Comparison of Tube Output CD Players

I have a Jolida with Mullards and damping sheets (only mod). I love the player. Very airy and three-dimensional. It is so engaging. I often listen to it all day.

The Audio Note IMO is dead on accurate, and has better attack than the Jolida. On the other hand, it is not for me, as it brings the players into more of a straight line. It does not sound as three-dimensional, and all the air around the singer's voice disappears. It is a perfect reproduction of the recording, and not of the playing. In other words, it sounds perfect, but not alive. It is too slick and uninvolving to my ear, but would be ideal for just having music on while I wander the house.

Don't know the Unico.

If every dealer carried only one line, I've decided that it should be Audio Aero. This stuff does not sell well here in the US, and I just cannot figure out why that is. It is the most melodic and emotional equipment I've heard--both the Prima and the Capitole. In fact, I just returned from auditioning them, and the Capitole turned the Pass Labs X-160 monoblocks into silky smooth liquid--and I don't care for solid state! My next move from the Jolida will undoubtedly be to the Audio Aero. Just bought one of their hybrid amps, and it's one of the best sounding amps I've ever heard. Extraordinary products, in my view.

Hope that helps. Obviously, these are just my opinions, so keep that in mind. All are worthy of a listen, of course. Enjoy!

Howard

I don't want to side-track this thread, but i find Howard's comments about the Pass amps interesting. My experience is that they simply pass ( no pun intended ) what is fed into them. If you have a good source and preamp, you have good sound. If you've got problems, those problems are amplified. Evidently, the Capitole is a nice sounding piece of gear : ) Sean
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Sean,

I have heard several different Pass Labs amps in other configurations, and while I found them to be extraordinary SS gear, they just never reached me the way these did when I heard them today. From the combination of these particular components came a warm, tight, and utterly seductive sound. That Capitole was as I've found all the Audio Aero equipment to be--flawless. And if I had the dough, and a strong back, I'd have run off with those Pass blocks.

Hey Boa2,
How close is the Prima cd player to the Capitole? Care to define the differences/performance gap between the two of them?
Thanks

I've only heard the Jolida from your list above. I currently own a Cary 308T (also tubed output) The soundstage on the Cary is terrific and it has more detail than the Jolida.

BUT the Jolida is one of the most engaging and musical CD players I've ever heard. As Boa2 stated above it is hard to turn off. A terrific CD player for under a grand.

Rob