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I don't understand why Stereophile recommended Tascam CD-200. It sounds quite poor as a transport.
I have a Sony X229ES. It originally only has an optical SPDIF output. I added a coax SPDIF output by myself in year 2000. When I use it as transport to feed a Benchmark DAC3, it sounds better than the Tascam CD-200 by a wide margin. It is very musical and enjoyable.
Follow Ups:
I got same results as you.
Benchmark insists (and still does) that their DAC is immune to type of transport. That is why I bought it and got screwed.
A Cambridge CXC is much much better. You can get a refurbished one from their ebay store.
=====
I hooked up the Cambridge CXC V2 in my system. It sounds a little more refined and offers a little more resolution. It sounds somewhat polite and soft. This makes many CDs more listenable. Vocal is very good. Midrange is solid. It is far from being bright. I think it is worth the price I paid for.
I own and used the following players as transport. I list the SQ from best to worst.
1. Cambridge CXC with coax output.
2. Sony X229ES with DIY coax output.
5. Marantz SA8260 with coax output.
6. Sony S9000ES with coax output.
20. Tascam CD-200 with coax output.
A refurbished V2 is $349 and V1 is $299. The difference between V2 and V1 is only cosmetic.I first got a V1. It has scratches on the case. It won't power on so I had to return it. The V2 I got looks brand new. I have over 1000 CDs but I only have 7 CDRs. I tested all the CDRs I have. 6 are fine but one is rejected by the CXC.
Edits: 01/09/22 01/09/22
Is Stereophile still recommending Cassette decks? How about 8-Track ;-)
Current Model Tascam CD-200BT Rackmount CD Player:
Only $400 on Amazon
* Pair up to 8 audio transmitting Bluetooth devices at once for easy and fast switching
* Equipped with the aptX Codec to support high audio quality and stable transmissions
* The CD drive supports playback of CD-DA and WAV/MP3/MP2 files (Data CD)
* The CD drive was designed by TEAC to be of higher quality and dependability
* The 10-second shockproof memory prevents skipping from vibration and other causes
* The front screen displays the name of the device in use; Operating temperature: 41F to 95F/ 5C to 35C
* Wireless remote controller included
read John Marks' carefully worded recommendation from the 2014 review as quoted in this post .
Seems, however, there are still lots of folks content spinning 70s era digital media. :)
I must have missed something...
... John Marks wrote reviews in Stereophile.........
'80s era. At least only publicly available since the 80s.
I took a flashlight to my CD collection last night after watching "Jagged", Alanis Morrisette's documentary on HBO Max to see if I had "Jagged Little Pill". I haven't played a CD in at least 3 years.
'80s era. At least only publicly available since the 80s.
I refer to the technology behind the media itself - not the familiar application that followed afterwards.
"The first digitally recorded optical disc was a 5-inch audio compact disc (CD) in a read-only format created by Sony and Philips in 1975.[55]"
" With the CD-200 used as a transport for the Bricasti M1 DAC (a Follow-Up is in the works), Sleeping Gypsy sounded perfectly acceptable-just great. Nothing at all to complain about. However, when I played the same disc in the Parasound Halo CD1, a read-until-right, computer-based player-transport, the improvements were immediately audible. The music was more present, with greater resolution of fine details. The music was also more continuous. I heard more of Franks's breathing and vocal articulation. The soundstage was wider and higher. The dubbed-in strings were airier and more dynamic.
All of that, as far as I'm concerned, justifies the Parasound's price of $4500. But neither does it deny the TASCAM CD-200 {$220} its place in the sun. For people who want a dead-quiet, industrial-quality, reliable disc-spinner CD transport for not much money at all, the CD-200 is a bargain . "
Thank you.
A friend wanted a bombproof budget CD transport. He was aware of the superiority of the Parasound Halo, but was unwilling to spend that kind of money.
My understanding was that the TASCAM CD unit would be used in those few radio stations that still would spin a CD every now and then, and also in church sound settings and DJ settings.
I thank you for noting that I did carefully word my endorsement. SP's new owners do not comp me a subscription, so I have no idea what the recent RCL list blurb was like.
But, for the welfare of endangered ducks everwhere, the thing costs far less than an all-zoot mono LP reissue from the UK!
