Mr. Fixit Lost the Parts, TWICE!

1. I had the Denon finding CD’s, but not SACD. Returned/Received Replacement Laser. Successfully de-soldered two anti-static solder lumps on the laser, grabbed my little bag of parts to reassemble, 1 of 3 springs missing! F.....d without it. In the trash.

Humiliated.

2. Yamaha DVD-C961 arrived. As described: works, finds and plays SACD, CD, DVDs. Opens, loads. Problem: need to MANUALLY close the drawer. Sure enough, problem is a worn/stretched belt. Real easy fix, cover off: complete access to it’s 3 belts when the tray is extended, just put it on.

Remember? Mr. Fixit pre-ordered a mixed bag of belts and put them in a ’LOGICAL’ location.

I cannot find that bag of belts anywhere!!!

New bag of belts arrives tomorrow,

Humbled,

 

WINNER: Yamaha DVD-C961 Changer. DVD/SACD/CD Changer

 

 

"The DVD-C961 has four two-channel Burr Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs for the stereo and 5.1-channel output sections to provide absolute sonic transparency."

It sounds terrific, as good as the former winner, Integra CDC-3.4 mark II which I will now sell. Different Processors, Different OEM Bag-O-Tricks whatever they are.

I’m keeping the Yamaha as it plays the few SACDs I own, Integra is CDs Only. It’s a bit smaller, awkwardly has the drawer at the top, so it blocks the buttons when open, 5 discs, Integra has 6. Like Oppo’s the Yamaha has Audio Direct which avoids all video circuitry. Also, like the Oppo, I don’t hear any difference, but ...

It has 3 identical currently available rubber belts. Case off, Open the tray, in full view, no tools, simply replace them, couldn’t be easier.

.........................................

It has Digital Outs, so if you tried one, didn’t think it was great, you could always use it as a spinner and go to an outboard DAC. Does it send SACD out as DSD via the Optical Outs? I presume it converts DSD to PCM for the RCA out, but you still get the recording benefits of SACD.

..........................................

Answer to the former question: do I think I can get a great sounding CD player for not much money? Quite Happily, Hell Yes, I found Two!

WINNER, Yamaha, $133. including tax and delivery. Add $14. for two OEM belts for the future.

RUNNER UP, Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II, nearly new, $284. incl. tax and delivery. CD only, Never heard Mark I, I highly recommend the Mark II, (newer, remote RC778, serial # suffix M).

LOSER: Denon 2910, total loss -$54. I didn't like it's sound, too bright, then I lost a critical spring needed to try and replace the laser to read SACDs (I had it reading CD's). I was going to give it to somebody, now the recycler, oh well, I learned something.

 

Keeping the Yamaha (SACD and CD), selling the Integra (CD Only)

 

 

also listed it on Audiogon, confusing, 1st time selling here

I found/think, after the DAC(s) it really is the combo of an OEM's bag-o-tricks (over ... up.... re-..., anti... ) you 'prefer', why I finally found something I prefer to prior Sony which I preferred over many.

Still thinking about SACD DSD out the RCA jacks without conversion to PCM.

I have been reading about some older SACD players. It's the aging of the lasers, belts, motors, dried lube that concerns me, but some tempting finds:

................................

Sony SCD-XA5400ES, 2009

SACD DSD out the RCA jacks, no conversion to PCM. Upscales CDs 8x to SACD numbers, then out same as SACD.

........................

Sony SCD-XA777ES, 2001, 6 audiio dacs, 3 left channel, 3 right channel.

2 lasers: 1 sacd, 1 cd. some lasers were 'fixed' the disk traversed while spinning.

https://www.stereophile.com/hirezplayers/491/index.html

note: XA... is front loader, the top loader was SCD-777ES, 55lb beast

2 fixed lasers, 6 audio dacs, 5 selectable 'filter' sounds.

....................

SCD-XA1200ES, 2009, 8 DACs

.............

