CD Player with best bass??

Gmood1 - I think I was just reading something about these units you mention on Headfi. Please let me know what you think. Also which phones you're using. My phones, with the current cable setup, require connection to speaker cables. I'd have to get a 1/4" adapter to use most 'phone amps. Also,power might be a problem too but, I'm open to anything!!!

Hi Joey,
This Headamp/Preamp has a 600 volt high efficient transformer. Meaning it will put out 600 volts instead of what most do which is 60% of what their rated.It has a transformer twice the output of the Plitron in my amplifier LOL.Not to mention the Plitrons are whisper quiet..no hum or hiss what so ever. I'll be using it with both headphones and as a tubed preamp. I may not want to return it!LOL

Hi Pawlowski6132,

Power with something like this would be the least of your worries. The cool part about Mikhail is the fact he will build the unit to suit your equipment and taste.Mikhail is sending me a pair of his personal headphones.I'm not sure what they are though. He's not the one to skimp on quality from what I've seen so far.I'm sure they will be up to par. I'll definitely let you know what they are when they arrive.
From your current choice.You seem to favor single ended,pure class A and no negative feedback designs. This unit has all of that and it's also output transformless ..which is icing on the cake.

Also it isn't as expensive if you don't get the preamp option or Plitron transformer. I think the base model sells around $900.

Good listening

CD players are not all alike in this regard!! A Great Northern Sound modified Wadia should present all the bass available quite powerfully. Unmodfied Wadias also have great bass, but when I replaced my 830 w/ a modified 850, I was surprised by the added authority in the bass. I thought the 830 was pretty good already.

I would hope that any cable would faithfully pass the signal sent into it. (said in jest to Sugarbrie - no malice / sarcasm intended!)

Pawlowski6132

Man you have got to hear this unit or something similar.
I know now this unit uses 1 6SN7 as the input tube and two 5687s in the output.The stock model uses 3 6SN7s in all sockets. The unit weighs only about 10lbs.I had my doubts when I pulled it out the box. But after warming it up and running it for a few hours. I can say there's nothing light weight about the music! Bass slam,tranparency, bite and musical come to mind.

I can't believe how damn good it sounds!! No grain or hash.It doesn't cover up the music either. Mikhail sent me several types of tubes to try out. The difference is heard instantly. As soon as I changed the Electro Harmonix 6SN7 over to a Tung-sol the soundstage got closer too me and became more vivid and transparent.

Now that this unit has ruined me. I'll insist Mikhail make my unit sound similar. If it doesn't sound like this thing I'll send it back!LOL

I'll be sending this unit back in a week or so. I would contact him and ask if you could try it out. It probably will cost you shipping but that's it. Shipping on 10lbs isn't much these days..it will be worth the effort.

Good listening!

Honest1 is right on the ball here. Anyone who doesn't think that CD players differ greatly in terms of their bass response hasn't had the opportunity to listen to different players.

For what it's worth, I have found that this is what the more expensive CD players offer. Some notable players I have heard in terms of bass were the Electrocompaniet, Granite 650/657, and an upper level YBA. Wadia is also known for doing a good job in this regard, but I have not been around them so much in the past decade. And, surprisingly, my Sony SCD-C333ES accounts itself quite well - enough to embarrass a well regarded $2500 player here in my system last month.