To take a cue from the previous threads 'amp' & 'speaker' personal evolution, I bid you this question...
for me it was a Hitachi small black box circa 1983, bought from a Luskin's discount electronics store (I think I paid around $250), then...
-Yamaha COX-700U (1985 or so, still in use by my father) -Carver ? model to match a Carver amp I had at the time -Rega original Planet -Cary 303/100 -Cary 306/200
4. Rega Planet as transport with Perp Tech P1A/3A & PS (add $900 to #3, pretty nice addition & well worth it)
5. Naim CDX2 ($5350)
6. Naim CDX2 with XPS II ( add $4950 to #5 and yes, its very a completly different player then #5)
7. I cannot see moving on from the current rig for a long time, as a reviewer for positive-feedback I have heard a lot...but I just dig the Naim CDPs espcially with the XPSII.
Single disc Sony--->Onkyo Integra 6 disc changer--->Onkyo Integra DPC 8.5 universal player 6 disc changer*, then added the Dodson 217 Mark II D DAC.
*Still debating whether to send the DPC 8.5 to John Hillig for transport and player mod package, to see if he feels the unit is compatible with his modification package--I think he said that he hasn't done a DPC 8.5 before.
1. JVC circa 1985 2. Adcom GCD 500 I believe? It was Adcom's first cd player. 3. Nakamichi MB5 - The music bank was a great idea but not reliable. 4. Pioneer Elite CLD 79 - I know, I know, this was a laser disc player but it had a separate cd tray that worked quite well at the time. 5. Jolida JD100 - I've had this for a few years now and am quite happy with it. I'm just waiting for the upgrade bug to bite again!
These treads bring back nice memories...:). Thanks! 1. Technics, first model of Cd player, 1985, $900.00 NB. As I've arrived in Toronto with around $1000 in my pocket, I've spend all of them in second hand audio gear, "to fill the empty apartment with something nice...MUSIC!". 2. Tandberg, TCP-3015 A, $1900.00, very good at the time. 3. Phillips LHH 1000, 2 piece, made in Japan (!), $4000.00 Best manufacturing quality that I've met in audio so far, except for the Gryphon, Accuphase, Burmester... 4. Conrad Johnson, DAC with DR2 transport, great $7000.00 I'm sure that after many years, this still is a contender. 5. Audio Aero Capitole, MKI, superb sound, dubious quality construction...but it never breaks down...:) and is one of the most analogue sounding out there, if not...the most. In the price range...seems that no improvement is possible still!
Sony 5 disc ? model 1983 Sony 5 disc ? model 1994 works but don't ever use. Music Hall CD mmf 25 use as back up 3rd system Jolida JD 100 for WAF system rolled Mullard outputs Audio Aero Prima- Transport died used CV2493 and Siemans 6922 tubes mainly Sometimes Amperex Holland. Present Main Rig Granite Audio 657 non tubed
Sorry Warren H I would have bought an Exemplar, honestly ran out cash!
Yonojo, no s**t! I just got my Elite CLD 97 back from the repair shop. I have a large collection of LD's, including some rare music LD's. I'm using an outboard DAC, and listen with a pretty good headphone rig.
Years ago, I had a nice home theater set-up using the Elite SP-99D processor for AC-3 [Dolby Digital], as most LD's incorporated this, right towards the end of this format. Quite a few friends were more than impressed [so were my condo neighbors!] before the arrival of DVD with most folks getting a sub-par home theater. Had to break up the home theater when I moved.
Tvad, is your Exemplar Denon 3910 replacing your APL? I know you are a huge fan of APL. Could you share some of your listening impressions comparing the two? thanks in advance. warren :)
Sorry for digressing a bit, Prehare, with your thread, because Tvad has asked me to never email him on the side. I must keep all in the open forum. thanks...:)
1. Denon circa 1984 2. Pioneer DV 525, then modified 3. Cary 306/200 4. Burmester 001 5. Squeezebox2 -> Reimyo DAP777 (Ver.2)
Now, the latest combination has been modified, including but not limited to, so that they are synched to one precise master clock. I don't think I will even think of upgrading the digital front end for a very very many years to come.
--> Kenwood(don't even remember the model) --> Sony prtble cd driving the amp via line-level output --> Marantz cc-67 5-disc cd changer --> Music Hall CD-25 modded by Sound Odyssey --> Bel Canto DAC2 with Sony S7700 as a transport --> Audio Research CD3 MkII
Tvad, if I had only known that you traded in your APL 3910 for the Exemplar 3910 it might have sped up my choice, as well, on the Exemplar. After all, you were so happy with your APL. Maybe it was the other way around? You made the switch after I purchased my Exemplar? I would love to know your impressions. Do you know what is going on with Alex now? I believe major (exciting) changes are under way. thanks in advance....warren :)
I guess in reality I have only had one real CDP, but these other things were used to play CDs so I guess they count. some JVC 5 Disc - still in attic I think Toshiba DVD player - traded for food sealer Denon 2900 - still used for DVD and SACD Musical Fidelity A5
Dates are estimated: 1986 Sony single disk player (yuck) 1989 Adcom GCD-575 1996 Added Audio Alchemy DDE 3.0 DAC, DTI-Pro (wow) 2000 Replaced Adcom with MicroMega T-Drive 2 transport 2002 Replaced MicroMega with AA DDS-Pro transport (wow) 2004 BAT VK-D5se (wow)
1988 NEC Single Player..(Got me through College) 1990 Denon DCD-670 1991 Denon DCM-420 5 Disc Player 1992 Adcom GCD-575 1994 Pinoneer Elite PD-65 1998 Added a Theta DS Pro-Basic II DAC with D-60 Cable to the PD-65 and used it as a Transport. 2000 MicroMega Stage 6 2002 Sony XA-7ES 2004 Sony SCD-222ES Changer 2004 Cary CD-308 2005 Sony XA-777ES 2006 Electrocompaniet DAC-1 and Theta Miles Transport connected via D-60 Cable..
