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Comparing these CD players with my gear...

Hi folks, 

I'm always messing around with CD players. A longtime audio friend of mine says I have a CD fetish... well, he's probably right. In a medium that is slowly dying, I'm still spinning discs more than ever. I stream too, but there still something awesome about taking a CD or LP and placing it in/onto a machine to play the sweet music we all love. 

Anyway, in my latest jaunt for something new, I've put together my latest list of players that have caught my eye for one reason of another. My gear consists of a Creek 4330SE integrated amp and Vandersteen 2C speakers. Cables are DH Labs Q-10's and Air Matrix interconnects. 

So what are your thoughts/impressions/comments on the synergies of the following CD players and how they would sound with my gear. I'm most curious about the Naim, Cambridge Audio and Myryad. 

Naim CD3.5
Cambridge Audio 840c
Myryad MCD600
Cal Audio Labs Icon mkII Power Boss
Marantz CD6006 (or CD6005)
Rotel RCD-1072




jsbach1685
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Mgreen27,
Your comments/observations are true. Placing emphasis on the particular digital chip is short sighted. 10 CD players or DACs could use identical chip sets and sound completely different from each other . I’d pay more attention to the "quality" of the analog output stage and the power supply. These 2 factors in my experience are more influential and impactful in the overall sound quality.
Charles
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@charles1dad   +1   You are right on it.  The power supply and analog output stage is where it's really at as regards quality digital sound reproduction.  Modwright Instruments Inc. places the emphasis of their modifications right there.  The only enhancements to the DAC side of the player is enhancing the power supply to the DAC.  The results speak for themselves.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Why not look at the analog section of the dac as well?
I think you’ll find all the players mentioned use dac data textbook I/V stage and output stages, which are just opamps.
Yes power supplies are, important and they all have very capable multi well regulated power supplies, the Cal has a beefier one than the rest, having what they call the Power Boss.


Cheers George
jsbach1685 OP
145 posts
 
What do you guys think of the Theta Miles? I used to have one (and loved it) but I different gear at the time. Any comments on how a Miles would sound with the rest of my gear? I have the opportunity to buyback the one I sold another audio friend a while back. He wanted a black one (mine was silver). 

As for the Naim, there is a guy selling a CD3 or CD3.5 (he cannot confirm). It's listed here and it titled: "The Naim Label CD 3.0" If you look at the pics of the rear, it states 3-5, which confirms a 3.5, as well as Aux DIN, but the serial number to the right, matches the box, which states CD3. I've talked to the seller and he cannot confirm... only saying the original had it upgraded, or perhaps upgraded to the 3.5? So what do you guys think? 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Theta Miles
The Theta was designed by Mike Moffat who now owns Schiit Audio along with Jason Stodard the Forumula One entrepreneur. You should look look also at these Schiit dacs. As  Moffat is a lover of Multibit conversion and what it does for CD (redbook) replay.

  Gungnir with Multibit  option
http://schiit.com/products/gungnir

Yggrasill Multibit
http://schiit.com/products/yggdrasil .

Cheers George

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