Sweet sounding CD player- Arcam CD72t

[psyopwak]

I have been looking for a dedicated CD player for about 6 months now.
I read many reviews on different models and listened to as many as I could.
Decided to pick up the Arcam CD72t used. WOW! I have had about 4 CD players
and to DVD/CD players going back to 1985. This is the best sound...by far.

The sound is broad with a very wide soundstage. It is detailed and you can hear every
nuance and instrument being played loud or very soft in the recording. I like the range
of this player. The british mags like What Hi-Fi? and HI-FI Choice gave this player very
great marks in 2001 through 2003. Now the CD73T has replaced it. It you have
$400 to $500 to spend .....audition the CD72t or CD73t.

WAK

[mtrycraft]

I have been looking for a dedicated CD player for about 6 months now.
I read many reviews on different models and listened to as many as I could.
Decided to pick up the Arcam CD72t used. WOW! I have had about 4 CD players
and to DVD/CD players going back to 1985. This is the best sound...by far.

The sound is broad with a very wide soundstage. It is detailed and you can hear every
nuance and instrument being played loud or very soft in the recording. I like the range
of this player. The british mags like What Hi-Fi? and HI-FI Choice gave this player very
great marks in 2001 through 2003. Now the CD73T has replaced it. It you have
$400 to $500 to spend .....audition the CD72t or CD73t.

WAK

Or, they can audition less expensive ones in an objective manner and come to the same conclusion?

[Geoffcin]

I have been looking for a dedicated CD player for about 6 months now.
I read many reviews on different models and listened to as many as I could.
Decided to pick up the Arcam CD72t used. WOW! I have had about 4 CD players
and to DVD/CD players going back to 1985. This is the best sound...by far.

The sound is broad with a very wide soundstage. It is detailed and you can hear every
nuance and instrument being played loud or very soft in the recording. I like the range
of this player. The british mags like What Hi-Fi? and HI-FI Choice gave this player very
great marks in 2001 through 2003. Now the CD73T has replaced it. It you have
$400 to $500 to spend .....audition the CD72t or CD73t.

WAK

Don't have to audition it, already did, bought same!

Most people don't realize that it's what comes AFTER the decoding that makes the CD player really shine. All CD players use the same decoding, and some even use the same AD converters. The real difference lies in the quality of the electronics AFTER the decoding. The Arcam line, and the CD72 in particular represent to me the best value in "better quality" CD players. Above this point you come to a real steep cost/improvment curve. I've heard multi thousand dollar CD players, and the Arcam can give you about 95% of that quality for a much better value.

[meyer]

Just wondering what type of interconnects you went with. Did you use digital coax or fibre? Or did you go with a good set off analog RCAs which is probably preffered since the D/A are probably better in the CD player.

[psyopwak]

Just wondering what type of interconnects you went with. Did you use digital coax or fibre? Or did you go with a good set off analog RCAs which is probably preffered since the D/A are probably better in the CD player.

Meyer

I use Kimber cables (analog and digital) I find the digital link to be better sounding.

William

[Geoffcin]

Just wondering what type of interconnects you went with. Did you use digital coax or fibre? Or did you go with a good set off analog RCAs which is probably preffered since the D/A are probably better in the CD player.

I'm using Homegrown Audio Silver lace with the Rhodium locking connectors. If your getting better quality using the digital connection then your analog cables arent up to snuff, as the DACs in the Arcam are the ones your should be using.

[psyopwak]

I'm using Homegrown Audio Silver lace with the Rhodium locking connectors. If your getting better quality using the digital connection then your analog cables arent up to snuff, as the DACs in the Arcam are the ones your should be using.

I am curious...have you tried the DVD audio or SACD arena yet? I am kicking around the idea of getting a sub $700 universal player. heard about or have a good one?

Psyopwak (arcam fan)

[hertz]

I am confused ! You say that this is the best cd player you came across around 500$. But you say that you use the digital output of the player.This means that you are not using the DAC in the player.
1.Are you using an outboard DAC for playback ?
2.Are you using the DAC of some av reciever ?
In either case, what is the validity of your claim ? You could probably claim that the Arcam is the best transport available for 500 $ which is debatable.

[psyopwak]

Hey Hertz

Slow down there...a little. I have both a digital and analog link to a Denon AVR-4800
and I listen to both links. I should have said I like the SOUND of the digital link
over the analog one. Both the Arcam and DENON DAC's sound good to me. Not really saying one is better than the other since listening is a subjective thing. My post was to offer an opinion on the sound
of the player, which is warm, clean and nice. I would never try to get into a debate
about one player, transport or DAC being better over another. This is just my
experience.

happy listening
psyopwak

[hertz]

okay...I get your point friend..
I have a dealer friend who deals in Arcam, Nad, Marantz, cadence, audio analogue etc...I spend most of my free time during weekends at his place.From my experience, if you need to know the difference with DACs you should connect the arcam cd player to an audiophile grade stereo amp like the Audio anlogue or even Arcam using good quality analogue interconnects.From my exp none of the recievers including the high end Marantz could reproduce the texture and subtle nuances in the sound naturally.If you need to evaluate two cd players, I guess you need to connect both to the same same audiophile grade amp and speakers in the same room using the same interconnects and play the same music.Then you will see..
I think you are limiting the arcam's capability using the denon reciever.

[psyopwak]

hertz

Thanks for the reccomendation. Funny you should mention the AMP
idea, since I have a Parasound and am thinking about getting a more
quality preamp/processor to go with it and the cd player. Then again I
also contemplated getting a good sacd/dvd-a player, just to compare
the CD player sound to the new format.

psyopwak