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Pro-ject 12 xtension TT vs Meridian 808.2 CD player..and the winner is!

DISCLAIMER--This is my OPINION / IMPRESSION . I am just having some fun with this because I was so happy to be able to do it and it was an eye ( or ear ) opener for me. I never had a TT so I was surprised by the results.

Wow, this was really close.  Pro-ject 12 Xtension with Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation catridge  vs Meridian 808.2 Cd player

The TT...by a hair. They both sounded exceptional!  Almost identical.

 I had the same CD/LP running at the same time. Easy to do A/B comparison. Incredibly, I did not have to adjust the volume when I switched inputs. They sounded dynamically the same.

The judgement was not easy but after quite a while it became clear. Instead of attempting to explain why Vinyl came out on top I will give you this analogy:

Picture a beautiful shiny diamond in a case. Now picture the same beautiful shiny diamond in the same case ..resting on a velvet pad.

I went to Barnes and Nobles today. They had a great 20% off for members ( and I had coupons and gift cards.. I was fully armed! ). Plenty of 4.99 CD's with a vast variety compared to the limited amount of LP's priced all the way to $45

I came home with 6 LP's. That has got to mean something.  Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Test Equipment: martin-logan 13a,   audio research ref6,  krell duo 300,    parasound jc3+,   mit cabling

mike



128x128mikepaul
mikepaul's avatar
mikepaul OP
223 posts
 
Schubert....hmmmmm....not sure I agree with you.....the meridian is a spectacular CD player and I was shocked that any other  method of music reproduction would equal it let alone surpass it

Once again...not here to wreak havoc

My observations were made in the context of MY system....and posted because i thought it might be interesting ...or not....

your milege may vary 

Mike
robd2
45 posts
 
@mikepaul great album choice! I have done this same shootout with an Ayre CD player against an extension 10 TT using the same brothers in arms album. : ))))  to have some real fun here you are going to have to shell out for the Mofi 45 of brothers in arms and repeat your experiment. 
robd2
45 posts
 
BiA doesn't get any better than this: https://www.musicdirect.com/vinyl/dire-straits-brothers-in-arms-numbered-limited-edition-180g-45rpm-...
mikepaul's avatar
mikepaul OP
223 posts
 
robd2.....thanks for the tip!  Gonna order it.

How did your shootout turn out? Your pieces are well matched for “battle” . 

My guess is >>>results are similar to mine?






 





madavid0
214 posts
 
Try adjusting rake without the microscope method. I found that just doing it by ear yielded significant gains. I was amazed how much of a difference it actually made. I have a Micro-Line stylus which is supposed to be especially sensitive to rake angle, and I think line-contacts like yours are similar.
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