could probably use another ultra gullible,
word puking fool like Greg.
...... Phil
Trevor Wilson
"Phil Allison" <phila...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:5oibq3F...@mid.individual.net...
**You're most welcome to borrow mine, if you wish. You can perform any tests
you wish on it. DBT or not. Let me know and I'll send it over on a courier.
I'll include a coupon for return.
Trevor Wilson
Phil Allison
"Trevor Wilson Professional Audio Vampire "
** Yawn....
........ Phil
Trevor Wilson
>
> "Trevor Wilson Professional Audio Vampire "
>
>
>
> ** Yawn....
**That's a "no" then?
Trevor Wilson
corks
"Phil Allison" <phila...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:5oihvsF...@mid.individual.net...
Phil Allison
"corks"
** Fuck off - retard.
...... Phil
Chris Mulhall
that external sources can be inputed to use it's excellent DAC....
Chris
also trialling the anti cables......impressed so far........
"Greg Wormald" <gr...@not.myaddress.com> wrote in message
news:greg-E38ADC.1...@pnews.internode.on.net...
Phil Allison
"Chris Mulhall"
>
> Ive had mine for about 3 months and am very happy with it. Great feature
> in that external sources can be inputed to use it's excellent DAC....
>
> Chris
>
> also trialling the anti cables......impressed so far........
** ROTFLMAO
Gullible cockroaches appearing from ever crevice !!
.... Phil
bassett
the rolling song titles on the display.
Every now and again, something comes along, that gets under the radar,
and there just something special. and really this player defies
anything for quality of music ability, regardless of price, and like
the other contributor, I also have a few CD players, Yamaha, Rotel,
Marantz, Redgum, Its also been tested alongside, Musical Fidelity, and a
red faced Shanling owner.
But being a bit of a tight arse, I only paid $400 for mine,
Despite the fact that they advertise refurbished units, it came in a
sealed Harman Kardon box, with all the usual bit's, I liked the 12
volt trigger lead, and the fact that the player can be daisy
chained into any current system.
Here's the link, I had mine within three days, and I,m on the
North Coast , so there service is exceptional.
http://stores.ebay.com.au/Premium-Home-Theatre or
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Harman-Kardon-Single-Disc-CD-Player-HD970_W0QQitemZ260173135461QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3272QQcmdZViewItem
bassett
bassett
"Trevor Wilson" <trevor@_SPAMBLOCK_rageaudio.com.au> wrote in message >
> **You're most welcome to borrow mine, if you wish. You can perform any
> tests you wish on it. DBT or not. Let me know and I'll send it over on a
> courier. I'll include a coupon for return.
>
> Trevor Wilson
This will be a really good test of it's capabilities, when he hooks
it up to his Quad, 35 year old Electrostatices
It won't need returning, I have a list of people who will all donate
a small amount of Sentex
bassett
sna...@pookmail.com
> ( snip whole pile of spew inducing, utter bollocks )
>
>
> Michael Jones ( Audio Enz ) could probably use another ultra gullible,
> word puking fool like Greg.
I don't think you would recognise good sound if it jumped up and bit you on the bum. From reading your rantings in this newsgroup
I must conclude that you are little more than a pathetic little rodent rooter.
Even worse, I'll bet you like Bose.
Phil Allison
sna...@pookmail.com = SOME TOTAL FUCKWIT
>> ( snip whole pile of spew inducing, utter bollocks )
>>
>>
>> Michael Jones ( Audio Enz ) could probably use another ultra gullible,
>> word puking fool like Greg.
>
> I don't think
** Now we have the only correct bit.
....... Phil
bassett
<sna...@pookmail.com> wrote in message
news:lrr8i3pe8tc9kpeso...@4ax.com...
More like a Toaster, perched a-top a vintage Quad
As for M Jones, everything he get's he deserves
bassett
Phil Allison
"bassett"
>
> As for M Jones, everything he get's he deserves
>
>
> bassett
** Bite him and give him dose of your Rabies.
Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke .....
....... Phil
Greg Wormald
As we all know and Phill would be sure to point out, this is a digital
unit and since digits are either one or zero ANY digital player must
sound identical to any other player.
