• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

musical fidelity vs rega cd player

navou

navou

New Member
Hi to all. I am new here but not new to this hobby. On the contrary, i count at least 25 years! I cannot remember the hundrends of components that i have already owned!
I had to downgrade some two years ago:no: I used to have an Audio Note amplifier with Proac speakers. A unique partnering with exceptional timbre and accuracy. Really natural sound.
Now i have a rega brio R amplifier partnered with rega Rs1 speakers and RP3 turntable. They are great together!

For cd playback i did have an elder apollo cd player as a transport partnered with a musical fidelity dac VII plus psu. Believe me, the sound was incredible and certainly better as when coming from apollo itself. But the apollo died some day, fixing impossible... I then found a good offer for musical fidelity cd transport CDT M1 and bought it. Suprsisingly the sound was worse than before, sterile, tiresome and surely not natural. How can it be?!
What would you suggest? Should i keep the cdt and just buy the M1 DAC from musical fidelity or the rega dac? Or just buy an apollo R to replace cdt M1?
Are there any reliability issues related to appolo R i should consider?
Any opinions appreciated!
 
Register to hide this ad
Welcome to AK! While I have no direct experience with the gear, if you're not planning to play any other digital source, I would say selling the MF CDP and going straight to the Apollo-R would be a wise choice. It seems you enjoy the Rega sound and it would simplify your setup with one less set of cables/power cords to use and a nice, compact, matching unit to boot! On the other hand, if you do plan on adding other digital sources to your system down the road, the Rega DAC is worth a look.

For what it's with, I'm going through a similar journey (my audio budget got cut dramatically) and I'm considering the Rega Brio-R and Rega Apollo-R combo! Or the Rega DAC is another option I'm considering if I end up getting more digital.
 
I've had the opposite ownership journey with Musical Fidelity having used the M1-DAC for almost a year before buying the M1-CDT.

The M1-DAC was a very consistent contributor, upsampling all sources. I don't think you'd be disappointed. I still love mine.

I was using a Cambridge Azur 350 CD player as a transport for a long period, upgrading to the M1-CDT. The immediate difference, to me, was a quieter background and a cleaned up high end. Some might construe the sound to be clinical or sterile but I find the image more precise with an improved ability to hear small nuance in percussion and woodwinds.

Welcome to AK and the enjoyable, frustrating journey. :music:
 
I would like to thank you both for your answers. I am thinking of going the middle way: keep the cdt an just add the rega dac. One could easily suggest, that i could just buy another used apollo (the previous version), as i have already been satisfied with it. I am hesitating because i am questioning the reability of this (otherwise effektive) transport mechanism...
So let's see...i am going to let you know about my impressions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom