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Budget Source Showdown

Mar 12, 2004 at 6:02 PM Post #16 of 83
Great review dSquared. I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into it. I actually own both of these sources (my dads got the pioneer and I've got two toshibas) and agree with your preferences. I don't know if I'd go so far as to call the Pioneer a camry though, as I really don't care for it. The flexability is nice (DVD-A & SACD) but my dad traded a 963SA for it and I think that was one of his biggest mistakes in audio (and he makes a few). Listening to it through his speaker rig (which outclasses the Pioneer by so much it is disgusting),

I felt it sounded very digital, lifeless and unengaging. It left much to be desired in terms of soundstaging, couldn't offer the same resolution on redbook as the Toshiba and was about as far off from conveying emotion as it gets.

To be fair, it didn't have the benefit of all the improvements I gave the toshiba which included Aurios 1.0 MIB & tungsten ball kit, Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference ICs and a Statmat CDi Blue (which ironically cost as much as the toshiba!) but this is because it didn't exhibit IMO the same potential.

The Toshiba is a beast and I believe "the source to beat" under $~200 for redbook only. (I also felt it sounded MUCH better then the NS500V on redbook).
 
Mar 12, 2004 at 10:25 PM Post #18 of 83
Ill tell you guys right now that my first one started distorting after 3-4 hours of play. I let it cool down and tried it again... still distorted really bad so I returned it. Trying a second one now.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 2:33 AM Post #19 of 83
Thats funny because I saw a guy with that Tosh behind me on the returns line at Best Buy. I had to return some incompatible TDK cd-rs and I was soooo tempted to ask the guy about it, but its NYC and I thought the guy might tell me to mind my own *****in business. You know how it is.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 4:33 AM Post #20 of 83
After 1 day, I see no reason to rush out and buy this player. If you dont have one and need a cheap, decent player... go for it. I still think the Pioneer 563A is a better unit for the price/performance value... regardless of the hoo-haa over at AA.

more coming...
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 4:53 AM Post #21 of 83
I think it's still a pretty good budget source. Hard to beat at $60.
Compared to my DIO/NEC combo, it has better imaging going left and right. The DIO/NEC combo wins in terms of depth. It also sounds cleaner. Oh yeah, the DIO provides a lot more bass
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Of course, I'm comparing a $400 source to a $60 one so...
I dunno...that's like a HD650 difference
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Mar 13, 2004 at 3:51 PM Post #22 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by dSquared
And yes, I'm a definite newbie; I've never even seen, much less heard, a $1000+ source.
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I do have some musical training, though. . .


Musical training? Well, in that case, you have experience with the best source of all... live music.

With some quick browsing on AudioAsylum, I've found some have been saying that the bass of the 3950 fills in with burn-in. Also, 'they' say the 3960 has better bass right out of the box.

With all the hype, i'm pretty interested in the toshiba, but would LOVE to see comparisons of the toshiba vs. the NAD 521BEE vs. the Cambridge azur and other so-called 'budget' cdps.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 4:17 PM Post #23 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by Sentral Dogma
With all the hype, i'm pretty interested in the toshiba, but would LOVE to see comparisons of the toshiba vs. the NAD 521BEE vs. the Cambridge azur and other so-called 'budget' cdps.


Amen to that. It's great that it sounds good for the price, but I am really interested how it will stand up to the cheaper NADs and Cambridges that people think are real bargains too. When looking up comments in AA they talk about how the 3950 should equal $500 players in several areas and that's really surprising to me.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 4:40 PM Post #24 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by TMC
Amen to that. It's great that it sounds good for the price, but I am really interested how it will stand up to the cheaper NADs and Cambridges that people think are real bargains too. When looking up comments in AA they talk about how the 3950 should equal $500 players in several areas and that's really surprising to me.


If this is what a $500 player sounds like... NAD and Cambridge is getting away with highway robbery.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 6:26 PM Post #25 of 83
I really don't expect that the 3950 will do even close to as well as what some of the guys think in AA (which is a rather unfortunate abbreviation btw), but I'm still interested in how far away it would be from a NAD C521BEE or a Cambridge D500SE.
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 11:06 PM Post #26 of 83
I think I am going to pick one of these up sooner or later...BUT i have space issues. In fact I may have to stack stuff on top of this player to make things fit. So my question is: with the whole heating issues of this player, would an amp (for instance my gilmore dact v1, which is on its way woo hoo!) that would be placed on top of this player cause it to overheat or maybe any other problems?

Thanks.
Dan
 
Mar 13, 2004 at 11:37 PM Post #27 of 83
I wouldn't put anything on top of the Toshiba. I put some papers on top of the player while I was sorting through a big stack, and when I (finally) got through it, I could feel trapped heat from the Toshiba. I'm pretty sure that it's not going to be happy (and will probably start distorting) if it doesn't have some space to breathe.

On the other hand, as you can see in my pics, I have it in an enclosed space and it's fine for a couple hour stretch (I haven't listened to it longer than that.) There's about 6"-6.5" of open space in the pics. Maybe you put this on the top of your stack?

Switching gears, I, too, would love to hear how this thing stacks up against other players. It'd be great for plotting an upgrade path--or at least, some nice daydreaming!
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Mar 14, 2004 at 12:12 AM Post #28 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by Vedder323
If this is what a $500 player sounds like... NAD and Cambridge is getting away with highway robbery.


No, they're saying that's what a GOOD BARGAIN $500 cdp sounds like
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Now think about the ones that aren't good bargains.
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Mar 15, 2004 at 3:45 AM Post #29 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by ooheadsoo
No, they're saying that's what a GOOD BARGAIN $500 cdp sounds like
tongue.gif
Now think about the ones that aren't good bargains.
smily_headphones1.gif


Hmm, now that's a pretty large claim if it's supposed to hold up to those players. . .anyone have one of these players and can do a comparison? My wallet would be happy if the hype turns out to be even partially true.
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Mar 15, 2004 at 4:05 AM Post #30 of 83
Quote:

Originally posted by dSquared
Hmm, now that's a pretty large claim if it's supposed to hold up to those players. . .anyone have one of these players and can do a comparison? My wallet would be happy if the hype turns out to be even partially true.
wink.gif


dSpuared... how long did you burn in the units before testing them? Did I miss that in the review?
 
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