Pioneer Elite DV79AVi, 2007, 3 audio dacs, I want to learn more about it

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue30/pioneer_dv79avi.htm

Luxman D-03X Digital Player uses:

Dual Monaural D-to-A converters

LUXMAN engineers selected a pair of Texas Instruments 32-bit PCM1795 digital-to-analog converters to process digital signals with remarkable precision. Separating left and right channel conversion helps reveal the subtlest micro-dynamics.

http://luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=36

 

McIntosh MCD85 SACD/CD/STream

Conversion of the digital data stored on the discs or in the digital music stream into an analog signal for playback is performed by a quad balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit/192kHz Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Four DAC channels are dedicated to the left audio channel, and four to the right audio channel to ensure truly exceptional stereo sound reproduction.

 

I sold my Integra CDC-3.4 II here. Kept the Yamaha DVD-C961 (plays SACDs)

found out about/bought a lightly used SONY SCD-5400ES, (surprised nobody mentioned it). Upscales CD's to DSD#s, and SACD out without PCM conversion.

 

 

 

 

 

AND

After my Denon 'lost the spring' Humiliation, Mr. Fixit goes for Redemption:

I just bought a non-working Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II for $53. delivered. (a hospital, they are unable to test things). I have the remote. Wish me luck.

$40. Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II arrived: 'Mech. Error'.

Cover off, revolving tray was resistant to movement, a bit of a forced spin, it freed up, works perfectly. Less than 5 minutes!

I think someone dropped it, or carried it upside down or something. 

some fresh lube, now what?

Sony SCD-xa5400ES due Sunday.

Makes up for the humiliation of the lost Denon spring. I didn't like the sound of the Denon, but someone might have preferred it and wanted it.

Absolutely LOVE this Sony SACD/CD Player SCD-xa5400ES

ALL CDs sound better, first 2 comparisons: equal to LP

SACD without intermediate PCM conversion: Awesome, now I know what some have been hearing. 

..............................

If someone you let go regrettably used you as a job reference, and you get a call, you respond "I cannot say enough good things about ..."

I truly cannot say enough good things about this Sony SCD-xa5400es.

Very familiar, very revealing content, ALL CDs, all SACDs: ALL OBVIOUSLY, SURPRISINGLY BETTER. Not Preferred, BETTER!

Andreas Vollenweider’s White Winds; sounds of the Eurythmics Underground Train; Distinction of ’No More Tears’ duet by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer; Richard Burton and the Martian Death Rays in Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds; ah, there’s a second mandolin behind Kate Wolf’s guitar; the distinction of different string types of the 3 guitars on Friday Night in San Francisco; and finally, what SACD people who have been hearing that I never heard properly until now.

FUNDAMENTALS. I think there is a tighter, firmer, more solid, ... start to the fundamental of Each and Every Note. Improved overtones, volume and time decay all follow that BETTER start. I have never heard a CD sound so good anywhere.

The 3 guitars on Friday Night in San Francisco, my favorite music to refine my cartridge’s anti-skate. I am very very familiar, love this music. I could not imagine the added degree of genuine realism this player got out of a standard CD.

I am sooooo glad I kept going on the DSD/no pcm conversion search, the unexpected big win here is the redbook cd output from it’s 8x oversampling filter.

SACD. Among others I have a series of Oscar Peterson performances, ’exclusively for my friends’. my prior listening conclusion was ’lower noise floor’, eh, I’m not spending a lot more for that. OH holy crap, first one I tried, Mellow Mood SACD, just landed in the room.

You know how a visitor says, "sounds like they are right there" and you know your system, you know it’s great, but no, right there it is not. This seemed like Oscar was playing my Uncle Johnnie’s piano right there!

I can keep slobbering, or go listen. Bye!

EVERYONE: get thee an xa5400es!!!

 

 

 

thanks everyone,

I will research the suggestions when I return home from this trip.

