Best CD Player You've Come Across?
JohnGavin
classical listeners might have strong feelings about - I'm aware that
some say they make little difference, that it's the other components
that matter more - my own player is having mechanical problems, so I'm
looking for a new one - THANKS.
tomdeacon
No problem.
I own a Musical Fidelity CD player - only produced in limited
quantities and now unavailable - and have had very good experience with
this unit. I would surely recommend Musical Fidelity - it's an english
company run by a clarinetist, Andrew Michaelson. They have a variety of
products, from inexpensive to very expensive.
TD
Gerard
>
> I own a Musical Fidelity CD player - only produced in limited
> quantities and now unavailable - and have had very good experience
> with this unit. I would surely recommend Musical Fidelity - it's an
> english company run by a clarinetist, Andrew Michaelson. They have a
> variety of products, from inexpensive to very expensive.
>
Including mouthpieces? I'm looking for something good.
ansermetniac
I hope it sounds better than the average British Clarinet player
Abbedd
Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood.
- HL Mencken
jrs...@aol.com
ansermetniac wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:00:17 +0100, "Gerard"
> <ghen_nosp...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >tomdeacon wrote:
> >>
> >> I own a Musical Fidelity CD player - only produced in limited
> >> quantities and now unavailable - and have had very good experience
> >> with this unit. I would surely recommend Musical Fidelity - it's an
> >> english company run by a clarinetist, Andrew Michaelson. They have a
> >> variety of products, from inexpensive to very expensive.
> >>
> >
> >Including mouthpieces? I'm looking for something good.
> >
>
> I hope it sounds better than the average British Clarinet player
You can find out for yourself by listening to his recordings--the
Mozart and Brahms quintets and I think also a recording of the Mozart
concerto.
--Jeff
ansermetniac
I was talking about the CD player. I know very well the Britsih
Clarinet Style
Abbedd
jrs...@aol.com
Oh. Because you were responding to Gerard's comments about mouthpieces,
I thought you were talking about mouthpieces.
To be honest, your comment implies that you haven't kept up with the
instrumental scene. "The" British Clarinet Style is not what it used
to be. Have you heard Julian Bliss? Maximilliano Martin? Robert Plane?
Michael Collins? or any others working in the UK these days?
--Jeff
wkas...@comcast.net
JohnGavin wrote:
How much do you want to spend?
Do you want a single disc player, or multiple?
Do you want to play SACD's? MP3's?
What equipment is the CD player going to be "feeding"?
Bill
JohnGavin
wkas...@comcast.net wrote:
> JohnGavin wrote:
>
> > Sorry if this is repetitive - but I'd like to know which CD Player
> > classical listeners might have strong feelings about - I'm aware that
> > some say they make little difference, that it's the other components
> > that matter more - my own player is having mechanical problems, so I'm
> > looking for a new one - THANKS.
>
> How much do you want to spend?
I was thinking in the $400-600 range
>
> Do you want a single disc player, or multiple?
Single is perfectly fine.
>
> Do you want to play SACD's? MP3's?
SACD would be nice, but not absolutely necessary - MP3s not necessary.
>
> What equipment is the CD player going to be "feeding"?
A Krell KAV300i amp / B&W 302 Matrix Speakers
>
Thanks in advance
Nick Sun
JohnGavin wrote:
> wkas...@comcast.net wrote:
> > JohnGavin wrote:
> I was thinking in the $400-600 range
My old one (used as a carrier and MD recorder) had some mechanical
issues too lately, which made me to go out and get another one a few
months ago, NAD C542, feeding NAD C372 and then a pair of PSB platinum
M2 speaker as my secondary system for my study. I believe the C542 is
on the lower end of your price range. Frankly, I was thinking to get
the Cambridge Audio Azur 640C at the the time, but got a better deal
from the NAD dealer, besides, it was told that the NAD might match the
PSB slightly better. If you have a decent standard alone ADC, you can
feed it with digital signals from most CD players, they all sound about
the same, I have tried many times on this one. But if you need to use
the analog output, then, a slightly pricy but well built one might
sound better. Then again, in today's fast moving stage, single CD
players might disappear in no time from the the mass market. Harddisc
storage based music servers, like the Cambridge Audio Azur 640H that I
am eyeing on for quite a while now, might became the mainstream soon.
By that time, I guess a state of art stand alone ADC would make even
more sense for us music lovers. :-)
wkas...@comcast.net
JohnGavin wrote:
> > How much do you want to spend?
>
> I was thinking in the $400-600 range
I don't think that there are a lot of options in that price range; they
tend to be either much cheaper or much more expensive. I've always
liked Marantz players for value; they sound fine and have never given
me any trouble (I can't say the same of NAD players). I currently have
a 67SE single-CD player at home and a CC-45 multidisc changer in the
office. For SACD, I've been using a Marantz universal player
(basically, a glorified DVD player that can handle SACD), which isn't
very good for CD's, since the display has so little information. I
also have a very cheap Sony changer that handles SACD's (SCD-CE595).
It actually sounds fine, and cost about $150. I've had my eye on the
Marantz SA-8001, a single disc CD/SACD player, but that's a little more
than you want to spend ($1000).
