General Asylum: REVIEW: Musical Fidelity KW SACD Player by paulsandycooper

Model:	KW
Category:	SACD Player
Suggested Retail Price:	$7,000
Description:	SACD/CD Stereo player
Manufacturer URL:	Musical Fidelity
Manufacturer URL:	Musical Fidelity

Review by paulsandycooper ( A ) on September 21, 2005 at 17:19:40
IP Address: 66.82.9.83

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Today I received the Musical Fidelity SACD/CD KW player. I am quite delighted with the very smooth and revealing sound. Great transparency and air. It has completely solved my problem. It was not my totally hard-surfaced gigantic room, nor the IRS Infinity Beta speakers. It was the Sony SCD-777ES player that was the problem.
Academic information: The equalization is entirely different than my Sony SCD-777ES. The Sony required me to attenuate the treble on the speaker adjustment at the speaker to its lowest level. The new player was just the opposite. No matter high I turn up the treble it remains delightfully soft and smooth. I now keep the treble at its highest level.
Playing CD through it is great. Although It does not achieve SACD sound, (I do not believe those that say it is possible) I am surprised that it is substantially improved in all regards compared to the Sony CD output. I checked it out with many of my previously unplayable CDs (terrible sound). The Musical Fidelety player is unique in that it has both a solid state and tube output. Although the solid state was excellent, I preferred the tube sound, it being unquestionably a better sound. In SACD mode it clearly outdistanced the Sony . The door and slide-out mechanism on the Sony is far superior.
I would have preferred the CD drawer to open fully rather than 90%. The loading although faster than the Sony is moderately slow.
You cannot choose whether it plays in CD or SACD mode. I cannot however fault the sound. The appearance of the unit is impressive. Value-wise I think it is terrific. I was prepared to spend a much larger amount to get this level of performance.
It is a very heavy unit (0ver 50 pounds) and appears to be built like a tank.

I will not be taking advantage of the dealer's offer to take it back if I was not pleased.
I hope this review is useful.

Product Weakness: The slideout door was not impressive
Product Strengths: The sound

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	150 Watt Audio Research Triode
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research LS-2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	None
Speakers:	Infinity IRS-Beta
Cables/Interconnects:	Inexpensive
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz, CD, SACD
Room Size (LxWxH):	46' x 45' x 30'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Marble Floor, Wood paneled walls & ceiling
Time Period/Length of Audition:	10 hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	None
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Audio Research amps and preamp, Infinity IRS-Beta speakers

Product Weakness:	The slideout door was not impressive
Product Strengths:	The sound