Arcam FJM CD33

Fresh from the smothering sunshine of So-cal I felt a bit dejected as I was going back to school... things are not as pretty, clean, and warm here. There's something about this place that makes me bunker down in a world of technology/books and libraries and doesn't let me concentrate on the important things.

I talked to my roommate about the "situation" of the apartment while i was gone and he pointed towards a dell box about half my size in the kitchen. "that's certainly not mine" i exclaimed, "well, it has your name on it," he said. so i inched towards it and it struck me... this was no computer, but something much more useful... a chance to listen.

I really have to thank ASR for this opportunity, this is certainly a unit that I would never have gotten a chance to listen to and it has provided some needed distraction...

this collegiate world of technology, tight living, sad cooking, and way too much time on the internet isn't all that bad... i mean, that other world certainly doesn't have music that sounds this good....

So what's the first thing I did... I unboxed it, set it up and started listening.

I'll talk to you about the actual sound of the unit when I'm done listening to it... or at least have a good solid list of observations... for right now i'm just re-adjusting to good music, headphone listening, and the rediscovery of my music collection.

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Abby road

VDA-2- the first thing one notices is how much more "deep," or shall i call it well rounded and impacting the sound of everything is compared to the CD-33. there is not "floating above the crow" here, the VDA-2 engages the music... and sometimes loses, but it can't be called stoic or "not trying hard enough." There is a better headstage due to better sound depth portrayal. you feel closer to the music. The note sounded by the bass is clearly identifiable and the texture made present, while on the CD-33 it is a one-note type of bass.
CD-33- better separation of drum heads, better micro dynamics in both drum parts and in the cymbals- the miniature crashes are not the same sounding throughout, but come out as louder and brighter and decay. The decay itself is the same, but one can clearly tell that it sounds more like a real cymbal on the CD-33. The vocal effects added by the beatles that make it sound like a "live" concert evident, while hidden by the warmer sound of the VDA-2

Mahler's 1st and 3rd symphonies

VDA-2- there is a more rounded out tone to the brass instruments, a deeper sound stage and instruments are more well rounded.
CD-33- much more air, a larger sound stage, and many, many more details and micro dynamics in the people talking off stage and in the "other stuff going on category." In some ways the VDA-2 sounds somewhat veiled by comparison.