I therefore highly recommend that you write your CD's with a cheap
pencil, which will do 1's and 0's with the best of them, and play on
anything that can read them.
Greg
<sarcasm off>
Phil Allison
"Greg Wormald"
( snip another whole pile of spew inducing, utter bollocks )
Michael Jones ( Audio Enz ) could probably use another ultra gullible,
word puking fuckwit like Greg.
The worms have eaten his tiny brain ..
...... Phil
Chris Mulhall
with greater realism. When listening to other music I can now hear backing
vocals that werent there before, and even the main singer taking breaths to
sing! Im impressed! It matches my ME pre and power amps well...
Chris..
"bassett" <bas...@bassettskennel.com.au> wrote in message
news:4724682f$1...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
robert casey
> Even worse, I'll bet you like Bose.
>
Ohh, them's fightin' words..... :-)
corks
"Phil Allison" <phila...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:5oirmaF...@mid.individual.net...
Jeßus
Nice review Greg.
Just out of interest - what other machines do any of you feel are in the
same league as this HK?
jtde...@westnet.com.au
>
> bassett
Bassett,
What Shanling did you compare it too?
This player sounds like a contemporary Sony 715-a $700 player from
1995 which sounded better than far more expensive players including
Sonys own ES players from the same period.I use one in my second
system and it still sounds superb-it has great depth of soundstage
which is a rare trait in most CD players .
roughplanet
news:fg3ckk$j5s$2...@stable.tornevall.net...
Greg Wormald wrote:
My TT 'Fulcrum' DAC & transport when they're running :-). But I've bought an
HD970 for when they're not. Can't say I like the looks of it much, but as I
have just removed an LG DVD & HDD Recorder from the system (as I've never
used it....any buyers?) it has fitted right in & you can hardly tell the
difference, except in the sound of course. Boy, they really are an
exceptional buy, aren't they?
And bassett, I paid $399 for mine too (plus $19 postage) which is about the
best price out there. But don't tell Arnie, as I'm sure it sounds the same
as his :-).
ruff
bassett
<jtde...@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1193694169.9...@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
Shanling CD T80 and a CD-T100c, Both where played through Rotel RC
1070 and RB 1070, also Redgum , plus a few other amps.
At one point we had three CD players hooked up to the one pre-amp,
all playing copies of the same CD. Which was interesting, as only
one person had the switching remote, while the rest of us played
guess games, about the CD Player.
bassett
bassett
"roughplanet" <rough...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:47268588$0$6689$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
That e-bay crowd do seem OK, and very fast delivery. I can't
see where the "refurbished" comes into it. Like yours, mine came in a
sealed Harmon Kardon box.
and as you say the sound is exceptional.
bassett
Alan Rutlidge
Oh, here we go again. :-(
Must be another full moon ?
Phil is still playing that working antique (Sony CDP-101), and no doubt
thinks it's the best sounding CD player in the world.
ROFLMAO.
TT
"Alan Rutlidge" <don't_spam_me...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:4727559a$0$17158$5a62...@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
with his *new* Palsonic DVD player that he bought to play test tone CDs
with. Here he states he "invested" $44 on this thing! Geez must be right
up there with this HK unit eh? ;-)
Philthy must be flush with cash at the moment as he actually has paid for
something! The Summer Hill Council is obviously too quick with their verge
collection these days for poor old Phil ;-)
Cheers TT
Alan Rutlidge
"TT" <TTence...@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:13if828...@corp.supernews.com...
WOW, a whole $44. Business must be booming in toaster land. :P
Cheers,
Alan
roughplanet
news:13if828...@corp.supernews.com...
"Alan Rutlidge" <don't_spam_me...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:4727559a$0$17158$5a62...@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
"Phil Allison" <phila...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:5oibq3F...@mid.individual.net...
"Greg Wormald"
>>>> I picked up one of these on spec. the other day after hearing Trevor
>>>> rave on about them and thought I'd post my first impressions.
>>> ( snip whole pile of spew inducing, utter bollocks )
>>> Michael Jones ( Audio Enz ) could probably use another ultra gullible,
>>> word puking fool like Greg.
