HiWire

I might try something like that... a long time after Christmas. Ikea is pretty close.

Who's laughing now? Congrats on the amp

Yeah, I was a little anxious. Just a little... it did allow me to catch up on the current amps out there, though

Thanks, Vicky! It was a lot of work to write everything up, but I'm looking forward to finally doing some listening... maybe next week. My amp is being repaired and I haven't been able to listen to my new player at all since I brought it home a week ago. It's been a long week. Also, my home listening station is incredibly ghetto - it's an empty banker's box with two pieces of plastic egg-crate foam and 4 pieces of cardboard (from the bottom of the Arcam box) on top. My new player sits on top of the cardboard... because it was sinking into the foam, actually. Now that's build quality. Perhaps I'll be able to afford audio furniture in a few years. Ramen - it's what's for breakfast/lunch/dinner. Argh - something weird happened to my hyphens up in the review up there. Oh well.

Five Players Enter, One Player Leaves This is an epilogue, of sorts, and in another way, it?s the beginning for me. As some of you may have noticed, I bought an Arcam FMJ CD36 last week. This is the tale of what went before? I listened to the $50,000 dCS Paganini system three weeks ago and returned to hear more CD players to inform my final purchasing decision. If I won the lottery today, I would certainly give serious consideration to the dCS Puccini player or perhaps the EMM Labs CDSA SE, but that is currently happening only in a parallel universe, with more goatees. I would like to thank Michael, Leland, Angie, and Arnold at American Sound in Richmond Hill, Ontario for providing me with the opportunity to audition many pieces of quality audio equipment that are beyond the means of most audiophiles. Also, I would like to thank Ben at Kennedy Hi-Fi and Will at Great Metropolitan Sound for their assistance, patience, and goodwill in dealing with a very particular, cash-strapped, and possibly insubstantial (over the period of two years) customer. The players were hooked up using a Primare PRE30 stereo preamplifier and a Primare A32 power amplifier using balanced interconnects and power cables from Transparent Cable. The reference speakers were Focal Electra 1027 Be. Musical references: Taking a Chance on Love ? Jane Monheit Honeysuckle Rose Taking a Chance on Love I Won?t Dance Love Me or Leave Me Girlfriend - Matthew Sweet Girlfriend I?ve Been Waiting Elv1s ? Elvis Presley (You?re the) Devil in Disguise Surrender Return to Sender Johannes Brahms ? Julia Fischer, Daniel M?ller-Schott, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77, Allegro non troppo NAD M5, $2,500 (http://nadelectronics.com/products/masters-series/M5-CD-SACD-Player) This is a player that I really wanted to like. It?s priced solidly in my ballpark and has all the features that I?m looking for and more ? HDCD decoding, SACD capability, solid build quality, and NAD?s reputation for value. The bonuses were balanced output, multi-channel output, and bass management. In terms of aesthetics, NAD isn?t quite there ? it?s a reasonable-looking piece of equipment all right, but you expect a bit more at this price. ?Understated elegance,? as another reviewer put it, might be stretching it. This was the first player that I auditioned. Unfortunately, it was also the least impressive, in audiophile terms. In my notes, I wrote that it had punchy bass and a smooth sound, but almost immediately noticed a flat soundstage and only medium detail retrieval. The highs on the cymbals were pleasant, Matthew Sweet?s electric guitar flowed quite well, and the drums conveyed the rhythm well. Vocal harmonies were decent, but tended to mix together. In the orchestral recording, the blurry soundstage was apparent. Strings had a good leading attack, while brass wasn?t quite realistic. The cellos and basses in the orchestra were boomy and indistinct. Acoustics of the concert hall were only hinted at. If you haven?t heard anything else at this price level, I would say that the M5 could make you very happy. Despite my nitpicking, the overall sound of the NAD is pleasantly neutral and its sins are generally those of omission. Also, please note that I have previously auditioned this player on the NAD M3 amplifier and PSB Platinum speakers. I would also audition Marantz players, the Rega Saturn, and the Cambridge Audio Azur 840C if I was looking in this price range. Simaudio MOON SuperNova, $5,500 (http://www.simaudio.com/moonsupernova.htm) I didn?t think that I?d be able to afford this player, but when you get a chance to listen to a SuperNova, you take it. Since I?m Canadian, I give preference to Canadian manufacturers, and Simaudio has been getting plenty of good press for their equipment lately. The MOON SuperNova player is a very attractive player, but its appearance is marred slightly by the oversized red LED display on the faceplate. The build quality is impressive. In listening, I immediately noted that it had an apparently brighter overall tone and wider soundstage than the M5. Also, bass reached lower, more details were present in even the Elvis recording, and rock recordings had more drive. This was definitely a more exciting and higher-quality listening experience than with the NAD. However, I did note that Jane Monheit?s voice sounded slightly more sibilant on the mike, although her recording also had greater separation between the jazz players and a more open sound. Acoustics were far better in Julia Fischer?s Brahms performance ? her violin was easier to follow, less harsh in tone, more musical, and more expressive. In general, highs were far better on the SuperNova: voices and guitars sounded more realistic, drums were cleaner sounding and the acoustics of the recording venue were appropriate. Of the many players I?ve heard in the past few years, the SuperNova definitely grabbed my attention. I?d have to audition it on a long-term basis to know if I could adjust to its slightly more