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A wild question

howiebrou

howiebrou

Super Member
Let's assume, that the MCD/MDA combo is not on the cards for various reasons, what cd player would you choose, given the chance, to go with a C2200, MC2000 and Sonus Faber Guarneris?:scratch2:

1. Chord Red Reference
2. Meridian 808i
3. Metronome Technologie CD5 Signature
4. Accuphase DP 800 / DC 801
5. MBL 1521 / 1511E
6. Naim CD555
7. Zanden 2500 integrated cdp
8. Nagra CDP
9. Esoteric P-03 / D-03
10. Further suggestions welcome!

Thanks for your input!:yes:

howie

p.s. yes I know a MS 750 into a Dac would prob sound the same! Assume I want a transport and dac, whether separate or integrated. :yes:
 
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howiebrou said:
Let's assume, that the MCD/MDA combo is not on the cards for various reasons, what cd player would you choose, given the chance, to go with a C2200, MC2000 and Sonus Faber Guarneris?:scratch2:

1. Chord Red Reference
2. Meridian 808i
3. Metronome Technologie CD5 Signature
4. Accuphase DP 800 / DC 801
5. MBL 1521 / 1511E
6. Naim CD555
7. Zanden 2500 integrated cdp
8. Nagra CDP
9. Esoteric P-03 / D-03
10. Further suggestions welcome!

Thanks for your input!:yes:

howie

p.s. yes I know a MS 750 into a Dac would prob sound the same! Assume I want a transport and dac, whether separate or integrated. :yes:
Click to expand...

The Meridian is the only one on your list I've heard. Have also heard some of their other models and have been impressed by all. That being said, if cost is an issue I think there is a lot to be said for going with a high quality though not overly expensive CD or DVD player (if 2-channel video is required) as a transport/video player and a really good separate DAC. I've used that approach over the years with good success. I noticed Wadia and Theta are missing from your list and they get pretty rave reviews too. I heard a Wadia briefly about six months ago (can't recall the model but it was current at the time) and it was real sweet.
 
I was pretty impressed with the Chord Blu and Dac 64 that I heard at the local stereo shop. I would expect the Red to be even better.

I would also vote for the Accuphase. I have always been impressed with the few systems that I have heard Accuphase equipment in. I always wanted to try some Accuphase equipment in my home.

Victor
 
If you went with the MBL you might be inclined to go with their funky speakers, and I hear they hurt bulldog's ears, so rule that one out.

Same with Chord in regards to their amps, very beautifully made, but very expensive

Naim is alot like Linn, only sounds good matched with other like components :D at least thats the rumour

Meridian likes you to go active with their speakers

Nagra only looks good in tanks, battleships and other military equipment

Zanden is too far down on the alphabet

So go for the Accuphase or the Esoteric :yes:

hope that was helpful from someone who hasnt heard any of them... :banana:
 
The Denon 5910ci sure is a lot like the MVP871.... I like that unit quite a bit and it doesn't break the bank. It is 42 pounds of material with Burr Brown PCM-1792 24bit/192kHz DACs, video scaling by DVDO and all owned by DM Holdings (Mcintosh parent corp.)
 
salm said:
I noticed Wadia and Theta are missing from your list and they get pretty rave reviews too. I heard a Wadia briefly about six months ago (can't recall the model but it was current at the time) and it was real sweet.
Click to expand...

The Wadia 581(i) sounds excellent but I heard that since they dumped the Esoteric VRDS in favour of a cheaper Korean transport there have been a multitude of problems. Add that to a company which went bust only recently and it is too risky for me :thumbsdn:

howie
 
Victor said:
I was pretty impressed with the Chord Blu and Dac 64 that I heard at the local stereo shop. I would expect the Red to be even better.

I would also vote for the Accuphase. I have always been impressed with the few systems that I have heard Accuphase equipment in. I always wanted to try some Accuphase equipment in my home.

Victor
Click to expand...