Let me clarify my goals,

I am never going to stream, not against it, just prefer hands on content. Thus all I need is L & R RCA out. Option: thru McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp; or direct to Cayin A88T. I prefer the existing Sony thru the mx110z now. 

It seems to me these are the essential issues (combined unit drive/dac; or two units)

1. solid transport/prevent/eliminate jitter (some OEM’s have unique ’extra’ processing)
2. enough bits/oversampling for SACD (no need by me for ’extra’ for streaming bit rates)
both ordered units have 24 bit/192khz
3. dual processors, separate L/R for synchronized clocking, perfectly timed output
4. what dual processors?
the Denon 2910 I chose has Dual Burr Brown 1791s (not 1791A)
the Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 I chose has Dual Wolfsons
5. single unit transport/dac(s) simplifies needed space, one remote, one set of interconnects.

I didn’t mention, but the existing Sony mechanism is getting noisy, I think either fix or discard.

IF neither of these beat the existing Sony, I have 3 systems, so the changer stays in main system replacing the Sony, or to the Garage/Basement and the Single Player stays main or to the Office.

...............................................
IF either of these vintage units improve CD sound, Oh Happy Day, I stop searching

OR, same/equal to the existing Sony: I stop searching (after all they both will probably sound damn good);

OR, I go for ’super solid’ transport (Onkyo DX-7500 and the mentioned Luxman’s claim) and Separate DAC as most suggest.

What DAC? The Original Integra DX-7500; Oppo 83 and 105, and both of these choices have ’superior Dual DAC’s inside.

Reminder: no streaming.

thanks again everyone,

Elliott

Some may have missed the fact that I had bought two used players, one a Single, other a Changer

a. Denon DVD-2910 Single Player (big dent on the top. $52. del’d, eBay) (crutchfield keeps old info on their site)
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-6TIPMQKBMUZ/p_033DV2910B/Denon-DVD-2910-Black.html

b. Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 six disc changer (open box/demo) ($51. delivered) (bserplus.com)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_164CDC34/Integra-CDC-3-4.html

that’s a total of $103. incl tax and delivery and both come with OEM remotes.

Denon arrived last evening, plugged it in, it recognized a SACD and CD on it's own. I will be listening this afternoon or tomorrow. Top dent out of sight, otherwise new looking.

Use a DAC. 

In these two players I just bought, I have chosen which dual sets of built-in DAC's I want to try. That was the selection process.

Denon: Burr Brown
Integra: Wolfson

And, I want to hear the 'House Sound' of Denon or Integra in those respective years, That may be perceptibly different, and then, if so, Preferred?

i.e. "It's what you do with/to the bits that makes a difference".

"To say the difference is Quite Small is an Understatement"

"Famous Vintage DACs are Overhyped". "Everything is Overhyped".

"Demanding Audiophiles are Never Satisfied".
..................................

New/Used. I much prefer getting/keeping older stuff going. For everyone who thinks new is better, someone else swears by used.

Denon 2910 arrived, took the cover off, looks 1 minute old, not a speck of dust, everything pristine except the dent in the top which I could care less about. Drawer movement smooth.

Recognized SACD or CD automatically.

Immediately sounded Bass Heavy, I read the manual, prior owner had 'Bass Enhancer' ON. Found out how, did a factory reset, that problem gone,

1st impression, grabbed Tierney Sutton SACD out of the Sony, 2 favorite tracks, terrific, had to go to airport to pick up Donna, so no real listening or comparison yet. Has 'Pure Direct' like the Oppos, others, cuts out the video circuitry and display circuitry.

Takes a long time to load/read the index, then the fastest individual track selection ever, and no need to press play, just press 6, bingo it starts playing, I absolutely love that.

Listening for real commences this evening.

Streaming

Makes sense, the whole world, tempting, my friend did it for a few years, quite happily. Now: he is back to LP's and CDs.

