I have owned my Droplet CD5.0 for 6 years. I recently purchased an Ayon CD5 used and did an A/B comparison on these units both AMP direct and also using a DAC Mini Max DAC tube setting. The System:
AMP=Moscode402 modified with Vishays and Mundorf
SPEAKERS=Von Schweikert VR5s with Hovland
CD=Droplet CD5.0
POWER CORDS=Shunyata Pythons on CD and AMP
INTERCONNECTS=Granite Audio 470 silver, Transparent Ultra and Black Cat Veloces.
SPEAKER CABLES=Verbatim Bi-Wired
After 3 months I felt the Droplet was much more musical, had a much better soundstage, far less analytical, and overall an easier to listen to CD Player. I sold the Ayon CD5 and kept the Droplet. The Ayon was much too analytical for me.
I have also Auditioned the Audio Research CD8, the Sim Moon Andromeda and the Wadia 781. The 781 is close but for 15K it should kill the Droplet and it did not.
If you are not hearing this type of musicality then look at other areas of your system. Cables are everything on all equipment. If you are using the cord from the mfgr then this is most likely the problem.
I have enjoyed this player and have not heard anything to compete with it to date.
Feel free to email me as I have been in audio for 45 years and this is my passion.
AMP=Moscode402 modified with Vishays and Mundorf
SPEAKERS=Von Schweikert VR5s with Hovland
CD=Droplet CD5.0
POWER CORDS=Shunyata Pythons on CD and AMP
INTERCONNECTS=Granite Audio 470 silver, Transparent Ultra and Black Cat Veloces.
SPEAKER CABLES=Verbatim Bi-Wired
After 3 months I felt the Droplet was much more musical, had a much better soundstage, far less analytical, and overall an easier to listen to CD Player. I sold the Ayon CD5 and kept the Droplet. The Ayon was much too analytical for me.
I have also Auditioned the Audio Research CD8, the Sim Moon Andromeda and the Wadia 781. The 781 is close but for 15K it should kill the Droplet and it did not.
If you are not hearing this type of musicality then look at other areas of your system. Cables are everything on all equipment. If you are using the cord from the mfgr then this is most likely the problem.
I have enjoyed this player and have not heard anything to compete with it to date.
Feel free to email me as I have been in audio for 45 years and this is my passion.