The blue/64 is excellent especially as over here it is < 9k :yes: The Red reference is even more detailed but suprisingly more analogue and not headache inducing :yes:

Only problem is my less than nimble digits can't extrac the cds so luckily it comes with a rubber cd extractor thingy you clamp onto the cd and lift.

Hugely expensive though (18k) compared to the blu/64 :tears:
 
exracer said:
If you went with the MBL you might be inclined to go with their funky speakers, and I hear they hurt bulldog's ears, so rule that one out.

Same with Chord in regards to their amps, very beautifully made, but very expensive

Naim is alot like Linn, only sounds good matched with other like components :D at least thats the rumour

Meridian likes you to go active with their speakers

Nagra only looks good in tanks, battleships and other military equipment

Zanden is too far down on the alphabet

So go for the Accuphase or the Esoteric :yes:

hope that was helpful from someone who hasnt heard any of them... :banana:
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your insight! :D
 
Hi Bud,

My 2 cents worth:

1. Still McIntosh - but since not the MCD/MDA1k combo, go for the MVP871. All-in-one, why not?

2. Not good enough and want to splurge - well, then the Accuphase combo. Nice build, beautiful and very smooth sounding.

3. Linn - If can, get a used CD12 .... if not, then the Unidisk 1.1

4. Reimyo CDP777/DAP777

5. Meitner EMM (stand alone CD player or cd/da)

For the first 4, heard them. Great. Last one, no except reading on reviews.

Since all of them should be easily accessible in town, go give them a spin. Being an all Mc fella, I would choose the MVP871 if the MCD/MDA1k is not on my list for whatever reason.

Cheers.
 
howiebrou said:
The Wadia 581(i) sounds excellent but I heard that since they dumped the Esoteric VRDS in favour of a cheaper Korean transport there have been a multitude of problems. Add that to a company which went bust only recently and it is too risky for me :thumbsdn:

howie
Click to expand...

That's a sham, they always had a good reputation. I was always a little concerned though that their product line was pretty thin. While there's something to be said for doing one thing and doing it very well I'm not sure that is necessarily beneficial in a single slice niche of a small market like high end audio. I hope they pull through and stick around though.
 
I'd go with eithre the Accuphase, or the meridian. Wadia sounds really nice too, but I just wouldn't be able to live with it. The wadia is a good sounding player too, but I heard bad things about them, and their display is unreadable from a 2 metre distance...

I auditioned the Nagra cd player too, but, while it sounded pretty good, it just didn't do the magic thing, I more liked the Accuphase combo...

The meridian is really good too, but it's different than the Accuphase combo. I like the Accuphase more actually, and (dare I say it, please don't flame me), I like it more than a Mcintosh player...

while we're at it: you could add the CEC transports to your list, as wel as DCS...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.
 
Have not listened to any on your list, but having listened to many other CDP's, I like my Lector 7TL. It's tubed with separate power supply unit. Very very analog sounding, and appealing in its smooth piano black finish and beautiful large display. Should be quite cheaper than the ones on your list, maybe around 3-4k usd. Luckily the maker is not related to one 'Hannibal Lector'.. !

Just fyi, My ears liked Lector better than foll I heard before:
Cary 303
Denon 3910
MS750
Oppo 981HD
Adcom (old model)
Jolida (forget which ... but tubed)


________
Oslo Terry

awaiting my over-budget setup
 
1. The dealer I bought my CD12 from actually likes the Naim a bit more.

2. Havent heard the EMM but Ed Meitner is a genius and I have heard earlier Meitner CD gear and its good. I believe the new EMM's use a discrete DAC

3. Relative to Linn and Naim synergy dont worry about it. In the case of Naim synergy is a bad thing and you can easily get into a situation where you have too much PRAT in an all Naim set up.

BTW there is no comparison between a CD12 and a Unidisk 1.1 thats just marketing hype. Thats not to say you should buy a CD12 --- you probably shouldnt since replacement parts may be a bit problematic and Linn can drop support without notice.
 
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