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REVIEW: APL Hi-Fi Phillips SACD 1000 SACD Player (Modded)

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Model: Phillips SACD 1000
Category: SACD Player (Modded)
Suggested Retail Price: $1850+player
Description: SACD Player
Manufacturer URL: APL Hi-Fi
Manufacturer URL: APL Hi-Fi

Review by Penguin ( A ) on November 05, 2004 at 13:28:45
IP Address: 68.34.103.91
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for the Phillips SACD 1000


This is a somewhat comparative review, so it is a little off of the beaten path. First let me start with the systems used. One of them is my own system listed here on AA the other belongs to another AA member Waldo55 (Jim). First let me detail Jim’s system:

Speakers: SoundLab A1 with latest upgrades

Amps: Parasound JC1s with TG Audio mods

Pre: CTC Blowtorch

CDP: Entec DAC with a modified Pioneer transport highly modified by Bob Crump.

All TG Audio cables and other accessories.

To start with I have to confess that I am seriously in love with the SoundLabs. There is no other speaker I heard that makes music come alive like the A1s. Nothing. The JC1s drive the big flat suckers effortlessly and with such coherence that it startles the listener.

The DAC is Crump’s baby, he has meddled with it for years to make it sound similar to his Rockport, and give everything concise focus. And I will return to the issue of focus. I have visited Jim earlier this summer and I was mesmerized by the precise images the system produced, amazed by the height of the soundstage and the accuracy of the sound of the piano. If you never heard a pair of Soundlabs you just do not know what you are missing. It is as close as you can get to reproduce a live event in your room. But enough about the speakers. The transport DAC combo produces a wide and deep soundstage with minimal grain and incredible transients. So there we proceeded to plug in the APL Hi-Fi moded SACD 1000. We let it grind for about an hour to get it to operating temperatures. It was immediately catching Jim’s attention, he remarked about the PRAT of the player, how it makes you want to tap your toes. We put on Keb Mo’s The Door and listened to the second track Loola Loo. First we listened to the CD. The Entec made a pretty good impression of the guitar and the bass notes were kinda woody and dry, but very distinct and well delineated. Keb’s voice was a bit dry and scratchy like he had a slight cold. Then we switched to the SACD 1000 still using the CD. On that track the difference between the two players were startling. The bass lines were singing now, Keb’s voice became just close miked and not as scratchy as it was on the Entec, The rhythm of the piece seemed like was more driving and the mid-bass had a magic glow.

Jim did not look too happy at this point….but there is a lot more to this story. OK we both preferred the SACD 1000 on a solo instrument solo voice BFD. Can it hold up on bigger venues? Pulled out a copy of Brian Bromberg’s Wood , just the first cut, with massive standing bass and incredible space. The two players presented the music so differently that we were baffled. Both were enjoyable both had good detail, but they had a different perspective. The Entec is definitely a first row center view with razor sharp images, with a bit of dryness, the SACD 1000 is lyrical enveloping not warm but definitely sunnier than the Entec. It is like comparing a crisp January day to a crisp autumn day. They both have their charm, but which one is better. We threw CD after CD into the two machines and we kept preferring one or the other depending the music, on large orchestral pieces they both resolved all the detail, the SACD 1000 seemed more dynamic, but the Entec had a better positioning of the orchestra. We could not pick one over the other. These CDPs reflected such apparently different philosophies that it was just mind boggling. It is obvious that Bob is into fine detail and precision, while Alex’s goal is to pull you into the venue, make you get up and dance. And they both have achieved their goals to a very high degree.

Where this competition becomes a bit racy is when you consider the price, the SACD 1000 is undoubtedly the biggest bargain ever.

At this point we pulled out the SACD version of Keb Mo’s CD and listened to Loola Loo. Oh my, like if it was a different recording, Keb’s voice still close miked, but now you count the fillings in his mouth, the bass line was now truly three dimensional came from the wooden body of the guitar of the right size, it was pure magic compared to the CD. Jim started talking about the need to get a hold of Alex……..

Anyway we spent the rest of the evening listening to cuts from CDs and SACDs without a hint of listener’s fatigue. Sometimes real loud like when we cranked up Brothers in Arms….boy what fun.

In my system I can safely say that the CDP has been seriously threatening the TT. The TT has been the reigning king of the system without any contenders. Now there are times and pieces where I prefer listening to the SACD 1000. It is just that good. Actually it made me thinking about doing some more tweaks to the TT. The CDP exposed the flabbiness of the mid-bass of my TT. I need to do something about that. But back to the CDP everybody who had listened to it remarks on its dynamic and lyrical presentation. I am a happy camper……


Product Weakness: Comapered to the highly tweaked Entec smaller soundstage
Product Strengths: Musicality, PRAT, Pulls you into the music


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Llano Phoenix
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Pass Labs X1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): SACD 1000/ Well Tempered
Speakers: Vandersteen 3A Signature + pair of 2wq
Cables/Interconnects: DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Jazz, Folk
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 12 x 9
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: APL Hi-Fi Phillips SACD 1000 SACD Player (Modded) - Penguin 13:28:45 11/5/04 ( 7)