luvdunhill Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 it does, other than the vrds transports the philips pro are the best transports around I'm looking more and more into DVD transports, specifically the one that Muse audio uses. I think there are some definite benefits to be had with them. Problem with the VRDS is that you have to mess with EIAJ format if you're going to try a i2s direct type connection, which isn't impossible but just different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 The 840c doesn't smooth over anything, it's really good with transients, especially that initial attack. On drums for instance the initial hit just jumps out and smacks you. I'm still a little unsure of the decay though, at times I get the feeling it's not always holding onto notes as long as it should. I also get a feeling that output stage is holding back the player from being as good as it could be. I wonder how good it'd sound with a zapfilter or a transformer coupled output. I always felt the decay was crazy long, in fact almost painfully long, like "please let that guitar note end so I can listen to the next one". Todd, do you feel that perhaps the length of transients could have something to do with the diffusion you hear in the soundstage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I always felt the decay was crazy long, in fact almost painfully long, like "please let that guitar note end so I can listen to the next one". That's there in the amp, you listen to crappy hippy jam bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Nigel: The sustain...listen to it... Marty: I'm not hearing anything. Nigel: You would, though, if it were playing, because it really ... it's famous for its sustain...I mean, you could, just hold it.... Marty: Well I mean so you don't.... Nigel: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... You could go and have a bite an'...aaaaaaaaa...you'd still be hearin' that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spritzer Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 honestly unless your talking about something like the esoteric transports the vrds, vrds-neo, or maybe the philips pro, most of the other currently available transports aren't going to be any better than a dvd-rom drive. All the different variations of the top Sony transports were also widely used, JVC also had a great one and lets not forget the original Philips swing arm. It's sad that today we have the CD-Pro2 and some POS plastic drives. does the CD-Pro in my Capitole count? It does though I think it is the CD-Pro2... No matter as it is a massive die-cast beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laxx Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 The 840c doesn't smooth over anything, it's really good with transients, especially that initial attack. On drums for instance the initial hit just jumps out and smacks you. I'm still a little unsure of the decay though, at times I get the feeling it's not always holding onto notes as long as it should. I also get a feeling that output stage is holding back the player from being as good as it could be. I wonder how good it'd sound with a zapfilter or a transformer coupled output. Have you thought about RAM mods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted January 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I have seen the RAM mods and they do look interesting (though quite expensive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spritzer Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I have seen the RAM mods and they do look interesting (though quite expensive). If you do go for them be sure to get enough C37 lacquer... While I agree with a lot of stuff that they do the magical lacquer just doesn't make any sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I have seen the RAM mods and they do look interesting (though quite expensive). True, but RAM, as a company, is so sketchy. I feel this way about any company that offers complete cryo immersion mods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted January 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Yep thats my concern, while I like the whole idea of transformer coupled output it's hard for me to get past things like the $600 wooden knob that they sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pars Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 All the different variations of the top Sony transports were also widely used, JVC also had a great one and lets not forget the original Philips swing arm. It's sad that today we have the CD-Pro2 and some POS plastic drives. It does though I think it is the CD-Pro2... No matter as it is a massive die-cast beast. What is sad is Philips as a company has a track record of abysmal support, notably in the CD drive arena... hopefully they won't pull the plug on the CD-Pro2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted January 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 What is sad is Philips as a company has a track record of abysmal support, notably in the CD drive arena... Very true, exhibit A: SACD1000 transport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spritzer Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 What is sad is Philips as a company has a track record of abysmal support, notably in the CD drive arena... hopefully they won't pull the plug on the CD-Pro2 I think it is very likely that will happen soon. Very true, exhibit A: SACD1000 transport They didn't even bother to find out what was wrong with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 They didn't even bother to find out what was wrong with them. well, I think Alex got to the bottom of a few of the problems. Thing is, finding those MACE and FURORE chips is near impossibile for the DIY-er, or even people like Alex. I've almost bought the Philips transport 10 times now, but I just get guy shy as a lot of the problems are slow degradation not a quick break. This is hard when your rig is so unstable to deal with a source that exhibits some sort of quantum-uncertainty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pars Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Re: Philips = asshats Fortunately I have 2 spare CDM4/19s for my Rotel... original laser still works (bought new in ~1990), so I think I'm good there... I always wanted to buy/DIY whatever a transport with a CDM-Pro, particularly if I could do it like this: http://bergrans.despinnerij.nl/index.php?content=mechanics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 http://bergrans.despinnerij.nl/index.php?content=mechanics a few more links: http://www.diy-high-end.com/ http://www.akustik-perfekt.homepage.t-online.de/the-audio-collection/english/cdplayer/index.html http://www.tentlabs.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted January 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 updated the first post with some general comparisons of the 840c vs the Opus 21 and the APL Philips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pars Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Nice review. I hadn't seen the Resolution Audio player before. It is quite a bit more expensive, particularly with the mods, than the Cambridge, so good to see the 840 holding its own more or less (I guess... depends on perspective). I noticed that GNSC isn't very talkative on their web page regarding the mods they do (other than the usual jargon). Oh, and sorry to contribute to derailing your thread... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFKMan23 Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Given the difference in price between the two, it's good to see that the 840c actually does hold up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt Peanuts Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I also get a feeling that output stage is holding back the player from being as good as it could be. I wonder how good it'd sound with a zapfilter or a transformer coupled output. So on this note, anyone getting theirs modded? Of course, I think RAM is the only place modifying them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I would love to see a comparision between the digital in of the 840c, Pico and Duet. I tried to grab one that was pretty cheap but someone beat me to it. It does seem that the 840c can compete with some decent competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt Peanuts Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I would love to see a comparision between the digital in of the 840c, Pico and Duet. I tried to grab one that was pretty cheap but someone beat me to it. It does seem that the 840c can compete with some decent competition. Bring your Pico and Duet to the freezing cold of New England and we'll have a meet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Bring your Pico and Duet to the freezing cold of New England and we'll have a meet! That would be one way to do the comparison. If I'm going to venture into the freezing cold, I better have a pair of skis on my feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt Peanuts Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Just browsed through Audiogon and, wow, there's been some nice prices on used 840C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Just browsed through Audiogon and, wow, there's been some nice prices on used 840C. I missed one at $950 and $995. At those prices, I could sell it, if not what I was looking for with little or no loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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