aggressive, brighter sound, but it definitely had some of the magic that I?m looking for in a great player. Out of the selected set, the SuperNova was a standout. Accuphase DP-75, $6,500 used (http://www.accuphase.com/dp-75_e.htm) This was an interesting pick. Normally, I?d never be able to afford Accuphase gear, but I noticed this player along with an Accuphase DP-65 in the used equipment section. I was told that it originally sold for $20,000 new, but that it was marked down quite a lot. I?ll say. Since it was somewhat close to my theoretical maximum of $5,000, I put it on the audition group. Certainly, it would be interesting to hear some high-quality Japanese equipment. As Accuphase equipment goes, this player is a golden tank like the rest of them. Interestingly, I actually enjoy the look of the Accuphase equipment ? they do a good job of blending delicacy and weight into their designs, although I?m not generally a fan of gold-anodized equipment. At first, I thought that I had found my player. When I listened to the Elvis tracks, I just wanted to keep playing more tracks ? it seemed like such smooth and flowing, golden-honey (like their faceplates) sound. Surely, that couldn?t be a bad thing? As I listened more carefully, I realized that I had been had. The DP-75 puts a euphonic sweetness or sheen on recordings that deviates from the actual performance. It?s not as bright as the SuperNova, and also seems a bit farther back in soundstage. On Monheit?s songs, the sound was seductive and had a wide soundstage, but also, it had a fuzzier bass reproduction than the on the SuperNova. Shockingly, the DP-75 fell down completely on rock recordings. Aggression, drive, rhythm, and speed were deficient, robbing Sweet?s performance of its defining, engaging traits. The Fischer disc was very quiet ? I was finally forced to turn up the volume for a fair comparison against the previous players. Less acoustic information was forthcoming and I noticed Fischer?s violin had the same euphonic characteristics noted earlier. Frankly, I was disappointed by this player. It had a strongly colored sound that rang warning bells in my head. For lotus eaters who prefer sweeter-toned players, Accuphase might offer the musical food of choice, but I sail away. I wouldn?t discount listening sessions with their newer players, but I hope that they emphasize accuracy over sweetness after the DP-75. Audio Research Reference CD7, $9,000 (http://www.audioresearch.com/referenceCD7.htm) After I finished my listening session, I chatted with another customer in the store. He was also looking for his ?last? disc player and strongly recommended the CD7. There was a bit of a fuss when I mentioned that I disliked tube gear, since the CD7 uses a tube output. However, I was in the mood to hear one more player, regardless of its design. The CD7 uses a magnetic puck and a slider drawer on its transport, which seems a bit old-school to me. The player is solidly built, but looks clumsy or plain rather than attractive. I only listened briefly to this player, on Audio Research HD220 amps with Sonus Faber Elipsa speakers and on the reference system used for the other players in this session. It was hard to get a handle on the exact characteristics of the player ? most likely, listening fatigue was finally setting in. It seemed to do most of the audiophile things right ? soundstage, realistic highs, and a neutral tone ? but it sounded a bit indistinct. Bass wasn?t as impactful on the CD7 as on the SuperNova and I didn?t really want to try a lot of music on the player. It didn?t have the drive of the SuperNova or the sweetness of the Accuphase, which left it somewhere in between. To its credit, it sounded quite good for a tube player ? I didn?t hear any distortion or harmonics. This player was a bit of surprise at the end of my planned session. Perhaps I might listen to it again if presented with the opportunity, but the high price tag is a turn-off ? I certainly didn?t feel like I was listening to a $9,000 piece of equipment. Arcam FMJ CD36, $2,000 (http://www.arcam.co.uk/prod_fmj_CD36_intro.cfm) After my prolonged session with some very expensive and difficult-to-find audio gear, I decided to check my previous reference. I have posted my previous impressions of the CD36, so I?ll only post notes from the most recent audition here. From an aesthetic point of view, the CD36 succeeds in looking like high-end equipment. It has a minimalist look, with nothing heavy or flashy in its faceplate or body. The silver is a muted satin finish, which I preferred over the dull-looking black option (shades of NAD or Naim, particularly with the green display light). I listened to all the same reference recordings as on the previously-reviewed players. Overall, I was reminded of why I came back. The Arcam does everything I like properly, which is, of course, entirely subjective. It has a holographic soundstage, similar to the SuperNova or Paganini, with great acoustics on good recordings. Highs are pleasurable, extended, and less aggressive than on the SuperNova ? more like those on the dCS player. Bass goes as deep as the amplifier and speakers can extend, while the mids are full-bodied and musical. On rock music, all the drive, urgency, and even harshness are properly conveyed, while the CD36 sounds incredibly lyrical, smooth, and realistic on acoustic performances (e.g. jazz and classical). It?s probably obvious that I fell in love with the CD36 a long time ago, but I wanted to hear more sources before taking the plunge. This is actually my first purchase of any home audio gear at all, so it?s a huge step. Also, it?s the most expensive audio item that I?ve ever bought, so I?m really hoping that I made the right choice. Price aside, the musical characteristics of the CD36 were the most attractive of all the players that I have heard, not including the dCS player. I?m looking forward to listening to all of my music on the player once my headphone amp has been repaired, and you can expect a detailed review once I?ve burned it in.

