2. digital
  3. 1150485493

Not wasting my time on new Digital

Well guys, I have disappointing news:

Getting all hyped being a tech guy, tried out a new $9000 top flying Integrated CD player, with the apparently best design and parts including Anagram algorithms and ……..

I don’t know boys, this is my second disappointing experience with new digital gear.
I am not going to mention any manufactures that I have been disappointed with.
I have a very nice system to my ears to name a few products including Sonus Faber (Electa Amator mk1 to be exact) Apogee’s, Audio research and more…….

Decided to try some new sources of course and I was told all sort of things and parts and man oh man, the reviews and well to my ears other than my original Oracle turntable and my newer VPI table, my older DAC’s sound much more musical. WHY? WHY? WHY?

New technology, new ideas, new designs, new engineering and we see to be going behind rather that forward. I still like my original Theta Gen V and even my Bel Canto DAC for a fraction of the cost, even my Micromega DAC hands down.

Anyway are there any other people experience the same thing, by the way I have tried some very serious stuff and out of the pricy gear…meridian and Spectral (Spectral SDR-2000 with no upgrades and still sounds amazing) stays on top of my listing.

Appreciate any input.

Cheers - rapogee
rapogee
rapogee OP
256 posts
 
One good thing though, this is the only DAC that I will never ever complain about ever but if I do get a second mortgage it will be on top of my list for total musical pleasure but you have to question reality and price ratio. Hopefuly some day

Goldmund Mimesis 20M
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
I hear ya, Rapogee. Makes a lot of sense. Without naming names, I've heard several $8K+ players that frankly sucked, IMO. I hope you find one that works well for you. I think it's out there. It's just a matter of finding it.

Best of luck!
bartokfan
664 posts
 
There are many things overpriced in audio. You guys with mega bucks can afford to play. Us with limited budgets have to make things work first time around. My $1000 cdp offers everything I was looking for, and have zero plans to upgrade. I mean I guess the Audio Aero($5K +) and Jadis ($$$..$$) offers nice upgrades, but I'm happy.
danlib1
819 posts
 
I've come to believe that in this hobby synergy is EVERYTHING.

In my experience, I've heard my Exemplar 2900 sound incredible with some gear, then after "upgrading" to more expensive gear, I've been sorely dissapointed.

Right now I'm using a Cayin A-88T Integrated to drive my Gallo Reference 3.1 speakers. It cost 1/5 of an earlier combo I tried. After taking advice from Boa2 and others I've found a great tube compliment and I have pure magic again in my system.

Lesson learned? It's not necessarily how much money you spend. It's about careful component/cable combinations that yield musical results.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
The money factor should never influence your decision in buying. "more it costs must mean the better it is" is non-sense. The only exception to the rule is Jadis, which really doesn't concern many posting members here. Sure yrs ago the higher the price, sometimes the better the unit. But not anymore, this is the new world economy age, where we have access to almosy anything from around the world, via Inet. There are many great deals to be had. Bargains to those who know how to see one.
More to discover