At 73 years old, I know myself, it's not for me. I'm hands on.

I stream in my office, enough to find new artists, then I look for Vinyl, some New, often Used, Near Mint, Very Good+, have never been disappointed. If no vinyl, if highly desirable, a used CD, new CD if only new available, 

5,000 CD's; 6500 LPs: discover/rediscover on system sounding better than ever.

I only do focused listening, never background except Pandora in the office.

Integra CDC-3.4 I ordered:

Bserplus.com

Now, after finding/buying/Paypal payment pending then processing, bserplus acknowledging order and payment:

Norton says DANGEROUS SITE, Do Not go there.

I reported it to PayPal.

Seller gave me the credit and I just ordered the Denon 2910 laser, it's in Florida, be here by the 9th, possibly sooner. Wish me luck!

Meanwhile my office computer fan went bad. Luckily I have identical computer in HT (idle since TV's got smart), switched fan, found a replacement fan, be here by the 9th

What else is on the verge?

DENON DVD-2910

Who warned me against used?

Denon 2910 was ok for a day, got finicky, now won't read any disc, just like the Oppo 83 I had to return. 

Seems Laser is weak. 

Either a full refund (dispute with eBay will be needed), or, seller gives me a credit and I buy a new laser.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/360432530832?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item53eb73f590:g:3HkAAOSwKrhVbYBu&...

I have the tools and skill to change it, and do like keeping things going, AND it did sound good, soooo, the saga continues.

jafant

I can only work on the mechanical: parts, belts, brakes, tension adjustments, renew lubrication that has turned to glue ... Not the electronics. I don't even know how to use my ancient Multi-Meter.

I overhaul my Reel to Reel Tape Players, that sort of thing. I used parts from two non-working Mitsubishi LT-5V Vertical Turntables to have 1 winner and some spare parts. Both are in my office system shown here

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

This Denon: I downloaded the service manual: I am confident I can disassemble, disconnect the ribbon cable and switch the laser assembly and get it back together.

New lasers are also available for the Oppo 83, but the disassembly looked too complicated, so I returned it. This one, if I return it, it remains dead which is a shame.

A smart man would return this Denon. Part of me wants to 'beat the system' or still 'win my bet' I suppose, and keep a good thing going.

Integra Update:

I told Paypal Norton said beserve.com is Dangerous, blocked the site

Paypal gave me a full refund.

Meanwhile, bserplus info to Paypal: shipped via USPS yesterday with a tracking number.

USPS says 'out for delivery' last evening from Avenel, NJ not far from me.

A Halloween Mystery.

jafant,

Thanks,

I scared myself yesterday watching videos about Denon DVD/SACD/CD laser adjustment/replacement.

Meanwhile, the Integra CD Changer is on a local USPS truck, due here by 8pm today.

Update:

Denon New Laser shipped, be here next tuesday.
............................................

Integra: Fraud, glad Paypal gave me my money back.

The tracking number and tracking updates show your town and zip code, but not your name or street address.

String of updates: DHL to USPS to .. final update says: delivered 2:29pm front door.

Nothing there, our postman happened to be next door, he doesn’t have it and never saw a package for me at the PO.

The package was delivered to a house 3 minutes away, I knocked on the door, that tracking # was for a small package of socks she ordered from a different company. Met some nice new neighbors, he’s a plumber, I have a project for the spring, hooray.

It seems if a fraudster can scam a tracking number of anything to be delivered in your zip code, then they can claim it was delivered. Normally people could not find out what and where the wrong tracking number was for, thus never be able to prove anything. 

They wrote me saying their system has a problem, please withdraw my action via PayPal. Instead I told them what I knew and asked them where my item is. 
..................................

Found and bought an Integra CDC-3.4 made in May 2019.

denny,

thanks for the kind offer,

did you mean acoustic research or audio research? Audio Research CD-1 is too big for me.

