2. digital
  3. 1110228185

Digital Direct SHOOTOUT

Ok, here it is, the royal shootout of CD players direct into an amp, sans preamp. Who has the best combination of liquid mids, PRAT, great bass, authority and control while maintaining transparency and pinpoint imaging. Let's hear it....

Resolution Audio Opus 21
Audio Aero Capitole MK II
Audio Aero SACD Player
APL Denon 3910
Burmester 001
Meitner CDD Transport/DCC2
Wadia 861
Esoteric D01/P01 combo

Anything else????

I am guessing some of these will offer the best mids, or the best transparency, but overall, which has the best balance of richness and detail?
fatcataudio
kana813
956 posts
 
Since you're including Redbook only players in your shootout, a Redbook CD payback system that cost less than most of the units on your, would be a Stello CDT200 transport with a TacT S2150 or TDA2200. No mods or analog amp are required. Just add speakers, good cables and enjoy.
sorlowski
236 posts
 
Mine SONY S9000ES (is not moded) does not stand a chance to 9 years old cdp from Arcam (worth $300, bought for 300GBP in 1996 in London) not to mention cdp's of better bread. Just recently mine Arcam after 9 years of perfect service broke, given a choice to use as cdp SACD from SONY I prefer not to listen at all, then suffer, I dislike it so much, it is so unmusical. Comparing it to Audio Areo which I know from HE or CES is just incomprehensible to me.
lush
262 posts
 
I'd really like to hear some thoughts on the Museatex Bidat fully moddifed with Museatex transport using a moray james pcm interconnect. I own the bitstream, and have only compared it too the likes of Linn, MF and the likes, but I know a few people think the elderly Bidat can really beat out most of todays "high-end". Having not heard extremely high end CDPS like the one's above I'd like to hear some thoughts from other people.
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