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In Reply to: JLTi SACD Player - from the horse's mouth... Christine? posted by Joe Rasmussen on February 3, 2007 at 18:49:40:
Hi Joe Long time no see.I missed the thread between you and "Defender", so I'm not sure what you are expecting of me by including me in the subject line. Because I don't understand the context of the thread, I prefer not to make a comment at this stage.
Thanks for the invite to your place - yes I wouldn't mind having a listen at your new player - the one I listened to before was a prototype I recall?
Follow Ups:
Hi Chris> I missed the thread (Re JLTi SACD Player)
The earlier thread:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/231541.html
> 'm not sure what you are expecting of me by including me in the subject line.
It worked, didn't it?
Seriously, the earlier thread indicated that the JLTi SACD Player was nothing that special at the sub $2K (US) price and that it was lacking against the Moon Andromeda, Ayre SACD etc as well as the dCs. Val and I have heard those players (and more) and Allen heard the Linn Unidisk ($11-12K US) with a couple of German reviewers and got the "dirty windows" remark. Especially the comment that it lacked PRAT (not indicated in the Positive Feedback but was somehow extrapolated (???) by Defender. Both will be dispelled by a system that I have been able to put together here.
So a seconder by you whom I would consider somewhat more impartial than Defender (you won't have to extrapolate as you will hear the damn thing with your own ears). :-)
Then make an honest report here.
BTW, you are right, the current player is so much improved it isn't funny.
And there is the matter of getting the EMU card going with RMAA. Just need a little help. Got a suitable mixer. But that is another subject.
Joe
Not to defend Defender or anything, but it seems he/she clearly stated comments were based on experience and personal opinion only, so not sure what you mean by "extrapolating".I'll try and drop in one weekend to have a listen and also help you out with the E-MU. Similarly, you are welcome to come to my place for a listen.
PS - I think I may have found a way to "rip" SA-CDs digitally. I'll let you know next week whether I'm successful or not. It's not a DSD rip though, it decimates to PCM 88.2/24 (but this is what I want since I have no DSD playback equipment other than my SA-CD player).
Hi Chris> Not to defend Defender or anything, but it seems he/she clearly stated comments were based on experience and personal opinion only, so not sure what you mean by "extrapolating".
Maybe you are right, maybe he has heard the player. But the PRAT comment is just something I cannot agree with and re the smallish soundstage, that no doubt is a matter of opinion AND system context. This little player, and I have heard all the players he mentions except the Unidisk (that's why I brought up Allen's experience with the German reviewers) and there is no doubt that the JLTi player is essentially quite different, actually more see-through and less immediately bold (the dCs P-8i is the opposite). Despite what the review said, it actually is capable of real low end power, but only a demo in that kind of system will be convincing.
Maybe Defender (hope he/she reads this) can confirm that he heard the player? If yes, fair enough.
> I'll try and drop in one weekend to have a listen and also help you out with the E-MU. Similarly, you are welcome to come to my place for a listen.
Would love that and I definitely would like to accept the invitation. And I would of course bring a player. But with getting the E-MU working... and listening to the player in the context of THIS system I know will prove the point, PRAT and lack of bass et al.
ANY weekend, just let me know and I'll drop EVERYTHING! :-)
> PS - I think I may have found a way to "rip" SA-CDs digitally. I'll let you know next week whether I'm successful or not. It's not a DSD rip though, it decimates to PCM 88.2/24 (but this is what I want since I have no DSD playback equipment other than my SA-CD player).
Now THAT has got my interest. Yes please! 88.2/24 has got to be better than 44.1/16. Besides, 96/24 samples I have heard have been more than OK, even if maybe not SACD. Keep me posted.
Also, I have something else that you may find of interest, something rather confidential at this stage. I have never really considered getting a patent, but have been told that I may have to change my mind and one engineer guy who has experience in this sort of thing has offered to help me. Yes, it is audio related. It's about taking an old technique and using it in a way that was not even considered because it isn't supposed to have anything to do with THAT. You are not supposed to put tomato sauce on ice cream, right?
Joe
Hi Joel,Interesting this thread mentions your JLTi player versus the dCs P-8i....
Based on an excellent Audio Perfectionist review of Allens modified 9000es player (level 4 back then) I bought a 9000es and had it modified to Level 5.
Firstly, how do you think the 9000es level 5 would compare to the JLTi player?
Secondly, I heard from Allen that he sent the JLTi player to the Audio Perfectionist (Shane Buettner) for review and it was sent back to Allen stating he did not have time to review it and did not even listen to it (!)...
Then strangely enough the last issue of Audio Perfectionist had a glowing review of the dCS P-8i (!)
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......
Hi MarkThe JLTi v. dCs Pie are significantly different that preferences would decide. I am of course not unbiased, but I do have an opinion. But there was another person present when we compared the two. It was in a shop where they had brought in the dCS for a customer (who bought it unheard). In that context, and it was a BIG system with speakers going low and with power, the preference we had was the JLTi. Despite what may be thought, the JLTi does not sound lightweight in such a system, but benefits from it. The same shop also sell the Moon Andromeda. We both know that the JLTi is WAY better than the Andromeda (which only plays CDs), far more refined. The Andromeda just sounds big. Now some will interpret THAT as having a big soundstage and the JLTi not. I can see that happening but don't agree with it.
Re the Audio Prefectionist review, I just don't know what happened, don't have insider knowledge. It's so easy to be dismissive re the JLTi, sad but true.
Re 9000ES L5, I have done several of those here Down Under. I can tell you that the JLTi is WAY better than L4. As for L5 and JLTi, I can happily live with both IMO. Is the JLTi better than L5? No. The L5 is a bit more tonally pleasing, a little warmer (but not warm), but I have a friend who heard both in his system and preferred the JLTi. I think the strength of the JLTi in the right system is its very tight focus and an un-exaggerated bass (and I believe the latter catches people out and then gets called 'lightweight'). But your L5 9000ES is mighty good and congrats, it's a great player. You would have noticed quite a difference between L4 and L5, right. The JLTi is much closer to L5 than L4.
The JLTi and L5 have one BIG thing in common, in fact TWO. They share the same Reference Clock (sorry, I am biased, but there is no better clock) AND the noise reduction technique applied to their power supplies. Oh, a third, NO opamps in the post-DAC circuit. That means they DO share some sonic qualities. Like two great looking sisters, but one a gorgeous brunette and the other auburn hair.
To me the JLTi has one huge advantage, it plays CD-Rs. I rip CDs onto hard drive using EAC, then burn on cryogenically treated Verbatim 'Blue' CD-R using the Yamaha AMQR mastering burning process. Yes, the copies sound BETTER than the original. Can't play them on the 9000ES.
Chris is talking about ripping SACD/DSD to fairly highish rez PCM. I am definitely interested in that if it works out.
thanks joe for your unbiased opinion.unfortunately it is probably hard for people to comprehend that cheaper modded players can compete with much more expensive factory players.....
listen and one will hear!
On a less that extremely high resolution system, I would expect 90% of listener's to prefer the JLTi over a Level 5 Upgraded DVP-S9000ES. It sounds more immediate, more "punchy". Even on our very high resolution reference system, it still sounds very good - but a Level 5 9000ES, and especially a Level 5+ SCD-1/SCD-777ES has more low level information and they are more subtile musically. But it took me over an hour of back & forth comparisons to get the differences.Why not borrow a JLTi player from Sammy and compare them yourself and let us know your experiences?
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