2. amps-preamps
  3. 1055047178

source disappointment

I have built a system that I would guess is fairly revealing(in my limited experience), and have begun experimentation with the CD Source.

Signal Cable Analog 2
Cary SLP 88 pre
Zcable Live V3
Cary 2A3 se monoblocks
Elco Sti-2b Silver Bi-wire (used as single for soliloquys)
Soliloquy 2A3 monitors

Sennheiser HD590

I recently purchased a used Audio Note CD 2 to replace the use of my Panasonic XP50 DVD/DVD-A, player which I assumed was not much of a source, though it does have a remastering upsample feature.

In several extended listening sessions using various albums I have been unable to detect any sonic improvement offered by the Audio Note which I purchased because of their reputation for analog sound. I actually A/B'd a getz/gilberto cd I had two copies of, syncing both players up and using my Headphones, and I believe I prefered the Panasonic. During intermmitent audience applause on the disc, the Panasonic rendered a warmer and much wider soundstage.

Is this crazy?
wheeler
wheeler OP
16 posts
 
Wow, I have trouble believing it would take that long for the heat to conduct its way around the unit. Certainly an hour or two, but weeks?

Is this the case with SS also? Are you sure that we aren't splitting hairs?
scpetscott
47 posts
 
sheesh, this should have come up earlier. Maybe you should try listening through your speakers instead of the phones. Most headphone amps are not that great, also you lose all of the information that soundstaging and imaging can tell you about a cable or source, or whatever. If the panasonic really creates a more palpable sense of instruments and harmonics through your speakers then it just may be better. However, I have a technics DVD-A10 that sounds ok but does not hold a candle to my AN 1.1x dac.
ehart
215 posts
 
Hi Wheeler,

I am certainly of the "trust your ears" persuasion.

I would be curious to hear your experience with other "reference" CDs. The Getz/Gilberto was one of my 3 reference CDs until recently, you know the ones you take with you to listen to gear.

I did a signficant amp upgrade a while back, and while other CDs sounded noticeably better, this one did not. Then a few months ago, I auditioned speakers better than I've auditioned before, in the over $5000 range. While other recordings (Such as Alison Kraus' Forget About It) showed distinct differences between the speakers, the Getz/Gilberto did not.

So I've concluded that as great as the music is, this is no longer a good reference CD for me in terms of recording quality.

- Eric
Post removed 
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I used a Panasonic XP50 for a while and thought that its sonic performance was excellent. (And it is pretty). My only gripe was that it doesn't do SACD's. You must remember that D/A technology has advanced greatly in the last few years, largely as a result of the huge market generated by DVDs. Even an inexpensive DVD benefits from this, (the chip manufacturers will sell to anyone) and the XP50 may well outperform the best players of only a few years ago.
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