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Digital Newbie

Oregon

Oregon

Member
So, for the last 50yrs, I have been an LP guy. Got a Marantz CD6007 player, which, on it's own, sounds like crap. Teamd with a Schiit Gungnir 2 DAC, it's fine (ish). Would a better player20260220_135602.jpg improve the sound? A tube DAC? My line rig is all tube.

Thanks kids,
Cody
 
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Welcome Cody. Glad to see you use the term LP and not vinyl. :)

Hopefully someone will chime in who can offer some alternatives to your setup.

There are some tube (buffer) cd players being made today. I saw a couple of videos on youtube about Advance Paris players.


 
You are already using an outboard DAC. So the only question that I see is if changing to a different DAC would make a difference. I don't know the answer to that and that would be up to you if you wanted to experiment with that. All of my CD players are from early to mid 90s and I like their sound. Two Panasonic portable units from the mid 90s and one early 90s JVC XL-V151. You results may vary...
 
The CD version of the same music can sound different from the vinyl version. Is it possible you are so used to the sound of LP (vinyl) recordings that anything else will not sound as "good" (not meet your expectations)? Personally, I have not heard much difference from one CD player to another, but everyone's hearing is different.
 
I think my digital rig makes the "grainy" sound. My line is all Manley w/NOS tubes, plus, a high-end record-playing situation. Does reasonably priced digital equipment lead to grain?

Thanks,
Cody
 
Oregon said:
I think my digital rig makes the "grainy" sound. My line is all Manley w/NOS tubes, plus, a high-end record-playing situation. Does reasonably priced digital equipment lead to grain?

Thanks,
Cody
Click to expand...
Maybe you could explain what you mean by "grainy"?

To me personally, CDs and vinyl do not sound that different when I have a good clean record, but I don't listen to vinyl all that much.
 
KeithD said:
The CD version of the same music can sound different from the vinyl version. Is it possible you are so used to the sound of LP (vinyl) recordings that anything else will not sound as "good" (not meet your expectations)? Personally, I have not heard much difference from one CD player to another, but everyone's hearing is different.
Click to expand...
I have noticed that my Led Zeppelin LP and my CD sounds slightly different. I prefer the sound of the LP.
Note: My Led Zeppelin CD is an early (not brickwalled) issue. My LP is not a remastered version either.
 
So, after reconsidering my initial observation/complaint, I think what I'm hearing is nothing more than SS. It is what it is...

Thanks, guys.
 
So, so, so, SO many variables here. Without controlling for all the variables it might be challenging to narrow down what you're hearing that is annoying you. Your comment that the issue "is nothing more than SS" - which I'm assuming means solid state, seems to me a conclusion arrived at that might not consider the totality of the facts.

I have both tubes and SS amps here, and switch back and forth often. While I do hear subtle difference when switching between amps, I don't even encounter anything objectionable or grainy. Not saying that you're not hearing that, but it might be that your search for the source of the objectionable sound might not be over.

Here's another train of thought - are you confident that you're feeding your CD player and your Gungnir the best version of music on CD? As a vinyl fan, you're aware that a particular LP might historically have many pressings and remasters. CD's are no different.

If you've purchased more recent versions of CD's for the music, some would suggest that more recent releases / remasters are sometimes less preferable to older or even original releases. This isn't a rule, of course, but it's often a good idea to gather input on which version - original or remaster - is preferable.

In summary, I urge you to continue to look at the issue. You may have drawn a conclusion prematurely.
 
So, now I'm wondering if there might be an appreciable difference between "cheap" CD players feeding a "cheap" Schiit Gungnir 2 DAC? Have swapped out my Marantz CD6007 with a Rotel CD 14 MKII? Should this experiment prove fruitful, I'll get another CD player, one not made in China. Yes, I have a huge, rather annoying bug up my butt re China-made gear. Having said that, I will not spend stupid money on my digital rig.

Thanks for looking,
Cody
 
Well, the experiment demonstrated the ChiFi Rotel through the Gungnir 2 sounded better than the Marantz through the Gungnir. IMO. Also sprach Cody.

Thanks,
Cody
 
A Schiit Buf tube buffer "fixed" the SolidState-ishnous I think I hear from the Gungnir 2, especially with an NOS Telefunken 6922. Highly recommended! :^)

Cody
 
Abass 2.1SE DAC (TDA1541 based, all tube even the clock) or above would satisfy your needs if you like analogue sound.
 
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Oregon said:
So, for the last 50yrs, I have been an LP guy. Got a Marantz CD6007 player, which, on it's own, sounds like crap. Teamd with a Schiit Gungnir 2 DAC, it's fine (ish). Would a better playerView attachment 3737643 improve the sound? A tube DAC? My line rig is all tube.

Thanks kids,
Cody
Click to expand...
A CD Player from the 80's with a
TDA1541
or
AD1865
DAC

TDA1543 DAC CD player if you can't find the other 2.

These can all be found for low $
 
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