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More of a Tube Sound In a Tube CD player

I'm looking for recommendations for a tubed player that has a bit of a tube sound (just a bit), compared to the others on the market. I already understand that if one wants a tubed sound in their system they really need tubed electronics and not to expect it from a player. I already have 2 tubed cd players, (Raysonic cd128/ modded Jolida JD 100). Used to have the Modwright Sony Platinum. I'm looking for a different player (Balanced) that is not quite as neutral and has a little warmth and a bit of the tubed sound. Do not like leanness or anemic bass, or rolled-off highs however. Like a full sound. I'm looking in the up to $2500 range (used). I suppose I would consider a solid state player if it just gets redbook right for my solid state integrated (Blue Circle). I've done plenty of research. It almost seems like an impossible task but you'd think there would be something out there that would get this done in the used market at $2500 or less. Thanks to all for your suggestions.
foster_9
montejay
285 posts
 
Having a tubed cd player doesn't mean you will get a tubed sound.
I have owned both tube and non tube cdps the most analog sounding cdp is my current Electrocompaniet EMC 1up and it has no tubes.
IMO, listen and find what you like and don't dismiss just because it's tube free
newbee
4,775 posts
 
I think it would be interesting to hear from you exactly how you define 'tube sound'. I have 1 ss and 3 tubed units and I don't think its hard to detect the differences, including the contribution of the tubes BUT I also think it is a relatively minor contrubtion to what I refer to as the 'tube sound' to the whole system. In my view 'tube sound' cannot exist outside of the presence of an amp with tubed output, and once you have that, and once you have dialed that in, the selection of a tubed or ss digital front end becomes far less critical (My Wadia 302 works very well in fact).

FWIW I also have a Raysonic 128 and it is about as far from SS sound as you can get I think, but then I suppose with a lot of tubes available, including the stock tubes, you could produce a sound which had bright/edgy/glary high frequencies. Mine did initially.
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roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,075 posts
 
I think that you should check out an Audio Note DAC that you could use with your player as a transport. I think that they are full and natural without being overtly tubey.
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