>> Oh, here we go again. :-(
>> Must be another full moon ?
>> Phil is still playing that working antique (Sony CDP-101), and no doubt
>> thinks it's the best sounding CD player in the world.
>> ROFLMAO.
> You must have missed his post in aus.electronics where he is having
> problems with his *new* Palsonic DVD player that he bought to play test
> tone CDs with. Here he states he "invested" $44 on this thing! Geez must
> be right up there with this HK unit eh? ;-)
> Philthy must be flush with cash at the moment as he actually has paid for
> something! The Summer Hill Council is obviously too quick with their
> verge collection these days for poor old Phil ;-)
Nope, you got it wrong TT. The Council has, in fact, passed a bill which
ensures that anything electrical with a value of not less than $0.50 or
more than $10.00 be labelled with special Council-supplied 'PA Friendly'
labels which give Philthy first pick at any item so marked.
Anything Philthy doesn't want, he just tears the label off, which leaves the
item open for anyone else to collect. It's part of the Council's new policy
to aid the disadvantaged, and toaster repairers were added to the list in
2005, along with the tone deaf, single middle aged males, virgins of any age
& people suffering from Tourettes Syndrome.
That means that Philthy gets 5 extra shots at all the new policies instead
of just the one for foul-mouthed, hair-brained loonies that the Council
introduced shortly after he moved into his Summer Hill residence :-).
ruff
roughplanet
Greg Wormald wrote:
> That e-bay crowd do seem OK, and very fast delivery. I can't
> see where the "refurbished" comes into it. Like yours, mine came in
> a sealed Harmon Kardon box. and as you say the sound is exceptional.
Shoooosh bassett..... I think the 'refurbished' tag is what 'allows' them to
be sold for $399 :-).
ruff
TT
Yes, I can see the Summer Hill Council is helping the socially challenged.
BTW the question, "where did he get a *whole* $44", still begs an answer
;-)
Cheers TT
PS seriously now Ruff, how does the HK CD player's DAC compare with your CEC
DX71 MKII?
Iain Churches
(i.e. warranty) may apply to refurbished equipment. Does you unit have
the standard HK guarantee Bassett? If it does, then you made a good
deal.
Iain
robert casey
>
> Nope, you got it wrong TT. The Council has, in fact, passed a bill which
> ensures that anything electrical with a value of not less than $0.50 or
> more than $10.00 be labelled with special Council-supplied 'PA Friendly'
> labels which give Philthy first pick at any item so marked.
>
> Anything Philthy doesn't want, he just tears the label off, which leaves the
> item open for anyone else to collect.
You mean that they don't just deliver said items to Phil's door? :-)
bassett
Yes, if you look at there on-line shop,
http://stores.ebay.com.au/Premium-Home-Theatre
just about everything is heavily discounted.
I was talking to the owner of my local Hi-Fi shop the other
day, and he told me he can't buy them for that price, which may or
may-not be true.
But I do have a big problem with the 970, How the hell do you
get the lid off. Take out all the screws [9 off'um] sides and back,
and it would seem the lid also clips under the black plastic front
panel, remove the 4 black screws that hold the front panel, and
still nothing budges. most frustrating, Anyone know.
bassett
roughplanet
"roughplanet" <rough...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:4728485b$0$19091$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
"Alan Rutlidge" <don't_spam_me...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:4727559a$0$17158$5a62...@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
"Phil Allison" <phila...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:5oibq3F...@mid.individual.net...
"Greg Wormald"
>>>>>> I picked up one of these on spec. the other day after hearing Trevor
>>>>>> rave on about them and thought I'd post my first impressions.
>>>>> ( snip Philhy's vile, spew inducing, utter bollocks )
> Yes, I can see the Summer Hill Council is helping the socially challenged.
> BTW the question, "where did he get a *whole* $44", still begs an answer
> ;-)
>
> PS seriously now Ruff, how does the HK CD player's DAC compare with your
> CEC DX71 MKII?
Surprisingly well TT, although I'm in no doubt that with a decent transport,
a comparison would show a much geater difference between the two than using
the Pioneer DV-S733A multi-player, with which it's not as great as I would
have expected.
