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upgrading CD player results

After recently upgrading my amp to a Conrad Johnson MF2250, I decided the front end needed a facelift. I was running a Marantz CD67SE into a musical Fidelity X10D (with upgraded ecc85 tubes), feeding an Adcom GFP750 preamp and Paradigm Studio 60 speakers biwired. VHAudio Pulsar interconnects all over and a flavor 1 PC on the preamp.

After much thought and research, I bought a Cary 303/200 to replace the Marantz/X10D front end.
Much to my disappointment, it really isn't an improvement!
It sounds a tad cleaner, the instruments are a little better defined in the soundstage, but the difference is really very small. I thought going from a circa 1999 player to one with upsampling and HDCD would be significant, but alas this ain't so. Maybe the preamp is unable to pass the improved signal? The reviewers call the Adcom a giant killer, that punches way above it's price.
I auditioned HDCD disks, redbook discs with and without upsampling, tried running the Cary throught the X10D (it sounded almost identical to the Marantz then) and have concluded that I actually prefer the old setup, it's not as clinical sounding.
Also tried the Cary directly into the amp, didn't find that sounded very alive.
Guess I'll be selling the Cary, really suprised that this wasn't a quantum leap forward.
richmon
beemer
444 posts
 
I have an Adcom GFP 750 on a secon (actually 3rd) system.
The Adcom can be a bit clinical, especially in active mode.
it's a great preamp at it used price point, however I find I prefer it in passive mode.

Best,

Paul :-)
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
the cd67se is one of those players that does sound better than many so called hi end players. a jewel
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Pertaining to electronics the pre-amp has always made the biggest improvement/impact in my system all things being equal the least impact was my digital front end. I don't know what kind of music you listen to but a CJ PV-10B tubed pre-amp might be a good place to start.

Chuck
richmon OP
243 posts
 
Regarding the Marantz player - about six years ago Sam Tellig from Stereophile wrote about the CD67SE with a Musical Fidelity X10D, saying it gave you a good part of the high end, for a bargin price, $450 for the player, $180 for the X10D. I did find the X10D to greatly improve the Marantz, giving better soundstaging, better bass and taking away that digital edge. Replacing the 6922 tubes with ECC85's further refined things.
Guess I'll be looking for a tube preamp, still suprised that a $3000 player didn't cream a $630 setup.
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