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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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Model: TL 2-SL Category: CD Player/Recorder Suggested Retail Price: $2300 Description: CD transport (belt-driven ) Manufacturer URL: CEC Model Picture: View
Review by VinceL on January 03, 2002 at 01:59:30
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for the TL 2-SLAt the outset, while I have only had my transport for 1 month, in my defense, my family uses the hi-fi almost daily and for the whole day. That is, my 3-yr. old daughter plays her DVDs and Movie CD soundtracks through my system in the morning; my wife listens to her pop and soundtracks in the afternoon and I listening to my jazz, classical and operatic in the evening. Furthermore, I recently took a week off work and registered some quality listening time in.I originally heard of this player from the many posts and the fact that many manufacturers use the CEC TL-0 as the basis of their personal transport.
Competition
In the 6 month run up to my buying the TL-2, I auditioned new and second-hand transports/players in and around the US$2,000 range such as Mark Levinson, Audio Note, and Naim. Based in HK, I was faced with the problem of poor auditioning facilities and bad service. Though to be fair, some dealers did offer a good listening environment.I also tried to audition the Mutine Vecteur D-2 transport at US$1,000 which earned rave reviews at ETM, but their products are selling like hot cakes and they have no dealer facilities in Hong Kong.
Positives
1. Transparency/Detail – the AN CDT-Zero is already a decent machine but the TL-2 cut right through to the music. On Sade’s “Lovers Rock†I could hear the echo from the “squeaks†as the guitar player’s fingers slid up and down the strings.
2. Timbre – vocals, pianos, cellos, are faithfully and vividly reproduced. On the Peters Drury Trio, the snare drums “sizzle†like they are supposed to. Shirley Horn, Murray Perahia and Horowitz’s pianos “thang†like they are supposed to. On Krall, Horn and Pat Barber, vocals are great. Not just the voice, but one can even sense the singer blowing down the microphone on occasion when singing (no pun intended).
3. Imaging/Presentation – decent overall but I am aware that my Zero system is weaker in this department so I was unable to make as precise a review of this aspect as I would have like to. I may post an update once my pre and power are upgraded.One other point is that my system is replays old “analogue†music, i.e. jazz, classical and opera very well, but falls down with new “digital†music, i.e. rock and pop. Party due to the poorer recording quality yes, but it does have the oomph that such music requires. The CEC is very laid back, so I would not recommend this player if your tastes lean more towards the latter.
Negatives
1. Fit ‘n finish – machined in a quality champagne finish and with a perfectly spherical “corian puckâ€, the machine looks and feels like a million bucks. However, upon closer inspection, I found one or two bits of dirt in the transport spindle and many small scratches on the glass lid cover.
2. Reliability – on AA there have been quite a few postings on mechanical breakdowns. I confirmed this with the HK distributor who was forthright to acknowledge earlier and latest models to be the best but the ones in-between to be “questionableâ€. Essentially, if your model has their proprietary “Superlink†connection, you’re quite safe. The same guy also re-assured me that if my player were to have any problems, he would replace it no questions asked.
3. No Random button/Butt ugly remote – the remote looks like it came from a 1980s VCR, a big and rectangular brute. I highly value the random feature as it takes the tediousness out of playing a CD. You can program but it is a pain in the butt.On a final note, I also auditioned the TL-51 and this player for US$1,000 less, offers good value but falls down compared to the TL-2 with its grip. On complex orchestral/operatic pieces, it is just nowhere near as good.
Conclusion – The AN CDT-Zero is already a decent transport but I would rate the CEC TL-2 as 40% better overall.
Product Weakness: see review Product Strengths: see review
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Audio Note Zero system Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): " Sources (CDP/Turntable): subject of review (replaced AN CDT-Zero) Speakers: Audio Note E/Spe (around 93db sens) Cables/Interconnects: Audio Note Vx Music Used (Genre/Selections): everything but mainly jazz, classical and opera Room Size (LxWxH): 20ft x 8ft x 9ft Room Comments/Treatments: Darumas under CDP Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: CEC TL 2-SL CD Player/Recorder - VinceL 01:59:30 01/03/02 (0)
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