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I like to keep both formats on a near equal footing.

For example when I moved from a Denon DL103 to a Benz Micro Reference 3 (on my vintage Roksan Xerxes/Artemiz) I was forced to upgrade the CD Player; my previous Joilida JD100 was a compatible stable mate for the DL103, both very pleasing performers IMHO.

I was happy with the deals on both ends, the Ref 3 about $1000US, and the new CD Player, a Bel Canto CD-1, around $2500US; of course it's using a very good (IMHO) aftermarket power cord but I had that already.

I'm happy that there is near parity, but in absolute terms (which includes comparisons with LP and CD versions of the same material) the LP playback wins out. I have had the CD-1 sitting on Silent Tech's Feet of Silence and discoved that for the $300-400US they cost the gap can be closed significantly.

From the information I've gained about the Bel Canto CD-1 it seems it is on the path to setting a record for *Shortest Production Run* for a product released by an established and (apparently) healthy manufacturer. It went on 1/2 price sale the immediately after it rolled out and (I'm told) production has now been shelved to make way for the soon to be announced half chassis width top-loading CD-2.

I brought the CD-1 to a my friend's place for a shoot out against his Meridian G08 (TAS Product of the Year 2004) and the CD-1 won hands down. My friend has decided he needs to upgrade and tomorrow we are bringing the CD-1 to a shop to go head to head against SimAudio's two top players, the Moon SuperNova ($5200), and the Moon Andromeda ($9800US). Should be fun!

....

On the question of which is best, LP vs. Digital, in absolute terms such would require sampling some of the very best available from both worlds. That of course take us to the domain of multi-$10,000s (at least), none of which I've experienced, so I couldn't give an informed opinion. However allowing myself the luxury of speculating based on nothing more than ignorance (since, for example, there's not a single critical reviewer who opinion I would trust for deciding the issue) I'd guess LP would win, even against Hi-Rez Digital. :)



No Guru, No Method, No Teacher

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