Pioneer PD-5100 (1987). Still own it Cambridge D500SE (2001). 3 of them, all defective Music Hall MMF25 (2002). Great, underrated player Sony SCD-C333ES (2002). SACD changer. Still own it Granite 657 (2004). Still own it Samsung HD841 (2005). Universal. Still own it
1986 JVC 6 disc changer 1989 Denon 1989 Adcom 2002 I think Denon 2800 2003 Theta Data Basic II Transport and Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista DAC. My last stop
My first was a Magnavox CDP, no remote, "3-beam" pickup, bought new in 1987 from PC Richards. It is still in service(!) in my den. That was followed by a cast-away from my brother, a basic Teac unit, with remote. Actually, it was solidly built and listenable, but vieled. It is now in use in my computer-room system. Currently, I use a Rotel RCD-02, purchased new in 2002. Significantly better than the Teac, but probably my current weakest link. Upgrade planned for later this year.
1988 some basic Phillips CDP 1994 Harman Kardon HK7525 1998 Rega Planet Original (still have this one) 2004 Linn Classik 2004 Linn Genki 2004 Unison Unico CDP 2005 went back to Planet after being disappoinment by the Genki and Unico 2005 Audio Aero Prima MK II
Well, only half as interesting as the Turntable history. Check that one out as well!
A late developer dragged into the digital age in the late 90's: Ariston player 1997 Copland 266(still used by my son) 2000 Shanling CDT100 2003, heavily modded in 2004
Adcom GCD75(?): Class "D". Pioneer PD-75: Class "B" transport/Class "C" player. P.S.Audio Lambda: Class "B". Sonic Frontiers SFT-1: Class "A". CEC TL-1X: Class "A". Oracle CD2000: Never reviewed AFAIK.
Adcom GCD-575(?): Class "D". Pioneer PD-75: Class "B" transport/Class "C" player. P.S. Audio Lambda: Class "B". Sonic Frontiers SFT-1: Class "A". CEC TL-1X: Class "A". Oracle CD2000: Never reviewed AFAIK.
Evolution as follows: Sony ??? model ($250 new in the mid 1990's, and sounded every bit as bad as that description would lead you to believe); Arcam CD82; Linn Genki; Linn Ikemi; Linn Unidisk 2.1
My very first CD player was a beautiful walnut sided piece by Kyocera circa 1985. Then went to CAL Delta transport with Alpha DAC, followed by CAL Tempest II. Tried one of the first DAC's by Theta around that time as well. Moved onto Meridian--500 transport, 563 DAC, 518 processor. Moved back to one piece operation with Marantz SA-1. Excellent! But then went into a frenzy of auditioning and changing players e.g. Electrocompaniet EMC-1 (still regret selling), Resolution Audio CD-55, Arcam FMJ CD33, Ayre CX7e, Linn Unidisk 2.1. Also tried a number of other players in a second system: early Rotel and Denon (mid-late 80's), Adcom GCD 750, CAL Icon Mk II, Jolida JD-100, Music Hall Maverick, Musical Fidelity X-Ray v.3, Quad 99 CDP-1, NAD Master Series 05 CD/SACD player, and Linn Majik (incoming). What I think I'll end up with is the Ayre in my main system, which is balanced, and the Linn Majik in my second system. NAD SACD player will move between the two!
1988 some basic Phillips CDP 1994 Harman Kardon HK7525 1998 Rega Planet Original 2004 Linn Classik 2004 Linn Genki 2004 Unison Unico CDP 2005 went back to Planet after being disappoinment by the Genki and Unico 2005 Audio Aero Prima MK II (the very best of the above)
The Audio Aero was my last CDP - switched to computer audio ...
2006 Wavelength Brick USB DAC+ Mac Mini 2007 Benchmark DAC1USB + Mac Mini
1) a Denon - can't remember the model # 2) ARC CD-1 3) Wadia 830 with GNSC Ref mods (loved this one but let it go because wanted a transport with digital outs to feed my Tact 2.0s preamp) 4) Cambridge Audio 840c 5) Oracle CD-1000 transport
I fully intended to make the 840c my "last" CDP but the Oracle won my heart over the holidays. It sounds amazing and looks even better. I also started using a Squeezebox about a year ago and highly suspect my upgraditis will continue along that technology path as it evolves.
1) Sony boombox with a CD player (1989) 2) Sony Discman (1993) (this led to a solid move from cassette to CD's) 3) JVC CD player (part of my first "component" system with JVC receiver and PSB Alpha's) (1994)
...then comes University graduation, followed by full-time work and pay, which led to the next stream...
...and that should be it for quite a while now...I don't change components very often relative to most on these boards, but when I do, it's generally for clear improvements. The smallest improvement was Marantz/Bel Canto to Meridian - that was more of a sideways step compared to the rest, which were all easily audible changes. But the Bel Canto to Meridian change was caused by necessity - had to move overseas and didn't wanna bring the stereo equipment with me due to transport issues.
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