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Cree Silicon Carbide Diodes...Opinions Please!

Posted by lovekylie (A) on October 21, 2005 at 12:35:03

I recently took time to evaluate the Cree Silicon Carbide diodes in a CD player [Marantz CD63KI] and I’ve come full circle with my opinion.

The Silicon Carbide diodes replaced the IXYS HexFRED types which are a firm favourite, but Cree’s specification on the Silicon Carbide [10A/600V] tempted me to try them out in place of the IXYS.

My initial impression was very positive, a cleaner sound with improved definition across all frequencies.

After continued listening I started to find the sound somewhat fatiguing, too forward with a degree of steeliness or harness to the sound.

Before anybody jumps back and say’s the Cree diodes are revealing weaknesses elsewhere in the system, this is no OEM CD63, it sports a low jitter clock, Jung type regulators and a selection of premium capacitors in the analogue and digital sections.

So are the Cree diodes all that the spec sheets deemed them to be, is it a case of technology and sound quality not coming together?

At this point I’m only just holding off putting back the HexFRED’s so opinions please.

lovekylie

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