Thread with no particular brand or model in mind. Just trying to turn attention from the threads where people are getting bored to a wider and more general one.

If you pick up the hifi rags these days you're likely to see a mix of reviews from the usual (Naim, Arcam, Rega) through the mainstream (Denon, Marantz, percieved high-end (pick a trendy name and price tag) and then the current new kids such as the latest Consonance, Eastern Electric etc.

Has anyone demmed any lately or listened impromptu? Thoughts on what you have heard?

Naim CD555.

It was excellent.

Densen B400xs

Best CD replay I've ever heard. I want one and I want it bad.

Lefty

Thread with no particular brand or model in mind. Just trying to turn attention from the threads where people are getting bored to a wider and more general one.

If you pick up the hifi rags these days you're likely to see a mix of reviews from the usual (Naim, Arcam, Rega) through the mainstream (Denon, Marantz, percieved high-end (pick a trendy name and price tag) and then the current new kids such as the latest Consonance, Eastern Electric etc.

Has anyone demmed any lately or listened impromptu? Thoughts on what you have heard?

I heard the Naim entry-level model (CD5i) when auditioning speakers relatively recently. It sounded fine to me, a bit on the 'bright' side, though this was in a fairly sparsely furnished room. But definitely an entry-level model, in that I could hear what was missing in comparison to my own CDPs; an 'original' Exposure CDP which does all the PRAT stuff very well but smooths over some of the micro-dynamic stuff, and a Chord DAC64 combined variously with a Trichord-modified Arcam Alpha CDP and a Meridian 500 transport. I've read lots of comments about hthe DAC64 being 'overbright' but that's not what I hear. Lovely sound, consistent across genres.

CEC CD3300. A very honest player (perhaps to a fault); if you want to make your Bach boogie, look elsewhere. The sound is extremely detailed, and neutral to the point that it would probably bore many listeners who are used to certain brand-specific "infusions" of sonic character. I like it precisely because it's so matter-of-fact.

I will probably buy one and add an NOS DAC sometime soon.

I heard a Wadia 861SE the other day. I thought it was pretty good.

I heard a Shanling CS-S100 mkII and thought it very well built and an almost safe buy at the very low price so ended up buying it. After a few months I''ve now bought an external dac (OnTech) which is almost 3 times the price of the player. But the Shanling though very nice sounding at some point lost it's "glamour" (actually when fully played-in it lost some of it's character). But its transport rocks and now I have a very nice combo :)

/Mirland

I demoed the Rega Apollo recently and it had the clearest, most detailed high-end I've heard from a CDP in my system. It very nearly dethroned my Njoe Tjoeb Reference; the only caveat was that the bass was rather too polite for my taste. But I'm guessing that the forthcoming Rega Saturn will make up some serious ground here via more substantial power supplies.

I think the new Rega transport/operating system might be really something special, quite possibly even revolutionary, along the lines of what the RB-300 did for tonearms.

You can read further about my weekend with the Apollo HERE (http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19354).

Cheers, Dex

I have recently heard the Naim CD555 and its very good,

Regards

PB

I heard a Shanling CS-S100 mkII and thought it very well built and an almost safe buy at the very low price so ended up buying it.

Along the same line, I have heard the Shanling CSD-T200.
Safe sound. Safe bets. Bling for cheap.

I have recently heard the Naim CD555 and its very good,


Wot, like 2 minutes ago? ;)

Mines on right now :D

Demoed the latest flavor-of-the-month eastsound player. While a good value for its price, my bolder modified Mensa di/o sent it packing in pretty much every department. That was disappointing. Remote felt cheap on the eastsound, but the player seemed pretty sturdy.

Guess I need to keep looking...

I got a free hi-line with mine as well!

Mine must take some beating bang per buck - a Rotel 951 that set me back 40 quid (plus P&P) on eBay. I see a pfm Flea somewhere in it's future...

Tony.

Is this a new meaning of the word free?

No!

Esoteric X-01. Frighteningly good. And positively excellent value compared to the 555.

Esoteric X-01. Frighteningly good. And positively excellent value compared to the 555.

