For me it's the audio research cd5, also creek destiny is good.
LP can sound twice better than any cd player, but the cost is very higher to get there.
LP can sound twice better than any cd player, but the cost is very higher to get there.
To me the very best player is also the one that is built the right way. I have only a few times in my 50 years of life, heard hifi gear sound different and unexpectedly much better than the components used would normally justify.
In other words, you almost always can hear the contribution of the components used, they cary their sonic footprint everywhere.
As an example I´ve heard an Accuphase CD costing a lot. As I remember it, the DAC in this beautifull player was composed of 8 DAC chips pr. channel BBPCM1704 costing 25$ a peace I think, which was and still is a lovely chip. This player was simply a nice and well engineered digital peace of gear. But the analog stage following the so well engineered digital stage, was composed of a few old style op-amps from JRC and a bunch of very ordinary powerregulators.
The sound of the player was remarkably ordinary and predictable. And this is the way most players are engineered, including the before mentioned Linn CD12.
Also the CD12 is composed of a CDMPRO drive from Philips, Pasific Microsonics DF, BB1702K and a few op-amps with FETs in the input, all together powersupplied by a noisy SMPS. To me it sounds like just that. I´ve had the opportunity to compare the CD12 to a Denon DCD S1, both build as tanks, with PCM1702K and a few op-amps. Both of those players are considered very good, but imho none of them don´t really get beyond the intrinsic performance of the components.
As I see it 2+2 makes 4, not 5 or 6, only in those very special cases, quite normal components suddenly performs as a dream. Normally this happens when sufficient care and attention is given to the supplies.
IMHO there is no such thing as free lunch and magic dust.
Looking at more esoteric gear, from small manufacturers, claiming professional craftmanship and NASA like developmentcapacities, should also be looked upon with critical eyes. There are indeed very pro guys doing good jobs to improve performance of digital sound reproduction, but they are very few. They often build their own discrete analog stages and filtering, and some do even themselves or in coorporation with their vendor, compose their own software for FPGA´s containing DAC, DF amongst other things.
But mostly you´ll just see passive components with the logo of the manufacturer of the player on it. That´s cheap but it is an eye catcher and it looks nice albeit, even Sony, Denon and other very large manufacturers, would never hide the origin of their passives, they are actually proud to show that they do not use cheap chinese capacitors, but ie. Elna quality caps instead.
And frankly spoken! Who would know more about capacitors than theese guys? They make millions of them, and if they do not do what they are supposed to do, an economic catastrofee could be the result.
My experiences -both as DIYér and end user - tells me that common sense and sota industrial components makes the deal. Special audio components would mostly never make it into industrial purposes. They mostly are downgrades with hard to understand pricetags on the package.
In other words, you almost always can hear the contribution of the components used, they cary their sonic footprint everywhere.
As an example I´ve heard an Accuphase CD costing a lot. As I remember it, the DAC in this beautifull player was composed of 8 DAC chips pr. channel BBPCM1704 costing 25$ a peace I think, which was and still is a lovely chip. This player was simply a nice and well engineered digital peace of gear. But the analog stage following the so well engineered digital stage, was composed of a few old style op-amps from JRC and a bunch of very ordinary powerregulators.
The sound of the player was remarkably ordinary and predictable. And this is the way most players are engineered, including the before mentioned Linn CD12.
Also the CD12 is composed of a CDMPRO drive from Philips, Pasific Microsonics DF, BB1702K and a few op-amps with FETs in the input, all together powersupplied by a noisy SMPS. To me it sounds like just that. I´ve had the opportunity to compare the CD12 to a Denon DCD S1, both build as tanks, with PCM1702K and a few op-amps. Both of those players are considered very good, but imho none of them don´t really get beyond the intrinsic performance of the components.
As I see it 2+2 makes 4, not 5 or 6, only in those very special cases, quite normal components suddenly performs as a dream. Normally this happens when sufficient care and attention is given to the supplies.
IMHO there is no such thing as free lunch and magic dust.
Looking at more esoteric gear, from small manufacturers, claiming professional craftmanship and NASA like developmentcapacities, should also be looked upon with critical eyes. There are indeed very pro guys doing good jobs to improve performance of digital sound reproduction, but they are very few. They often build their own discrete analog stages and filtering, and some do even themselves or in coorporation with their vendor, compose their own software for FPGA´s containing DAC, DF amongst other things.
But mostly you´ll just see passive components with the logo of the manufacturer of the player on it. That´s cheap but it is an eye catcher and it looks nice albeit, even Sony, Denon and other very large manufacturers, would never hide the origin of their passives, they are actually proud to show that they do not use cheap chinese capacitors, but ie. Elna quality caps instead.
And frankly spoken! Who would know more about capacitors than theese guys? They make millions of them, and if they do not do what they are supposed to do, an economic catastrofee could be the result.
My experiences -both as DIYér and end user - tells me that common sense and sota industrial components makes the deal. Special audio components would mostly never make it into industrial purposes. They mostly are downgrades with hard to understand pricetags on the package.
PLAYSTATION😀 😀
I have the 5502.........HEAVILY MODIFIED with single high quality output caps conneted directly to DAC pins and followed by microphone step up transformers.