Bill
Steve de Mena
Any maybe you should be putting your money in that
equipment, in particular speakers and amplifier,
instead?
Steve
MiNe 109
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote:
I like Arcam.
Stephen
Gerard
Which one? Or all of them?
MiNe 109
"Gerard" <ghen_nosp...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I have a CD23 FMJ, and the CD73 is quite respectable and relatively
inexpensive.
Stephen
vhorowitz
I've been very pleasantly surprised for what $150 could do for me...in
the form of the Oppo DV-970HD universal player.
Here's a link
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd.html
They are internet only for sales. I bought it primarily as an
upconverting DVD player for my new flat panel LCD, but I put it through
its paces in my audio system, and it's a beautifully wide ranged and
detailed player for cds or SACD, and seems ideal if you DO need to
combine video and audio systems. It plays any burned format I've thown
at it, and with a simple remote key sequence becomes region free for
DVD, and it's PAL to NTSC conversion is extremely good (far better than
on the overpriced Denon universal machines, for example, and a bit
better than my previous unit, the Pioneer DV 588, which was not region
free capable in any case).
I'd be curious as to what others thought of the sonic performance of
this, because I think it's worthy of attention for those looking for a
good bang for the buck ratio, and perhaps is worthy of comparision with
some higher priced dedicated cd players.
tomdeacon
Seems to me that your system could do with a CD/SACD player of some
quality.
TD
Nick Sun
vhorowitz wrote:
> I've been very pleasantly surprised for what $150 could do for me...in
> the form of the Oppo DV-970HD universal player.
>
> on the overpriced Denon universal machines, for example, and a bit
> better than my previous unit, the Pioneer DV 588, which was not region
> free capable in any case).
Far better than my Denon 3910 (it plays both PAL and NTSC too, and can
be hacked to be region free) or the newer model 3930 or the 5910 or
might be the soon to out 5930? Wow!
JohnGavin
When I splurged on a system, about 7 years ago, I did buy a high-end CD
player (a Krell 300CD). It's highly regarded in some circles, but it
has developed some surprising problems for such an expensive unit - the
transport has stopped working (for which I brought to to the Krell
Co.), discs sometimes don't play to the end without skipping (always
near the end of the CD) and certain CDs don't play well at all.
Thanks to various suggestions on this thread so far, I am leaning
toward a Marantz PMD model, which seems especially solidly constructed.
Steve de Mena
I have a Denon 3910, with the region free and
PAL-NTSC conversions enabled and am very happy
with it. No problems in almost 2 years of heavy
use, and terrific sound.
Steve
vhorowitz
Steve de Mena wrote:
>
>
> I have a Denon 3910, with the region free and
> PAL-NTSC conversions enabled and am very happy
> with it. No problems in almost 2 years of heavy
> use, and terrific sound.
>
> Steve
Perhaps something was wrong with the Denon 2910 I tried as a PAL to
NTSC solution, because for me it yielded choppy PAL conversion that was
far worse than my cheap region free (but horrible SOUNDING) Toshiba
3900. I remember reading that there were some firmware issues, but I
was unwillling to deal with them and returned the player. I'm glad to
hear that the 3910 seems to be worth the extra $$s in that regard.
norman...@comcast.net
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1164815731.8...@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
I'd base the choice on the desired feature set. I'd buy a DVD player; one
that will play everything, including
SACD, mp3, wma, ogg & mp4, on either a CDR or a DVDR. There's really no
reason to buy a CD player; all DVD players must play CDs as well.
Norm Strong
vhorowitz
wkas...@comcast.net wrote:
> I currently have
> a 67SE single-CD player at home and a CC-45 multidisc changer in the
> office.
I used a Marantz 63SE for years, and, for a time thought it a fine
player, sonically. I was not a little horrified to find it how awful
it sounded in comparison to some not exactly top dollar players when I
compared them a year or so ago (including the Pioneer universal players
DV 563E & 588, which are not half bad for cds, as it turns out).
Either the Marantz' performance took a nosedive over the decade or so
of heavy use, or I was putting up with some crappy sound for far too
long!
mpe...@comcast.net
You should have a look at Stereophile's recommended components, which
is in their magazine once or twice per year. I found the Music Hall
CD-25.2 there, which lists for $600 and is as good as anything I've
heard for under $1000. Music Hall is made by a high end Chinese audio
company called Shanling.
http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=a25_2_cd25_2
Marc Perman
Norman M. Schwartz
Ed Presson
permits programming specific bands in a certain order? Or allows the user
to punch in a specific track? I'd be interested in a DVD player that could
do these things, things easily done on a CD player.
Ed Presson
Steve Emerson
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote:
I think the first thing to check into would be a Marantz SA8260. Also
the players in or close to your price range from Arcam, Music Hall, and
Cambridge Audio. The Marantz uses audiophile capacitors and op-amp(s)
like the others but is also an SACD player, and built like a tank. Try
to hear whatever it is in something resembling your system. Also note,
the "house sound" of Marantz is not for everybody, ditto Arcam although
the latter is slightly more transparent.
