I had the seller refund me the cost of the new laser, so it was: Fix it or Toss it.

just found this on diyaudio.com, from moderator

"To all,
If you can’t afford to fix something, sell it so someone else can get it repaired properly. There is not point in wrecking something so no one can have it. It’s a real shame seeing nice equipment destroyed by the owner, or a friend "who knows something about electronics". TV and Computer shops are fairly notorious for destroying audio equipment too. Then there is my favorite. "I don’t want to spend much because I have already spent $xxx.xx on it so far"! Then sell it! Exactly what does the next poor tech have to do with the history of your machine ... and he has to clean up after someone else who erased all the clues and created new faults in the process. I’m working on a Pioneer SX-1280 like that now. Repaired the negative HV regulator, repaired the traces in the FM section and removed an incorrect chip. Replaced a bunch of missing parts and now need to replace a PA1001-A / KB4437 (missing) MPX decoder and find a PA1002-A / KB4438. The PA1002-A is the actual fault, plus it needs an alignment. The rest was "struck by technician" faults.

-Chris"

I never thought about this point of view, at this point I suppose my trust that I could blindly fix it could be seen as arrogant by someone who knows what they are doing.

Past successes encourage me, you don’t learn if you don’t try, and so many ’for parts’ units are out there.

SACD: Quieter Noise Floor is about it

"

"Comparison with CD

In September 2007, the Audio Engineering Society published the results of a year-long trial, in which a range of subjects including professional recording engineers were asked to discern the difference between high-resolution audio sources (including SACD and DVD-Audio) and a compact disc audio (44.1 kHz/16 bit) conversion of the same source material under double-blind test conditions. Out of 554 trials, there were 276 correct answers, a 49.8% success rate corresponding almost exactly to the 50% that would have been expected by chance guessing alone.^[38] When the level of the signal was elevated by 14 dB or more, the test subjects were able to detect the higher noise floor of the CD-quality loop easily."

elliottbnewcombjr

Excellent! I would enjoy the Denon for CD playback. Then, enjoy your Sony spinners for SACD plyback. I own around 4K CDs myself. 200 SACDs as well.

Happy Listening!

****** Integra CDC-3.4, Mark 2 ******** It’s BY FAR the WINNER!

Last night I realized: It’s like I was given more than 4K new CDs free with the unit. The distinctness I described above just adds up in so many ways. It’s taken me a few years to get here, I am so glad I didn’t give up.

I prowled the small clubs in NJ and NYC twice a week for live music for over 20 years. Yesterday I listened to many musicians/singers I have seen live and also many local musicians I know well. I couldn’t be happier.

A great example, final one last night, is Willie Nelson, Teatro Album. One of my favorites, surprisingly better. New respect for Daniel Lanois and all the performers.

..................................................

Denon 2910. Close but no Cigar.

Like the Integra it is more distinct than the Sony, however it’s salad of dual burr brown dacs and Denon’s mix of additives: over sampling, clock, jitter, .... produces a slight brightness compared to the Integra.

i.e. Emmylou Harris’s voice, Jose Feliciano strings, Melissa Etheridge, Tierney Sutton .... high frequency piano and violin notes, like many good individual things adding up, here that very slight aspect adds up.

Others may love it.

I have wide dispersion horn tweeters, just balanced via sound meter and new L-Pads, so, combined with the Denon’s excellent distinctness, these speakers reveal this slight brightness more than some speakers/systems/rooms might. It may sound terrific thru another system/speakers/space, the Integra could be a bit dull compared to the Denon in that situation.

................................................

I am done, and will keep my eye out for another Integra. MARK 2.

I never heard mark 1, so I can only say great things about my Mark 2. How to know: It uses remote control rc-778c, ’squarer’ outside corners, and has a suffix letter M after the serial #. Newer date made is shown on serial number tag is also a hint.

Original (unidentified as Mark 1) use remote rc-553c, same key layout, but rounded outside corners

customer service should be able to tell you from the serial #

service@11tradingcompany.com

elliottbnewcombjr

Thank You! for the initial impressions and toughts on your Integra CDC 3.4 player.

Keep me posted as you massage this player into your room/system. Continue to compare against the Denon as well.

Happy Listening!