Digital Drive: REVIEW: Granite Audio 657 Tube CD Player CD Player/Recorder by mcw120

Model:	657 Tube CD Player
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$2900
Description:	Tube output CD player
Manufacturer URL:	Granite Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by mcw120 ( A ) on June 03, 2002 at 17:26:09
IP Address: 24.98.139.139

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for the 657 Tube CD Player

This is a review for the Granite Audio 657 Tube CD player connected directly to an amplifier.
After having the player for a couple of weeks, I decided around midnight on Friday to hook the 657 up directly to my Odyssey Monoblocks. I had no intention of using the player this way, I was just curious. All I can say is that the sound of the 657 connected directly to my amps was stunning! I have heard the adage that â€œthe best preamp is no preamp,â€ but when you have listened to $5,000+ preamps, it is difficult to believe. Not until I experienced and heard it, would I believe it.
It was not just a â€œveil liftedâ€, it was as if the sound was let out of a cage. It was the most musical, involving, and palpable sound I had ever heard in the 17 years I have been involved with this hobby/obsession. There was no hint of anything digital and my system was just â€œsinging.â€ One of the first things I noticed was the sound of guitar strings. When a guitar is plucked it makes a sound, but then the strings if untouched will still reverberate and decay over the next few seconds. Not only could I hear the decay, but I could feel it as if the instrument was right in front of me. Also, the voices were just incredible. They were clearly separated from the rest of the recording, and they were so lifelike that I couldnâ€™t believe what I was hearing. I ended up staying up until about 4 am, because I just couldnâ€™t stop putting new discs. Each time I put in a disc, it sounded so good that I had a hard time taking it out.
When I woke up the next morning, I wondered if the player would still sound as beautiful as it did the night before. Still groggy from not enough sleep, I ate my breakfast while listening to some CD (canâ€™t remember which one), and fortunately the sound was the same as it was the night before. Later that day I had a friend of mine come over to listen to my â€œnew discovery.â€ He has a Sonic Frontiers Tube preamp and Power amp, and a Cary 303-200. I wanted to see if this was just my imagination. It wasnâ€™t. My friend was amazed. He started putting in his choice of CDs and pointing out how good each one sounded. Later in the day he called me to let me know that he had listened to his system and it was simply not as musical as mine. He thought his bass was better, but his lacked the midrange of mine.
Still not convinced that what I was hearing was not just my imagination, I called Don at Granite Audio. I explained to him what I heard, and asked if it was real. He went into detail about how the player was designed and built, as why it would create the music that I was hearing. He told me that the player was designed to â€œhold nothing back, and to just let the music out.â€ Also he told me that each piece and part was the finest available, ie. no corners were cut. The only cost cutting was in the design of the unit, which if enclosed in all granite-acrylic would further dampen the unit. He said this would add another $1000 to the price. Also, he explained that there was a lot of â€œheadroomâ€ in the output stage. I donâ€™t know what that means, but I do know that I could only turn the volume know up a quarter of the way before it was too loud for me.
Back to the sound of the unitâ€¦..
Guitar strings are incredible. Decay on the strings is noticeable and palpable.
Drums are incredibly realistic and punchy. Each drum is noticeably different sounding from the other, and the sound of the tom-tom is frightening realistic.
Horns may actually be the best sounding of all the instruments on the player. The sound is so real, that the sound of the horn can shock you.
Bass on the unit is good, not as deep as the Cary, Wadia, Levinson and Sony units Iâ€™ve heard, but close. The bass that is there is tight and well defined. Also, different bass notes are easily distinguished from each other.
The player does not make bad recordings sound better than good recordings, but I was able to put in anything I wanted and have enjoyable music. I even put in Metallicaâ€™s â€œAnd Justice For Allâ€ which never gets played on my home system because it usually sounds terrible. On put on the song One, and I was floored at how good it sounded.
Now the bad newsâ€¦.
The analog volume control is at the back of the player and must be adjusted manually. Volume cannot be adjusted by remote control. Don did tell me that they are working on a retrofit remote volume control, but that it would be some time before it was ready. When the phone rang I just paused the player, and so the player is not truly without any sort of volume control. Everything comes with a price, and if the purity and beauty of the sounds I am hearing require me to get up and adjust the volume, so be it. However, when the remote volume is available, I will certainly pay for it.
I really feel that I have discovered an incredible product in high-end audio. Additionally, it is an incredible bargain at only $2,900. This player is not for everyone, but I do think that it deserves some serious attention.
I would like to hear from other listeners who have used the product by directly connecting it to their amp(s).

Product Weakness: See Above
Product Strengths: See Above

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Odyssey Monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Granite Audio 657
Speakers:	PSB Stratus Silver i
Cables/Interconnects:	The Music Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Vocals, Jazz, Pop, Classical
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	See Above
Product Strengths:	See Above