Best CD sound ever - comparable to vinyl IMHO😉
I have the 5502.........HEAVILY MODIFIED with single high quality output caps conneted directly to DAC pins and followed by microphone step up transformers.
Best CD sound ever - comparable to vinyl IMHO😉
Forget Playstation
I have 3 pcs. with different "mod" levels. Bit I can't understand the hype with it. It is a mediocre design for CD audio!
I think people who admire the sound of PS I also admire TDA1543. They don't know really good players or DACs.
THe PS1 has poor resolution and smoothes the sound very much. Everythink is pleasant for the ears but has nothing to do with that what is on CD. It is a typical DIY phenomen. If someone changes a bad cap in a device with any BG N there happened a wonder and this modded device beats anything in the universe especially the very renowned expensive gear.
Be happy with PS I like your childs but please don't praise it for the top league. 😉
I have 3 pcs. with different "mod" levels. Bit I can't understand the hype with it. It is a mediocre design for CD audio!
I think people who admire the sound of PS I also admire TDA1543. They don't know really good players or DACs.
THe PS1 has poor resolution and smoothes the sound very much. Everythink is pleasant for the ears but has nothing to do with that what is on CD. It is a typical DIY phenomen. If someone changes a bad cap in a device with any BG N there happened a wonder and this modded device beats anything in the universe especially the very renowned expensive gear.
Be happy with PS I like your childs but please don't praise it for the top league. 😉
Organic and clean together. Yes, it is very expensive. LP still plays better, but on a pricey TT assortment. Still at half the money.
Tolu, ''poor resolution'' and ''smooths the sound'' ?????
I don't know what your mods were or the rest of your system is, but I do not agree with your verdict.
There are many others who are using the Playstation all around the world and consider it to be a sensation in the sound department.
Even Stereophile reviewed it as many ''audiophiles'' had brought the matter of the Playstation's sound quality to their attention.
They would not have even considered such a review had it not passed some prior critical listening tests first.
I don't hear any softening or masking of resolution - quite the opposite in fact. This damned thing is a mystery, no doubt about it.😉
I don't know what your mods were or the rest of your system is, but I do not agree with your verdict.
There are many others who are using the Playstation all around the world and consider it to be a sensation in the sound department.
Even Stereophile reviewed it as many ''audiophiles'' had brought the matter of the Playstation's sound quality to their attention.
They would not have even considered such a review had it not passed some prior critical listening tests first.
I don't hear any softening or masking of resolution - quite the opposite in fact. This damned thing is a mystery, no doubt about it.😉
in this case this Thread could be of interest:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/109500-best-cd-drive-mechanism-17.html
My favorite loading principle is top loading, because this is the best way to handle different thickness, different inner hole diameter and different internal damping of material by the compact disc.
Here a small collection of four transport mechanism, that I have heard (unfortunately not at the same time):
1) JVC EXU-901A with Optical Pick Up JVC OPT4 (Optima 4) used in
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hansvt/pdf/brochures/KPS25s.pdf
http://www.hifido.co.jp/KWGT-CD1/G1/E/0-…36407-15800-00/
VICTOR CDƒvƒŒƒCƒ„�[XL-Z900‚ÌŽd—l ƒrƒNƒ^�[
http://www.phase-tech.com/pdf/CT-1_catalog1.pdf
http://www.phase-tech.com/html_japan/productspage_ct-1.html
http://www.combak.net/pdf/CDP-777Test.pdf
http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2005/images/remiyo_777.jpg
Reimyo cdp-777 image by crystalref on Photobucket
in this case I have start this thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ch-ct-1-ct1-better-than-vam1254-cdpro2lf.html
2) VAU1254/VAM1254/CD12pro2-LF include PCM decoder board
DAISy : CD-Pro2 module VAU1254 (CD)
used in a very wide range of commercial and diy cd player models, e. g.
Ancient Audio - Lektor Grand
3) CDM3 (old stuff, but still available in good condition) e. g. used in Luxman
‚c-‚T‚O‚O‚w�f‚r
and Krell MD-10
http://blog.roodo.com/springnet26/2e9c9602.jpg
Krell md-10 image by jensonav on Photobucket
4) Sanyo SFP-101N mechanism include CECs belt drive peripherie, mentioned about post #8 from above mentioned thread
Audio Spare SFP101N15 (SFP 101N 15) - DA11 MECHANISM 15PIN...
e. g. used in
CEC CD TRANSPORT TL0X
maybe a very good template for a diy project, because the mechanism still available by a wide range of suppliers
A similar version of such Sanyo mechanism I have found in sakura systems "Flat Fish" 4713, for a review go to
47labsflatfish
the the most expensive player for compact disc must actually be this one:
New Products - PiTracer CD Transport
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my CD player uses #4 and it does sound good (16 pin model). I purchased a spare transport and laser assembly, just in case it dies in a few years. This thing is so cheaply built and low cost it is hard to understand why it sounds so good.
I don't think the belt drive models are the same or use the same base but I'm not sure.
/paba
I don't think the belt drive models are the same or use the same base but I'm not sure.
/paba
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