If for whatever reason you don't/can't test-listen in person (with your
own set of CDs) -- you may want to know about accessories4less.com where
the above-mentioned Marantz can be had at a quite considerable discount.
Today the best sound at the best price is probably had via a
freestanding DAC with a transport/player feeding it. There are a variety
of small to tiny companies with an audiophile orientation making DACs
and not bothering with the commodity-like remainder of the package. DACs
were the thing in the first part of the '90s, then for some time there
was a tendency in the other direction, but there has been something of a
swing back their way. Very likely this is more trouble than you want to
go to, however.
SE.
Steve de Mena
The Denon 3910 will allow programming up to 20
tracks in a certain order and allow one to select
tracks by track number or time.
No Index capabilities though; I thought that was
absent from current players.
Steve
ne...@thump.org
<wkas...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I've had my eye on the
>Marantz SA-8001, a single disc CD/SACD player, but that's a little more
>than you want to spend ($1000).
How much is a Rega Apollo in the US ?
her...@yahoo.com
There's really no
> reason to buy a CD player; all DVD players must play CDs as well.
>
good sound.
I'd spend a little more money and get an Arcam or Rotel. This may be
the last chance to buy a CD-player. In a couple years time the entire
CD-player market will consist of either crappy play-all machines with
ghettoblaster sound, or outrageously expensive audiophile products.
Herman
MiNe 109
Norman M. Schwartz
course record SACD, but some day in the not too distant future .....
> Norm Strong
>
Norman M. Schwartz
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1164815731.8...@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
> Sorry if this is repetitive - but I'd like to know which CD Player
> classical listeners might have strong feelings about - I'm aware that
> some say they make little difference, that it's the other components
> that matter more - my own player is having mechanical problems, so I'm
> looking for a new one - THANKS.
>
Yes there is very little difference between properly functioning players,
and you have to do a lot of careful listening, all the same volume level to
tell them apart. Buy the one having the features and display you care for.
(NAD has a deserved very bad reputation, having a high failure rate. I also
had one which crapped out.)
Lena
That sounds rational and good. (For myself, I didn't like Cambridge
Audio that much, and I don't remember if I ever got to Music Hall.)
If I were John, I'd try to audition an Arcam (CD72?) , even if it's a
little more than the specified price range. (Although. I thought the
Arcams got really really really good sounding from the CD92 up - a lot
more than the specified range.) Rotel should probably be auditioned
too. (I liked the Arcams better, but that doesn't necessarily mean
anything for anyone else's ears).
Your remark about house sound seems highly apt. I don't think all CD
players sound the same, and none sound quite like live music, anyway,
so after a point, the choice for me seemed to turn very clearly on
"house sound" preferences.
(My own CD player quest was so lengthy and pathetic that I don't really
want to give that as a model - things mostly just sounded better and
better the more expensive they got. :) I gave up testing somewhere
above the $2000 mark. But I ended up very happy with the final choice,
possible house flaws and all. In the process, it emerged that I liked
clear detail and a sense of "air" in the sound, but even more than that
I wanted to hear various wonderfully easily measurable qualities, like
pulse, coherence, and natural timbres. And even "emotional
involvement". And it took me 6 months to find the "pulse and emotional
involvement", too. :) )
Lena
Nick Sun
Lena wrote:
> (My own CD player quest was so lengthy and pathetic that I don't really
> want to give that as a model - things mostly just sounded better and
> better the more expensive they got. :) I gave up testing somewhere
> above the $2000 mark. But I ended up very happy with the final choice,
> possible house flaws and all. In the process, it emerged that I liked
> clear detail and a sense of "air" in the sound, but even more than that
> I wanted to hear various wonderfully easily measurable qualities, like
> pulse, coherence, and natural timbres. And even "emotional
> involvement". And it took me 6 months to find the "pulse and emotional
> involvement", too. :) )
>
> Lena
Lena, how many dB per decade your CD players / Amplifiers / Speakers
combo rolling off starting from 5~10KHz? It seems to me that even
though most of your recording recommendations tend to be overly edgy,
some even bleedingly sharp knived, your recommendation on replaying
equipment on the other hand, tend to be softer on the higher register,
and possibly ending up with less revealing results than most of
natural/less colored sounding (with colored I mean with some euphonic
distortion in the mid range to sound more harmonically rich) ones.
Well, that's just my too cents of guessing. :-)
Lena
Sorry, but what are you talking about? Which recording recommendations
are overly edgy? (If you're talking about the old Budapest Qt. LoC
recordings you once complained about, those remasterings have no high
and hardly any middle frequencies - really. As can be easily verified
with the right software.) I didn't and wouldn't actually recommend
anything on hifi equipment - just suggested brands to try.
For recordings, I'm hardly ever concerned *primarily* about sound, and
never about sound alone. (Ow, my hearing is really quite good. Let's
say, my HF hearing is better than the other numbers that have appeared
here recently.)
Lena
jrs...@aol.com
By the way, those Arcam CD Players that you mentioned have always
seemed very attractive, especially at their price point. The higher
priced ones you mentioned were quite a bit better than the lower line
models, but even the lower line models had a nice presence, clarity,
and transparency compared to the Rotels, NADs, and Marantz I've heard
that are nearly the same cost.
