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

[SlumpBuster]

I should add to clarify, I am playing the same CD track(s) using the same exact cables on the same Receiver at the exact same levels. The only change other then the equipment I'm testing is on the receiver inputs as I'm using the input marked DVD when playing the CD through the DVD player & the input marked CD player when playing it through the CD player. As far as I know, that shouldn't result in any change. When I tested things with the analog cables I used my "VCR" input. All of the inputs were set on the same settings except DVD & CD are set for Optic Cable & VCR was set for RCA Analog cables. I also played the same track within 20-30 seconds of each other for comparison.

Yeah... um.. that's not gonna work. I don't know about your Denon reciever, but on my Yammie my CD player is hooked up with both optical and analog cables. To switch between the two and do an instant A/B comparison, I simply hit the "analog/digital" button. And, guess what. No wait, I'll tell you: One is louder than the other. Why? Because the output voltages of the vary between the CDPs optical and analog outputs. Hell, the optical output isn't even voltage, it's light. Not that I expect you to grasp that.

But, that's okay, because I don't actually put alot of stock in instant A/B comparison. Rather, I think it is better to evaluate a new piece slowly over the course of a few weeks rather than forming an instant opinion. Good thing your flawed damaged hearing and disdain for reliable SPL meters doesn't prevent you from being able to tell the difference in transports and cables right away.

[Jim Clark]

Yeah... um.. that's not gonna work. I don't know about your Denon reciever, but on my Yammie my CD player is hooked up with both optical and analog cables. To switch between the two and do an instant A/B comparison, I simply hit the "analog/digital" button. And, guess what. No wait, I'll tell you: One is louder than the other. Why? Because the output voltages of the vary between the CDPs optical and analog outputs. Hell, the optical output isn't even voltage, it's light. Not that I expect you to grasp that.

But, that's okay, because I don't actually put alot of stock in instant A/B comparison. Rather, I think it is better to evaluate a new piece slowly over the course of a few weeks rather than forming an instant opinion. Good thing your flawed damaged hearing and disdain for reliable SPL meters doesn't prevent you from being able to tell the difference in transports and cables right away.

Well, at the very least you have the distinction of being 100% correct so you can always "deal with that".

I tried to run a test to see if I preferred
a. The tubed stage of my Jolida 100a
b. The HDCD output of an Oppo DVDP
c. The digital out of the Jolida to the Arcam AVP 700

The volume differences alone made this virtually impossible to make any conclusions that were remotely convincing. To many variables so in the end I scratched c completely. Lacking assistance this time around I did what you suggest, spending time with both pieces (level matched of course) and paying more attention to my notes not only of what I heard, but my impressions of my reactions over a couple of weeks. As a result I listen to the Jolida's tubed stage in Direct Mode. Next up when I get ambitious will be to try to compare the Arcam's Direct Mode to Stereo. Then of course I'll need try to factor in Stereo mode with the Jolida's digital out. There's a great deal of work and effort that goes into this if you want to do it right.

Nice post "genious". ( I don't do smilies, but if I did one would be appropriate here)

jc