The Next Big Thing

[admin_exported]

Last month What Hi-Fi proclaimed The Next Big Thing:

http://whathifi.co.uk/blogs/the_next_big_thing/archive/2008/06/25/the-most-startling-piece-of-kit-this-century.aspx

Having read the September issue, there's no real mention of this next big thing - what is it, where is it,

am I not looking hard enough, do I need to read the September issue cover to cover? I was expecting

great big headlines on the front cover proclaiming the start of something incredible... sadly that's not

what's happened....

Anyone know what it is yet?

 

[professorhat]

Read the first review in the First Tests section...

 

[Tesler]

Could it possibly something "Organic" ?

 

[Tesler]

Tesler:Could it possibly something "Organic" ?

Wish I could type properly!

I meant could it possibly be something "organic"?

 

[Anonymous]

Come on Clare, spill the beans, is the next big thing in the September issue or have you

left it out?

 

[Clare Newsome]

As discussed elsewhere - and clearly pointed out by Prof above - it's the lead First Test star, the Cyrus CD6SE.

It really did make all of us boggle at its abilities for the money. It's rare a product has such a profound effect on us - and that's as a team, not just individual opinion.

 

[Anonymous]

Professorhat is right: the Lead First test - the Cyrus CD6SE - is the product that blog referred to. And yes, it really is that good...

 

[Anonymous]

Doh - That's a bit dull really 🙁 but having just read the review (cos I skipped it looking for something

I thought would have had more stand out headlines), it does "sound" excellent...

Thanks and I like the Mag loads...

 

[Anonymous]

Doh again!!! I've just realised I missed the prof's comments, I was looking at his

40% of people comment 😱)

 

[Anonymous]

Is the Cyrus CD6SE significantly better than the Rega Apollo? Would it fit in well in my system?

 

[PJPro]

Not all together sure how a CD Player (however good) can be the next big thing! For me, at any rate, this technology has had its day. It's only purpose is to allow a single rip of the tunes onto a HDD and to provide hardcopy as last resort backup.

As internet speeds increase and the quality of online music improves(yes, there are errors introduced when CD are manufactured) the CD will die the same death as vinyl......the misguided preserve of a handful of audiophiles clinging onto their youth and refusing to accept the progress that technology brings.

(Ooohhhh, that came out a bit strong. Sorry. Might stimulate some debate though)

Now if the Cyrus had an HDD, bit perfect ripping software and network capability they'd be onto a winner.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Clare Newsome:

As discussed elsewhere - and clearly pointed out by Prof above - it's the lead First Test star, the Cyrus CD6SE.

It really did make all of us boggle at its abilities for the money. It's rare a product has such a profound effect on us - and that's as a team, not just individual opinion.

So what would the effect be if I got one of these and fed it through my Onkyo 606 -how much quality would I lose.(Kef 2001.2 speakers).I cannot do it through a stereo amp cos I have no preouts.

 

[the record spot]

PJPro:...

the CD will die the same death as vinyl......the misguided preserve of a handful of audiophiles clinging onto their youth and refusing to accept the progress that technology brings.

Ummm, well, joking aside, for a dead technology, it seems to be enjoying a new lease of life wouldn't you say?! I mean, for all the iPod owners out there (let alone anyone with any other mp3 player capability), how many of those do you think are going down the HDD route? How many do you think could be bothered with what's involved instead of their usual 128kbs thanks very much?

"Same death as vinyl...." *chuckle*

Good effort though....!

 

[PJPro]

Glad someone responded. Thought for a while there that my comments were going to go unanswered!

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:Glad someone responded. Thought for a while there that my comments were going to go unanswered!

Which CD players have you owned?

 

[PJPro]

Not many. Does a PS3 count?

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:Not many. Does a PS3 count?

QED, and I'm not talking about the cables.

 

[PJPro]

Actually, my current CDP is an Arcam. It's busy gathering dust. It won't be replaced. But that's irrelevant. It is not necessary to have ever owned a CDP to know the technology is dated.

Similarly, I have owned record players from Thorens to Dual. It's highly unlikley I'll buy another record player despite the fact I have a fairly hefty record collection.

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:Actually, my current CDP is an Arcam. It's busy gathering dust. It won't be replaced. But that's irrelevant. It is not necessary to have ever owned a CDP to know the technology is dated.

Similarly, I have owned record players from Thorens to Dual. It's highly unlikley I'll buy another record player despite the fact I have a fairly hefty record collection.

