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upgrading CD player results

After recently upgrading my amp to a Conrad Johnson MF2250, I decided the front end needed a facelift. I was running a Marantz CD67SE into a musical Fidelity X10D (with upgraded ecc85 tubes), feeding an Adcom GFP750 preamp and Paradigm Studio 60 speakers biwired. VHAudio Pulsar interconnects all over and a flavor 1 PC on the preamp.

After much thought and research, I bought a Cary 303/200 to replace the Marantz/X10D front end.
Much to my disappointment, it really isn't an improvement!
It sounds a tad cleaner, the instruments are a little better defined in the soundstage, but the difference is really very small. I thought going from a circa 1999 player to one with upsampling and HDCD would be significant, but alas this ain't so. Maybe the preamp is unable to pass the improved signal? The reviewers call the Adcom a giant killer, that punches way above it's price.
I auditioned HDCD disks, redbook discs with and without upsampling, tried running the Cary throught the X10D (it sounded almost identical to the Marantz then) and have concluded that I actually prefer the old setup, it's not as clinical sounding.
Also tried the Cary directly into the amp, didn't find that sounded very alive.
Guess I'll be selling the Cary, really suprised that this wasn't a quantum leap forward.
richmon
the_kid's avatar
the_kid
465 posts
 
Interesting. This happens. I think it all comes down to a couple of things. The sound may be different as you are probably very accustomed to the old combination. If you do not think it is better, than it's not.

Also, the old combination may just be better as it has a certain synergy with your system. If you like your old set up, absoulutely sell the Cary and be happy. You have to listen to it. Good Post..

Chris
plinko
256 posts
 
I would agree with you, Richmon. In my system, people have to sit and listen for an hour before they hear a difference in my hifi player versus a midfi player versus a lowfi player (Ah! Njoe Tjoeb vs RCD-1072 vs Technics). The differences are very small. With the amp I am running (Primaluna), all three players are incredibly musical.

Often, I happen to listen for hours so I kept the hifi player. What the heck, you know? If I like my P5 setup, I will probably downgrade the digital end and buy some choice lps with the setup. :-)
hammergjh
157 posts
 
You shoulda spent the 3 grand on speakers, not the CDP. You would've seen a big improvement there.
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