What CD-player do you like...

rmihai · 21st January 2006, 08:07 PM

In the past 8 years I tried several so called "entry-level" CD-players and none of them is even close to my analog rig. All of them were lacking emotion, musicality and involvement.

In order these have been the CD-players in my system:
1998 - Marantz CD-48
1999 - NAD C-520
2000 - Cambridge D500 SE
2001 - MARANTZ CD-6000 OSE LE
2002 - ROTEL RCD-02
2003 - MICROMEGA Minium CD
2004 - ROTEL RCD-1072
2005 - REGA Apollo !!!

After 8 years, I am feeling bored and disapointed. There is no match of analog sound in the digital domain?

What CD-player that I dind't tried yet, you like under 1000 Euro (US$1200)?

Thank you

Cobra2 · 21st January 2006, 09:34 PM

Do you still have any of them?
Get/make a non-os DAC, for getting the most analog sound.
However, the musicality & envolvment/emotion feeling will vary from person to person...
The best "analog-sound" with "emotion" I have made, is the non-os DAC from "Pedja" (TDA-1541 based).

Arne K

rmihai · 21st January 2006, 09:39 PM

Arne - I still have the Rega Apollo - what a disapointment!!! I guess is the Wolfson DAC that is not up to the chalenge.

Trebla · 21st January 2006, 10:23 PM

Try a Pioneer DVD575 or similar.
Some people including myself have forsaken relatively expensive players in favour of this little machine. Gets closer to analogue than many CD players.
Plus you have the facility to try DVD audio and SACD.
I have tried three of the players you mention and didn't like any of them.

chipco3434 · 21st January 2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Try a Pioneer DVD575 or similar.

I bought a Panasonic S29 DVD player... good sound, does not skip at high sound levels. It's much better than my old CD players. 60 bucks

Leolabs · 22nd January 2006, 08:06 AM

Sometimes any elcheapo DVD player will do the job

soundfan · 16th March 2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rmihai
Arne - I still have the Rega Apollo - what a disapointment!!! I guess is the Wolfson DAC that is not up to the chalenge.

Maybe your problem is system specific?

I recently upgraded to the Rega Apollo and find it fantastic for the price.
I too love my vinyl, but find the Apollo is the closest analog sounding CDP I have heard.

A big 2 thumbs up for the Apollo from me.

hayenc · 16th March 2006, 08:41 PM

Second vote for the Panasonic S29 DVD player. Have it feeding one of Peter Daniel's 1543 nos DAC's and it sounds in some respects better than my Cal Audio CL-10, either straight or through a Benchmark DAC-1.

No complaints for under $300, including DAC.

Gasho · 16th March 2006, 09:03 PM

I have Rotel RCD990 tweaked with OsCons LT regs where was 7805 for dig. filter and Tent clock.

Other player is Studer D731 (two more for sale) , and A730 that wait for new transport.

Both working players are best digital front end I ever heard in my system (and other top systems around).

Rotel is more detailed , laid back , spaceous player ,very musical , not a trace of digital sound.

Studer is the beast , very neutral , very musical , very coherent sound. It sounds like you listen to master record in studio. Bass is killer down to last octave , focus is razor sharp , transparency very natural , Rotel is like more transparent but in fact it is on brighter side than Studer. Studer is more better balanced.

Both of them sounds like some analog source , I love them.

Can wait to hear A730 based on CDM3 and TDA1541 S2 (double crown) , balanced solid state output.

Rotel is based on CDM9pro and BB PCM63K dacs.

Studer D731 is based on CDM4pro and TDA1547 dac with jitterless clock system that track compact disc base recorded clock.

anatech · 16th March 2006, 10:01 PM

Hi rmihai,
Sadly, no fix for cheap digital. The Revox machines sound great. My fav at the moment is a Denon DCD-S10. There are other (not cheap) units around. Have a listen to the Teac Esoteric units. I am told they sound good.

-Chris

21st January 2006, 08:07 PM	#1
rmihai diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto	What CD-player do you like... In the past 8 years I tried several so called "entry-level" CD-players and none of them is even close to my analog rig. All of them were lacking emotion, musicality and involvement. In order these have been the CD-players in my system: 1998 - Marantz CD-48 1999 - NAD C-520 2000 - Cambridge D500 SE 2001 - MARANTZ CD-6000 OSE LE 2002 - ROTEL RCD-02 2003 - MICROMEGA Minium CD 2004 - ROTEL RCD-1072 2005 - REGA Apollo !!! After 8 years, I am feeling bored and disapointed. There is no match of analog sound in the digital domain? What CD-player that I dind't tried yet, you like under 1000 Euro (US$1200)? Thank you

21st January 2006, 09:34 PM	#2
Cobra2 DIY ! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stavanger, Norway	CD-players Do you still have any of them? Get/make a non-os DAC, for getting the most analog sound. However, the musicality & envolvment/emotion feeling will vary from person to person... The best "analog-sound" with "emotion" I have made, is the non-os DAC from "Pedja" (TDA-1541 based). Arne K __________________ Ars longa, vita brevis

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21st January 2006, 09:39 PM	#3
rmihai diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto	Arne - I still have the Rega Apollo - what a disapointment!!! I guess is the Wolfson DAC that is not up to the chalenge.

21st January 2006, 10:23 PM	#4
Trebla diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North West	Try a Pioneer DVD575 or similar. Some people including myself have forsaken relatively expensive players in favour of this little machine. Gets closer to analogue than many CD players. Plus you have the facility to try DVD audio and SACD. I have tried three of the players you mention and didn't like any of them.

22nd January 2006, 08:06 AM	#6
Leolabs diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bukit Mertajam	Sometimes any elcheapo DVD player will do the job

16th March 2006, 08:41 PM	#8
hayenc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ	Second vote for the Panasonic S29 DVD player. Have it feeding one of Peter Daniel's 1543 nos DAC's and it sounds in some respects better than my Cal Audio CL-10, either straight or through a Benchmark DAC-1. No complaints for under $300, including DAC.

16th March 2006, 09:03 PM	#9
Gasho diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Zagreb	I have Rotel RCD990 tweaked with OsCons LT regs where was 7805 for dig. filter and Tent clock. Other player is Studer D731 (two more for sale) , and A730 that wait for new transport. Both working players are best digital front end I ever heard in my system (and other top systems around). Rotel is more detailed , laid back , spaceous player ,very musical , not a trace of digital sound. Studer is the beast , very neutral , very musical , very coherent sound. It sounds like you listen to master record in studio. Bass is killer down to last octave , focus is razor sharp , transparency very natural , Rotel is like more transparent but in fact it is on brighter side than Studer. Studer is more better balanced. Both of them sounds like some analog source , I love them. Can wait to hear A730 based on CDM3 and TDA1541 S2 (double crown) , balanced solid state output. Rotel is based on CDM9pro and BB PCM63K dacs. Studer D731 is based on CDM4pro and TDA1547 dac with jitterless clock system that track compact disc base recorded clock.

16th March 2006, 10:01 PM	#10
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi rmihai, Sadly, no fix for cheap digital. The Revox machines sound great. My fav at the moment is a Denon DCD-S10. There are other (not cheap) units around. Have a listen to the Teac Esoteric units. I am told they sound good. -Chris

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