2. digital
  3. 1187075467

The Best of the Best Well sort of - CD players


I am researching a new digital source that is in the middle of the 'REAL' high-end range and need some advice choosing.

Here are the units I am looking at:
Esoteric DV-60 combo,
Denon 5910ci combo,
Sony SCD-1 with almost all possible mods,
Rega Saturn,

Ayre cx7e,

Oracle 2500, (this player is gorgeous)
Simaudio Moon Eclipse LE, (this player is pretty)
Wadia 861, (this player looks serious about digital as do the Meridians)

DCS (oooops can't afford this one, strike it off my list)

The top 4 are my finalist, the Ayre is not out of the game based on what I have heard and the last 3 players may me out of my price range but, I havent totaly ruled them out yet. Cosmetics and CD sound quality are important to me. Being a combo player is a nice plus- (but not the end all factor in my decision) -if you look at my current gear as I do not have an upscaling DVD player and do own loooots of DVDs and hi-res audio disc ie: SACD & DVD-A but I mainly listen to CDs on my system.)

In my player I am looking for beauty, build quality, somewhat neutral, even tonal balance, bass weight and control, detail without being to bright or clinical, PRAT, less fatigue for long listening is nice but, not a top concern, I am not super concerned with soundstage or exact imaging just so the player is not too forward or lacking in width.

I mainly listen to electronic and underground tracks from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands
Aphex Twin, Download, Orb, Massive Attack, Kid 606, Meat Beat Manifesto, Kraftwerk, Enon, Goldfrapp, Royksopp, DJ Shadow, UNKLE, Dead Can Dance, etc. I do listen to other stuff but, this is my main gig.

Below is my current equipment:
Parasound C2
Rotel 1075 (Soon to be replaced with Parasound A-51)
- Rega Jupiter
- Marantz 8400 combo hi res
Onkyo m501 amp for rear channels
Camelot Lancelot phono stage
Music Hall MF7
Monster Hts 5600 (Looking at Shunyata Research Hydra 8)

Infinity Prelude HTS fronts and center
Artisitc Audio Mobius rears
Velodyne CHT-10 for sub (soon to be replaced with Martin Logan or JL Audio)
Polk back rear channels, I dont use these except for 7.1 movies

PS3 bluray
360 hd-dvd
Wii

Sony wega 50" A2000 sxrd 1080p

cables are audioquest, kimber, harmonic technology, jps, ixos, voodoo, etc.

Sorry this is soooo long but, I wanted to be detailed before letting this loose. So ANY suggestions would be welcome from those with similar music taste or have auditioned one or more of these players or even want to sell one. I excluded stuff from MF, Classe, Cary, Krell, Levinson, Lexicon, Meridian (The last omission is for cost mainly because I only like the expensive 808i)

THX
optitron
optitron OP
32 posts
 
Yes thank you Brainwater. Email me so we can exchange ideas for good software. Everything you said is soooo true and why I love the genres we listen to. Few understand how many more nuances open up in say one of Pansonic's albums with the right gear. I too felt the comment about "wasting time" on a good CDP was silly and that is why I answered with an appropriate response. (PS This member contacted me for a list of groups to check out so I must have said something that was true.)
;O
optitron OP
32 posts
 
Rlwainwright, "I will miss you the most scarecrow." I can't tell you how much it means to me to be validated for spending thousands of dollars of my hard earned cash on the right gear. Ha, Ha, Ha---That's all we need sometimes from a fellow Audiophile to make it all worth while instead of some 'you should do this or that bitch session.' How refreshing, thank you, and yes I am not moving an inch right now in the source arena just in other areas FYI now upgrading speaker cables to Voodoo Ultranlinears. I think they make great power cables from my personal experience. Hope the speaker cables live up but, I think they will. Bruce over a Voodoo is fantastic to work with. Cheers!
optitron OP
32 posts
 
Here is an updated list of my equipment Additions with the previous gear they replaced/supplemented.

This is for my own personal glory boasting so please don't respond saying that you have better shitza cause I don't care, you prob. have more money than I do and a bigger gun too. This is a hobby not a slam fest.
It's taken me a few years to get to this point. I am at about 85% of where I want to be with my total system.

Anyways, I am very pleased thus far and the best part is all of the items marked NEW/AGON! came from great members like you. Thanks everyone for your advice. Happy Listening!

