(OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

212.123.159.217

Posted on October 18, 2014 at 03:49:38

Munkie_NL
Audiophile

Posts: 4860
Location: Netherlands
Joined: August 24, 2003

My beloved old Sony X7ESD CDP broke down recently. It won't start up anymore, display is dark, drawer won't open. Bummer.

I had a pile of consumer grade CDP's in the attic. All from the fleas and thrifts. I did a multi test. Winner: Rotel RDC-06, the previous entry model Rotel CDP.

So i could play my ca. 2K, and growing, CD collection. But i started looking around on the used audio sites.

Found this Consonance CDP used in my small town. Took it home and hooked it up to my set. It has a tube output stage. 24/192 DAC.

I hear things i thought were impossible with redbook CD playback. It produces plenty of highs but it's not harsh at all. Cymbals, triangles, bells, never heard them like this on CD. Likewise the way it reproduces reverbs and ambience.

I bought it for less than 1/4 of the new price. There's not a scratch on it. With remote and original box.

Audiophiles are now leaving CD replay for streaming. So they are selling their high end CDP's, transports, DACs.

CD's are getting cheaper and cheaper. I bought some brand new jazz Cd's lately, 5 euro per. Used Cd's in the thrift: 1 euro per max. Records in the fleas and thrifts: forget it, even good classical is gone.

"The torture never stops"

Greetings Freek.

Hide full thread outline!

Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

Biff

07:40:28 10/20/14

4

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

genungo

10:48:58 10/20/14

3

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

twowheels

06:46:57 10/21/14

...

Show full thread outline!

Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

Biff

07:40:28 10/20/14

4

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

genungo

10:48:58 10/20/14

3

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC

twowheels

06:46:57 10/21/14

That's a new one on me

Biff

13:05:34 10/20/14

RE: That's a new one on me

genungo

15:48:11 10/20/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

wirewizard

21:42:57 10/19/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Munkie_NL

11:52:56 10/18/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Mick Wolfe

08:50:30 10/18/14

Partially correct

valvesonly

08:34:52 10/18/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Awe-d-o-file

08:10:14 10/18/14

3

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Kems

12:22:23 10/18/14

2

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Awe-d-o-file

15:40:13 10/18/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

Kems

04:41:00 10/19/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

spindoctor

04:39:31 10/18/14

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 04:39:31
spindoctor Audiophile Posts: 1663 Location: Virginia Joined: December 31, 2002	The Consonance is excellent. I use an Ah! Tjoeb in my main system. It also has a tube output stage and an upsampler and I'm delighted with the sound which rivals my lps. Sim

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 08:10:14

Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004

Indeed! If you love music you have to have a way to playback digital or you'll miss out on over what 90 some odd percent of all recorded music over the last 20 odd years?

I respect people that love vinyl and have a good rig that outplays their digital rig. I don't understand hating CD/digital so much that you have no way to play it in your system.

ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

Partially correct, posted on October 18, 2014 at 08:34:52

valvesonly
Audiophile

Posts: 755
Location: Ontario
Joined: May 27, 2005

No doubt the better CDP's produce a much better CD experience, but there are complicating factors IMHO, although getting in cheaply is the correct approach.

New DAC's are producing great sound at ever cheaper levels. They also have the ability to play all high resolution files regardless of source. As the original files are digital with time hi-rez will be available cheaply.

The detail you mention is far more noticeable in the hi-rez formats, and CD remains 16/66. 24 bit is noticeably better. Vinyl users will find it difficult to accept less. Listen to files rendered on a Alesis masterlink.

A top quality transport therefore is what you are looking for. DAC's come & go and other sources will be required as the key benefit of digital is the ability to select playlists or albums remotely.

I'm mainly spending on vinyl reissues and upgrades as I put in my digital route a few years back. DAC is the new BRYSTON BDA2.(recommended)
.
must..NOT..resist..."upgraditis"

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 08:50:30
Mick Wolfe Audiophile Posts: 3365 Location: AZ Joined: October 10, 1999 Contributor Since: September 4, 2000	The Opera/Consonance room at RMAF featured some visually stunning gear. Looks to be built to a high standard. When I visited, playback levels were too low to evaluate, but I've heard positive comment on there gear over the years.