But it doesn't come in black.

Or with a hi-line :D :D :D

Demoed the latest flavor-of-the-month eastsound player. While a good value for its price, my bolder modified Mensa di/o sent it packing in pretty much every department. That was disappointing. Remote felt cheap on the eastsound, but the player seemed pretty sturdy.

Guess I need to keep looking...
Why not Modify an Esound, thinking of doing mine then it will be a killer. Gives my Epos ES11's real bass now before the mods. Very good value for money.

What are the MSRPs of the Esoteric X-01 and Naim555?

You can't argue with this:
http://www.teac-esoteric.de/images/products/vrds_neo_drive.gif

I remember lifting up this transport alone, it weighed 10+ kilos.
I'm not easily impressed by largesse, but that was cool.

Teac is so weird in that they only make AM/FM radios and the Esoteric bleeding edge stuff with nothing in-between.

Esoteric X1 = £9K
555 = £14K (I think)

Apparently when doing dems, dealers are encouraged to pick the player up by the open CD tray to demonstrate the solidity of the mech! Truly battleship build quality.

What are the MSRPs of the Esoteric X-01 and Naim555?
X-01= 14kUSD
CD555=27.5KUSD

You can't argue with this:
http://www.teac-esoteric.de/images/products/vrds_neo_drive.gif
So, the VRDS Neo's got the bling thing going.

Maybe the newest generation of Esoteric is better than the previous ones.
TEAC transports always sound so heavy. A good resolution but the way it comes out is all wrong to me.

Nonetheless, it does look impressive enough so you can almost justify the cost and defend yourself from a friend who might accuse you of a fool.

In fairness, the X-01 should be compared to a CDS3 from the cost stand point.

In the last year I can remember listening to the following:
Naim CD555, CD5i, CDX2, Wadia 861se, Esoteric X01, Meridian G07, Consonance Droplet, DAC64, NOS DAC v1, NOS DAC v2, Bel Canto DAC2, Cyrus (can't remember which), Quad 99, Micromega DAC, Sim Moon something, Phonosophie and a few others that I can't really remember much about.

Hi paul

I recently bought a Sugden CD21 to match my Sugden A21a. At just over a grand each I feel that they were both a sound investment. Class A systems do give a very pure sound which I seek. As readers will know the A21a has been around in various forms for over 30 years. The CD player is very simple and also, for me anyway, the Sugden factory is only 5 miles away from my home

In the last year I can remember listening to the following:
Naim CD555, CD5i, CDX2, Wadia 861se, Esoteric X01, Meridian G07, Consonance Droplet, DAC64, NOS DAC v1, NOS DAC v2, Bel Canto DAC2, Cyrus (can't remember which), Quad 99, Micromega DAC, Sim Moon something, Phonosophie and a few others that I can't really remember much about.

Given you've heard so many (a number of which I've considered), could you give us some impression of what you thought of them?

Blown away by the Consonance 16B Linear (the China version of the CD120 Linear), for the cost, it's astounding! NOS phillips-based DAC with philips transport and brushed alu faceplate and 88.2 upsampling (if you're into that sort of thing)

Tonally very similar to the Shigaraki combo with less drama and resolve, but QC is pitiful, unprovoked ejects, nonresponsive remote, but then again it cost only 260UKP (3600HKD)!

Was about to buy one but the QC issue and looks is stopping me, am saving up for the Shigaraki instead...

I've been pretty impressed with a friend's Resolution Audio Opus 21 lately. I brought it over at it bested my CD5/Hi. It's not a huge difference however, and although I may get one, I'll probably spend the cash on a speaker upgrade instead.

Densen B400xs

Best CD replay I've ever heard. I want one and I want it bad.

Lefty

What was the rest of the system?

Recently bought a Cambridge CD300E to use as transport for a DAC1 that I've ordered but not yet received. To burn in the CD I left it on repeat-all for several days and then switched on the power-amp just to check how Diana Krall was doing. I was shocked at the very high quality of the sound compared to the price. At about £80 on sale it's a contender for the VFM-title in the cheapo CDP department IMHO.