I'll see if I succeed with replacing the Denon's laser.  New laser for Audio Research CD-1 is available.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153333336238?hash=item23b36108ae:g:4b8AAOSw7aBVIAb4

I found this site with info about discontinued CD players

http://audiotools.com/en_cd_v_a.html

I found this funny

" Sony
When it comes to CD players Sony is on a roll, a host of excellent players have been emanating from the company in the last few years especially in the lower reaches of the market, and interestingly the company has decided to have many of their mid range models different from market to market in a bid to make their product more acceptable locally. There has noticeably been a range of players intended for the UK market that have been designed to deliver the dry and flat sound that the English love so much (apparently the breed only listens to chamber music and the Smiths or equivalent)."

jafant

https://integrahometheater.com/

recently acquired

https://integrahometheater.com/premium-audio-company-sharp-acquire-onkyo/

My Sony to Beat: DVP-NC80V (from crutchfield’s old info)

One converter for SACD and a separate One for CD?

• optical and coaxial digital outputs for Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM
• 1 set of A/V outputs (composite, S-video, and 480i/480p component video)
• plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW, and Video CD
• plays SACD, CD, audio CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 CDs
• plays picture CD (JPEG)
• multibrand remote control (operates most TVs)
• 108MHz/12-bit video digital-to-audio converter
• 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter

I read that players do NOT output SACD data from their digital outs, only redbook CD out. not sure if that has changed

jafant

I can see the label on the listing, made may 2019, Malaysia.

denon laser delayed till tomorrow late
Integra moved up to tomorrow late.

I have to disagree,

they move these factories around overnight, it's up to the brand to monitor quality control, reputation, and warranty.

My Cayin A88T is MIC, and my Sony Cameras are MIC. Excellent build quality.

Sony rx100m1 back in late 2012, initial batch MIJ had dust on sensor problems, they moved production to China, problem disappeared.

The Integra CDC-3.4 has a 3 year P&L warranty, no matter where it is made. That means mine is still under warranty. (not transferrable). I will ask seller, original purchaser, to keep the receipt, help me if problem occurs before 3 yrs.

jafant,

Know anyone near Kenwood, CA with $35.?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265274447595?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=533...

Oh Happy Day,

Integra CDC-3.4 6 disc changer arrived, like new, perfect, and, despite my ’doubtful’ expectation bias:

FINALLY one that sounds preferable to my Sony. I highly recommend the sound of this with it’s dual Wolfson processors and all of Onkyo/Integra’s tricks applied.

How to describe the difference: Like my AT33PTG/II cartridge, compared to any cartridge with less tight channel balance, EVERYTHING is a speck more distinct. Not bright, not sharp, a very thin veil removed allowing refined clarity. Imaging is the same width, but within that, main vocal, backup singers, specific musicians, simultaneously more precise.

A small improvement to EVERYTHING, is a LOT!!!
.................................................

I’ve been refining my speaker’s L-Pads with a tripod/sound meter the last 2 weeks, listening to and actively aware of dozens of favorite and revealing CD’s. Getting the L to match the R, and juicing the mid horn and tweeter horn up/dn for +/- db working together is not easy but a great tool to adjust for their current listening position. Refined my toe-in also with the meter.

The improvements clearly heard via the existing Sony right up to comparison yesterday. Copies of CD’s, pre-adjust volume match, remote switching of inputs made comparison nearly instant.

....................................

Kate Wolf, Give Yourself to Love, volume 2, track 8: Pacheco/Redtail Hawk. They get going, then 3 strings l/c/r. (something like mandolin/guitar/fiddle). The more distinct center is the first thing you notice right away, then the more distinct imaging (same location) of l & r instruments.

Casandra Wilson, Blue Light Till Dawn, her version of Tupelo Honey, any track, she has wonderful musicians.

