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The Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version (You'll Love This)

Posted by thetubeguy1954 on February 9, 2012 at 15:08:34:
Hello I thought I'd share with everyone here that I just purchased the Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version CD transport from The Pacific Valve & Electric Company here on Audiogon:

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/462021

For only $899 shipped & insured to my home. I made this purchase after talking with my friend Mike about possibly selling my tubed "GoldeNote Stibbert" CDP. Mike told me he had been online checking about DACs & transports when he came on a review on the internet about the Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version CD transport.

Apparently this unit's one of audio best-kept secrets. The CD-7 final version has a underground following amongst diyers and there's rumours the Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version CD transport actually gives the $17,999 dcs Puccini transport a real run for the money! Now I have a very expensive integrated amp and have heard a couple of much smaller, much less expensive integrateds give it a good run for the money ---{they didn't have my amps level of transparency, inner detail or level of harmonic and timbrel integrity}--- still these amps played to a point of both surprising me and causing me purchase one as a back-up in case something ever goes wrong with my integrated.

So can you just imagine if this Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version CD transport is capable of actually giving that same type and level of performance against the $17,999 dcs Puccini transport as the integrated I purchased for did against my amp? Imagine a $899 transport giving the dcs Puccini a real run for the money!!!???!! Well for $899 I had to find out for myself and bougjt the CD-7 transport. Below is some info I find onlime about the Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version:

•The new Audio-gd CD7 Final (CD Transport) is an upgrade on last years limited edition CD7 SE and is more analytical and neutral than the CD7 SE. This is achieved by a special order 0.5PPM TXCO clock and other modifications to circuit.

•The CD7 Final is seriously over engineered and weighs 16Kgs packed. It uses all audiophile grade components, including DALE resistors, WIMA caps (German brand), custom order NOVER (UK brand) caps, all audiophile grade input & output sockets and gold IEC socket. It uses 3 R-core transformers and multiple stages of power supply regulation.

•The CD7 Final uses a Sony DVD transport mechanism and has a user replacable laser mechanism which has a life span of approximately 3000 hours.It has 4 digital outputs (2 BNC and 2 RCA coaxial) and is able to be connected to 2 D/A convertors simulataneously. 1 pair of connectors utilise Audio-gd current output mode and the other pair utilise a more conventional transistor output.

•It also has two pairs of outputs which have a subtly different sound signature and enable some fine tuning of sound signature.

This a close-up of what the Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version transport looks like with the top removed and looking down into the CD-7:

And this is what the Audio-gd says about their CD-7 Final Version transport: http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/CD7FV/CD7SEFVEN.htm

Now what I need to do is to consider what DAC to use. After speaking with Bill at Pacific Valve about the:

•What equipment I'll use this new transport with.
•The strengths & weaknesses in my present system.
•Types of music I listen to.
•Volume I typically listen music at.
•Sonic traits I value in music reproduction.
•And some other things I can no longer recall

Based on that information Bill from Pacific Valve recommended I purchase Lite Audio's premier flagship 83 DAC instead of companion to the the Audio-gd CD7 transport, the Audio-gd Reference 7.1 DAC ---{of course the Lite 83 is modded by Pacific Valve and has a 30-day in-home trial period. The 83 DAC can be viewed here:}

http://www.pacificvalve.us/LTDAC83.html

I told Bill I'd like to go to their site and read about their modded version of the Lite 83 DAC and with that we hung up. As you all can see from the previous link I did indeed check the Lite Audio 83 DAC. However what impressed me was when I came across a review on Stereo Mojo of Lite Audio's very inexpensive $499 ($349 on sale) DAC AM that was also modded by Pacific Valve.

Apparently the reviewer was told by someone at Pacific Value their $499, $349 on sale, modded Lite would equal the openness and soundstage of his Linn Classik! As I was reading his review I was amazed to discover the reviewer say the Lite DAC AM sounded so good he ended up putting into his main system and the first thing he noticed about the sound is that it actually embarrassed the Redbook section of his Linn Classik! Now that really had my attention because there's nothing like trying a new component in your room, and on the audio system you're so intimately familiar with! However as I continued with the review the reviewer said, he felt this inexpensive little $499 Lite had the same openness and soundstage as his Linn Classik did, but on top of that he also felt everything was cleaner and smoother with the Lite DAC! Are you kidding me "if" this inexpensive Pacific Valve modded DAC AM was better than his Linn Classik in these areas. How much better would Lite's flagship DAC sound after Pacific Audio modded it? Reading this had me really salivating to try the Pacific Valve modified Lite 83 DAC! This relatively unknown components at $2753 for the combo, just might be a giant killer!

The reviewer said; An increase in dynamics was something that he had hoped for but was surprised to find he actually got it with this inexpensive Lite DAC. The reviewer continued with how he forgot how much fun a dynamic driving rhythm can be and how the bass was less obvious to him yet, noticeably stronger, until suddenly all the trinkets in the room were rattling to the bass even though there seemed to be less deep bass than before. If you'd like to can read the entire review here:

http://www.stereomojo.com/LITE%20AUDIO%20DAC%20AM%20REVIEW/LITEAUDIODACAMREVIEW.htm

Based on what I've read so far I am definitely leaning towards the $1854 modded Lite 83 DAC Bill recommended. That said, one of the reasons I'm writing this is I would love the input of anyone here at the Asylum that who feels they might know of another DAC that I should consider instead of the Lite 83. Right now I'm sitting here amazed at how the $899 Audio-gd CD-7 Final Version CD transport and the $1854 Pacific Valve modified Lite flagship 83 DAC at just $2753 for the combo might be capable of giving the dcs gear a serious run for the money! All I know is if this combo can just seriously better my GoldeNote Stibbert's performance I'll be absolutely estatic! Thanks for reading my long-winded post...

Listening to:

Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata )

Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
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"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted."

- William Shakespeare from The Merchant of Venice; Act V,i