The rest of the audiophilespeak, however, is beyond me, and seems
irrelevant when listening to the Budapests from the LOC.
--Jeff
Lena
> > your recommendation on replaying
> > equipment on the other hand, tend to be softer on the higher register,
> > and possibly ending up with less revealing results than most of
> > natural/less colored sounding (with colored I mean with some euphonic
> > distortion in the mid range to sound more harmonically rich) ones.
> > Well, that's just my too cents of guessing. :-)
Like I said, I didn't recommend replaying equipment at all... But
since you're into guessing, I don't mind if you try to guess what audio
equipment I have. :) (The CD player and amplifier are afaik not
colored.)
(Only, I do use Sennheiser 600s a fair amount for everyday listening,
and they are colored, slightly. I recently heard Simon's Stax, which
sounded great, but I just haven't had the energy to go there right
now.)
Lena
Lena
[CD players]
>
> The rest of the audiophilespeak, however, is beyond me, and seems
> irrelevant when listening to the Budapests from the LOC.
I want to think that I'm an unaudiophile. :) It's a lot cheaper and
easier... (I don't really know audiophilespeak - I read a few things
but forgot it all promptly afterwards.)
Lena
Edward Jasiewicz
>
> wkas...@comcast.net wrote:
>> JohnGavin wrote:
>>
>> > Sorry if this is repetitive - but I'd like to know which CD Player
>> > classical listeners might have strong feelings about - I'm aware that
>> > some say they make little difference, that it's the other components
>> > that matter more - my own player is having mechanical problems, so I'm
>> > looking for a new one - THANKS.
>>
>> How much do you want to spend?
>
> I was thinking in the $400-600 range
>>
>> Do you want a single disc player, or multiple?
>
> Single is perfectly fine.
>>
>> Do you want to play SACD's? MP3's?
>
> SACD would be nice, but not absolutely necessary - MP3s not necessary.
>>
>> What equipment is the CD player going to be "feeding"?
>
> A Krell KAV300i amp / B&W 302 Matrix Speakers
I also run B&Ws Matrix speakers (only 803s, alas) using a Musical Fidelity
CD player (McIntosh amp and pre-amp). The MF is superb.
-Ed
Andy Evans
it's the DAC. Put your money into the best DAC you can find, and hook
it up to any decent CD or DVD player, and remember to try both the
co-axial and optical connection to see which you prefer.
Now, DACs. Here are some good ones:
Apogee DA 1000 or Rosetta 200
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/rosetta200.php
Apogee Mini DAC http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/minidac.php
Benchmark http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/
Remember you can put any other digital sources through these outboard
DACs and get improved sound.
Radical solution: Lyngdorf digital amplifier (includes preamp, DAC
etc). Sell the Krell!
http://www.lyngdorf.com/ContentId/361/Default.aspx
I've heard this setup and talked extensively to Peter Lygdorf about it.
This really is state of the art - I recommend reading through the
amplifier products and seeing what the possibilities are for you. The
sound is quite superb. Andy
Andy Evans
which will replace both the DAC and the amplifier and take a digital
signal straight in from any CD/DVD transport. Here's part of a review
which suggests the Millenium goes very well with B&W speakers. I'd give
the Krell the heave-ho.
>From Soundstage 1999 (version 1 - we're now on version 4, so s/h is
possible):
"The fact is that not every speaker sounds wonderful with the
Millennium. My trusty old Rogers LS 3/5a sounded very thin, which I
suppose (and it's my best shot since they are not defective) could be
traced back to their 15-ohm impedance. Otherwise, most speakers I have
tried showed pretty much their basic character with a slightly varying
final result. A pair of B&W 803s played better than they ever had. So
did my old ribbon-hybrids, which do tend to lack some sparkle up top.
Another lovely combination was made with a pair of Martin-Logan Sequel
2s that have been retrofitted with SL3 panels.
The best speaker/amp combination in this house was achieved with the
beautiful Dali Grand Diva, which I shamefully underestimated in my
Frankfurt report. It turned out to be a much better speaker than I had
expected, not just with Millennium. I hope to provide you with a
separate report on this. Another speaker that I have just heard
fleetingly is the B&W Nautilus 802, which showed tremendous promise
together with the Millennium.
Truth is, the Millennium plays so cleanly and with no discernible
distortion products that it leaves all other amplification far behind.
It's more than the proverbial "open window." You can simply listen so
much more deeply into the recording space as well as details of the
mixing and mastering. But the Millennium is never sharp or tizzy, but
some listeners may feel that it does not provide the warmth that they
heard with other amplifier/speaker/room combinations. Of course, this
means that as with all amplifiers, you must look out for the right
combination of source, amplifier, speaker and room.
I feel that it is quite possible to find a speaker that complements the
Millennium's undeniable strengths to such a degree that the
combination still is miles ahead of anything else I have heard in 30
years of audiophilia. The Dali Grand Diva is a case in point, but the
short listen I had with a B&W Nautilus 802 makes me think this might be
even better.