Eurythmics; Blue Nile; Friday Night in San Francisco 3 guitarists; Melody Gardot; Sade; Eva Cassidy; Nora Jones, Amos Lee; Lyle Lovett; Buddy Guy; Oscar Peterson, Rising Appalachia’ Larkin Poe; Melissa Etheridge, Abby Lincoln  .....

Next: compare something unfamiliar. Tierney Sutton. I have and love a couple of her CD’s, just bought this one: The Sting Variations.

Ever notice, some bands, like Bad Company are masters of reducing the musician’s volume when Paul Rodgers is singing, right back up, down again, one of the reasons his amazing voice and their songs are so well understood.

Tierney: her musicians do not lower their volume when she sings. Clarity of her voice within the music is a speck easier to understand than with the Sony.

I could go on.
.........................................

Soooo: at this point, with all the improvements and refinements: would I have heard difference/preference from the Oppo 105? Possibly.
.......................................

Features/Light on the Tray when Loading/smaller remote, quieter mechanism
..........................................

Next: compare the sets of matching LPs to CD’s, I bet the difference narrows.

Denon 2910 update:

new laser arrived; surprise: must de-solder two 'anti-static' blobs of solder. did it, whew. switched lasers, got it working.

Playing CDs, but not SACD yet, still twiddling with the allen key adjusters that control the height/alignment of the laser.

I found this 3 part video, great help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to8ojRiBOag

miller..

I could say the same thing about cats.

jafant,

no, I got if from these people on eBay

https://www.ebay.com/str/libertyelectronicsstore

Finds and plays CD's readily.

I cannot find the magic adjustment of the 2 allen screws that raise/lower/align the laser to get it to read SACD discs. I'm going to write the seller this am with questions. 

Both my Sony's, because they are DVD/Blu-Ray players, also play SACD. But the Integra sounds better, so what's the point?

I never went big into SACD. I tried some purposely, didn't like having to concentrate to hear the difference, and found, when concentrating, some like Oscar Peterson piano have an un-naturally dead-quiet background. So out of nearly 5k CDs, less than a dozen specifically purchased as SACD, others simply came as hybrids.

But still, to lose to a machine? I hate that. If I get it working, SACDs are the best!!!!

 

 

I had the seller refund me the cost of the new laser, so it was: Fix it or Toss it.

just found this on diyaudio.com, from moderator

anatech

"To all,
If you can’t afford to fix something, sell it so someone else can get it repaired properly. There is not point in wrecking something so no one can have it. It’s a real shame seeing nice equipment destroyed by the owner, or a friend "who knows something about electronics". TV and Computer shops are fairly notorious for destroying audio equipment too. Then there is my favorite. "I don’t want to spend much because I have already spent $xxx.xx on it so far"! Then sell it! Exactly what does the next poor tech have to do with the history of your machine ... and he has to clean up after someone else who erased all the clues and created new faults in the process. I’m working on a Pioneer SX-1280 like that now. Repaired the negative HV regulator, repaired the traces in the FM section and removed an incorrect chip. Replaced a bunch of missing parts and now need to replace a PA1001-A / KB4437 (missing) MPX decoder and find a PA1002-A / KB4438. The PA1002-A is the actual fault, plus it needs an alignment. The rest was "struck by technician" faults.

-Chris"

I never thought about this point of view, at this point I suppose my trust that I could blindly fix it could be seen as arrogant by someone who knows what they are doing.

Past successes encourage me, you don’t learn if you don’t try, and so many ’for parts’ units are out there.

 

 

SACD: Quieter Noise Floor is about it

"

"Comparison with CD

In September 2007, the Audio Engineering Society published the results of a year-long trial, in which a range of subjects including professional recording engineers were asked to discern the difference between high-resolution audio sources (including SACD and DVD-Audio) and a compact disc audio (44.1 kHz/16 bit) conversion of the same source material under double-blind test conditions. Out of 554 trials, there were 276 correct answers, a 49.8% success rate corresponding almost exactly to the 50% that would have been expected by chance guessing alone.^[38] When the level of the signal was elevated by 14 dB or more, the test subjects were able to detect the higher noise floor of the CD-quality loop easily."