But what IS truly remarkable is the new phono stage, which, after 114 LP's,
is
beginning to really open up, and boy, it sounds superb.
The sound stage is nothing short of amazing, with instruments placed so well
in terms of both the width & depth (and even height - that's a new one, at
least for me) that you can shut your eyes & imagine you are there.
This afternoon, along with quite a few other LP's, I played both the LP & CD
of Charles Lloyd's 'Fish out of Water' album and honestly, the LP simply
blew the CD away, with it's amazing sound stage, clarity, ambience &
liveliness.
The son of the fellow who originally started the business is now carrying it
on, and his workmanship is every bit as good as his father's.
The tubes he sent me were all JAN NOS, and believe it or not, came fitted
with high density silicone rings used to dampen vibration & prevent any
microphonics.
But the sound..................... and for a fraction of the cost of other
high end phono stages, especially those using tubes (yes, most of those ARE,
in all probability, for well heeled audiophools who probably can't tell the
difference anyway) or indeed, ANY well designed & manufactured phono stages
at all.
This baby even has a tube (6X4) rectifier, a much preferable alternative to
cheap solid state rectifiers, the electromagnetic pulses in which sometimes
create a background noise or grain to the music, as well as an unnatural
choppiness brought about by overemphasis of transients due to a
less-than-tight off/on cycle.
This latter problem prevents the completing of harmonics and doeesn't allow
each individual note to rise & decay naturally.
And when the tube rectifier is married to a solid state regulator to create
an HV B+ power supply, for reasons that I am unable to elucidate, this
combination provides better (read: tighter & more natural) bass, something
that I have always valued a great deal.
So TT, I give the Concerto Plus MC2 MKII the thumbs up, as well as the
HD970.
They are both excellent units that punch well above their respective
weights.
ruff
roughplanet
news:13ihltc...@corp.supernews.com...
No Robert, as he won't open the door to ANYONE, including the mayor, there
was no point :-).
ruff
roughplanet
"roughplanet" <rough...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:47284944$0$28659$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
"bassett" <bas...@bassettskennel.com.au> wrote in message
news:4727...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
"Jeßus" <no...@all.org> wrote in message
news:fg3ckk$j5s$2...@stable.tornevall.net...
Greg Wormald wrote:
>>> Harmon Kardon box and as you say the sound is exceptional.
>> Shoooosh bassett..... I think the 'refurbished' tag is what 'allows' them
>> to be sold >> for $399 :-).
> Yes, if you look at there on-line shop,
> http://stores.ebay.com.au/Premium-Home-Theatre
> just about everything is heavily discounted.
> I was talking to the owner of my local Hi-Fi shop the other day, and he
> told me he can't buy them for that price, which may or may-not be
> true.
>
> But I do have a big problem with the 970, How the hell do you get the
> lid off. Take out all the screws [9 off'um] sides and back, and it
> would seem the lid also clips under the black plastic front panel,
> remove the 4 black screws that hold the front panel, and still nothing
> budges. most frustrating, Anyone know.
Struth, you would wait until I have mine neatly installed in my HV/Audio
cabinet(s).
I have had a problem with the sound in my HTPC, but to remove both it & the
HT amplifier is such a monumental job (to me) that I've been leaving it for
months.
But I did install both the HD970 & my new phono stage, so there's still some
life
in this old dog, but not a hell of a lot.
The next time I am working on the system, I'll remove the CD player & have a
look. I can't tell by just looking at it, as very little of it, apart from
the front panel, is visible.
What did you want to pull it to pieces for anyway?
ruff
jtde...@westnet.com.au
> "TT" <TTencerNoS...@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:13igvtq...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "roughplanet" <roughpla...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:4728485b$0$19091$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
>
> "Alan Rutlidge" <don't_spam_me_rutli...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>
> news:4727559a$0$17158$5a62...@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> "Phil Allison" <philalli...@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
What Hi Fi said of these-
"promises much -but doesn't follow through-it's a disappointment" and
awarded it 2 stars which is their lowest published rating.The
Cambridge Audio Azur 540c V2 gets 5 stars by comparison.
