slbenz
06-18-2005, 10:08 PM
Had a chance to attend today's audio comparison of these two high-end players in a stereo system by one of the reviewers of Positive Feedback. Out of four participants, three chose the APL unit while one person chose the RAM unit. Since I do not own either unit, here is my assessment of each player. The APL player has a better openess and air while providing true 3D imaging and depth to the music. No digital artifacts could be heard and even with normal CDs being played, it was never fatiguing. The speakers really seemed to have disappeared and the music was coming from the air just like live music. The soundstage presented was as if you were in the fifth row with detail so great that you were able to hear the singer breath and lick their lips between notes. One person felt the highs were veiled initially but this was alleviated once the power cord was changed after the comparison. The RAM unit had a very forward soundstage, think first row or in your lap. It was better at capturing the harsh sounds of violin strings in orchestral pieces but at the expense of enjoying the RAM for extended periods. At times, depending on the music selected, it was too harsh for me to enjoy where digital artifacts could be heard from time to time. Also, it presented music with a more closed soundstage limited by the space between the speakers. Music seemed more 2D and flat in comparison to it's competitor. The RAM unit is best suited for classical while the APL unit is a great all-arounder. Both machines played music extremely well but depending on your personal preference, one unit is more forward in it's presentation while the other brings 3D imaging and detail to the table. This is just a quick assessment of what I experienced today and soon everyone will be able to read the summary of this comparison in Positive Feedback shortly.