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CD player to compete with my vinyl rig?

Greetings,

I find that I have stopped buying CDs, which I regret because there is so much great new music out there.

My player is a Cambridge 640c and listening to it just doesn't do the 'suspension of disbelief' thing. It has all the right stuff: black backgrounds, dynamics, PRAT, detail, air, frequency extension, but as soon as the orchestral strings well up or the horns start, I want to turn it off. The timbral qualities are weird (especially massed strings, voices) and the sense of real people playing instruments isn't there. There's a sheen and confusion to the soundscape. My vinyl rig offers by far the more realistic experience. I have multiple copies of Mahler's 2nd Symphony on both CD and vinyl, and I never listen to the CDs any more.

I would like to find a CD player that makes me want to listen to CDs as much as vinyl!

I'm looking at reviews of the Rega Apollo R, the Teac PD H600, Audiolab 8200CD and the Decware Zen triode player. (Yes, around $1000 budget).

My rig: Pro-ject 2 Xperience/Shure V15-IV, Jico SAS, Cambridge 640c, Rogue Cronus Magnum/KT120 tubes, LS3/5a speakers, Kimber, Zu cabling.

Music tastes: Sibelius, Mahler, Bruckner, Bach, fifties torch singers.

I would love to hear suggestions from members!
Thanks
sumaato
vicdamone
850 posts
 
You can get fairly close with today's digital but not with a player, let alone a player at your budget.

I'm an analog snob and your description of what your current CDP setup sounds like is all to familiar. I finally managed to put together a computer audio setup that kills my tubed CDP and provides a great deal of the lushness and ease of analog. It's also much simpler to find a title and play it.

Many of the under 2K DAC's aren't that much better, so beware.
slovell's avatar
slovell
55 posts
 
I just bought a Jolida JD100A and even with the supplied Tung Sol tubes it sounds very good. Warm and musical with nice detail, not dry sounding at all. Build quality is outstanding for the price.
Regards, Sam
whitecap
121 posts
 
Rega Saturn. Buy used and it will fit your budget and your needs.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Another vote for Resolution Audio opus 21. I owned one for several years. I once heard it against a more expensive Esoteric unit, I forget which one and the contrast was really dramatic. The Esoteric, harder edged, very neutral, but harsh to my ears. The Resolution Audio, more lush or fuller toned, less detailed, but analogue like, as I would understand the term. everyone in the room remarked on the difference and preferring the Opus
audiofreak32's avatar
audiofreak32
281 posts
 
With $1,000... you are not going to find even a used CD player that will compete.
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