Steve Emerson
"Edward Jasiewicz" <eajas...@att.net> wrote:
You might want to apprise John of which Musical Fidelity player you use,
since they've released probably 15 to 25 of them over the last 10 years,
using a wide variety of D/A chips, power-supply designs, upsampling and
non-upsampling, etc., to the point where it's debatable whether their
name conveys much, or whether they have much of a house sound. Which is
not a negative remark; it just means the model or at least vintage is
needed.
SE.
JohnGavin
Andy Evans wrote:
> Elsewhere in the thread I've recommended the Lyngdorf digital amps,
> which will replace both the DAC and the amplifier and take a digital
> signal straight in from any CD/DVD transport. Here's part of a review
> which suggests the Millenium goes very well with B&W speakers. I'd give
> the Krell the heave-ho.
>
$$$ with quality. I did listen to various combinations - and traded in
some things - ended up with the Krell 300 amp AND the Krell 300CD
player - big bucks (relatively speaking) and the result not entirely
satisfactory - great detail, but I've always had a gnawing feeling that
the sound itself is a too harsh or raw - in other words, technically
impressive without being aesthically pleasing. I did notice quite a
difference between the B&W Martix 803s and 802s. The speakers at least
are keepers.
Norman M. Schwartz
"Lena" <emsw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164913209.7...@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
One has to have a fairly good model Stax to hear subtle differences between
CD players, and toggling between CD players is a pretty good way to destroy
a Staxs' diaphragm. (Been there ......... .) Do you know which model Simon
ended up with?
> Lena
>
Edward Jasiewicz
"Steve Emerson" <eme...@nospamsonic.net> wrote in message
news:emersn-9825E3....@nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net...
Good point. It's an A3.2 24 bit upsampling CD player, which I believe is
still around and available. I also own a Sony DVD/SACD player (NS999ES) that
pretty much plays everything but DVD audio (for the obvious reasons).
But, wouldn't someone do well at this point to just wait for the great
player that also does Blue Ray if they're seeking an audio-visual player?
Steve Emerson
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote:
Krell is all about amplifiers. Not CD players.
Given that you have a neutral amp, and speakers that are going to be
completely unforgiving of harshness/glare, I'd say the system could
tolerate a sweetish/warmish-sounding CD player or DAC (Marantz, Creek,
possibly Cambridge Audio); or at least something neutral (Arcam,
Cambridge Audio). I would avoid Rotel in your case. I doubt that Musical
Fidelity has anything in the price range (nor Creek for that matter).
SE.
JohnGavin
Wayne Reimer wrote:
> > In article <z5KdnW7h6dpBvPPY...@comcast.com>, norman...@comcast.net says...> > news:1164815731.8...@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
> > > Sorry if this is repetitive - but I'd like to know which CD Player
> > > classical listeners might have strong feelings about - I'm aware that
> > > some say they make little difference, that it's the other components
> > > that matter more - my own player is having mechanical problems, so I'm
> > > looking for a new one - THANKS.
> >
> > that will play everything, including
> > SACD, mp3, wma, ogg & mp4, on either a CDR or a DVDR. There's really no
> > reason to buy a CD player; all DVD players must play CDs as well.
> >
> music and DVD players are designed for video and, while the DVD players
> are able to play CDs, that there is a significant difference in how
> they do it. I don't understand the inticacies of the technology so I
> can't elaborate, but the difference seems based on resampling or
> something of that sort. I'm sure some of the technophiles here could
> speak to this.
>
> wr
I'm curious about DVD-audio discs, and how they differ from CDs. That
might have something to do with what you're referring to.
Steve Emerson
<RsHbh.397401$QZ1.2...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
"Edward Jasiewicz" <eajas...@att.net> wrote:
That I don't know. I have heard the MF player you mention and thought it
sounded very nice. I might easily have ended up with one; although I was
a little skeptical as to whether upsampling was adding anything. But
wasn't this in the range $1200-1500?
SE.
JohnGavin
Thanks Steve, Nic and everyone else for the advice. I think you're
right about a more pliant CD Player for these components. I'll be
trying a Marantz PMD 340 - the mechanical parts seem to be constructed
very solidly - a nice situation after the rather poor Krell. It's got
a couple of nice features, like pitch control, which is appealing. It
is purported to play CDRs very well - something which the expensive
Krell didn't always do.
Edward Jasiewicz
Yes. :-(
($1200)
The upsampling in this model was my attempt at replacing my poor
unrepairable Pioneer Elite PD-65 player, which had "legato link," or
whatever (I still have the dead body - the laser lens fell out!). It worked
for me, and the MF does a similarly nice job of not overly interfering as it
"improves." Esp. as the B&Ws are rather bright "accurate" speakers (though,
nothing so pointed as the old Thieles).
Also - yes, there is a big difference between the B&Ws 802 and 803, but not
nearly as much as between the 803s and 804s.
-Ed
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
>
> [snip] I'll be
> trying a Marantz PMD 340 - the mechanical parts seem to be constructed
> very solidly - a nice situation after the rather poor Krell. It's got
> a couple of nice features, like pitch control, which is appealing. It
> is purported to play CDRs very well - something which the expensive
> Krell didn't always do.
