Line Magnetic CD player

[lightcapture]

I'm looking into the budget Line Magnetic LM-215CD player. It's an older design but still available new. Does anyone have experience with this unit?
I see forums back to 2013 talk about this player but their website says a later 2017 date. I wonder if it's been improved upon?
The old forums say it uses a tube buffer and a Sony drive. But their website says tube output stage and Sanyo drive. And a Burr Brown PCM1792 chip.

I wonder about their higher end LM24 CD player but I suspect it's too much money for me.

Thanks.

 

[Art K.]

It’s a good sounding deck. I had one for a couple of years. Nowadays I would likely opt for a separate transport and DAC though…like I have. I also had the model up from the 215. The humble transport and DAC I use now sounds quite a bit better.

 

[lightcapture]

It’s a good sounding deck. I had one for a couple of years. Nowadays I would likely opt for a separate transport and DAC though…like I have. I also had the model up from the 215. The humble transport and DAC I use now sounds quite a bit better.

I wondered how much technology has moved on from that unit the more I think about it. I'd like to have a complete cdp, though I have a basic Schiit Modi3 DAC I could use. And I'm toying with the idea of a tube player. BTW, what humble tans/dac combo are you using now?

 

[Art K.]

The Schiit Modi DAC is one of the worst I’ve heard. I had one for a bit. Try a Denafrips Ares. Reasonable cost and sounds great. I just sold mine to a guy who had a Schiit Bifrost…he loves the Denafrips!

 

[lightcapture]

The Schiit Modi DAC is one of the worst I’ve heard. I had one for a bit. Try a Denafrips Ares. Reasonable cost and sounds great. I just sold mine to a guy who had a Schiit Bifrost…he loves the Denafrips!

I don't find it bad at all. For $100 it's particularly good to my ears. Better than my 10 yr old Marantz cdp. I use it for smart tv and apps.

 

[Art K.]

I don't find it bad at all. For $100 it's particularly good to my ears. Better than my 10 yr old Marantz cdp. I use it for smart tv and apps.

Try the Denafrips. Trust me you’ll forget you once liked the Schiit.

 

[Frank Sol]

@lightcapture

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Nowadays I would likely opt for a separate transport and DAC though…

This ^

 

[lightcapture]

Try the Denafrips. Trust me you’ll forget you once liked the Schiit.

At 9x the price of the Modi3 it should be better. Not in my price plus adding a transport. BTW the Modi3 gets great reviews for a $100 DAC and is serving me quite nicely.

I'm still looking for a cdp and the LM215cd tube player looks nice to me for the price.

 

[onwardjames]

@Art K. Thank you for the recommendation. I have an old Denon DCD-1500 II that I got going with a lube and new belts, but the DAC it has from late 1980's leaves much to be desired.

I'll be keeping the Denafrips on my radar.

 

[Art K.]

At 9x the price of the Modi3 it should be better. Not in my price plus adding a transport. BTW the Modi3 gets great reviews for a $100 DAC and is serving me quite nicely.

I'm still looking for a cdp and the LM215cd tube player looks nice to me for the price.

…and I have no idea what they were listening to to get those reviews. I tried the Modi with various equipment and it sounded bad in all of them. I listened to a friends and it sounded the same, bad. My Oppo BDP was an improvement and it doesn’t sound good with CD’s either. I know that the Denafrips is more expensive but I feel that’s about the minimum investment in a DAC to really hear what the fuss is about. I haven’t heard any of the less expensive DAC’s that I would want to listen to. That includes ones Schiit, Topping and so on. The Ares can probably be had used for a good price. I just sold mine and the fella got a pretty good deal. He said that it killed his Bifrost, which he was not satisfied with.

The Line Magnetic CD players do sound good, however they aren’t particularly robust in construction. They feel like they are but they don’t have a great service record. I’m not sure what kind of deal you are getting for the LM CD player but I’m thinking that the Ares DAC and an inexpensive transport couldn’t cost much more if any more. You could always upgrade the transport at a later date. I’m not trying to give you a hard time I would just love for you to get a really improved sound.