RolfeZ

A friends CDS 3 in a LP12/552/SNAX/Six pack/DBL environment. Sounded good, but the LP12 still sounded better (at half the price).

JohanR

A friends CDS 3 in a LP12/552/SNAX/Six pack/DBL environment. Sounded good, but the LP12 still sounded better (at half the price).

The gap will close a lot with a CD555 assuming he's got a Naimed LP12.

All CD players I've heard recently sounded fine.

Rotel 965 BX sounded very impressive.

FWIW - a cd3 wasn't a lot (any?) better than my 20 year old player. Nothing like the quality of the LP12. Any sub £500 good VFM players / DAC's I should look at that would kill the cd3? I'm not good with subtle! :D

dCS P8i. I want one. I really do.

All CD players are perfect aren't they?

Given you've heard so many (a number of which I've considered), could you give us some impression of what you thought of them?

With some, I can't comment in a credible manner because the systems they were fronting were too unfamiliar, including the CD555, X01 and 861. I get the impression that all would be rather damn good, but then so they should be at the price.

The kit that stood out (to me, and thus IMO) were:
- My own NOS DAC v2, which I've compared against number of players, including the Naim CDX2 and Meridian G07. Prefered the NOS to both and by quite a margin with the CDX2. Bearing in mind that the NOS costs peanuts, certainly high value for money
- Quad 99. I compared Zanash's 99 with my own NOS, and slightly prefered the Quad unit, which bearing in mind the price, makes it awesome value for money for off the peg kit. Add in the fact that it has built in volume control and digital inputs and it's a real no brainer at the dosh.
- Consonance Droplet. £2k player and is HUGE. Sounds lovely though with wonderful low level nuances and subtleties.
- My new Bel Canto DAC2, which is better controlled than the NOS and has better resolution. Now it's fully warmed up, just completely wonderful to listen to for long spells at a time.

...Any sub £500 good VFM players / DAC's I should look at that would kill the cd3? I'm not good with subtle! :D

Try the DAC1 at about £600 i believe. I only heard it briefly but ordered one subsequently. Supposedly it doesn't really care about the transport, but there's plenty written about that in other threads. It sounded super to me.

Cheers,

RolfeZ

CEC CD3300. A very honest player (perhaps to a fault); if you want to make your Bach boogie, look elsewhere. The sound is extremely detailed, and neutral to the point that it would probably bore many listeners who are used to certain brand-specific "infusions" of sonic character. I like it precisely because it's so matter-of-fact.

I will probably buy one and add an NOS DAC sometime soon.

thanks for a very reasonable post, kasparhauser. it is nice to see that someone here can still honestly recommend a cheap, decent product instead of £14k "no-brainers".

it seems that lack of drive is a common remark about CEC gear. i heard the same comments about their more expensive transports.

any chance you've listen a new version of 51 CDP (i think it is XR) or 5300 CDP? with a recent drop of chinese currency they are cheaper than ever with HK dealers. i think i saw 51XR for 800E plus shipping yesterday.

What is the best player/transport you know in terms of bass performance (fast, deep, rock-solid) while being free of harshness, digititis and other 1-0 anomalies?

It was only a DIY CD-PRO2LF based transport that really awakened me that it is possible to get this kind of bass drive one usually gets only from the top decks.

However I would rather avoid something DIY-ed (the mentioned unit even didn't have a chasis)....

I like the Nagra machines and they are cheaper than the naim 555.

ES series Sony DVP NS9100ES/IEEE 1394 interface

I was heavily influenced by the Naim owner who wrote in on these very forums, and preferred it to his CDS3, through his 552/500/DBL's, 'cos Naimess are always right...:D :D :D

the MF KW250s sounds wonderful and you get two 250w mono amps a tube pre-amp dac, dab tuner and a great phonostage all for free!!!!! for £1500 (was £5000) you can not get better. :D

im listening to beth orthen right now and its the best ive heard it being reproduced - the reality of the sound is so musical

The Arcam 192 is meant to be an awsome cdp. Great value for money.

Has anyone heard one? Is it as good as the reviews suggest?

Nick.