I'm not saying you guys are wrong but it is a stark contrast.Maybe the
review sample was a dud -which could explain all these refurbished
units.
Plus Wo Hi Fi is a bi of a pun-tu mag------no-wo I mean?
Alan Rutlidge
<jtde...@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1193905138.6...@y27g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
Frankly I don't take too much notice of the general crap published in the
audioporn rags these days.
Very few do any worthwhile electrical testing and when you start looking
into the mags a bit further you usually cop an eyeful of reviewed product
advertising, especially if the gear got a favourable write up.
For me it's listen, listen and listen some more. If the opportunity arises
for "try before you buy" I'm all very much in favour of that arrangement or
alternatively "money back or exchange if not happy".
Cheers,
Alan
Alan Rutlidge
Reminds me of a colleague from a few years back. Couldn't resist opening up
things to see if he got his monies worth. LOL
Go back to Trev's initial post. There is a link which has the service
manual available for download.
Cheers,
Alan
Greg Wormald
> "promises much -but doesn't follow through-it's a disappointment" and
> awarded it 2 stars which is their lowest published rating.The
> Cambridge Audio Azur 540c V2 gets 5 stars by comparison.
>
> I'm not saying you guys are wrong but it is a stark contrast.Maybe the
> review sample was a dud -which could explain all these refurbished
> units.
>
> Plus Wo Hi Fi is a bi of a pun-tu mag------no-wo I mean?
Don't know, haven't read Hi-Fi mags in years. For too long they were
telling me how wonderful CD was compared to LP, while "In My Ears" the
exact opposite occurred every time I put an album on--despite the
obvious shortcomings of LP.
What does the mag say about LP's and players? (Not that I really care,
my judgement comes from my enjoyment of the music.)
Greg
bassett
two tin cans joined with a bit of string into a magazine reviewer,
and ask them to review it, then buy 25 grand's worth of advertising,
you get a five star review. If you give then 100 grand, your will get
product of the year awards.
And the "What' group of magazines are infamous for doing that. It's
a fair bet that before the review on the Cambridge, there was a
full page add for Cambridge products, and a half page add after the
review. That's the way it works.
bassett
bassett
Just out of interest, I always take the lids of things, It's a little
fetish I have.
And after all it is MY lid. But some manufacturers are getting a
bit tricky, they put a adhesive seal across the lid and base, then
tell you if the seal is broken, the warranty is void. most unfair.
bassett
TT
Is that the same Mayor (Councillor?) that he accused of corruption a while
back? Yeah I'd be wary about opening the door to someone in public office
that I had falsely accused of corruption as well ;-)
Cheers TT
PS I just checked. It was not the Mayor it was councillor Herman he
accused.
roughplanet
"roughplanet" <rough...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:472988cf$0$29769$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
"robert casey" <wa2...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:13ihltc...@corp.supernews.com...
>>>> Nope, you got it wrong TT. The Council has, in fact, passed a bill
>>>> which ensures that anything electrical with a value of not less than
>>>> $0.50 or more than $10.00 be labelled with special Council-supplied 'PA
>>>> Friendly' labels which give Philthy first pick at any item so marked.
>>>>
>>>> Anything Philthy doesn't want, he just tears the label off, which
>>>> leaves the item open for anyone else to collect.
>>> You mean that they don't just deliver said items to Phil's door? :-)
>> No Robert, as he won't open the door to ANYONE, including the mayor,
>> there was no point :-).
> Is that the same Mayor (Councillor?) that he accused of corruption a while
> back? Yeah I'd be wary about opening the door to someone in public office
> that I had falsely accused of corruption as well ;-)
> PS I just checked. It was not the Mayor it was councillor Herman he
> accused.
That's not THE Councillor Herman who attacked a ratepayer who insulted him
last year & put him in hospital for 2 months is it?
Nah, we couldn't be that lucky :-).
ruff
bassett
Nothing like a friendly tap on the door at 2 am just when the local
constabulary are changing shifts. And just a small clue, It's not
going to be the 7th day'ers asking if you would like to pray with
them for forgiveness.
Are, Some people will do anything for a few bob, How's your legs
Phillie
bassett