My furthermore is that I auditioned and recommended the bare-bones, no-options model. My assumption is that the more connectivity you add, the basic sound gets worse.
But thanks for clarifying what I did not have the time or the resilience to clarify myself.
ciao,
john
The coax SPDIF circuit on this machine is cheaply and poorly designed. I will probably do a surgery on it to avoid throw the whole machine away.
Yeah, I agree the world of audio reviewing has gotten considerably watered down from years past. Ranging from changes in the level of detail and direct comparison of competitive gear to the addition of a host internet based sources which vary considerably in expertise. I confess that my opinion is highly biased having spent lots of time with Dr. Cooledge, HP and Randy Tomlinson. Sometimes as "panelists" in listening sessions during a review. JWC used a legal pad to record observations.
But I just don't get the repeated mantra of "all magazines are corrupt and worthless" and the industry is rife with "snake oil" shtick. Get over it. Just ignore poor reviews and ideas like teleportation.
That just seems to focus on a small facet of the audio world instead of enjoying the incredible capabilities available today in terms of content and reproduction which were simply unimaginable when I began this journey as a teen in the 70s.
I was chewed out Royally in English class at a ritzy New England Prep School circa 1969 when the English teacher realized that what I was staring intently at on my desk as he lectured was an article in POPULAR ELECTRONICS about the new JBL LE8T passive radiator.
A couple of weeks ago, talk about teleportation and science fiction, my friends at Steinway made the public debut of a real-time remote piano performance system, which must be seen to be believed.
But that's not the example I refer to in the subject line.
Some time ago I was asked to specify the office/desktop stereo systems for the top executives at Steinway. I covered that in my blog, years ago. I chose Parasound's Zamp v.3. Very nice linear class A/B sound for the money, and bombproof.
Recently, someone from a major loudspeaker and driver company told me I had to check out Hypex's amp boards. I eventually got OEM status with Hypex and bought a board from them and a case with all the connectors kit from Ghent Audio in China.
There was an error not of Ghent's fault, which took some degree of trouble shooting, but I eventually tracked down that the illuminated switch in the IEC Power Inlet Module had been put in upside down.
Once I got the Hypex amp running, I just had to call one of my most astute audio buddies. I could not believe how good it sounded--was this just Confirmation Bias? I had in essence been teleported back 50 years and I had assembled this kit, so it must sound good?
My friend confirmed that the Hypex did not have a shred of "digital" in its sound. He was as surprised as I was.
So now, I am salivating about using Hypex's FA123 DSP + 3 channels of amplification modules in my personal Dream Loudspeaker project.
THESE are the days, my friend (cue up that song).
jm
"I could not believe how good it sounded--was this just Confirmation Bias? I had in essence been teleported back 50 years and I had assembled this kit, so it must sound good?
My friend confirmed that the Hypex did not have a shred of "digital" in its sound. He was as surprised as I was."
Are you suggesting that confirmation from a friend is evidence that you were not being affected by confirmation bias?
Competitiveness is not unknown among audio buddies and audio club members.
But it's not only one friend.
Dunno whether you have any opinion about Philip O'Hanlon, but I think he has excellent hearing and an amazing knowledge base.
He's another Hypex fan, AFAIK.
john
You are using testimonial evidence that is anecdotal and potentially frought with bias effects to claim immunity to bias effects. And it may be a classic case of groupthink bias effect.
"Dunno whether you have any opinion about Philip O'Hanlon, but I think he has excellent hearing and an amazing knowledge base."
I don't know him. But like everyone else in your story you are all human and subject to the same human processes of aural perception and bias effects.
The only way to control bias effects is to actually take them out of the equation. Reaching a consensus of anecdotal accounts does not do that. It does he opposite actually and opens the door to groupthink effects.
This is not to say anyone's impressions are wrong. It is to say bias effects have not been eliminated from the opinions formed.
I used to practice yoga...
but it was just a pose.
I then became a Buddhist, in hopes that by renouncing EVERYTHING--and ESPECIALLY, renouncing RENUNCIATION, I could clear my soul of all biases.
But then my Meditation Master told me I was too prideful of my humility, so I hit him with the Style section of the Sunday New York Times.
