How much difference does a CD player make?

[E-Stat]

In my experience there is no doubt that the digital source makes a significant difference.

That has been my experience as well. I have five CD/DVD players not counting two CD Walkmen. A GamuT CD-1 exhibits better mid range focus and has a smoother more natural top end than the decidedly less refined response of the Toshiba 3960. Is the former worth 30 times that of the latter? That's a value judgment. Sure worth it to me in the main system!

rw

[PeruvianSkies]

That has been my experience as well. I have five CD/DVD players not counting two CD Walkmen. A GamuT CD-1 exhibits better mid range focus and has a smoother more natural top end than the decidedly less refined response of the Toshiba 3960. Is the former worth 30 times that of the latter? That's a value judgment. Sure worth it to me in the main system!

rw

This is a right-on-the-money statement (no pun intended). If more people would realize this there would be less debate when it comes to upgrading, differences in cables, differences in this amp or that amp, etc etc. I have come to realize that the incremental level of distinction as you get better equipment is that it becomes less and less, yet in order to achieve the upper level you need to make that decision for yourself. Is that little bit of extra refinement A. noticeable to you and B. worth the investment. I say YES to both of those as I am in search of my personal Holy Grail of audio. I am not just able to "SLAM" and have it. I must work up to it, but that is what's fun to me. I enjoy getting a little bit smarter and wiser along the path and quite frankly I think that makes me appreciate it more. If somewhere were to just drop a 1 Million Dollar Grand Enigma Reference system at my doorstep I would certainly LOVE IT, but it's not the same as the quest for it. The saving, the toying around, the fine tuning, and the development of a 'ear' for musicality and taste.

[Feanor]

This is a right-on-the-money statement (no pun intended). If more people would realize this there would be less debate when it comes to upgrading, differences in cables, differences in this amp or that amp, etc etc. I have come to realize that the incremental level of distinction as you get better equipment is that it becomes less and less, yet in order to achieve the upper level you need to make that decision for yourself. Is that little bit of extra refinement ...

All true, what you say above. But Carl's question which was, "... how big a difference ... ?". In context this must be taken to mean how big a difference relative to other components in which one might spend one's money. I don't think it was, "If you had more money than you knew what to do with, would you spend it on a better CD player".

In this present context E-Stat's reference to the GamuT versus the Toshiba is exquisitely irrelevant. For its price the GamuT ought to be f*ing amazing, but yeah, if I had all the money in the world I'd go for it -- but after that pair of MBL 9011's I've been hankering for.
...

[jrhymeammo]

See........ I suggest you get into vinyl cuz the difference in gears are like KABAM!!!!!

It makes my crappy system sound like I just spent $10k on a CDP.
btw, I've never heard any $10k player.

[Feanor]

See........ I suggest you get into vinyl cuz the difference in gears are like KABAM!!!!!

It makes my crappy system sound like I just spent $10k on a CDP.
btw, I've never heard any $10k player.

Gotta laugh about this vinyl suggestion, but hell yes!! You'll hear a lot more difference going that route.

[E-Stat]

For its price the GamuT ought to be f*ing amazing, but yeah, if I had all the money in the world I'd go for it -- but after that pair of MBL 9011's I've been hankering for.
...

Actually, $3k is relatively modest given the price of some models. I bought it after direct comparisons with the incredible Burmester 969/970 units that go for a cool $56k. Were the Burms nearly twenty times better than the GamuT? Well, differences certainly existed, but only for those who wanted the best. And had already built a commensurate system around them.



They are the gorgeous units just below the Kuzma table on the left. This particular reviewer's system ran about $350k on paper. Out of site were the Nola Grand Reference speakers driven by VTL Wotans on the towers and Krell amps on the woofers. Nordost Valhalla throughout.

In my vintage system, I use a '93 Pioneer PD-54 "stable transport" CDP. You put the CD upside down on what looks like a small turntable platter. It was a great transport with a so-so DAC and output stage. I find that the DAC makes the biggest overall difference. I purchased a used Manley DAC with a tube output stage that drives the amp directly. Not much on looks, but offered a nice improvement in the sound.

Manley DAC

If I were to start out from scratch today, I would purchase an inexpensive (and expendable) DVD player as transport and buy a good DAC. Preferably one with enough output to drive an amp directly using analog gain controls like the Manley.

rw

[Feanor]

Actually, $3k is relatively modest given the price of some models. I bought it after direct comparisons with the incredible Burmester 969/970 units that go for a cool $56k. Were the Burms nearly twenty times better than the GamuT? Well, differences certainly existed, but only for those who wanted the best. And had already built a commensurate system around them.
...
They are the gorgeous units just below the Kuzma table on the left. This particular reviewer's system ran about $350k on paper. Out of site were the Nola Grand Reference speakers driven by VTL Wotans on the towers and Krell amps on the woofers. Nordost Valhalla throughout.

In my vintage system, I use a '93 Pioneer PD-54 "stable transport" CDP. You put the CD upside down on what looks like a small turntable platter. It was a great transport with a so-so DAC and output stage. I find that the DAC makes the biggest overall difference. I purchased a used Manley DAC with a tube output stage that drives the amp directly. Not much on looks, but offered a nice improvement in the sound.

Manley DAC

If I were to start out from scratch today, I would purchase an inexpensive (and expendable) DVD player as transport and buy a good DAC. Preferably one with enough output to drive an amp directly using analog gain controls like the Manley.

rw

Some nice stuff I must say. And you're right that $3k isn't all the money in the world though it's above my budget at the moment.

I agree about a modest transport and decent DAC being the way to go. In my case my transport is most often my computer, so there's no doubt about the the fexibility of a DAC. Just the same, I kind of covent a dCS stack.
...

[E-Stat]

Just the same, I kind of covent a dCS stack.
...

Yes, the Arcici racks are nice. A bit rich for my blood. Not sure if you can tell from the pic, but the shelves are all suspended via poles from the top. Note the brass colored nipples on the upper edge. The units have internal air bladders for greater isolation.

As for players, I heard the single box EMM Labs two channel player this past weekend. Placed atop a Halcyon isolation base. One of those automated units originally intended for scanning electron microscopes. Very nice indeed. He also had four of the Western Electric WE-97A amps. They are hundred watt SET amps with eight 300B tubes each. Ungodly expensive at that.



rw