 

[Art K.]

@Art K. Thank you for the recommendation. I have an old Denon DCD-1500 II that I got going with a lube and new belts, but the DAC it has from late 1980's leaves much to be desired.

I'll be keeping the Denafrips on my radar.

Some of those old DAC chips can sound fabulous. The chips in both of my DAC’s are from the 80’s.

 

[onwardjames]

Some of those old DAC chips can sound fabulous. The chips in both of my DAC’s are from the 80’s.

Something tells me this isn't one of them, though it isn't particularly offensive. My old CDX1100u Yammie was a real sweet piece. Right now I enjoy a Sony Playstation PS1 (SCHP-1001) and I have a modded 5005 (I think that's the numbers) and both are pretty amazing.

 

[lightcapture]

…and I have no idea what they were listening to to get those reviews. I tried the Modi with various equipment and it sounded bad in all of them.

You keep saying you had Modi. There's improvements with all generations to the much improved Modi3. That could be confusion. I think it sounds excellent even beating out my Marantz.

 

[Art K.]

You keep saying you had Modi. There's improvements with all generations to the much improved Modi3. That could be confusion. I think it sounds excellent even beating out my Marantz.

I had the Modi Multibit. I sold it 9 mos ago. Beating out a Marantz isn’t a tall task, IMO. If you enjoy it that’s all that’s important. If you liked the Marantz, why not get another?

 

[lightcapture]

I had the Modi Multibit. I sold it 9 mos ago. Beating out a Marantz isn’t a tall task, IMO. If you enjoy it that’s all that’s important. If you liked the Marantz, why not get another?

My Modi 3 is a great $100 DAC and is perfect for what I use it for. I prefer a complete cdp instead of my current unit as a transport or dedicated cd transport/dac combo. That is not the purpose of this posting.
I've thought about another Marantz but it's time to move on. Many years ago I had a Cary SS cdp and a Linn Karik III before that and would like to step up my game again with my interest in cd playback again. I've toyed with the idea of a Brysotn BCD3 or Hegel Mohican but can't justify that kind of expenditure.
The reason for this post was not to debate you on your dislike of the Schiit DAC, but inquiring about the possibility of a Line Magnetic or maybe Vincent tube cdp. I'm combing ebay for what may strike my fancy. Thanks for your opinions Art.

 

[Art K.]

Well, I did suggest a way to get your CD playback at a higher level than you can get from a Line Magnetic or Brystom CD player. Good luck.

 

[2FarGone]

@Art K. Thank you for the recommendation. I have an old Denon DCD-1500 II that I got going with a lube and new belts, but the DAC it has from late 1980's leaves much to be desired.

I'll be keeping the Denafrips on my radar.

I had a DCD-1560 that I used as a transport for a long time; about 15-20 years as I recall. As you noted, the DAC was nothing special, but it was built like a tank and worked just fine as a transport.

 

[lightcapture]

Well, I did suggest a way to get your CD playback at a higher level than you can get from a Line Magnetic or Brystom CD player. Good luck.

I don't want that DAC you recommend plus a transport. I want all in one unit, preferably tubed. Your suggestion may work for you but not me for various reasons. And I will have success but it may take time. One thing I've decided is the LM-215 isn't the CD player for me.

 

[Art K.]

I don't want that DAC you recommend plus a transport. I want all in one unit, preferably tubed. Your suggestion may work for you but not me for various reasons. And I will have success but it may take time. One thing I've decided is the LM-215 isn't the CD player for me.

I think I got that by now. Like I said, good luck.

 

[Danddd]

I got to say, future proof yourself and go CD transport and DAC. I've set up my YBA Design CD player as a transport to my ARES DAC and it is much better. And the YBA Design was no slouch back in 08. There's something about properly executed R2R DACS. The audio world seems to be passing by CD players. Good luck to you on your search.