Read a very complementary review on the Rega Apollo but also noted that it has a Sanyo transport. I guess a lot of them do. |
I am not interested in streaming as my primary listening source at this time. Prefer to own my music in a tangible way. Call me a dinosaur, whatever. But really enjoying CDs right now and getting good recordings at great prices.
@djones51, I had thought of that but just assumed that something like the Modi would be inferior to the DAC in the Arcam. I already have a Modi 2 Uber (which means it has a digital in port as well as USB and Toslink.) The digital port is currently free and if the Arcam/Modi combo has the potential to sound as good as the Sony then that would be the cheapest solution by far. I’ll certainly give it a try.
I would at least assume the transport on the Arcam is better than the Sony. |
I will retrieve the Arcam from my cabin this weekend and try it out. Will post my impressions once I've done it. Thanks. |
I can't believe it. The Sony just bit the dust. Went to put a CD in it just now and it ejects it. Tried other CDs, same thing. Even without a CD it keeps opening the tray and there is a buzzing noise inside.
So the plot thickens.
If I'm happy with the Arcam run through the Schiit Modi I'll just have to buy a cheap-o CDP for the cabin I guess. (The Arcam is no longer an option for down there). Hate to waste any money even on a cheap CDP for a low-fi system but that's where I'm at. |
@soix , I did actually think about that but didn't do it. Can't hurt though...........so I tried it and no cigar. I'll leave it unplugged for a while and try it again later.
Thanks guys for all the other advice.
I think the first step is to get the Arcam back home and audition it with the Schiit. If its okay then I'll have to solve the low end problem later.
These types of problems open up all sorts of temptations to spend money. I could take the Schiit Modi Uber 2 down to the cabin and run the Arcam through it and then get a better DAC here at home AND a better CDP..........so tempting.... |
So, since there was nothing to lose, I turned on the old Sony and gave it a good Arthur Fonzarelli juke box chop and low and behold it is working fine again. |
Its a gift. I could never charge for it. ;-)
Reminds me of the wise old adage: If it doesn't work, force it. If it breaks then you needed a new one anyway. |
The Sony I have is a CDP XE370. I know nothing about it. Feels very light and cheaply made but It has worked for a long time and has survived being punched in the faceplate so I can't say too many bad things about it. |
mr_m, Teddy Roosevelt said something like that....
In my case, just a "short, sharp shock" to the face plate just left of the CD tray. |
What does a $1000 Rega do for me that the $300 NAD won't? Not challenging your opinion, just trying to understand. Is it the DAC? The transport? The power source? All of the above? It does not appear to have balanced output either.
If it is all that. And if there is a real difference to be heard I might go that route or a similar route. |
The Fonzie move on the old Sony was only a temporary fix.
So here is another question:
Let's say I decide to spend more on a CD player. What am I likely to get (in terms of SQ and durability) for upping the budget from $300 to $500 or even $500 to $700.
When I look at the NAD players in that range I see that going up from the $300 to the $500 model you get a toroidal power supply for whatever that is worth. I can't see a big difference between the $500 and $700 model. None of them have balanced outputs.
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tngiloy2, my system is an AR LS-16 pre-amp, Proceed HPA2 amp and Aerial Acoustics 7B tower speakers. It is a nice older system I inherited. It is my first and only hi-fi system.
ab2ab, will look into those models but to be honest after two CDP failures I'm leaning away from used.
jl352, that's what I was told about the tuner so I wondered if that was true of CDPs as well. I don't mind paying for balanced and good XLR cables if it makes a significant difference but otherwise I'll save my money. |
rlovendale, that's interesting. I don't know much about Schiit stuff. I have a Modi 2 Uber and it seems to perform as advertised.
The marketing is appealing. Their aesthetic is appealing to me. But what really appeals to me is their attempts to deliver bang-for-buck gear. Reviews suggest that the bang is there for so many of their products. Not sure how long I'll be able to wait for that product but will certainly keep my eye open. |
djones51,
Do I need balanced? I just assumed that we all do.;-) Isn't it better? It has to be since it costs more.
Seriously, I doubt that I 'need' balanced but my line stage is equipped for it. I did (do) honestly assume that it is an improvement over single ended if implemented properly but I have never tested that theory on my own equipment. My tuner has balanced outputs but I've been told that doesn't mean that it actually provides balanced output. But, if that's not a 'thing' with higher end CDPs then chances are I'd never hear the difference anyway.
