Ancient audio Lector Prime cd player

You are discussing CDPs that live in the rarified atmosphere of being among the best. I have not heard the competitors to the Lektor Prime that the two of you mention, but I am thrilled with my Lektor Prime. It feeds into a custom-made upgrade of the Ancient Audio 300b Integra amplifier (with Shungang Black Bottle tubes) and a pair of Zu Definition 2 speakers. The sound is organic, lush, and huge (as apposed to loud) with a lot of tone. I have compared live performances with CDs recorded by the same groups and two sound amazingly alike. For example, just last Saturday, I heard the Tallis Scholars in concert and then listened to their CDs as soon as I got home.

The look of the Ancient Audio equipment is stunning, understated, unique, and customizable; important to me since I am a slave to aesthetics, and my system is in plain view in my living room. I agree that having a volume control (actually a two-input pre-amplifier) within the Lektor Prime is a plus; maybe this does not work well in other CDPs, but it does here. It keeps the look minimalistic without sacrificing sound.

I have not heard the Lektor Prime paired with a production level Single Six in my system. When I visited Jarek to audition his two CDPs, this amplifier was under development. But if you like the sound of 300b tubes, maybe Jarek will make a 300b amplifier for you like he did for me. I have paired the Lektor Prime with two other amplifiers - the Yamamoto A-08s and a locally made DejaVu 45/2a3 SET. It was good, but not as good as the Ancient Audio 300b amplifier that I am currently using - perhaps because they are both made by the same designer.

Thanks a lot guys! Now this is what I call an informative thread.

Mike, yes my favourite remains AMR CD-77 and yes I will purchase the Lektor Prime as an upgrade to my Lektor V and make it the heart of a killer second system, imho of course (even if it hurts; anyway, I have given all my family who wanted to know if they can do me a special pleasure for Christmas pictures of the Prime and an envelope ...) Gsm18439 you nailed it precisely: two specimens of a rare breed!

Mike, I was very puzzled to see the qualification "thin" in one sentence with AMR CD-77; in all honesty, that is one thing I cannot reconstruct. Further on you spoke about "comparative leanness" in connection with "neutral", and I am back with you. Indeed, I think we all will have witnessed tonal shifts that may sometimes - and very suddenly - cross a line where the descriptions become pejorative. System dependence, imho, I'd like to mention the differences that cable looms made when auditioning the Lektor Prime (sigh, yes I must have those Argento Serenity cables as well, oh never mind, drink a succulent Duvel beer instead of Bollinger Champagne in the coming 12 months, huh). I think I can relate to your experience with dCS Scarlatti that, admittedly, I only heard at a show. I know people on other threads would stone us for that, but there you are. I'd be stoned for narrating experiences with Burmester and Accuphase as well, without doubt very good machines, but lacking that unique musical spark. Gsm18439's statement revisited here: AMR and AA are just a different breed. Btw thanks for mentioning that Chris Jones album. I love Stockfish productions, but didn't know this one.

Gsm18439, nice coincidence you have Zu speakers too, I have the Druids IV and keep being amazed over their adaptability in a system that went through many changes. Your description of driving them with custom made AA 300B's is mouth-watering.

Enjoy the music guys, with the gear we're discussing I'm sure you will!

Karel

any other new developments?

Yes, two; and both were huge. A year ago, I upgraded my Zu Def 2s to the Def 4s. The word upgrade is a bit of a misnomer since these are totally different speakers that just happen to look the same and have a similar price tag. The Def 4s are superior in almost every respect; there are threads that discuss them in depth. Deeper, tighter bass. Better off-axis imaging. Increased efficiency and dynamics. Greater tone. Etc. There is a good review on Audiobeat. Then last spring, I sourced a pair of Takatsuki 300b tubes from Japan. While I have never heard the Westen Electric 300b, the Takatsuki are phenomenal; the review in 6Moons that was reprinted from HiFidelity of Poland was spot-on as was the review in Dagogo and Part-time Audiophile and threads on Audiogon. Unfortunately, they are also very expensive.