Pioneer PD-59 CD Player A Winner & Keeper Selling the Adcom GDA-700 D/A Don't Need It

[N. Abstentia]

I have no idea what you're saying.

I think that sums it up right there.

If you worked in a home theater store you would have been fired by now.

For the money that you've spent on CD players and optical cables you could have upgraded your speakers by now.

[Jim Clark]

I am not at all surprised by your results. If that's what you heard, good for you. If you did sighted tests without level matching, and I know for a fact that you did since you have absolutely no use for an SPL meter, I doubt it would withstand any scrutiny what so ever. So what? My methods for determining a preference wouldn't pass scientific scrutiny either. We are all limited by our resources and double blind level matched is tough to pull off under the best of circumstances. I would naturally have a couple of comments of my own though.

1- Adcom isn't really known as a DAC company. I'm sure it's a competent enough piece of gear but after reading the mixed reviews on this site I'd say your opinion of this DAC is consistent with at least some of the reviews.

2- I personally haven't tried to hear a bunch of differences between transports. My limited efforts have shown me so far that I can't hear a difference under single blind situations. Others claim transports make a huge difference. I usually say nothing to these people but I'm always curious if they could prove it under a blind test. To date I've neither seen or heard anyone actually pull it off. Odds being what they are I suppose somewhere there is a test showing a positive result. My guess is that it's something like Lottery odds though. Regardless, that sounds like a decent enough CDP. Pioneer Elite makes some outstanding products.

3. I guess I'm one of the few that doesn't have a problem with your speakers. I wouldn't want them under any circumstances but based on your stated priorities of fit and looks being more important than sound it makes sense to me. I personally think they look like shizola but others might easily think the same of my speakers (those people would be idiots though).

4. I don't think too much of the 3801, but it's a far cry better than the POS 3802 that I have boxed up in my basement, especially with music. That Pioneer Elite CDP ain't especially shabby either based on what you say. You're actually building a budget system that probably isn't too bad. Once you get the space for some better speakers you will hear night and day for the first time. Throw in an SPL meter for a lousy 35 bucks and you'll be set.

Regards,
jc