Suggestions for a CD/SACD Player

Lefisc

Lefisc

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I am not satisfied with my Krell Cypher CD/SACD player. Does anyone have a suggestion?

But first let me explain:
After 18 years I traded in my Mark Levenson 30.5/31.6 combination because it was breaking down a lot and I wanted a smaller easier, better unit that could play an SACD.

I got the ML 512 and that broke down six months later. They couldn’t fix it and six months after that they sent me another, broken 512. This went on for nearly three years!!!!!! They just could not get one that worked, so as much as I like the ML sound, I am not going back there!

The sound that I like perhaps is more musical and less detail. I heard the Esoteric K-3 in my home and did not like it, again great detail, but not musical. I have the Krell Cypher, but again, I have never gotten used to the sound. Does anyone have a suggestion for a CD/SACD player?
 
Maybe as suggested in that other thread, you may want to hear one of the newer OPPO 105s modded out. You may not need to spend $10K for a CDP that sounds decent.

Wait a minute, you already own one. Does it sound that bad on CDs?
 
Brian, it doesn't sound bad at all, but a bit thinner than I would like. I know I am a bit crazy, but the ML sounded analog, this sounds digital.
 
Lefisc said:
Does anyone have a suggestion for a CD/SACD player?
Click to expand...

Hi,

I also had a ML 30.5 and DAC for a very long time. I traded it for a dCS transport. The dCS sound is very much like the ML all other things being equal. If you aren't into separates (DAC/Transport), dCS makes a combined CD/SACD player called Puccini. This would be my choice for an all-in-one. If you are OK with separates, any other product in the dCS line will get you to the same place that ML did. Full disclosure: As you can see from my signature I am heavily biased towards dCS equipment. I've been a loyal customer for over ten years.

Cincy
 
A friend brought over his Naim CD5si and it sounded just like your preference, very musical. So much so that a Naim will be on my short list if/when I look for another CD player. If only their CD players had digital inputs.:(
 
Exemplar CD player. They take an oppo 105 and modify it with tubes and an external power supply. I had one in my shop to demo for a couple of weeks and it was incredible. 4750 retail. For an extra 250 you can have 150 audiophile reference level songs loaded on an internal hard drive. After that I would go with an EAR acute three CD player. Next on my list would be an Accuphase DP 550. These are just some of my personal favorites.
 
Design Audio Video said:
Exemplar CD player. They take an oppo 105 and modify it with tubes and an external power supply. I had one in my shop to demo for a couple of weeks and it was incredible. 4750 retail. For an extra 250 you can have 150 audiophile reference level songs loaded on an internal hard drive. After that I would go with an EAR acute three CD player. Next on my list would be an Accuphase DP 550. These are just some of my personal favorites.
Click to expand...

I have the Sony Modwright and it sounds wonderful but has no digital input. Dan could never get a digital input to work. The Oppo is supposed to be AMAZING. One player that I absolutely love is the EAR Acute III. If you don't need SACD, it is one of the best sounding dac/cd player that I've ever heard.

David is 100% right.
 
Depending on your budget...I have heard the MSB universal transport and Analog DAC sound very good. Also, lots of add-on upgrades (different power supply modules) if you decide to start on that route, and you can play DVD-A and Bluray (or even data discs like Reference Recordings sells) in addition to CD/SACD.

For the price, I'm obviously a fan of the Modwright Oppo 105.
 
I've owned an EMM XDS1 since the end of 2011. Of all the SACD players I heard that year at RMAF, the XDS1 was the most musical to my ears. My second choice would be a Playback Designs MP5 which I thought was very close in sound. I just didn't like the industrial design.
 
rbbert said:
Depending on your budget...I have heard the MSB universal transport and Analog DAC sound very good. Also, lots of add-on upgrades (different power supply modules) if you decide to start on that route, and you can play DVD-A and Bluray (or even data discs like Reference Recordings sells) in addition to CD/SACD.

For the price, I'm obviously a fan of the Modwright Oppo 105.
Click to expand...

For less than 10K you could keep your Krell as a transport and go digital out to the MSB Analog. This DAC has all of MSB's best technology (very near Galaxy clock speed exceeding the speed of the Femto 140 and a phenomenal power supply) at a tremendous value.
 
FlexibleAudio said:
For less than 10K you could keep your Krell as a transport and go digital out to the MSB Analog. This DAC has all of MSB's best technology (very near Galaxy clock speed exceeding the speed of the Femto 140 and a phenomenal power supply) at a tremendous value.
Click to expand...
Great advice, as long as the the msb analogue put enough musical into the mix. Listening on a demo might be pertinent
 
I also think either the Playback Designs units, or an MSB DAC coupled with their Universal transport (so you can read SACDs).
Can't get more musical than that, with excellent resolution and versatility too.


alexandre
 
FlexibleAudio said:
For less than 10K you could keep your Krell as a transport and go digital out to the MSB Analog. This DAC has all of MSB's best technology (very near Galaxy clock speed exceeding the speed of the Femto 140 and a phenomenal power supply) at a tremendous value.
Click to expand...
This won't work for SACD or Bluray, though; you need a specially designed transport (and DAC) to send and receive the hires digital content.
 
rbbert said:
This won't work for SACD or Bluray, though; you need a specially designed transport (and DAC) to send and receive the hires digital content.
Click to expand...

If the Krell wont play DSD sell it and buy an Oppo 103 to mate with the Analog Dac to stay in budget. The Analog Dac plays DSD on all inputs and the MSB Universal Transport uses the Oppo tray but charges a huge premium for its isolation, power supply and Dac IV compatibility.
 
FlexibleAudio said:
If the Krell wont play DSD sell it and buy an Oppo 103 to mate with the Analog Dac to stay in budget. The Analog Dac plays DSD on all inputs and the MSB Universal Transport uses the Oppo tray but charges a huge premium for its isolation, power supply and Dac IV compatibility.
Click to expand...
The Oppo will send DSD and hires PCM from Bluray only via HDMI, not a high-fidelity audio interface. The MSB uses a different low-jitter high-fidelty transmission protocol.
 
rbbert said:
The Oppo will send DSD and hires PCM from Bluray only via HDMI, not a high-fidelity audio interface. The MSB uses a different low-jitter high-fidelty transmission protocol.
Click to expand...

Do you mean SACD/DSD, or DSD from a USB stick? Either way, I believe there are few devices, other than AVRs, that have HDMI inputs, and even less that decode DSD, let alone SACD. The NAD M51 DAC has an HDMI input, but only does PCM.
 
rbbert said:
The Oppo will send DSD and hires PCM from Bluray only via HDMI, not a high-fidelity audio interface. The MSB uses a different low-jitter high-fidelty transmission protocol.
Click to expand...

You are right about the Oppo and HDMI, I stand corrected...Thanks. Back to my original recommendation, isn't the Krell Cypher an SACD player? What am I missing about its compatibility with the Analog Dac?
 
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