At the sad end of a long trail, I decided that I would just listen as attentively as I could, and try to give advice as though it were my own money that was at risk.
ciao,
john
Bias effects are only aprt of the issue with how we process what we hear. And because of the other mechanisms the bias in play isn'talways a conscious one.
I think JJ explains it really well in this video. I don'tknow how anyone can watch this and not get it. we are not the human tape recorders we think we are.
jm
NT
I don't understand why anybody pays any attention to them anymore.
They listened to it as a cd player. Different thing.
I pretty much ignore Products of the Year or Recommended Components for SQ. I will sometimes read magazine articles mainly to get a better understanding of features, price, inputs/outputs, photos, etc. IF the reviewer should do an actual comparison against another product in a similar price class I'll try to focus on comments on how they compare. But too many reviewers dance around weaknesses so you have to 'read between the lines'.
NT
Jeez, I've learned this the hard way roughly 25 years ago..... [-;
I still get inquiries on "recommended components"..... I respond by saying I've been totally removed from such informational process for years..... Don't miss it..... Don't miss it at all.
at least from two professional reviewers I knew for decades is that recommendations are to help readers narrow down their choices based upon specific accolades and component matching - not blindly purchase based upon them.
Even with my friends, my preference was not always theirs.
Of course I use the Recommendations to help narrow down choices but that's based mostly on features and price. Reviewer comments on SQ are pretty low on my list for several reasons: Hardly ANY product gets a poor review. The best reviews are for those products that are heavily advertised in the rag. And the reviewers often cop out by rating products proportional to price. Do all $20,000 DACs sound better than $5000 DACs?
The only way to not "blindly purchase" [with or without a magazine review] is to audition. One way to lower the risk when "blindly purchasing" is to buy used ;-) I've bought and sold a LOT of used gear over the years. And no, not because I'm dissatisfied. I enjoy trying different equipment and forming my own opinions w/o relying on the rags.
The only way to not "blindly purchase" [with or without a magazine review] is to audition.
Unfortunately, some folks don't understand the primary objective is narrowing auditions.
And what avoids "getting burned". :)
"And what avoids "getting burned". ;-)
Buying used online, cutting out the dealer, auditioning in-home as long as I like, then later selling at no loss ;-)
As for the apparent lack of bad reviews, they exist but the underlying reason is because reviewers typically invest countless hours over an extended period of time each time.
Who wants to spend that much time delineating all the dimensions of crappy? Reminds me of the poor SOBs at Stereo Review who spent fifty hours comparing Monster cable (essentially 12 gauge zip) to 16 gauge zip and 24 gauge zip! ;)
"Who wants to spend that much time delineating all the dimensions of crappy?"Someone has to do it! Isn't that what the audio reviewers are paid for? Oh I forgot. The manufacturers pay for magazine ads based on good reviews - not honest dimensions of crappy ;-)
Yes, I'm a jaded audio cynic.
cynic [sin-ik] - a person who believes that people [reviewers] are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
Edits: 11/22/21
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid...
Oh wait a minute. I'm not only possibly paranoid but likely to be confusing my music with what's in the safe ;-)
Edits: 11/23/21
Sadly I have to agree. The first PS Audio HCA-2 was.....shall we call it....unpleasant, to say the least. Not a fan, the upper registers were wiry and opaque.
I usually latch on to reviewers that seem to have the same tastes sonically as I do. I can usually get the information I want by reading both the reviews and in between the lines of the review.
Of course, I've been burned by recommendations here too.
Jack
Good seeing you on the Asylum! It's been a while.I had the HCA-2 and it was an OK effort for early Class D. PS Audio made a revision in slightly later versions by reducing the gain. The one that I bought had a noticeable hiss if no music was playing. I sent it in and they reduced the gain from something around 30dB to a more reasonable 24dB or 26dB. I don't remember the exact figures but the later versions shipped from the factory with less gain and less hiss.
I read a rave review of the Fanfare FT-1A FM tuner but when I listened to it in my home, I thought it was very veiled and rolled off. It was soon replaced by the Magnum Dynalab FT-101A tuner which was an entry model from Magnum but it sounded so much better to my ears.
I have several more examples as I'm sure you do too.
Edits: 11/21/21
nt
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