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High-End CD to partner C2200 and MC2000

howiebrou said:
Before I venture into dangerous waters, I seem to recall that you use the Ayre :scratch2: Not that it should affect what I write. Just want to treat all comments with a little bit of sensitivity that's all.
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No, I don't have one. I have a friend who does, and who has been kind enough to lend it to me so I could hear it in my system.

I got interested in it when every audio reviewer in the world praised it to the heavens, and I couldn't believe it could be that good. After hearing it in my system, I was impressed. I prefer the sound of the MCD/MDA-1000, but that's 2.5 x the price. I continue to think the Ayre is a great value (if $6K for a player can ever be a "value").

What I don't have is the ability to compare it directly to much else. I hear other equipment only when I travel, so I'm looking forward to your comments, without being invested in the outcome.
 
howiebrou said:
Thanks for reminding. The other brand I forgot to mention is Linn and their Unidisk 1.1. Sound was not quite lush enough for my tastes but it nevertheless sounded very neutral and dynamic. Again, 11k on a DVD player seems a lot to me...(try as I might it is sometimes difficult to ignore the fact that it is a DVD player).

howie
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yes Linn is drier, I like it, some hate it. - My player is their cheapest, but still has the same voicing/sound but just less in everything of course. When I first heard it it sounded lame and boring, and then I listened longer, and the strengths began to grow on me. I heard Naim is known for the PRAT in Europe from what Ive read. If I were spending that kind of dough I would definitely try them again and try to tolerate the dork-dealer.

I recall JA reviewing the Unidisk 1.1 against a Sony XXX9000? and he said he had a hard time hearing the difference? maybe put the 3K sony on the list !!?
one of the stupidest reviews I have read... :bs:
 
Howie...did you have time to continue the quest ?

Did you have an opportunity to audition the Reimyo CDP-777 and the EMM Labs CDSA SE CD/SACD Player ?
 
Jem666 said:
Howie...did you have time to continue the quest ?

Did you have an opportunity to audition the Reimyo CDP-777 and the EMM Labs CDSA SE CD/SACD Player ?
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Sorry. I was a little hesistant to post further developments for fear of..... but since you asked :yes:

Nagra CDC + External DAC through Goldmund amps and Goldmund speakers(logos); This machine looks really funky and comes from a company with a very long and impressive history. There is no cd tray to eject, the whole transport moves in and out (check out Stereophile's May issue for a review). I found it a little bit clinical but then then the speakers were, frankly, rubbish IMHO! There was no bass anywhere! I couldn't believe it. Anyhow I am awaiting for the distributor to get a CDP (integrated player) which he said is warmer sounding than the dac. He has sold all his stock already :tears: Not expecting too much difference. We shall see.

Accuphase DP800-801DAC - A serious contender (see thread in equipment reviews). Great looker, great build from a company with pedigree. Sound signature can be tuned to give a more forward, warm and analogue sound, which IMHO, very closely resembles a MDA1000 (price here is about 1k cheaper than MDA). Accuphase's first self built transport apparently. Decodes DSD direct to Analogue without going through PCM first and the transport and Dac are connected with a funky HS-Link cable which carries everything including SACD to the DAC.

No EMM labs or Reimyo yet but from what I have heard, EMM labs may not be my cup of tea (or my wallet's cup of tea!) but I will listen to asap.

The quest continues.........:thmbsp:
 
howiebrou said:
Accuphase DP800-801DAC - A serious contender (see thread in equipment reviews). Great looker, great build from a company with pedigree. Sound signature can be tuned to give a more forward, warm and analogue sound, which IMHO, very closely resembles a MDA1000 (price here is about 1k cheaper than MDA). Accuphase's first self built transport apparently. Decodes DSD direct to Analogue without going through PCM first and the transport and Dac are connected with a funky HS-Link cable which carries everything including SACD to the DAC.
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Hey Bud, the quest should be over once U get the MVP871 (trade in the MCD201)!

Accuphase 800/801 are great stuff and nearly, nearly match the MCD/MDA1k performance. Nice looking and great quality build too with SACD thrown in (something the McIntosh combo does not .... yet).

No fear my friend, the MVP871 will make you very happy for a long time!

Hope U will end your search soon.

Cheers.
 
The Quest has ended for now!

My search for a replacement for my MCD201 has ended for now. Last week I purchased an Audio Aero Prestige SE Sacd player. It has a Sony SACD transport which is very quiet and smooth and interestingly it also functions as a full preamp with 3 analogue inputs (2RCA, 1XLR) and FIVE digital inputs (BNC, RCA, toslink, XLR, At&T...) and of course, volume control in the analogue domain with a tube output stage using Phllips Jan 6021 W tubes.

Build quality is impressive although I wish it was available in black and it sits atop 3 carbon cones.
(Not my photos)
product.audioaero.jpg


Prestige2.jpg


Inputs
IMG_7246-closeup.jpg


Initial impressions have changed on a daily basis and it has been left running 24/7 since the weekend. An initial brightness and occassional harshness has now given way to an extremely smooth and analogue sound. Soundstage is expansive, details are ever-present but the warmth this player is renowned for is beginning to show through. I understand it needs about 200-300 hours to burn in so I will refrain from writing too much at this stage. Suffice to say that even at this stage the player is a stellar performer. :yes:

It is definitely a good match with Mc tubes and SF :music:

howie
 
Do you use Denon DVD digital out to Audio Aero?
It must be great to whatch music concert DVDs with stereo LPCM 16bit/48KHz or 24bit/96KHz sound on such a combo.:)
 
I've gotten to hear their baby one with the two tubes. It had been run in quiet well and had a large sound-stage, and smoothness, and made me smile on voices, and that was the cheap one. This one is supposed to be beautiful.

Congratulations !! :tresbon:
 
Congrats Howie! Quite an international system you have going on! Italian speakers, American amp and pre, French CDP, British TT, Japanese DVD but they all speak the "universal" language, MUSIC. :music: Enjoy your new CDP! :thmbsp:
 
Congrat's Howie. That is some kind of good looking machine. I will never again play a CDP occasionally until it breaks in. It will go on repeat for at least the first 100 hrs. Enjoy.
Glenee
 
Jako said:
Do you use Denon DVD digital out to Audio Aero?
It must be great to whatch music concert DVDs with stereo LPCM 16bit/48KHz or 24bit/96KHz sound on such a combo.:)
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no, not yet. I also haven't tried it direct to the MC2000 to see how it sounds.:scratch2:

howie
 
PHC1 said:
Congrats Howie! Quite an international system you have going on! Italian speakers, American amp and pre, French CDP, British TT, Japanese DVD but they all speak the "universal" language, MUSIC. :music: Enjoy your new CDP! :thmbsp:
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Dutch interconnects and speaker cables, Japanese pre-power XLRs, German LP brush, Chinese hi fi rack............:D
 
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