If technology moves on it doesn't necessarily mean it's better, it just means the masses have adopted it. That doesn't mean that Tesco stock the best food for instance, although it may look the nicest, most round, most uniform, but ultimately most tasteless.

 

[Craig M.]

i can provide an argument where mp3 and the internet increase cd sales. because i don't view my case as morally wrong i see no harm in illegaly downloading an album, listening briefly on my pc and then if i like it i buy the cd. if i don't i delete it. i do this because i got sick of taking a punt on a cd, getting it home and finding i don't like it. as a result, i now buy more cd's then i ever used to because i can check if i'm gonna like it first. it doesn't always work though. radiohead - in rainbows sounds awful through my pc speakers and i wouldn't have bought it if i wasn't already a radiohead fan.

as for cd being a dead technology, maybe when everyone has a broadband connection and a hi-fi of some sort that can play the high res stuff from the likes of linn, and even more importantly, when it isn't just the likes of linn offering them, then maybe cd's will go the way of vinyl. i don't think mp3 will replace cd.

 

[PJPro]

JoelSim:If technology moves on it doesn't necessarily mean it's better, it just means the masses have adopted it. That doesn't mean that Tesco stock the best food for instance, although it may look the nicest, most round, most uniform, but ultimately most tasteless.

OK, let's take a look at the CDP. Your Arcam has probably got a shoddy transport no better than my PC (the point made by the Cyrus article). I wouldn't be at all surprised if my dedicated slot feed transport on my PS3 is superior to that on your Arcam.

During real time reading of the CD errors will be introduced which no amount of fancy electronics can correct. By using software like EAC and processing the CD in slow time, the CD can be read, compared on online databases and reread until a bit perfect copy of the CD exists as a FLAC file on my HDD. At this point, my humble PC will blow any CDP on the market out of the water.

Beyond this point is where my system starts to struggle with it's budget soundcard and DAC (Beresford). However, I suspect with a fairly modest outlay (£400-500) for a superior DAC (stello?), my PC would be rubbing the Arcam's nose in it.

The weak link is still the CD itself. Errors are introduced during pressing and fancy software processing won't be able to correct these errors. That's where internet comes in. When files in a suitable format (flac) become available direct from the studio the PC will be audiophile source of choice. It would be silly to use anything else.

I've not even got onto the convenience of media software like WinAmp, Media Monkey, Foobar, etc......

So this isn't about improving the lemon (CDPs) and making it a deeper yellow or more rounded. This is about binning the lemon and feasting on peach.

Don't let what the masses are doing influence your audio choices. This isn't about being the cool kid at school who is different to everybody else. This is about embracing technical changes and using them to your advantage.

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:JoelSim:If technology moves on it doesn't necessarily mean it's better, it just means the masses have adopted it. That doesn't mean that Tesco stock the best food for instance, although it may look the nicest, most round, most uniform, but ultimately most tasteless.

OK, let's take a look at the CDP. Your Arcam has probably got a shoddy transport no better than my PC (the point made by the Cyrus article). I wouldn't be at all surprised if my dedicated slot feed transport on my PS3 is superior to that on your Arcam.

During real time reading of the CD errors will be introduced which no amount of fancy electronics can correct. By using software like EAC and processing the CD in slow time, the CD can be read, compared on online databases and reread until a bit perfect copy of the CD exists as a FLAC file on my HDD. At this point, my humble PC will blow any CDP on the market out of the water.

Beyond this point is where my system starts to struggle with it's budget soundcard and DAC (Beresford). However, I suspect with a fairly modest outlay (£400-500) for a superior DAC (stello?), my PC would be rubbing the Arcam's nose in it.

The weak link is still the CD itself. Errors are introduced during pressing and fancy software processing won't be able to correct these errors. That's where internet comes in. When files in a suitable format (flac) become available direct from the studio the PC will be audiophile source of choice. It would be silly to use anything else.

I've not even got onto the convenience of media software like WinAmp, Media Monkey, Foobar, etc......

So this isn't about improving the lemon (CDPs) and making it a deeper yellow or more rounded. This is about binning the lemon and feasting on peach.

Don't let what the masses are doing influence your audio choices. This isn't about being the cool kid at school who is different to everybody else. This is about embracing technical changes and using them to your advantage.

There's far more to a decent CD player than a transport and a DAC. Otherwise every hi-end CD player would sound just like a mini system.

 

[PJPro]

You're right of course. But something like the stellos, while it is called DAC, contains more than just the DAC itself. I understand a high end DAC retails for about £8. So the other £390 must go somewhere.

Sure, you've also got buttons and lights and stuff.