>
My dear old Denon DCD1520 (purchased in 1990) is starting to get a bit
creaky - sounds OK, but I suspect that the error handling function is
starting to fail, as witness my previous posts regarding the bizarre
behavior of the Northern Flowers CDs of Taneyev quartets (which played fine
on my little Sony D802K CarDiscman).
So I was thinking seriously about something in the Marantz PMD line; I liked
the idea of the extra-rugged construction. But then I got to thinking that
there are so many extra functions in this series which are applicable only
to DJ's, plus I'm not going to be trucking my stuff all over creation, so
special ruggedness is not really a requirement.
In the end, I have just popped for a Marantz CD5001, which is supposed to
sound fine, and reportedly resolves some of the quality control issues that
bedeviled the CD5400. I';m really going to miss the Time Search on the
Denon (key in track / minute / second, and boom, there you are) but no mfr
seems to offer this feature nowadays. And the CD5001 does offer a headphone
jack and vol control, which for me is a non-negotiable requirement. Should
arrive just in time for ol' Russ-not-Martha's birthday!!
Now for a question for anyone familiar with this equipment - is there any
recommendation for a "burn-in" period for the CD5001? Should I load up a
CD, put it on "repeat," and go about my business for a few hours or days?
Or is this equipment regarded as performing to the optimum right out of the
box???
TIA for any info.
Russ (not Martha)
Steve Emerson
"JohnGavin" <dag...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Steve Emerson wrote:
> > Krell is all about amplifiers. Not CD players.
> >
> > Given that you have a neutral amp, and speakers that are going to be
> > completely unforgiving of harshness/glare, I'd say the system could
> > tolerate a sweetish/warmish-sounding CD player or DAC (Marantz, Creek,
> > possibly Cambridge Audio); or at least something neutral (Arcam,
> > Cambridge Audio). I would avoid Rotel in your case. I doubt that Musical
> > Fidelity has anything in the price range (nor Creek for that matter).
> >
> > SE.
>
> Thanks Steve, Nic and everyone else for the advice. I think you're
> right about a more pliant CD Player for these components. I'll be
> trying a Marantz PMD 340 - the mechanical parts seem to be constructed
> very solidly - a nice situation after the rather poor Krell. It's got
> a couple of nice features, like pitch control, which is appealing.
I haven't heard the Marantz pro-audio stuff so can't comment on the
sound. If it's possible to also hear the Marantz SA8260, I would do so.
Plus test all of it with CDRs ;)
The Marantz pro-audio gear may not have the "house sound," in fact it
may not come from the same facilities. It may be solely a case of
Philips using the Marantz name. Dunno. The designs of Ken Ishikawa are
what set Marantz apart, and evidently his role varies from complete to
nil, including lots of "KI signature" versions of moderately priced gear.
Distribution with Marantz is utterly weird. Many of the Ishikawa "KI"
designs were not sold in the US. HiFiChoice in the UK would list 3
exotic Marantz players at $2500 and up as their top picks, and nothing
above $800 would be available in the U.S., in fact there wouldn't be a
110-volt product. Etc.
In short, please see if you can also find an Arcam dealer.
> It
> is purported to play CDRs very well - something which the expensive
> Krell didn't always do.
That's an interesting point and one that should be kept in mind. A
friend said that his fairly recent Creek would not play a CDR I gave
him. This and a Panasonic from about 1991 are the only machines I've had
this complaint about.
As a transport I use the fabled but moderately priced Marantz CD63SE,
modded as a player by an audiophile outfit in Singapore. These date from
about 1994. CDRs invariably start making music on this machine within
about 2 seconds of the drawer closing. So playing a CDR should not be a
whole lot to ask.
SE.
Steve Emerson
"Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> Now for a question for anyone familiar with this equipment - is there any
> recommendation for a "burn-in" period for the CD5001? Should I load up a
> CD, put it on "repeat," and go about my business for a few hours or days?
> Or is this equipment regarded as performing to the optimum right out of the
> box???
You should burn it in for three or four days. Even then it may sound
better a month later. I have been through this many times. Op-amp chips
sound different after they burn in. Some caps are notorious this way
too, but that may be less of a factor with this machine.
Pink noise is said by many to be the burn-in content of choice.
SE.
Steve Emerson
"Edward Jasiewicz" <eajas...@att.net> wrote:
(cut)
Agreed about the B&Ws and the Thiel comparison -- those things were
pretty much the ne plus ultra for unforgivingness of tweeter. Not to
mention that at some frequencies the load dropped to around 1.5 ohms,
making them notoriously tortuous to drive.
SE.
Steve Emerson
SE.
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
Um - where do I find a CD of pink noise??????????
Russ (not Martha)
MiNe 109
"Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> "Steve Emerson" <eme...@nospamsonic.net> wrote in message
> news:emersn-068DE9....@nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net...
> > In article <FtKbh.6752$_H5....@tornado.texas.rr.com>,
> > "Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Now for a question for anyone familiar with this equipment - is there
> any
> > > recommendation for a "burn-in" period for the CD5001? Should I load up
> a
> > > CD, put it on "repeat," and go about my business for a few hours or
> days?
> > > Or is this equipment regarded as performing to the optimum right out of
> the
> > > box???
