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Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!

67.72.98.98
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 12:40:17
Vinylly
 After reading all the reviews I bought the Arcam FMJ CD 36. Needless to say I have been enjoying it and after a long listening session with it last night I finished the evening playing an LP, Duke Ellington's 'Far East Suite' on RCA. What a way to finish the evening!!!!! As good as they are, CD players still can't give you the liquid seductive sound of good vinyl.
So, I'm trying to analyse the difference. With CD's, reviewers like to talk about the black silence between instruments. I think that's could be one of the CD's problems. In real life there is no black silence between instruments but instead their is a 'flowing' which is what vinyl conveys. Also on voice and on instruments, there seems to be an edge to the sound whereas the sound of vinyl is more rounded, which is also true in real life.
Finally, basically I think with CD's you seem to be listening to 'cut-outs' as opposed to a flowing stream with LP's.
So, as good as the Arcam is, or any other player in it's price range, they still can't beat good vinyl. The Sound of LP's is just 'sexier'.
I guess this explains why there is a resurgence in the popularity LP's.

RE: Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!, posted on November 4, 2009 at 14:36:18
mothra
Audiophile

Posts: 1799
Joined: August 28, 2001
 I still use my old theta! So i am not up on the silky sounding stuff. The bass it great. The high end on sacd's is cleaner. I think, as much as I love vinyl, people like the vinyl artifact. CD's aren't cool or special to people and I think vinyl is different and captures the imagination of people as a complete package, sound differences aside.

RE: Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!, posted on November 4, 2009 at 10:04:58
alan.holloway
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: September 5, 2009
 I seem to most often listen to CDs while doing stuff in another room, like typing on this desktop PC while enjoying Brazil Classics 1 (Beleza Tropical, compiled by David Byrne) in the background. Vinyl commands my attention more, and not just because I'm forced to pay attention to the mechanics of the playback. That said, some digital is beautiful, but mostly I find it less involving.

What's curious to me is that I feel the desire to "back away" from CD. I like digital better when heard indirectly (wildly off-axis, in a sense).

RE: Similar experience here, posted on November 4, 2009 at 13:49:36
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11779
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 CD's are easy. A Music Server is even easier. I listen to it all day long in random-play mode while working in front of another computer in the office. If I don't like the tune it's playing, I skip over it with the remote control.

With vinyl, I sit in front of my audio system instead of the office PC. I listen to one side of the album and then the other. I am paying attention and enjoying every moment, and actually listening to the entire album rather than skipping tracks as I do with the music server. I am actively enjoying the performance rather than passively listening to background music as I do with the music server.

What you really need is a Music Server, posted on November 4, 2009 at 08:43:02
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11779
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 My $6000 (new, I bought mine used) Accuphase DP-65v CDP has been stored away in my closet for about a year now. I should probably sell it.

What you really want is a good music server and DAC. Put ALL you CD tunes -and music videos- on the music server and never fumble with another CD again! ;-)

Put it all on a Music Server and backup disk drives


Remote control access to thousands of tunes using iPod Touch
I had a FMJ 36 as a loaner..., posted on November 4, 2009 at 04:28:31
EdAInWestOC
Audiophile

Posts: 2808
Location: Ocean City, MD USA
Joined: December 18, 2003
 for about 2 months while my CD73 was out for repair. I liked it a lot and felt it was a better player than the CD73 (as it should be for the added cost).

It is a very well regarded player but you know how those things go...here one day, forgotten the next.

You could have gotten a much worse CD player. The Wolfson DACs are very highly highly rated and the construction is very nice.

I liked the loaner and I had considered coming up with the difference for the FMJ36 but CDs are not that important to me. I even ended up pulling out the CD73 and moving it to my "at work" rig.

The CD73 is a better player than my current work computer's DVD/CD drive and I still have the TEAC CDR recorder/player on my main rig. As you can probably tell, I'm not very picky when it comes to CD. They are what they are...

Ed

We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
RE: Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!, posted on November 3, 2009 at 22:21:25
Tao
 I’m glad you’re liking your new cd player. I listen to mine, an ARC CD 3 mkll, a little less than vinyl. For me both have their place and can be a satisfying listen. Some CD’s like some of the JVC XRCD 2/24’s (Ammons Boss Tenor comes quickly to mind) have sound very close to and as engaging as their vinyl counterpart in my system.

