Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Xindak SCD-2 SACD Player by slownlo

Model:	SCD-2
Category:	SACD Player
Suggested Retail Price:	$1695
Description:	SCAD/CD Player with tube output stage and Balanced analog outs
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by slownlo on June 13, 2004 at 09:20:33
IP Address: 69.139.230.8

Add Your Review
for the SCD-2

I too bought mine from coemaudio from Norman, but my experience was not as pleasant as the last reveiwers....
When mine arrived it had serious problems. I also had the modded version with the Mundorf .47uf caps upgrade. The unit did play, but along with the music there was a faint hi frequency "warbling" that went in time with the intensity of the signal. It progressivly got worse until it was unbearable. Norman at coemaudio was of no help at all, as when you buy from the "gray market" there is no warranty (He did allow me to return the item at my expense, but with shipping/insurance it is unrealistic. You may as well just get it fixed in the U.S.). The issue boils down to quality control in these chinese manufacturing plants, which is lack luster at best. Not all chinese audio manufacturers have lousy QC, (Opera audio being a good one) but most of them do, so be aware of this. The Xindak buikd quality is lousy as well. People that have owned them mention that the unit is "hefty" and it is at about 25lbs but none of that is due to quality, its just that they use a copper lining in the chassis which is supposed to help with RF, but the PC boards, drive mechanism (Philips CDM-12 I think), etc... are all second rate components. For the money $900USD you could do much better even for chinese gear. I would say the Opera Consonance Reference SACD 2.2 is about the same price but with MUCH better build quality and QC than Xindak first forray into the world of SACD. This unit gets an honest D- from this reveiwer...

Product Weakness: Build quality, Component quality, Quality control, all of which leave everything to be desired.
Product Strengths: Weighty unit, Tube output, Nice looking unit...

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Aragon 3002
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Note M-Zero
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Opera Consonance Reference CD 2.3
Speakers:	Magnepan 1.6QR's
Cables/Interconnects:	ZU-Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 25 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	Whatevers needed
Time Period/Length of Audition:	30 Days
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Build quality, Component quality, Quality control, all of which leave everything to be desired.
Product Strengths:	Weighty unit, Tube output, Nice looking unit...