> >
> > You should burn it in for three or four days. Even then it may sound
> > better a month later. I have been through this many times. Op-amp chips
> > sound different after they burn in. Some caps are notorious this way
> > too, but that may be less of a factor with this machine.
> >
> > Pink noise is said by many to be the burn-in content of choice.
> >
> > SE.
>
> Um - where do I find a CD of pink noise??????????
Stereophile Test CD 3
http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/424/index1.html
Stephen
Steve Emerson
"Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> "Steve Emerson" <eme...@nospamsonic.net> wrote in message
> news:emersn-068DE9....@nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net...
> > In article <FtKbh.6752$_H5....@tornado.texas.rr.com>,
> > "Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Now for a question for anyone familiar with this equipment - is there
> any
> > > recommendation for a "burn-in" period for the CD5001? Should I load up
> a
> > > CD, put it on "repeat," and go about my business for a few hours or
> days?
> > > Or is this equipment regarded as performing to the optimum right out of
> the
> > > box???
> >
> > You should burn it in for three or four days. Even then it may sound
> > better a month later. I have been through this many times. Op-amp chips
> > sound different after they burn in. Some caps are notorious this way
> > too, but that may be less of a factor with this machine.
> >
> > Pink noise is said by many to be the burn-in content of choice.
> >
> > SE.
>
> Um - where do I find a CD of pink noise??????????
I burned one using a track off a HiFi News test CD.
However --
http://www.luxevivant.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=63
will let you download a big pink noise MP3 file for $5. Or you can get a
free sample of 15 seconds' duration, save it, and cut and paste
something together. This will take no time at all. If edits are sloppy,
who cares? Probably work even better.
The other alternative is a free generator app that will make pink noise
among other things. Seems like a lot of trouble.
SE.
SE.
Andy Evans
> music and DVD players are designed for video and, while the DVD players
> are able to play CDs, that there is a significant difference in how
> they do it. I don't understand the inticacies of the technology so I
> can't elaborate, but the difference seems based on resampling or
> something of that sort. I'm sure some of the technophiles here could
> speak to this.
>
> wr
whatever it is, I currently use the optical output off my panasonic DVD
player - sounds better than the coax out of my Rega Planar. I use a
Chris Found VDAC4 as the DAC.
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
The thought occurred to me last night in the bathroom, where like many I get
my best ideas, that I can do it for nothing - well, say 35 cents or so, the
cost of a CDR blank. Cool Edit Pro has a noise generator - all I gotta do
is create a 70 minute WAV file of pink noise and burn the CD. But I don't
think I'd listen to it very often.
Russ (not Martha)
Norman M. Schwartz
"Edward Jasiewicz" <eajas...@att.net> wrote
>
> Good point. It's an A3.2 24 bit upsampling CD player, which I believe is
> still around and available. I also own a Sony DVD/SACD player (NS999ES)
> that pretty much plays everything but DVD audio (for the obvious reasons).
>
> But, wouldn't someone do well at this point to just wait for the great
> player that also does Blue Ray if they're seeking an audio-visual player?
I prefer to wait until BRO has Blue Ray discs.
>
Paul Goldstein
Oppenheim says...
Stereophile publishes a special CD that includes pink noise tracks and other
things of use to audio nuts.
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
"Paul Goldstein" <Paul_...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:ekphc...@drn.newsguy.com...
> Stereophile publishes a special CD that includes pink noise tracks and
other
> things of use to audio nuts.
>
I'm burning a pink-noise CD as I write.
Russ (not Martha)
pgaron
In a special arrangement by John Cage?
pgaron
Gerard
Why don't you use the player for a while in an usual way?
Are you afraid that you will not get value for your money during a burn-in
period, or that it will be horrible to listen? If there really is an burn-in
period, you will be rewarded by a slightly better (or only different) sounding
machine after it.
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
"Gerard" <ghen_nosp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4570616f$0$5034>
> Why don't you use the player for a while in an usual way?
> Are you afraid that you will not get value for your money during a burn-in
> period, or that it will be horrible to listen?
Just thought it would be good to be assured that the equipment is performing
to its max on my 1st listen.
By way of tradition, whenever I get any new equipment that lies along the CD
playback chain, the 1st thing I listen to is Beethoven's Weihe des Hauses!
> If there really is an burn-in
> period, you will be rewarded by a slightly better (or only different)
sounding
> machine after it.
>
That's the whole point. That's way I have a CD with an hour of pink noise
at the ready.
Russ (not Martha)
Paul Goldstein
Oppenheim says...
>
>
I hope it has bloom above the stave.
Gerard
> news:4570616f$0$5034>
> > Why don't you use the player for a while in an usual way?
>
> > Are you afraid that you will not get value for your money during a
> > burn-in period, or that it will be horrible to listen?
>
> Just thought it would be good to be assured that the equipment is
> performing to its max on my 1st listen.
That's what I don't "get".
If it is good equipment you can enjoy it from the start, and after a while it
will be even better and you will enjoy it even more.
>
> By way of tradition, whenever I get any new equipment that lies along
> the CD playback chain, the 1st thing I listen to is Beethoven's Weihe
> des Hauses!