Nobody expects audio equipment to just die after a couple of years. I feel your pain - my amplifier is dead and I can't listen to my shiny new CD player.

I'd go for the SR-007MK2 and SRM-727A combo if I had boatloads of money. I'm just sayin'

Congrats on the K1000. I felt the same way after I bought my HP-2: "I'll never spend this much money on headphones again." The K1000 certainly has a magical sound that is different than every other headphone's. Do you have to turn the volume way up to get decent sound? Enjoy the music!

Congrats on your Qualia, Elephas. That's a sweet setup.

I'll post impressions of the Arcam FMJ CD36 later this evening. I've heard the CD192 and it's highly recommended - make sure you get it at a discount, though. I paid less for a brand new CD36 than what was listed in the store for a CD192. I posted my impressions of the CD192 a while ago, on the the 2nd page: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/arcam-fmj-cd36-anyone-else-heard-one-yet-196142/ The CD192 is capable of playing beautiful music - only nuts like myself would think of moving up to the CD36. It's good enough to be the last CD player for 99.5% of the population.

I wasn't gonna say it...

And that's why I don't mix computers and dedicated listening. My computer is way too loud, in an acoustic way, anyway.

There must be a way to get decent sound out of a single box for less than 10 large. I'm also in favor of factory engineering over modding, but I try to keep an open mind.

I think I've solved my format dilemma: I'll buy a really good Redbook player and an Oppo player. That way, I've got Redbook, HDCD, upsampling DVD video, DVD-A, and SACD covered. I can then mod the Oppo if I have the funds and the inclination. HDMI DSD output offers the possibility of an external decoder. I think Redbook playback is reaching its limits with the current upsampling players - no amount of boutique parts or quantum math is going to get us any closer to the actual recording on the disc. It's possible to make it sound better (upsampling, filters, crazy parallel processing, etc.) than the source material, but I'm looking at the actual information on the disc. There is a finite limit with analog parts, and most well-engineered players seem to measure just fine on all the standard tests. However, I think that DVD-A and SACD offer more possibilities for further sonic improvement. Redbook has been around quite a while, and the hi-res formats are still in their infancy. Implementations are likely to change, for example, the conversion of DSD to high-res PCM in the Audio Aero players.