We might be defining a black background differently but I really appreciate a deep black background with vinyl as there is less noise for the music to have to rise above. I find it very satisfying and engaging to clearly hear notes emerge from and then decay back into silence. For me it’s a much more natural sound than having a table’s noise floor interfering with things like micro dynamic shadings.
I am very happy with CDs, posted on November 3, 2009 at 21:11:17
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 2841
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
Contributor
  Since: July 22, 2000
 I have a Simaudio Moon CD5.3 in my 2 channel only system and an NAD T585 universal player in my HT-MCH-2CH system. I am very happy with both players. Some CDs sound absolutely wonderful, especially on the Moon which has a nice liquid sound. Some CDs sound not so good on any player. Kind of like LPs.

I HATED the sound of CDs when they first came out in the early to mid 1980s. In fact, I was surprised because the first time I heard about the format (as I senior in high school, I think), I was salivating for it. But then there was that fateful day that I bought my first CDP in the fall of 1986 and sat scratching my head. But either the players, or the software, or both have improved to the point that I cannot say that records sounds inherently better than CDs, or at least a lot better consistently.

THAT SAID, there really is something magical about playing and listening to records, and I do think there is still a bit more openness and air and more of an organic sound. Plus, it's more interactive and, well, who doesn't love a nice turntable?! It's a beautiful machine and a fun toy that creates music from plastic discs that actually sounds great. How COOL is that?
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Agreed., posted on November 4, 2009 at 04:29:32
soundnut
Audiophile

Posts: 3108
Location: Iowa
Joined: May 7, 2004
 I'm no CD hater, either. Or tape hater, or anything else. My approach has always been to try to bring out the best quality that I could afford in whatever format I choose to play.

Since I continue to buy music on vinyl, tape, CD, and even downloads, my music collection is a whole lot larger than it would be if I just confined my choices two one or two formats.

I think the reason a lot of those early CDs sounded so bad was the software rather than the hardware. I have a couple of old Nakamichi & Sony ES players & they sound every bit as good as the newer machines I've heard. So I'm in no hurry to upgrade.

I too find the quality of LPs at least as variable as the quality of CDs. Some are terrific, most are just good, and some are downright horrible.

I agree that there is something very alluring about spinning vinyl. The tactile & interactive experience coupled with the fluid analog sound of a really good pressing.. What's not to like?

Cheers & keep spinning the tunes!
Bobbo :-)

I am extremely fond of my Ack Dac, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:25:25
Paully
Audiophile

Posts: 4171
Location: West Virginia
Joined: February 15, 2004
 I like both formats to be honest. I wax and wane over which one I like best but I can listen to either quite happily. I like the clean, detailed, precise sound of CD's. No pops, no clicks. I like the involving sound of records, especially since I upgraded my phono stage. That made a NICE difference. Its all wonderful when the music is great and having a nice recording helps a lot too!

Outboard DACs, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:30:23
Biff
Audiophile

Posts: 3566
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: January 27, 2002
 I think there is something to be said for having an external DAC. It made a huge difference in my system and it's a very modest DAC. I enjoy CDs but I agree with the OP that vinyl has that extra measure of "whatever." Not as clinical or analytical I suppose.


***********************
"More music and Les Brown."
RE: Outboard DACs, posted on November 3, 2009 at 16:46:36
Paully
Audiophile

Posts: 4171
Location: West Virginia
Joined: February 15, 2004
 I am very fond of mine and know that there are some other good ones floating around that I wish I could try (Scott Nixon was one). I think it allows for some flexibility. Buy as good of a DAC as you can and then upgrade the transport over time. Or, as happens to me, the transport is always what breaks and that is all I have to replace.

RE: Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!, posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:28:00
Swiller
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Northern Minnesota
Joined: October 6, 2009
 Don't be ashamed and as you've stated CD's are what they are. Admittedly I also use CD's. So be it. My NAD 522 is better than my RS back in '82, but vinyl always has and always will domimate home music playback. Congrats on your purchase.

Swiller
silence, posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:20:30
Metralla
Audiophile

Posts: 6416
Location: San Jose, California
Joined: January 30, 2001
 In real life there is no black silence between instruments but instead their is a 'flowing' which is what vinyl conveys

As much as I love the sound of LPs, that's a very long bow you are drawing. Your other points are fine, but you won't win this one against the digital sound.

Regards,
Geoff
RE: Bought A New CD Player !!!!!!, posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:15:42
neergan1216
 My experience also. Lately, often after 5-10 minutes listening to digital, I am squirming and restless and have to turn it off. So, for the heck of it, I dragged out my old Dual 1264 and WOW! Goosebumps! I would describe digital's only strength is accuracy. For me, vinyl is actually more detailed and dynamic. It also draws me closer into the music. Digital strips away the intensity.

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