At this point I'm just exploring options. In the last 3 months I've had two old CDPs bite the dust. If I'm going to pay more than the average $200-$300 I'd like to think it would still be working in a few years and I'd like the possibility of improved SQ. |
Got the Arcam home this afternoon and it sounds fine to me through the Schiit Modi 2 Uber. Can't really tell the difference between it and the Sony....and never could tell a big difference between the Sony and the Arcam when it was fully functional either. The original problem with the Sony is back and I consider it trash at this point.
Net result: 1. Arcam as transport via Schiit in hi-fi system. 2. No CDP for low end system at the cabin.
Game plan now: Keep Arcam as transport for hi-fi. Consider upgrading the Modi 2 Uber to a Multibit or BiFrost (or other comparable DAC) at some point since that will, presumably, yield SQ benefits for my music server (iMac) and streaming as well.
Skip CDP for cabin for now and just play off iPhone or laptop there. Pick up a cheap CDP if the opportunity arises. |
CD92 with the 'ring' DAC (the part which isn't working). The odd thing is that it will play through the DAC/RCA outputs for maybe a minute when you first turn it on then it gets all garbled up and quits playing altogether.
We do have some Goodwill and consignment type shops around and I will keep an eye out for something. |
Thanks Todd, I'll look out for those. |
I've had three CD players in my lifetime. All three have had a failure of some sort but all have approached the 20 year old range. I'm not sure how old this most recent Sony was. It came new in the box from my uncle's estate but had been sitting around for years. Then it lived in my cabin for close to 15 years in which the temperature inside was the same as the temp outside unless we were there. Low teens to over 100. So not an easy life.
I also don't know how old the Arcam is. It sat in a musty basement for a number of years and got moved around a lot. Of course it is still functioning as a transport.
So I can't really complain.
My system is also older. Maybe 15 years, maybe more. Right now I could not afford to replace it at the current SQ. I think it was probably $15k when new.
Sometimes I wonder how much it would cost to replace it if I did a lot of research and hunted for bargains. |
Yep. Please do not poke the trolls. ;-) |
Went to the Goodwill CD store and got a Sony and a Toshiba DVD/CD player for $14 each. Both work fine. Both sound fine in my hi-fi system for that matter.
One is for down at my cabin. The other is for my B-I-L and the cobbled together Rotel/B&W/Onkyo HT system I'm putting together for him with left over gear.
For home with the h-fi I'm sticking with the Arcam CD92 as transport and will upgrade my DAC when the time comes.
For what its worth I think the Arcam ring DAC (now defunct) was a little better than the Schiit Modi 2 Uber DAC which I'm using now. Or different anyway. Brighter. Almost too bright maybe. |
No plans to do so at this point. Will continue to use it as a transport but will probably upgrade my DAC at some point since that will benefit my server and streaming as well. |
I know there is a guy out there who repairs and mods Arcam players. Condor Electronics or something like that. Quite expensive though.
As for who buys CD players it was interesting that at this Goodwill there was a shelf full of DVD players that will play CDs but not one simple CD player.
Personally, for now, I find CDs to be the most gratifying media. Low res streaming is convenient and to me the sound quality isn't unbearable most of the time. But it isn't great. I also don't like renting stuff and paying monthly fees. Hi-res Tidal is $240 a year. Right now I'm probably averaging around $6 per used CD. That's 40 CDs that I've researched the production and sound quality of. Buying hi-res files is pricey compared to most used CDs. HD Tracks does not back them up for you. I don't need to back up CDs per se....but I rip them anyway. I have CDs that are close to 30 years old and sound fine. I know they can degrade, but in general are pretty durable.
Vinyl is its own thing. Not knocking it at all but that bug hasn't bitten me yet. Four times as expensive, at least, just for the media and to get the most of it the gear is more pricey too.
So for now I enjoy researching, hunting for and buying good CDs more cheaply than you can buy from HD Tracks or iTunes for that matter.
It seems the challenge for me is to find and keep running CD players. ;-)
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uberwaltz, that is where the logic (and being a tightwad) is taking me. Spend my money of a better DAC and use whatever to spin the CD.
glupson, good idea. I live in a small city so who knows what I'll find but I'll look. Library is right down the street. |
