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Which has a greater effect on music,int.amp or CD?

Excluding speakers and IC's, which does for pairing purposes? For example, if I like warmer sound but with detail (like some rock), do I go with a warm, musical cd player or integrated? Both be too warm? I have been thinking about the following possible combos, any experience or thoughts:

Arcam Diva A75 Int. OR
Audio Refinement Complete Int.

with

Arcam CD72T CD OR
Audio Refinement Complete CD OR
Ah! Tjoeb 4000 CD

I have heard the Arcam's together, too dynamic for me. Will be hearing the ARC's this weekend in NY.

I was thinking the Arcam int. with the ARC CD or Ah!, OR
the ARC int. with the Arcam CD.

Speakers to follow. (PS, right now for speakers I have Sound Dynamics RTS-3's and Paradigm 5SEMK3 floors.)

Thnx.
mattybumpkin
twl
3,251 posts
 
How about a used Sony SCD-777ES or DVP-S9000ES and a used Manley Stingray integrated. The Sony players are solid in the bass, have SACD capability, very good redbook, and numerous options for modding. Used prices range from $650 for the 9000, to $1500 for the 777. The Manley Stingray is a tube unit that may soften the digital artifacts and provide excellent reproduction, and looks real cool, too. Rated at 50wpc. I've seen used ones for $1199.
rshank64
25 posts
 

Speakers have the greatest effect on any system! followed by a matching amplifier.

immatthewj
2,069 posts
 

I know that you did say "excluding speakers," but if it was a "rock & roll system" I wanted to put together I think what I would do is try out some of the speakers that the rockers consider to be "rock & roll speakers" (I am not really a rocker, but I was thinking of what I have read about some of the JBLs that are on the market) and then find a tube amp that could drive them hard.  I have never had any experience with Mac gear at all, but I have read that the Mac tube amps are known for a "fat warm sound" which might be what you are looking for.  And I believe that Mac makes some amps with plenty of wpc.  As far as the CDP, I think that is slightly putting the cart before the hores, as I'd think finding a warm and richly colored preamp would be the priority.  I would agree with those that have stated that the CDP should be good enough to accurately reproduce the rock & roll you want to hear on the disc itself, however there are CDPs available with selectable filters, so that might be something to consider.

But with all that above typed, I think that a reasonably good system ought to be able to deliver the punch of rock & roll or the intricacies and intimacies of chamber music, and most all of the music in between.  But with that last sentence typed, although I think that my system can rock out on the rare occasions that I ask it to, what I consider rocking out might not be warm enough for you to enjoy. 

immatthewj
2,069 posts
 

. . . thinking back, I remember, back in the '90s, trying out a Mesa Baron dual monoblock-in-one chassis- tube amp. I remember perceiving that as a heavily colored and warm sounding amp, and I also remember during the course of that audition (I had it for a weekend and it was playing pretty much the whole time) that I enjoyed what it did with rock & roll.  You might consider doing some seraches for one of those used, although I rarely see one these days.

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