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Arcam, Musical Fidelity questions...

So I need a CD player, mostly just concerned with good redbook CD playback. Mostly rock with jazz on occasion. I had narrowed it down to the Arcam FMJ CD36 or the Musical Fidelity A5, but as I've been doing research the thing that keeps sticking out to me is the Arcam FMJ CD23T with the ring dac.

So my question to anyone with experience with these players (or other suggestions for players I'm not looking at) in the mid price range (trying to stay around $2K). First do like the Arcam CD23 better than the CD36/33 and then how do you compare it to the Musical Fidelity A5. I realize this is subjective but would appreciate any opinions you'd like to give.

Thanks in advance for your input.
trestles
trestles OP
4 posts
 
Thank you Jkalman you've sent me off in a whole new direction and I'm now very interested in the Denon DVD-5910 (which is surprising because I never thought I'd by anything Denon). You're right the Burr Brown 1792 is getting great reviews everywhere. I also really like the idea of having one box for everything that performs at at an audiophile level.

One question I have after doing some research on the unit: there is an outfit that advertises here on audiogon called Underwood Hifi and they do a a mod to the 5910. The mod brings the price up to around $5K. It is obviously difficult to audition an upgraded unit so my question is does anyone here have experience with these upgraded units or are they able to discern whether they appear to be worth it. I certainly don't have the techinical skill to do so...

Thanks.
peanut
1 posts
 
I have demoed the CD 33 and MF A5 at the same time in an A-B comparison. The CD 33 is precise, clean, articulate. The MF A5 is in a league of its own, exceptionally musical and special --demo them and decide for yourself. My vote goes to the MF A5 hands down.
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
I had a cd92,then sold it.Bought a cd 33,liked it up to a point,but ultimately time has proven that I wanted a cd 92 again,it totally pulled me into the music,unlike the 33.
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
I'm an idiot, I didn't look at any posting dates except Coffeey's.
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