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
jsbach1685, when you look at what makes the high end CD players distinct from the cheaper ones, it usually boils down to the vibration control, power supply, output stage and the DAC.

That is why there is such a large market in modifying CD players. Owners of lesser quality machines can buy a CDP for, say, $700, then spend $1,500 - $2,000 on getting it modded. For less than $3,000 they have a player that can compete against +$5,000 machines.

Instead of going the modding route, you can easily bypass the built-in DAC with a higher quality one. There are several stellar DACs to chose from in the $500 - $1,000 range (used). Paired with DAC, your CDP merely functions as a simple transport.

And adding dampening to your unit is pretty simple. I have used Plumber’s putty in the past as it never dries out. One container ($6.95) can easily cover the inside of any CDP.

Last year I upgraded from my trusty Sony S9000ES SACD/CD (one of Modwright’s favourites to tweak) player to an Esoteric DV-50S. I bypassed the Sony’s DAC when listening to CDs by routing the signal through a Teac UD-501 DAC. I was surprised how close this combination was to CDs on the Esoteric (the Esoteric was clearly ahead, but not by as much as I had expected). SACD performance wasn’t even close, however.

But the biggest consideration for choosing any component is synergy. Simply adding a $10,000 CDP into your system is no guarantee that you will be able to hear it perform to its ability.

YMMV.
Thanks! for sharing- nordicnorm

I enjoy Esoteric for SACD playback only. I was not impressed w/ the DV-60 rbcd playback.  I have always wanted to audition the DV-50S.

It still has quite a following.
Nordicnorm,
Congratulstions!    You had navigated yourself toward the same set-up I have.  Sony S9000ES into a Teac 501.  If you still have that equipment, here is what I have that takes the music to a "whole nother level".  
In-between the Sony and the Teac, I inserted a Wyred-4-Sound Remedy Reclocker.  To maximize the Reclocker, I purchased an iFI power cord to upgrade the stock cord.  The power cord upgrade is a "must". 
The resultant sonic improvement nocked my socks off.  It added a great deal of extra detail, helping to individualize the various instruments playing ensamble.  The added clarity also added a great deal of presence, imidiacy, and slam to the music that I never had before.  Not louder, just way more noticeable.
While it added a lot of detail, it didn't make things too sharp, especially in the upper mid-range and the upper frequencies.  So vocals and transients didn't become brittle.  Soundstage was improved ever so slightly - just a little more depth.
So, if you still have that old equipment you might try the Reclocker.  Like I said, it was a huge upgrade for me.
 

toolbox149 -

Yes, before upgrading to the DV-50S, I had considered the W4S reclocker.

But then a DV-50S came along at a price I couldn't pass up! ;^)

I still use the Teac for my digital files. Great unit!
nordicnorm-

what cabling are you using in your system?
Which cabling did you use w/ your 9000ES ?