>
> > If there really is an burn-in
> > period, you will be rewarded by a slightly better (or only
> > different) sounding machine after it.
> >
>
> That's the whole point. That's way I have a CD with an hour of pink
> noise at the ready.
>
In that case there will be such a rewarding _every time_ after using the pink
noise CD for a while (and it does not matter what CD player you use, burned-in
or not).
Steve Emerson
"Andy Evans" <performan...@gmail.com> wrote:
A DVD transport has multiple lasers, three I believe, vs. one. This may
or may not be what Wayne has in mind. Naturally the D/A process is
entirely different as well.
SE.
Steve Emerson
"Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> "Gerard" <ghen_nosp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4570616f$0$5034>
> > Why don't you use the player for a while in an usual way?
>
> > Are you afraid that you will not get value for your money during a burn-in
> > period, or that it will be horrible to listen?
>
> Just thought it would be good to be assured that the equipment is performing
> to its max on my 1st listen.
Even with the steps you'll have taken, I don't think it will be, quite
-- but it's good to do what one can. You may want to supplement the pink
noise disc with something having loud lows.
SE.
Lena
> "Lena" <emsw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > I recently heard Simon's Stax, which
> > sounded great, but I just haven't had the energy to go there right
> > now.)
> >
>
> One has to have a fairly good model Stax to hear subtle differences between
> CD players, and toggling between CD players is a pretty good way to destroy
> a Staxs' diaphragm. (Been there ......... .) Do you know which model Simon
> ended up with?
Sorry, I didn't pay attention to that part. He might have mentioned
the model here at some point. (Fortunately, no CD players got
compared on this outing, only headphones.)
Lena
Victor Sokovin
Steve Emerson wrote:
> The Marantz pro-audio gear may not have the "house sound," in fact it
> may not come from the same facilities. It may be solely a case of
> Philips using the Marantz name. Dunno. The designs of Ken Ishikawa are
> what set Marantz apart, and evidently his role varies from complete to
> nil, including lots of "KI signature" versions of moderately priced gear.
Philips? Marantz is nowadays owned by Denon.
Victor
Steve Emerson
"Victor Sokovin" <laser...@usa.net> wrote:
Ah thanks. I wondered a little if the Philips connection was current.
Anyway the point holds as to the Marantz pro-audio vs. the rest.
SE.
Steve Emerson
FYI, the Arcam CD73 ($699 and beloved of virtually every reviewer out
there) information is here --
http://www.arcam.co.uk/prod_diva_CD73_intro.cfm
My experience with this company has been terrific. That has included
several technical suggestions direct from the president, as well as free
upgrade of the CD player clock to their current standard, done when the
(Sony) laser needed service.
SE.
Norman M. Schwartz
I have 2 Marantz "PMD" players; 325, 331. They both allow index access,
however only from the remote for the 325 (which is able to read
"unfinalized" CD-Rs, as can stand-alone CD recorders if that is of any
import to you). The rear panels of both indicate "Made in Japan". Denon and
Marantz Professional are in a merger,
http://www.d-mpro.eu.com/index2.php?CID=2&lang=eng&action=detail&brand=0&Nid=6,
I don't know of any significance AFAWAC.
They have both operated flawlessly and have no particular sound which I'm
aware of. I also own a Marantz CD5000 which breezes through reading one of
my badly bronzed CDs, a feat EAC failed at doing (in over a week's time.)
> SE.
Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
"Norman M. Schwartz" <nm...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Yyhch.5$qo...@newsfe09.lga...
>
>
> I have 2 Marantz "PMD" players; 325, 331. They both allow index access,
> however only from the remote for the 325 (which is able to read
> "unfinalized" CD-Rs, as can stand-alone CD recorders if that is of any
> import to you). The rear panels of both indicate "Made in Japan". Denon
and > Marantz Professional are in a merger,
[snip]
> I also own a Marantz CD5000 which breezes through reading one of
> my badly bronzed CDs, a feat EAC failed at doing (in over a week's time.)
>
That's encouraging; I have a CD5001 on order.
Russ (not Martha)
jl
"Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim" <moppe...@satx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:K4och.15713$Gk5....@tornado.texas.rr.com...
the time due to my home circumstances. I think it gives excellent
performance for the price. Certainly outperforms the CD player on my old
Denon DM-31 which introduces an irritating backgound hiss.
I did try the Arcam Solo for a while (I understand its CD player section is
largely based on the CD73) but it had too many irritating quirks. Fast
forward would often stick on, the buttons on the remote were awful and if
you programmed consecutive tracks it would put a short (half-second) gap
inbetween the tracks. Doesn't do this if you just press play and let it play
through the consecutive tracks normally. The CD5001 (and every other player
I've used) doesn't do this. The other worry I had with the Arcam Solo was
that out of the 3 units I tried (sent it back a few times as Arcam promised
to solve my issues), only 1 gave decent playback through the headphone
socket - the other 2 had almost no bass at all through the socket, and the
bass/tone controls do NOT affect the output of the headphone socket - only
the speakers.
It was great in all other regards (superb sound through speakers) but i
couldn't live with it.
Cheers, JL