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Currently using a Pioneer (Elite) DV-757ai as my priamry CD Player and am looking to upgrade. Need recommendations for players under $3.5K new, used or demo. The player should have a 'very' noticeable difference as compared to the pioneer.A/B'ed the Consonance 2.2 Linear which was terrible in my setup. Have been offered the Gryphon Adagio for about 4K and Metronome T2i for 6K. The latter's out of my budget but could extend for the Adagio if it's worth it. Since I can't demo it, would appreciate comments from anyone with experience in this player.
Accompanying equiment is Pass labs X1 Pre, Acoustic Reality EAR 1001 Monoblocks (icepower based) and Magneplanar 1.6 speakers. Interconnects are Synergistic Research Res. Ref. X2 and PC's are Harmonic Tech Pro AC11.
Follow Ups:
nt
what sk & nathan klassen have suggested below, the bluenote stibbert. I've heard a modded vs and it did nothing tto suggest it was worth the money IMHO. I've heard the stibbert and every time it's sung to me.
Although I've never spent any time with it. It has got some nice reviews and its operational architecture is interesting. See the link below.
Big J.
(Steve Alexander 2006)
I know a lot of inmates like the Opus 21 but I spent some time with one and didn't like it at all - I found it dynamically lacking and wouldn't recommend it.
This tubed player is thought by many to beat anything available up to $15,000. I have one and it is awesome. Makes CDs sound like real, human, live performances. Make sure the post-DAC mods have been made but don't bother with the balanced mod unless you need a balanced player.Hukk
I have one and my Stibbert smokes it! Also my Droplet CDP 5.0 is just about it's equal.....
I'd also look into an Accuphase DP-57 or DP-67. You'll defintely hear a 'VERY' noticeable difference.AP
# The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men # Samuel L. Jackson (Ezekiel 25:17)> Pulp Fiction <
The best bang for the back out there, it bested my Esoteric X-03 by a long shot.
The MF A5 CDP at $2500. it has to be one of the best players for price out there. Give it a listen.You may not have to spend more.
You can add the Naim CD5x or CDx2 for about $2950 cd5x, $4000 for CDx2
For that kind of money, you could get a PC based system that could give you not only excellent sound and convenience, but room correction and the ability to actively bi amp, which will take your maggies to a whole different league.YOu could sell the Pass ( nothing against them I own one of their amps, and it is the real deal) and buy a second pair of amps, using the computer as source and pre, crossover and room correction. IMHO, this will lead to much better sound than just adding a really good cdp.
Sure, you would have to bypass the stock crossovers in the Maggies, but IME that is a great thing, as their crossovers are rather lame in stock form.
Anyhow click on the A by my moniker to check out one possible solution.
YOu could also get something like a Mac mini and the wavelength cosecant dac, and a remote pda control.
Dawnrazor is right on this. Computer-driven audio gets you much better quality at less cost and has more convenience. Like any other audio, with computer audio there are good products and poor ones...
This is a very good point...it IS like audio in that better gear is usually more expensive.Most audiophiles wouldn't expect the world from a $200 dac or cdp, but often people WILL expect the world from a $200 USB dac.
Good equipment will cost some money.
One interesting option is the I2S capable products you make. WIth an I2S Dac, this could be really really good. I definatley would look at something like this if I wasn't using the computer as a crossover.
Thanks for the suggestions and links, will look into it. My maggie xovers have been upgraded with better internal wiring and Ansar supersound Capacitors which was indeed a huge improvement.
Glad to hear that!! My modding experiences showed me just what a weak link the crossovers are in the Maggies, and probably other speakers too.The fact that a few part substitutions could make such a change, really made me want to get rid of them entirely.
When I looked at external crossovers, and room correction, the cost was really prohibitive. A good analog crossover like marchand offers is say $1000 to $3000 or more. Tact boxes for room correction are say $2-$3k.
But, with a PC based system, all of that could be done for free, and arguably just as good, if not better in some cases.
And, the convenience is off the scale. Cover art and lyrics as well as playlist support are pretty standard on most decent players these days, and if you have one that supports ASIO and bypasses the windows kmixer (like foobar and winamp), you can get really good sound. Hard drives are very very cheap these days, and lossless or uncompressed files are viable ( my 200 cd collection fit into less than 110g as uncompressed .wavs).
If you are not a "computer person" there are a bunch of pre made systems where other people figure these things out for you.
One of the best options is Vrs audio systems. I put my system together based loosely on what they were doing. Which I thought was over priced, but having done it and the fact that their solution is more involved, I now think is pretty cheap for what you get.
http://www.vrsaudiosystems.com/
If computers scare you , then you might want to check out the offerings from zero one audio. They basically have a computer transport and a DAC. It looks like normal audio gear but eith the computer advantages.
http://www.zerooneaudio.com/
Finally, here is a paper that highlights the advantages.
Bluenote Stibbert
Creek Destiny
The Bluenote Stibbert is available for about 3.5 to 4K on audiogon, etc. What is your experience with this player and how would you rate it? Thanks.
Hi Maxzimum,I have to agree with Sk's response below it is probably the best CD player I've heard. While the Stibbert is out of my price range I've had the pleasure of hearing one in my system, for a substantial period of time, and in my dealer's system.
The Stibbert manages to do all the 'audiophile' things right: huge soundstage, great imaging, great detail - while still managing to be incredibly musical and engaging. If I had to choose an adjective to describe how it sounds I would choose 'organic' - music just seems to flow from this player.
I highly recommend auditioning one if you can,
Nathan Klassen
Hi,Thanks SK and Nathan for your recommendations. Which version of the Stibbert are you referring to you? The Improved or the Tubed? What are the differences?
The version that Nathan heard is the MK2. If the newer version is better than this as claimed, it is scary good.
I have the "new" Tubed version. Older models had some sort of grounding issue. As for tubes I use Seimans with the Flacon logo, very hard to find now and for an AC cord I use the Purist 20th Ann Aqueous, the only other AC cord that is better is the Purist 20th Ann but it's twice the price.
Hope this helps.
I use the Bluenote Stibbert, it's the best player I've had PERIOD! It does need to have changed the stock tubes and a 1st class power cord to make it come alive IMO. I also use the Droplet 5.0 and clearly the Stibbert is more open, better dynamics, cleaner and more 3D sounding. I've also had the Lector 7.0, it was VERY dark sounding, compared to anything else I've had.
Good luck....
For less than $3000, there's a Resolution Audio Opus 21 on Audiogon. It does sound more analog than a lot of other players, not just ones in its price range but twice that. Jeff Kalt, the designer, is one of the best out there in digital. No afliation, just a satisfied customer.
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