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PC-Audio vs. High-end CD Player-GAME OVER

Hi All,
I just auditioned the Wavelength Audio Cosecant DAC on a very nice system at the local dealer. It was run through a Hovland 200 preamp , a Plinius amp and Avalon Eidolon Diamond speakers. This is all in a very well treated, good-sounding room.
It was, in a word spectacular. Beautiful tone, excellent bass, imaging soundstaging, etc. What was really amazing was a sense of space, or ambience that was imparted. We then compared the same CD's (Diana Krall, Jennifer warnes, some jazz), on a Levinson CDP. I'm not saying that the levinson is the last word in players, but it was what he had on the shelf.While it sounded good, it was much more bright, and "constricted".
Control was through an Imac using I-tunes, and the CD's had been nurned using Apple Lossless.
I ordered my Crimson on the spot.

David
deshapiro
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Until you've listened to one, you can't say a word about it. I have owned MANY high end CD players, and can say with confidence there is NO sonic reason to miss the CD sound

I am actually DYING to A-B one! And BTW, what MANY high end CD players mean? Can you please list them?

, or deal with the inconvenience anymore

That is more like it! Many thought they wouldn't deal with the inconvenience anymore and sold all of their vinyl for CDs. Now they regret it.

What can I say; this entire PC-based audio rave is, once again, not based on audio quality but on convenience. It is unbelievable! Do you really think that maximum can be obtained from a Noiseball Audio? Not in my book! But it seem that the importance on audio quality is very low here!

Regards,
Alex
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Pop Pop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is.......
psacanli
535 posts
 
So exactly what are you planning is the great benefit of this new set up of yours? Compared to listening to good old CD's?
jc51373
548 posts
 
Aplhifi-

I did A/B, many times. For example my Cosecant against an $8k Meridian G08 at a dealer. A room full of people were shocked that the Cosecant killed it, including the owner. The 808 (which is an upsampling player)was another story. You could hear a little deeper in with the 808, but didn't have the pretty sound the Cosecant has. I would have loved to see Crimson against the 808. But either way, these are $8k and $12k respectively. Worth the money after what heard? No freakin way!

NONE of my buying decisions were based on Convenience first, trust me. That is just the gravy of computer-based system like mine. I listened extensively before throwing down one penney for Cosencant. Don Better let me have it and Brick (another amazing DAC for the $$) for two full weeks, and you can bet I did my comparisons before making a final decision, each time I was shocked.

I think it would be silly for anyone to pay $3500 for a DAC if all they were shooting for was convenience. I have very nice equipment from VTL and my DAC. Wavelength is tops, and there is no sonic compromise (from an audiophile standard) with ANY of Gordon's DACs. Give one a listen first, then come talk to me.
bpwalsh
1,207 posts
 
Jc51373 - When the comparisons were made, were levels matched?
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