Parasound C2 controller
Rotel 1075 (Soon to be replaced with Parasound A-51)Nope went with:
NEW/AGON!
Halcro MC-50 used with Voodoo Gold Dragon AC

NEW/AGON!
Raysonic CD 128 with Kimber 10 AC &
Vibrapods from Alan@Audiowaves also purchased NEW/AGON! x4 matched Phillips tubes to replace the factory Russian ones
NEW/AGON!
Denon 5910 combo-player with JPS digital AC & Vibrapods from Alan@Audiowaves

NEW/AGON!
Shunyata Research Hydra 8 and NEW/AGON! Voodoo Diamond Dragon power cord to go with the SR

NEW/AGON!
Voodoo Ultralinear speaker cables

Velodyne CHT-10 for sub (soon to be replaced with Martin Logan or JL Audio)
NEW/AGON!
Went with a Martin Logan Descent (I may move the Velodyne to the back of the room and only turn it on for movies or to destroy those who oppose me.)

- May sell my Rega Jupiter (anyone interested?)
- May sell my Marantz 8400 combo hi res (anyone interested?)
Both are still great pieces.

Camelot Lancelot PRO battery powered phono stage
Music Hall MMF-7 turntable on marble with Anniv. Ringmat
Monster Hts 3600 power center, oops had 5600

Infinity Prelude HTS fronts w/powered subs and center
Artisitc Audio Mobius rears

Onkyo m501 x2/150w CH amp for rear back channels
Polk rear back channels, I only use both of these for 7.1 movies sometimes on THX Games

PS3 bluray
360 hd-dvd
Wii

Sony wega 50" A2000 sxrd 1080p

cables are audioquest, kimber, harmonic technology, jps, ixos, voodoo, etc.

Had the Pronto remote that came with the Parasound but am going to give the Harmony 890 at try, I did order that from Azon

I also ordered: 2 new vinyls (Beck Guero and remixes)
about 10 SACDs, 12 DVD-As, 10 DTS-ES audio discs all rare, weird, or electronic. You gotta have software too ya know ;O
optitron OP
32 posts
 

09-25-07: Optitron
Here is an updated list of my equipment Additions with the previous gear they replaced/supplemented.

This is for my own personal glory boasting so please don't respond saying that you have better shitza cause I don't care, you prob. have more money than I do and a bigger gun too. This is a hobby not a slam fest.
It's taken me a few years to get to this point. I am at about 85% of where I want to be with my total system.

Anyways, I am very pleased thus far and the best part is all of the items marked NEW/AGON! came from great members like you. Thanks everyone for your advice. Happy Listening!

Parasound C2 controller
Rotel 1075 (Soon to be replaced with Parasound A-51)Nope went with:
NEW/AGON!
Halcro MC-50 used with Voodoo Gold Dragon AC

NEW/AGON!
Raysonic CD 128 with Kimber 10 AC &
Vibrapods from Alan@Audiowaves also purchased NEW/AGON! x4 matched Phillips tubes to replace the factory Russian ones
NEW/AGON!
Denon 5910 combo-player with JPS digital AC & Vibrapods from Alan@Audiowaves

NEW/AGON!
Shunyata Research Hydra 8 and NEW/AGON! Voodoo Diamond Dragon power cord to go with the SR

NEW/AGON!
Voodoo Ultralinear speaker cables

Velodyne CHT-10 for sub (soon to be replaced with Martin Logan or JL Audio)
NEW/AGON!
Went with a Martin Logan Descent (I may move the Velodyne to the back of the room and only turn it on for movies or to destroy those who oppose me.)

- May sell my Rega Jupiter (anyone interested?)
- May sell my Marantz 8400 combo hi res (anyone interested?)
Both are still great pieces.

Camelot Lancelot PRO battery powered phono stage
Music Hall MMF-7 turntable on marble with Anniv. Ringmat
Monster Hts 3600 power center, oops had 5600

Infinity Prelude HTS fronts w/powered subs and center
Artisitc Audio Mobius rears

Onkyo m501 x2/150w CH amp for rear back channels
Polk rear back channels, I only use both of these for 7.1 movies sometimes on THX Games

PS3 bluray
360 hd-dvd
Wii

Sony wega 50" A2000 sxrd 1080p
Apple iMac 24" 2.4 dual core with 4gigs of RAM 1080p to Sony
HDMI switch box

cables are audioquest, kimber, harmonic technology, jps, Monster, ixos, voodoo, etc.
walker audio cryo treated sst
echo busters full room treatment

Had the Pronto remote that came with the Parasound but am going to give the Harmony 890 at try, I did order that from Azon

I also ordered: 2 new vinyls (Beck Guero and remixes)
about 10 SACDs, 13 DVD-As, 15 DTS-ES audio discs all rare, weird, or electronic. You gotta have software too ya know ;O
gsm18439
895 posts
 
EAR Acute CDP. There is one on Audiogon for sale now, I believe.
More to discover