Older CDP thoughts...

[manicm]

An interesting remark in the latest ****World mag:

They claim, while preferring the extra detail of newer CDPs/Transports like the Cyrus XtSE, that some older CDPs like the Marantz CD12 have a more holographic/3d sound which some newer players cannot match.

This has confirmed my suspicions. Any thoughts?

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the key design differences are. Class A output stages on the older kit? Older op amps that work differently? Maybe market demands and subsequent supply have slowly leant towards a different sound. Interesting topic!

 

[SteveR750]

or just more navel gazing which wouldnt be a first from same journal...

 

[bretty]

From my own experience, I would agree that (certain) older players are better than their modern equivalents.

My Rotel RCD991, which is 11 years old, clearly beat all the modern players I auditioned, before I bought the Rotel (second hand).

Last month, I had to take the player back to the dealer, due to a fault. The dealer had a little trouble located the cuase of the fault, so I let him have it for a couple of weeks.

When I went to pick it up, he told me he had the Rotel playing non-stop in the shop, to make sure the problem was fixed(which was intermittent muting of the signal, by the way, and the cause was a collapsed laser). He said it was amazing, one of the best players he'd ever heard. He has a lot of modern stuff in, and occasionally some really hi-end stuff.

I think maybe the older DAC's are responsible for the superior sound reproduction. Mine has Twin Burr-Brown PM63's.

 

[Anonymous]

I picked up my original model Rega Planet CD player the other day, and gave it a brief run against the v-dac. It was an interesting comparison. Both had roughly the same voicing, and it was hard to pick between them. Haven't finished listening yet, but my current thinking is that, if the v-dac is better, it is because the bass is marginally better controlled, but otherwise they're pretty comparable.

All of which begs the question: has HiFi really improved over the last ten to twenty years?ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Tarquinh,

That's a very interesting remark. I have the Rega Planet 2000, and a friend of mine has just got a MF V-DAC. He loves it, but I haven't been able to listen to it, because I'm in another city right now. It would be interesting to do an in-depth comparison between the two. I certainly think that the Planet is very smooth, musical and 'round', if you know what I mean. Well suited to classical music.

I wonder whether it could be improved through the addition of a V-DAC.

Hedgehog

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Hedgehog, the Planet 2000 is a much improved model, from what I've read anyway, so it shouldn't be that far away from the v-dac and perhaps better in some ways. I'll give mine another listen later, but I'd be interested to hear what you thought if you did make that comparison.

 

[matthewpiano]

Tarquinh:
I picked up my original model Rega Planet CD player the other day, and gave it a brief run against the v-dac. It was an interesting comparison. Both had roughly the same voicing, and it was hard to pick between them. Haven't finished listening yet, but my current thinking is that, if the v-dac is better, it is because the bass is marginally better controlled, but otherwise they're pretty comparable.

All of which begs the question: has HiFi really improved over the last ten to twenty years?ÿ

Ah, but when you think of the price of the Rega Planet against the price of the V-DAC with a decent CDP as a transport, its clear that such a high level of performance is now available for less, so things really have improved.

 

[drummerman]

manicm:
An interesting remark in the latest ****World mag:

They claim, while preferring the extra detail of newer CDPs/Transports like the Cyrus XtSE, that some older CDPs like the Marantz CD12 have a more holographic/3d sound which some newer players cannot match.

This has confirmed my suspicions. Any thoughts?

If I had to take a guess it's jitter, so beloved by marantz owners such as the ones that still worship vintage CD63KI's and the likes.

Flabby bottom and vague peaks ... that's just the players. Still, the mids are bearable in a holographic/3d sound of way

.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to love my micromega and if my memory serves well (it usually doesnt) it was a fab player....but its probably rose tinted and all that

 

[plastic penguin]

drummerman:manicm:

An interesting remark in the latest ****World mag:

They claim, while preferring the extra detail of newer CDPs/Transports like the Cyrus XtSE, that some older CDPs like the Marantz CD12 have a more holographic/3d sound which some newer players cannot match.

This has confirmed my suspicions. Any thoughts?

If I had to take a guess it's jitter, so beloved by marantz owners such as the ones that still worship vintage CD63KI's and the likes.

Flabby bottom and vague peaks ... that's just the players. Still, the mids are bearable in a holographic/3d sound of way

.

I found that my old stuff, like Marantz tuner and Rotel CD 975 has a swifter presentation than price comparable modern equipment. I think the detail has improved on modern gear, trading a little presence.

These views are only based on two modern CD players and three hybrid tuners.

 

[the record spot]

manicm:

This has confirmed my suspicions. Any thoughts?

I think there were some superb products of "yesteryear", but sorting out the wheat from the chaff can be a time consuming process. Not all that came out in the (say) 1970s that is now considered full of vintage appeal was great hifi. Plenty of dross amongst the gems.

That said, a little homework reaps rewards and I'll readily advocate seeking out the better stuff. Some great kit can be had for relatively little outlay. One big advantage being you can get a seriously high performance as a result and at a fraction of what "high performance" styled kit would set you back in these wallet crunching times.

 

[Anonymous]

matthewpiano:Tarquinh:
I picked up my original model Rega Planet CD player the other day, and gave it a brief run against the v-dac. It was an interesting comparison. Both had roughly the same voicing, and it was hard to pick between them. Haven't finished listening yet, but my current thinking is that, if the v-dac is better, it is because the bass is marginally better controlled, but otherwise they're pretty comparable.

All of which begs the question: has HiFi really improved over the last ten to twenty years?ÿ

Ah, but when you think of the price of the Rega Planet against the price of the V-DAC with a decent CDP as a transport, its clear that such a high level of performance is now available for less, so things really have improved.

matthewpiano, that's cerainly true on a value-for-money basis, but I meant in terms of technology. What'll be interesting is comparing it to apple lossless over wifi to AE/v-dac.