Okay......best single box reference CD player


I currently own a CEC TL-1 transport, along with a dcs Delius and Purcell upsampler.....what one box CD player out there can deliver dynamics, transpareny, smoothness and inner detail that will outperform my current set up. Meridian 808....???? Please let me know your thoughts....
garebear
Its weird that everybody who has an Evolution Acoustics speaker has a Darzteel amp.
the Evolution Acoustics use an integral digital amp to power the 15" woofers; which allow for a 93db, 6 ohm speaker which only needs a main amp to power above 100hz. one then has the opportunity to choose a mid or low powered amp with maximum refinement and naturalness. the dart then becomes the ideal solid state choice to use. when you hear these two products together it is easy to understand why they are combined.

what other mid-powered solid state amp would one choose that is better than the dart? some are likely a bit different; but better? there would probably be a few different tubed mid-powered choices which one could choose.

And everybody who has both has a Playback designs cd player.
obviously; the source for the above products manufacturers the Playback Designs....and therefore these customers are naturally among the first to be offered the Playback Designs.

i suppose synergy is above everything.
actually; there are a good percentage of early Playback Designs owners who own neither the Evolutions nor the darts. these other owners are experiencing the same performance leap that the Evolution-dart people are.

i think that amps and speakers must be synergistic to work.

the highest quality sources should synergize with any/every natural, high resolution system. sources should be neutral and should not require specific speakers or amps to work right.
Yeah, no DarTZ here, just a "lowly" Rowland Continuum 500 and Vienna Acoustic speakers. I think the MPS-5 is going to payoff for anyone with a transparent and revealing system, tube or SS.

The Playback Designs turns out to be my most expensive component by a small margin, BUT that'll probably change in '09 when (if) I get a larger room and move up the line in speakers.

Dave
>>Its weird that everybody who has an Evolution Acoustics speaker has a Darzteel amp<<

Not if you are familar with all of them.

It's not a coincidence.
I'm using my Playback Designs with Lamm 1.2 Ref. monos and Talon Firebird Diamonds. Not that I wouldn't want the Darts and MM3's but I'm happy with what I have.

One can come to trust a dealer after a number transactions. If a dealers recommendations turn out as promised that dealer earns your trust. That's how a dealer will build a successful business with many loyal customers.

So I agree with Mr. Feil that's it's no coincidence. I would hope that he too has such loyal customers.

But enough of dealer attacks, lets get back to the best one box player.

Frank
Dont ever buy a Mark Levinson #39, pure junk, I have owned mine for 4 years. Nothing but trouble, I have 20 year old el cheapos that still play. Last year I spent $800 geting all the caps replaced, the drawer recaled (that took em 1 month),and other stuff. This year my transport went out, $600 for that part and what ever for labor.
IN THE END A $6000 piece of crap.
oh but when it plays it does sound good, if it plays.

LEVINSON should be ashamed, used to think they made quality...boy I was wrong.

Give me a Wadia