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What are the advantages of tubes in a CD Player?

.....and are they better than solid state CD Players? I have had a few players. Rega Apollo, NAD 542, and a Cambridge Audio (actually a DVD Player). I loved the Apollo, but thought I wanted to go to a complete Computer Audio system so I sold it. Now I am contemplating buying another player. I hear the tube sound is so warm and non-digital sounding, which is why I bought the Apollo, well that and the look of it. So, should I go tubes this time? I was looking at that Raysonic 128 and the Shanling and maybe even the Consonance Droplet
restless_times
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Of the ones you mentioned I prefer the Apollo. Tubes, properyly implemented, can help digital. Having tubes doesn't make it automatically better than a solidstate player. You have to listen.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Many tube players use a tube buffer stage similar to simply adding a Musical Fidelity "Tube Buffer" to an existing Solid State player at much less cost.
restless_times OP
20 posts
 
it will be hard to beat that sound at that pricepoint. The Consonance is 3K although a new one is on here right now at 2200. I have to admit, it is the look of the Raysonic and the Consonance that first got my attention.
sdatch
204 posts
 
The quality of the analog output stage ultimately matters alot, but there are aurally successful designs from both camps in your better players. Ultimately your ears will decide, and try to listen with an open mind. Not all tube gears imparts tubiness, and the same applies for solid state. For example, the McCormack UDP-1 initally fooled me into thinking a tube was in there somewhere. You may want to add that one to your list.
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