****** Integra CDC-3.4, Mark 2 ******** It’s BY FAR the WINNER!

Last night I realized: It’s like I was given more than 4K new CDs free with the unit. The distinctness I described above just adds up in so many ways. It’s taken me a few years to get here, I am so glad I didn’t give up.

I prowled the small clubs in NJ and NYC twice a week for live music for over 20 years. Yesterday I listened to many musicians/singers I have seen live and also many local musicians I know well. I couldn’t be happier.

A great example, final one last night, is Willie Nelson, Teatro Album. One of my favorites, surprisingly better. New respect for Daniel Lanois and all the performers.

..................................................

Denon 2910. Close but no Cigar.

Like the Integra it is more distinct than the Sony, however it’s salad of dual burr brown dacs and Denon’s mix of additives: over sampling, clock, jitter, .... produces a slight brightness compared to the Integra.

i.e. Emmylou Harris’s voice, Jose Feliciano strings, Melissa Etheridge, Tierney Sutton .... high frequency piano and violin notes, like many good individual things adding up, here that very slight aspect adds up.

Others may love it.

I have wide dispersion horn tweeters, just balanced via sound meter and new L-Pads, so, combined with the Denon’s excellent distinctness, these speakers reveal this slight brightness more than some speakers/systems/rooms might. It may sound terrific thru another system/speakers/space, the Integra could be a bit dull compared to the Denon in that situation.

................................................

I am done, and will keep my eye out for another Integra. MARK 2.

I never heard mark 1, so I can only say great things about my Mark 2. How to know: It uses remote control rc-778c, ’squarer’ outside corners, and has a suffix letter M after the serial #. Newer date made is shown on serial number tag is also a hint.

Original (unidentified as Mark 1) use remote rc-553c, same key layout, but rounded outside corners

customer service should be able to tell you from the serial #

[email protected]

 

Denon Replacement Laser Update

eBay seller told me to return the laser for an exchange, which I will do.

 Everyone, I am thankful for all your comments, to me and to each other, I enjoy and benefit from exposure to and learning from others.

Douglas

HiFi   MidFi   MyFi

Hamlet, sitting beside his mother, asks her what she thinks about it and she replies: ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks,’

You made a solid case for HiFi, which could be restated as: ONLY high cost gets you high quality. Of course I do occasionally wonder: what if this ... combined with .... that?

I could spend more, however, I definitely do not equate cost with results. I do equate what I hear to what I have heard.

Using my methods, compared to everything I have heard here and elsewhere, I finally successfully found a wonderful improvement, a new level of involvement for all my CD’s, thru my system, in this space.

No one who has listened here thinks it is MidFi. Ultimate HiFi, no way, but a mighty fine and involving music system and a lot of great content to enjoy. That's my goal!

Come listen, then pronounce what you hear (not what you presume) to be ……?

Elliott

As I said, the search is over, this time I mean the the album:

FINALLY - Betty Carter.

'The Sun Died' could be renamed 'The Sony Lost'.

I have always loved this album, it has never sounded as awesome as played on this Integra CD Player. 

My near virgin LP is hiding at the moment, but I will find it. Then the CD/LP challenge will be tougher than ever. I'm burning a copy of the CD.

Her version of 'Body and Soul' with 'Heart and Soul' is required listening.

 

The Title 'Finally' is because the Master Tapes were stolen. Released 6 years later. Maybe I've been challenging the Sony for around 6 years.

 

jafant

No proof,

seller considered the hints that it read both types at first (probable that other stuff is not bad), then erratic, then stopped reading; then replacement read CD only was enough for the seller to simply be nice and offer a replacement.

He seemed to have confidence in my ability to remove the two anti-static blobs of solder successfully and adjust the allen screws/laser alignment enough, so a defective laser is a possibility, that never occured to me.

