| Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
May 2, 2011 - 8:34pm
#1
CD player for classical
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 StereophileAVTech Media Americas Inc., USA
All rights reserved
Hello lasonas ... You don't sound confused but it would have been better to have told us about your other equipment , synergy is very important , also knowing your budget would help . I had a Marantz SA11 that had decent sound but also kept breaking down . I spent most of last year reading reviews and demoing every CD player I could find , regardless of price . In the end the Ayre C5mp seemed to be the best sounding player to me , even though it's only a midfi player . Since it's purchase I've thrown every type of music at it I had and didn't fine a weak spot , clarity is it's forte , It also seemed to bring me a step closer to the music than the others .
As far as your second question , it should not matter what input you use as long as your amp dosn't have a built in phono stage , if thats the case stay away from using the turntable inputs for your CD player . If your amp has a switch on the front panel with two turntable positions it likely has a built in phono stage , and the two positions are for two different types of cartridges , MC or MM .
In your post you mentioned a poor sounding CD player sounding better than a poor turntable , I won't debate that point but expect a bunch of turntable junkies to try and change your mind on that . Stay the coarse .
I hope this helps a little . Tim
digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) and depends on a separate DAC. A CD player has the transport and DAC in a single unit.
You might want to check out the new Emotiva ERC-2. 30-day money back trial period.
http://emotiva.com/erc2.shtm
you didn't give a price range. my good friend is a classical buff, he claimed that most cd players tend to flatten out the sound of large scale recordings when the volume is turned up. the best one he found is made by Playback Designs. But, hold your breath, it goes for $15,000.00. I have heard it many times and it is magnificent, but at that price, well, not for this poor man anyway.
good luck
tom
.......$15,000.00 may be grounds for a divorce. It was hard enough to pull through with my car purchase guys, but a CD player for that much will make me turn up the stereo to relieve my grief!!! Now, I thank you for the inormation anyway, it is good to know how much some of these real goodies go for and develop a good appreciation of what hard earned money can provide. But definitely a price range up to 1600, 1700 or may be reasonable but again the less expensive, the better, provided I don't have piece of junk that destroys the music and makes it unpleasant. If the Ayre C5mp really performs much better than the emotiva I may as well go with it but at 10% the Ayre's tag, the price there is a real difference. The issue I will have to address is not to have a threshold difference, where I know one product will not quite cut it. The particular character of classical is that at any given moment you hear these creciendos that fill the room followed by the silent moments where you hear the breath of the violinist. One of my most favorite recordings ever is Beethoven's 3rd performed by the Hanover Band. I will ahve to find those and listen to them. Any more suggestions are very welcome.
About my other equipment, I only have a vintage Marantz 2500 that cost an arm and a leg to fix from previous abuse, I am expecting a pair of Magnepan 1.6 that will be transformed by Peter Gunn, and I have a small second pair of speakers for the little study room, that are KEF IQ1 and to which I listen much of the time on NPR station music right now - gosh do I have a bad reception(?).
Any ideas or feedback for the Rega Apollo or Rega Saturn? Also another player that came into "play" now is the Doge 6. Anyone heard them?
Thanks again
see my comment in your other post re: doge 6. The Saturn is excellent too. Everyone raves about the Sony 5400 and this mag rates it A+, several advertized on Agon for 11-1200 new.
Tom
Hi,
I also enjoy mostly classical music and have owned several reference players over the years from Levinson, Wadia, ARC, Krell, Sony (5400Modwright) etc... My current system utilizes an NAD C565BEE into a Yaoin Tube Buffer (JAN LN Phillips 6922 tube) and it is a revelation, even when compared to my cost no object front ends, at least in terms of shear musical enjoyment and "in the hall" sound! Both cost only $1000 combined street price...not much wiggle room with profit margins as low as theirs. Thia combo will make you melt:O)
As above, check out the Sony 5400ES or Rega Saturn.
I recently did a home evaluation of the Rega Saturn and purchased a demo for $1500. It is absolutely stunning for classical, its a whole new ballgame compared to my previous CD player, the Arcam CD17. Very "analog like" sound, powerful bass, and buttery highs. The sound of strings is the best I have heard with digital, very close to my Music Hall turntable. I played a John Williams Star Wars CD that I could never really enjoy before because it sounded harsh on the Arcam sounded absolutely stunning on the Rega. Highly recommended!