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What sort of CD players do you good people like? That seems to work well with SETs?I'm running Welborne Laurel 300B's through Oris/Lowthers & bi-amped subs, no pre-amp, with the CD player output level being my volume knob. I don't want to spend a huge amount. I can solder to do mods if necessary, but I wouldn't want to take on a complicated surface-mount reworking. I wouldn't mind a compact unit, rather than a full-sized.
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Hi,The Stage 3 is an excellent sounding unit, can be had on ebay for 500$ or less. Many regard it as the most analog-sounding player. There are controversies about the player, because the tray does not work properly, and the mechanics is not lubed right on some units. Be sure to get one that is in a working condition....
these players were made 10+ years ago. I abused mine severely, 5+ hours per day, sometimes continuously spinning for 15+ hours. Occasionally I left a burn-in CD on repeat for a week non-stop, and it could handle with no problem. I talked to a person, who also owned one, but got rid of it, because he read that it _could_ break. Well, every player can break... on the other hand, he admitted that the Stage was the best sounding player he ever had, and he never had problems with it. The same goes for my player, and a third one, that I came by.I'm sure there are other great players around, and probably some, that are even better. (I have not heard Don's unit yet.) The Stage 3 has a slight midrange emphasis, or probably it would be more correct to say less than usual high end and low end over-emphasis. For the first time this seems as lacking in the extremes; people who listen to a lot of subwoofers generally find the midbase lacking. Later on I realized that the extremes are there, rich in harmonic detail, and very extended, and most other players are bloated and shrill in comparison.
However, each ear has a different sensitivity, and this player might be for you if you have radar ears, value harmonic richess, natural sound. However, it is not a dramatic sounding unit, trying to impress in 10 minutes, but a player designed to be listened to hours a day, for years.Good luck finding a player!
I have alot of set-ups so by that fact, and my budget, I have to live in the world of less expensive cd players. I can only wonder how good a really good cd player would sound in the systems I have.The Don Allen cd player mentioned is something that I would love to hear.
I approach the cd players like I do the SET tubes. I look for a certain spaciousness and dimensionality in the sound from them. (I like the TJ tubes over the WE tubes because of that, and why I think that the early Swetlana's probably have even more potential in that regard.
I find that CAL cd products to have that dimensional aspect, whereas some cd players are more upfront and not as suited to me for a set sound.A unheralded Rotel dvd player, the 985, is the best at the dimensionality that I have had in my house. It is the one I use to try to get to an aural matrix effect. I continue to use it in my 'aural matrix room', a tiny attic room that I have. The fact that it does not play cd-r's is a major drawback of this player.
I really don't like a 'polished' sounding cd player either or any piece of equipment that sounds 'polished'. For that reason, I discovered that the Rotel 975 is way better to me than say a Rotel 991 which sounds polished by comparison. I really prefer a 'raw' sound.
I am a huge Don Allen fan and own his CD player amongst all his other products.Don makes a CD player for $600 that is an old mid 90s era rebuilt with a tube output stage. No one would believe how this CD player sounds before the mod vs after. It is literaly two different CD players. Do a search in Digital asylum on Don Allen and this player. Many have abandoned their kilo buck players for this rebuilt player. You simply have to hear it to believe it. However it does not have a vol control but I would guess if you told Don you needed one on it he could/would impliment it into a unit for you. Oh I forgot one of the models he rebuilds has a vol control in the unit factory issued.
Anyway feel free to email me with any ?s you may have.
All the best
It good to see a boutique designer have such a passionate following. I've ready many positive posts.Could you share what Dac chip and tube circuit Don uses for this CD player?
I'd like to add for the original poster's benefit that I'm getting good results using a Super Tjoeb CDP. System: 300B> TVC> Fostex Wideband+Ribbon Supertweeter.
Another possibility if you have a DVD player for movies, is to use it as a transport to feed a more compact size dac...something like Altmann Attraction DAC or Doede's DDDAC.
"Could you share what Dac chip and tube circuit Don uses for this CD player?"The op-amp/DAC chip Don upgrades to a TI/BB OPA2132. It performs well in this application. My CD of Don's uses a Linear Technology LT1364, which is quite acceptable also.
The tube circuit is identical to his highly regarded line stage preamp, a 6BQ7.
Like others have stated, his CD player is highly recommeded.
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Vinyl and Film Forever
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