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BOW Technologies ZZ8 or Ayon CD2

I am considering one of these players as my next upgrade.
I will get to hear a Ayon Cd2 very soon but I will not be able to audition the ZZ8. So any opinions on how they sound should give me a hint on the direction I should be looking at.
I am mainly looking at accurate tone and timbre with a very natural realistic presentation and good PRAT.
pani

Showing 3 responses by jbcortes

jbcortes
45 posts
 
I think the ZZ8, latest version, is one of the best kept secret of the hifi world... First player which convinced me to dump my turntable, and which as a same time doesn't try to sound like a turntable.
Haven't heard the Ayon.
jbcortes
45 posts
 
Hi Sanjosehan,

I tried replacing the fuse on the ZZ8 with a Silver Star but on a blind test, I couldn't hear any difference.

As far as tweaks go, I got amazing results with Symposium Rollerballs 2+ G3.

JB
jbcortes
45 posts
 
Hi SJ,

I haven't tried any of two players you mention. I did own an Esoteric X-03SE before the ZZ8 and it simply wasn't in the same league. It ticked all the audiophile boxes but was astonishingly not emotionally engaging, at least to my ears. Beautiful piece of engineering, but I let it go without a regret.
A shop in the UK who used to sell both the Zanden and the Bow said they were uncomfortably close sound-wise.

JB
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