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Law of Diminishing Returns - CD/SACD Players

I've been surfing through Audiogon reading many of the posts regarding the sonic qualities of some of the top tier cd/sacd players. Some brands/models that seem to be mentioned often are EMM Labs, dCS, Meridian, Esoteric, Audio Aero, etc. These players, however, are in the tens of thousands of dollars. I would love to own one of these machines some day, however, finances do not currently permit.

For those of you that have evolved to owning a top tier player like those listed above, what players can you recommend that would give 95 percent of the performance of a top tier player, without having to pay the price of a top tier machine? What does one have to pay to get that 95 percent performance? Does a Rotel 1072 give us 95 percent of the sound? Can a $1000 player like the Rega Apollo compete? Or does one have to move up a more costly player like the Resolution Audio Opus 21 or Ayre Cx7e to obtain the 95 percent? ...or perhaps one has to move to the $5000 - $6000 category of player like the Cary 306, Ayre C5xe, or Bluenote Stibbert?

Unfortunately, I have not heard any of the top tier digital players. I would love to hear from those who have had the opportunity to own or audition the very best. We all know that extracting the last 5 percent of sonic nirvana is extremely costly! What is the best "bang for your buck" to obtain 95 percent of the sound of a first class player?

calgarian
calgarian5355
bblilikoi's avatar
bblilikoi
99 posts
 
Calgarian,

Partsconnexion is in Ontario, Canada and modifies the Denon 3910 for Underwood HiFi in Atlanta. I suppose this is as far from you as Cleveland, OH however. Good luck.
hammergjh
157 posts
 
I think speakers make a much bigger differnce. In my experience, upgrading the player has only made very subtle improvements.

I went from a Denon carosel player (300 bucks) to the Rotel 1072, then later I added a Bel Canto Dac2. The improvements were only slight between the additions. I also heard the MacCormack UDP and it was better than the Rotel, but again, only slightly, for 3 times the cost.

I compared the Jolida 100 side by side to the Rotel, same equipment. Each had their strengths and weaknesses. The Rotel was better for Jazz and better recordings with less instrumentation. Clearer and more delineated. The Jolida did better on raucous rock music. Not as crowded, reduced the "wall of sound" effect.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Hammer raises the issue I've been spouting off here on this thread and for the last time. On a clean system, that is both the amp and speakers have purity/cleanness/fidelity/accuracy you will notice the difference between player A and B. It is highly doubtful the Rotel completes with the Jolida/tube outs. I've heard a Rotel, its a very poor source, extremely colored/aweful resolution.
So source is not the single most important component. Speakers come first, then amp, then cdp.
Truly almost every speaker I've heard has its own coloration, and even worse I've heard several tube amps with extreme coloration.
Until you get these 2 components rectified, its pointless to start looking fora clean/HIGH RESOLUTION cdp.
First speakers. Do you have clarity/hz separations? Good, now move on to amp. Have clarity/ fq dynamics? Good , now you are ready to move into finding a high RESOLUTION cdp.
In that order. Do your DD.
reubent
6,942 posts
 
Bartokfan,

Just because you said it again (and for the last time) doesn't make it right. It's simply your opinion and your preference. Personally speaking, the best systems I have ever heard had at least the same amount of money (if not more) invested into the front end as in the amplification and speakers.

My two closest audio buddies and I all 3 have spent significantly more on our front end components than on our amplification and speakers. BTW, one of these buddies sold his Jadis to buy a less expensive amp that he preferred.

As always (IMHO) "there's more than one way to skin a cat", "YMMV", "two wrongs don't make a right, but they may compliment each other", etc......

"man, you system makes that horrible digital glare sound really clean and loud!"

GIGO forever!!!!



Enjoy,

TIC
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Reubent you need to look beyond the informational value to the real issue here- ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!!!
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