RMAF 2008 - Your impressions,...

Shadorne; I have mentioned this before in other posts, the speakers since 1989 have been Impulse H1's made by the Same chap that makes the Aspara Acoustic speakers, the H1's have been (I believe) been modified a number of times over the years, but remain constant with the addition recently of the Townsend Ribbon tweeter, and two small Rel Q subs, all the other ancillaries I have no clue as to what was plugged it was like a treasure trove of exotica, and down to earth stuff also. I can only attest to quality of sound I was hearing whether it be any cd played or vinyl, simply music. In my old system I used to blame the cd's for sounding terrible, then as I said I heard this system and what it could do with cd's, I changed my point of view that if a cd sounds bad then its the speakers or other items in the chain. Only my view, but I have heard with my own ears.
I would wager (If I were a gambling man) that his systm with a middle of the road cd player like the Arcam 192T versus
say the VA Mahlers with a 10,000+ player this would be no contest, I have heard the Mahlers and they for instance are not in the same league H1's, to my ageing ears, all IMHO, naturally.
Interestingly Shardorne your Speakers cost $14,500 and your cd player cost $480, whereas Dcstep's Speakers cost $3,500 and his cd player cost $15,000. Two diverse schools of thought there in heading for hi-fi nirvana.

For the record, my CD/SACD player costs $10,000. You've got the speakers' cost about right.

Dave

Dave sir, all the figures should be correct as I copied them from your 'system' as listed. 10k or 15k are still incredible amounts of wedge to pay for a cd player. Well out of my league by a huge stretch.
Anyone manufacturer should be able to make a cd player for $10,000 sound good, the art and skill is to do it for say a $1000.

Gawdbless, are you arguing with me about what I paid for my Playback Designs MPS-5??? I paid $10,000 and it's still available for that price.

No one's made a great sounding CDP for #1,000 that I've heard.

Dave

Gawdbless,

Interesting. Thanks. I'll swing by Lindfield (beautiful place) one of these days and have a listen to Impulse.

FWIW on "philosophy" - it depends on experience and needs. I have big spaces to fill and a passion for totally realistic dynamics and accurate (not copious boomy) bass. Despite what anyone will tell you - this does NOT come cheap in any speaker. My subwoofer alone is $10K - almost as much as both main speakers. The system custom soffit speaker installation was as much again. I could easily spend twice that on a CDP if I wanted to - but why bother - (do you really think I have not tried?). I do find digital to differ (slightly). Indeed I do prefer my Benchmark DAC1 to the analog cheap Sony megachanger output or the DAC in my preamp but it is not "night and day". While I do get "night and day" differences from speakers - although mostly in the bass and lower midrange when you go to greater expense (massive woofers/cabinets) and to custom installs (including room treatments). So like anything I guess my "philosphy" comes from both experience but also partly different goals/needs.

To sum it up I guess I expect percussion ( a drum set ) to sound like the real thing. I have never heard percussion that sounded realistic on a small speaker - period. However, even a cheap CD player can do a passable job at reproducing drums although the crash, ride and hi-hat can sound a bit grainy on a best-buy type player.