Thanks for sharing, Augsburger. At least you've tried them and can warn the rest of us off them. Sorry about the wallet and defaced CDs, though.

After over 12 years of service, my "home" source, a portable Panasonic SL-S160 player, might be finished. Yesterday afternoon, I heard a popping sound (like static) every few minutes about a half hour into listening to some Jane Monheit - suddenly, the volume dropped out entirely. I turned the amp off, disconnected the line-out and re-connected it, and turned the amp back on. The sound came back, but much quieter, very echoey and distant. At first, I panicked and thought either my headphones or amp was dying. Some testing today proved that both seem to be fine. If I fiddle with the line-out (pull the plug slightly out) on the player, I can get the volume back without echoes, but I'm sure the signal is in mono. Pushing the plug back in all the way results in the echoey distant sound mentioned above. So this might be the end for the faithful Panny. I might take it apart to see if I can solder something in the line out, but the odds of recovery aren't good. I guess my search for a source just got a little bit more urgent. Without a player that has a line-out, I can't use my HP-2 or headphone amp. Fortunately, my newer PCDP, the Sony D-EJ2000, has a line-out (note to '2000 owners, the line-out only works if you plug the player into its stand; it won't work if you try to use battery power or the AC plug directly into the player - this is not mentioned in the manual). I noticed that its output is weaker than the Panasonic's through the amp. Since I'm not going to constantly plug and unplug my '2000 to the amp, I'm trying to figure out if I should look for a Sony D-NE20 that I've seen and check for a line-out, or just continue to focus on my home player search. The timing was just perfect, I guess, to get my butt in gear for source shopping season. \

For my book club. Halfway through - it's definitely impactful and innovative for its time. I'm not sure if it's the greatest war novel of all time, as one of the editions proclaims.

Yes, I think I might end up getting a modded Oppo player later regardless of my audio setup. It will always be useful for upconverting my DVDs to an HDTV set, when I finally get one (hoping for good Boxing Day sales - a uniquely Canadian phenomenon) and SACD/HDCD would be a great bonus for the few discs of those that I have. Also, the ability to output DSD through HDMI 1.2a could be useful if I want to go further with SACD.

No, none of my friends are audiophiles. The boxes are for my headphone use alone, since I don't have a speaker system at all. Unfortunately, I don't even have a working headphone system anymore. Something quit on me yesterday - either the amp or the source. So I'll have to get that resolved before I purchase any new sources. What a pain.

Thanks, I'll add Modwright players to the list. Unfortunately, it's impossible to audition these since they're not as popular in Canada. I've never had the chance to hear a Sony ES player at a meet so far, and definitely none of the big-name modders are in evidence here (SACDMods, Modwright, RAM).

No, only the Scarlatti uses an Esoteric transport. I think the Paganini might use a Sony or Phillips transport. The Paganini was exceptionally resolving, but also forgiving on Guns N' Roses (a CD mastered in the very early '90s, most likely).

I didn't hear the Utopia, it was behind the Sonus Fabers. The Elipsa was definitely impressive, though. Bold, lush, and very true to the recording, as far as I could tell. The 1037 Be was ok, but I didn't spend a lot of time with them. I was invited into someone else's listening session, so I just heard one Mark Knopfler track on the speakers. It sounded a bit bright and "hot," but that might have been the tube amp or the recording. The Neepers are nice, but they wouldn't be able to do enough bass by themselves.

I'd probably keep the Alessandro MS-1 and Headsave Classic and get an Oppo DV-980H.

So I take it this pair has been fully burned in, right Rhydon? That's a beautiful headphone, congrats on your lucky find.

It's crazy-ass shit all right. I really don't get this kind of behavior - if it takes that much effort to get better sound, I don't want it. Don't even get me started on the people who grind the CD edges to make them rounder...