Aftermarket Laser.

I only paid $28. for this Denon (big dented top) (plus shipping and tax = $52 total). I never checked with Denon. After 2 days, it stopped finding discs, I got the seller to pay for this laser, refunded $28., so he ended up with nothing, and I ended up with a $52. risk I was willing to take to fix it.

If it does only CD's ok, if SACD also, even better. If SACD, then it probably will play video also.

I'm trying to fix it, but have no use for it. I'm keeping the Integra and will give the Denon to my son or sell it.

CD's ONLY:

I got solid confirmation regarding 'look no further' after listening for 4 hours last night with my friend/neighbor/music producer. If not streaming higher resolution content, just playing CDs, the DAC(s)/Additives of some CD Players do a great job.

he brought music he just mixed, music he won a grammy for, and we played lots of my music, LP's and CD versions via the Integra CDC-3.4.

He likes Peter Gabriel, Steamroller as a quick revealing test. I have favorites I find revealing. 1st round darn good, but ....then we tweaked the tweeters a bit higher with their L-Pads, then he pronounced the system sound, imaging, depth excellent. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that.

I had been over-cautious with the tweeters, I got +/- 1.5db up to10k, then let the highs drop slowly from there. He heard that, I twirled the controls a speck at a time L & R, he listened and thinks we got it just right. He's interested to know what the meter says we did. Of course I will get L/R equal if they are not.

I'm lucky to know him, a great guy, brought some good beer, told me some funny stories ....

It's a shame it doesn't play SACDs.

Thanks,

Looking at the threads comments, I realize it is hard for most modern people to think 'CD redbook only', thus the strong recommendation for separate DAC. My record producer friend had to burn discs to bring his music, his whole world is streaming, and high rez. He burnt and tossed all his CDs years ago.

correction: he likes Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer', not Steamroller, that is James Taylor.

I listened quite a bit yesterday to music I am quite familiar, and Sledgehammer, after we had boosted the tweeters the night before. I realized, keeping the tweeters down a bit was not just limiting highs, it is a form of compression. It suppresses the volume, thus the proper time of decay of the overtones of the upper mids, as well as fundamental highs.

It is remarkable how easy it was for him to hear it and so fortunate we were able to correct my mistake with the L-Pads. Like anything else, a small improvement gets applied to everything, thus a huge improvement.

My mistake was I confused what the meter was hearing to what I 'would' hear. I simply assumed my ability to hear highs is naturally age reduced at 73. Thus, IF I heard 16k, it must be too high for others. Surprisingly I could hear 16k, but I didn't realize, the meter was hearing it in relation to everything else, like someone with young ears, i.e. not too strong, thus I set the highs 'not strong enough'. I heard 16K, but at what SPL? 

Previously my audio consultant friend would bring his pro meter and I would adjust the original L-Pads as he directed. Replacing the L-Pads and buying/using a SPL meter on my own has be a learning and re-learning experience.

Last night I listened to two fabulous Jazz albums on my Integra CDC-3.4.

Awesome, you forget it's digital. Frankly I would feel like an idiot if I spent a lot of money and found/heard this later. CD's Only.

Ben Webster meets Oscar Peterson

John Coltrane, Love Supreme

 

 

Integra CDC-3.4, Mark II, with remote, delivered: $195. plus tax

IF serial # has suffix ’M’, it’s a Mark II and uses remote RC-778c

 

SACDs are DSD, not PCM

It seems MOST SACD/CD/Blu-Ray players Convert the DSD to PCM, only a few have dedicated DSD circuits

 

This implies the majority of the benefits, the DSD recording stage is what counts

"I know a lot of people are wary about DSD to PCM conversion, but as big a fan of DSD as I am, I’m beginning to think that the benefits come from doing the digital <=> analogue conversions with DSD. Once in the digital domain, I don’t think DSD <=> PCM conversion is nearly so significant."