What is the best sounding SACD/CD player?
- Thread starter Lefisc
- Start date
MDP,
I know we're dancing in subjective waters here, but so far, I've yet to hear an affordable streamer that doesn't sound flat and unnatural. The Lumin is one of the few streamers that I could live with - but that kinda quality certainly doesn't come cheap.
By direct contrast, I feel like there are plenty of disc-spinners under the 6k mark that sound great. Heck, there are even a couple that do an admirable job of recreating the linear yet wonderfully organic sound of analogue.
I know we're dancing in subjective waters here, but so far, I've yet to hear an affordable streamer that doesn't sound flat and unnatural. The Lumin is one of the few streamers that I could live with - but that kinda quality certainly doesn't come cheap.
By direct contrast, I feel like there are plenty of disc-spinners under the 6k mark that sound great. Heck, there are even a couple that do an admirable job of recreating the linear yet wonderfully organic sound of analogue.
bmichels
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Well, I believe this is true.... Except may be for some rare music streamer like may be the CAT from CAD UK for example.
plus, CD is a different approach : With my digital music (2 To) I use play lists, jump from one track to another, jump from artists to others....listen often to the same tracks. With CD, I chose one CD (sometime randomly, leating my hand choosing it by chance) and then, if I like it, I listen to the whole CD. For example, with my digital music I may listen to only 1 movement of a symphony while with the physical CD, I will play the complete symphony. So... for convenience, I Rip from time to time some of my +1000 Cds, the one I prefer, but.... I also appreciate a lot the process of choosing a CD in my library, physically putting it on a CD Drive, reading the booklet before listening....
ZERO, could you tell me what CD Spinner you have in mind when you write "...there are even a couple that do an admirable job of recreating the linear yet wonderfully organic sound of analogue".
bmichels,
Both mediums certainly have their place! I've been running computer-based systems since I got into Hi-Fi 15 years ago. Nowadays, I run two separate rigs. One is physically connected to my PC while the other is completely independent from it. I enjoy both systems for what they are. That said, I admit that this approach isn't for everybody. More to the point... I understand why so many people are getting into streaming. It's cool to have access to your entire music library with just a flick of the remote. I'm just waiting for a real-world priced streamer that doesn't make me want to punch kittens whenever I listen to it on a proper hi-fi setup.
As for the disc spinner that I referenced... I know I'm going to sound like a broken record when I mention the name, but I don't care. I'm talking about the AMR CD-777. It's served as my digital reference for roughly 5 years now. In that time, many disc spinners have entered and then promptly exited my revolving door of Hi-Fi. Esoteric. Audio Research. DCS. McIntosh. Playback Design, Naim, the list is humiliatingly long really...
Anyway, while all of those companies make excellent gear, I felt like none of them managed to bring the same kinda balance that AMR brings to the table. To explain: So far, I've yet to come across another company that's been able to take a digital component and imbue it with the kind of nuance and tone that's normally reserved for *excellent* vinyl setups. The best thing is that it's not an overtly colored sounding unit. It doesn't wrap your music in a big, warm blanket in an attempt to give you the *illusion* of an organic presentation (ala: Hugo). Instead, what you get is a very balanced, relatively linear presentation that just so happens to give you a big taste of what people love so much about analogue.
Both mediums certainly have their place! I've been running computer-based systems since I got into Hi-Fi 15 years ago. Nowadays, I run two separate rigs. One is physically connected to my PC while the other is completely independent from it. I enjoy both systems for what they are. That said, I admit that this approach isn't for everybody. More to the point... I understand why so many people are getting into streaming. It's cool to have access to your entire music library with just a flick of the remote. I'm just waiting for a real-world priced streamer that doesn't make me want to punch kittens whenever I listen to it on a proper hi-fi setup.
As for the disc spinner that I referenced... I know I'm going to sound like a broken record when I mention the name, but I don't care. I'm talking about the AMR CD-777. It's served as my digital reference for roughly 5 years now. In that time, many disc spinners have entered and then promptly exited my revolving door of Hi-Fi. Esoteric. Audio Research. DCS. McIntosh. Playback Design, Naim, the list is humiliatingly long really...
Anyway, while all of those companies make excellent gear, I felt like none of them managed to bring the same kinda balance that AMR brings to the table. To explain: So far, I've yet to come across another company that's been able to take a digital component and imbue it with the kind of nuance and tone that's normally reserved for *excellent* vinyl setups. The best thing is that it's not an overtly colored sounding unit. It doesn't wrap your music in a big, warm blanket in an attempt to give you the *illusion* of an organic presentation (ala: Hugo). Instead, what you get is a very balanced, relatively linear presentation that just so happens to give you a big taste of what people love so much about analogue.
bmichels
New member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2013
- Messages
- 225
bmichels,
Both mediums certainly have their place! I've been running computer-based systems since I got into Hi-Fi 15 years ago. Nowadays, I run two separate rigs. One is physically connected to my PC while the other is completely independent from it. I enjoy both systems for what they are. That said, I admit that this approach isn't for everybody. More to the point... I understand why so many people are getting into streaming. It's cool to have access to your entire music library with just a flick of the remote. I'm just waiting for a real-world priced streamer that doesn't make me want to punch kittens whenever I listen to it on a proper hi-fi setup.
As for the disc spinner that I referenced... I know I'm going to sound like a broken record when I mention the name, but I don't care. I'm talking about the AMR CD-777. It's served as my digital reference for roughly 5 years now. In that time, many disc spinners have entered and then promptly exited my revolving door of Hi-Fi. Esoteric. Audio Research. DCS. McIntosh. Playback Design, Naim, the list is humiliatingly long really...
Anyway, while all of those companies make excellent gear, I felt like none of them managed to bring the same kinda balance that AMR brings to the table. To explain: So far, I've yet to come across another company that's been able to take a digital component and imbue it with the kind of nuance and tone that's normally reserved for *excellent* vinyl setups. The best thing is that it's not an overtly colored sounding unit. It doesn't wrap your music in a big, warm blanket in an attempt to give you the *illusion* of an organic presentation (ala: Hugo). Instead, what you get is a very balanced, relatively linear presentation that just so happens to give you a big taste of what people love so much about analogue.
I see we agree on many things. I have already auditioned in the past the DAC DP-777, and I liked it a lot. So I will look carefully at the CD-777. But... what do you think of the CD-77, it's older & bigger brother ? does it bring an even better Sound ?
Hey Bmichels,
The CD-77 is a fantastic sounding unit. Does it outperform CD-777? You betcha! The big 64k question is: is it worth the $premium$? Since there's no clear cut answer to defer to, here's my simple take on the matter...
If you own a large CD-collection and have both the desire and financial wherewithal to get the most out of your music library, then I think it would be easy to justify throwing down the extra green for the CD-77. Otherwise, I think the CD-777 delivers the kind of performance that will make most people happy.
The CD-77 is a fantastic sounding unit. Does it outperform CD-777? You betcha! The big 64k question is: is it worth the $premium$? Since there's no clear cut answer to defer to, here's my simple take on the matter...
If you own a large CD-collection and have both the desire and financial wherewithal to get the most out of your music library, then I think it would be easy to justify throwing down the extra green for the CD-77. Otherwise, I think the CD-777 delivers the kind of performance that will make most people happy.