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 11:52:56

Munkie_NL
Audiophile

Posts: 4860
Location: Netherlands
Joined: August 24, 2003

Just spun a thrift store Nat King Cole record on my modded 70s Lenco L75/Decca Int./Shure M97 TT. This puts everything into perspective. Let's say i'll allow the Consonance CDP to allow the Lenco's shoelaces...

Ok now there is a lot of talk about 24/96 FLACs and even beyond but where are they?

Vinyl is still king here but try to find 90s and 00s pop/rock on vinyl used. There are new pressings now but at 25 euro per it's becoming an expensive hobby.

Spinning a Lou Reed best-of Cd now, 1 euro, all original plus jewel box. Beat that!

"The torture never stops"

Greetings Freek.

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 12:22:23
Kems Audiophile Posts: 61 Location: Soenderjylland Joined: April 21, 2005	There may be another reason for not having digital in a system... Because it would be costly to have two or more different sources of same quality, and that accepting one being inferiour is not an option. That's how it is with me. And that's probably also why pure digital-users don't do vinyl.

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 18, 2014 at 15:40:13

Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004

As a music lover I can't see a single platform as an option in any case today. A heavily tweaked early 18 bit DAC chip CDP is usable and quite cheap. I'm totally OK with those that don't like digital although most don't know or haven't heard the "good enough" rigs that can be had for around 3K.

But regardless as a music lover I'd have a 39 dollar DVD player as a CD rig to hear music I love not available on LP Tens of thousands of recordings from the last 20 some odd years are digital only.

What many don't realize is how much more important RFI/EMI suppression and superior AC delivery is to digital that IS NOT as important to analog and it gets worse every day with so many flat screens and switching power supplies polluting everything.

ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 19, 2014 at 04:41:00

Kems
Audiophile

Posts: 61
Location: Soenderjylland
Joined: April 21, 2005

Yes, I can certainly see what you mean, and I actually agree with you - by sticking to the vinyl media I am robbing myself of some music. However, I can actually get most of what I want, on vinyl.

From time to time I ponder about installing a CD-player again, but I have not come around to it yet. Streaming isn't my taste either, at the moment, other than internet-radio when I am working. It is also a matter of the media, where I simply get more joy out of the whole LP handling. That's just how I am, clinging on to something old in a modern world :-)

RE: (OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP, posted on October 19, 2014 at 21:42:57
wirewizard Manufacturer Posts: 836 Location: N.E. Ohio Joined: July 3, 2009	I had the same cd player and it was sweet sounding indeed. I do it all in the name of music!!!

Or get a good transport and a newer DAC, posted on October 20, 2014 at 07:40:28
Biff Audiophile Posts: 7527 Location: Portland, Oregon Joined: January 27, 2002	Makes a world of difference.

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC, posted on October 20, 2014 at 10:48:58
genungo	There's a nice CEC belt drive transport for sale here in the AA classifieds right now. I might buy it if the money wasn't a problem.

That's a new one on me, posted on October 20, 2014 at 13:05:34
Biff Audiophile Posts: 7527 Location: Portland, Oregon Joined: January 27, 2002	I've never seen a belt drive CD player.

RE: That's a new one on me, posted on October 20, 2014 at 15:48:11
genungo	CEC has been making belt drives for years now. Their CD transports have always been considered state of the art. The belt helps to isolate the drive mechanism.

RE: Or get a good transport and a newer DAC, posted on October 21, 2014 at 06:46:57
twowheels Audiophile Posts: 225 Location: portland, Oregon Joined: January 11, 2009	I have a cec tl-1 and it is the best cd transport I've ever had in my system.

Vinyl Asylum

(OT) Tip: buy a used high end CDP

212.123.159.217