High End Red Book CD Player Opinions?

[pmk]

Hi. Looks like you have settled on the Wadia 302, which I think is a great choice. However, outside the US companies, you may want to look at Naim, for instance CDX2, http://www.naim-audio.com/products/cdx2.html.

Also another one to consider is Audio Research CD3. http://www.audioresearch.com/CD3.htm (US company)

Have heard all 3 (in addition to Mark Levinson 390) at various times and enjoyed them all. At one time I was planning on getting the Audio Research CD3, but budget said otherwise.

 

[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu milkpowder: As you can tell by the vote results, a lot of Head-Fi members swear by the Meridian G08. Why do you think it is not as good as other higher end alternatives that you have auditioned? What exactly did you audition in comparison? If spritzer from Iceland can reply, then that would be useful information. If Gopher would be so kind to reply, then I will be grateful. I want to read contrarian opinions. No flame wars please.

The more expensive CD players that I've auditioned before are the Chord Blu/DAC64, dCS P8i and Naim CDS3. I've also auditioned the Naim CDX2, CD5i, Chord ONE and Meridian G07.

The Chord Blu/DAC64 combo made quite a good impression on me. It was lighter sounding than the G08, had slightly more detail and was more musical. The high end had this extra shiny coating and the whole music presentation was more dynamic, lively and life-like. Altogether, this combo costs little over twice as much as the G08, but I feel that the extra refinement is really worth it. I admit that my comparison was not exactly fair because I used slightly better gear to audition the Chord Blu/DAC64

FYI the rigs were as follows:
Chord Blu/DAC64 -> Chord CPM 3300 Integrated Amp -> Focal JMLabs Diva Utopia Be

Meridian G08 -> Mark Levinson No.383 Integrated Amp OR Mimetism 15.2 Integrated Amp -> Aerial Acoustics Model 7B


The dCS P8i has the most amazing detail I've ever heard in my life. I had it side by side with the Naim CDS3 and the much inferior Naim CDX2 and was listening to some violin SACDs, symphonies, vocals, etc. Switching from the CDX2 to the P8i was an unbelievable experience! There was so much more emotion and detail that the CDX2 missed out on. This is no exaggeration. The difference was so big I was almost knocked off my chair! The difference between the dCS P8i and the CDS3 was much less. The CDS3 presented itself as a detailed, but much more lively and musical alternative to the dCS P8i. In comparison, the dCS P8i was lifeless. I exaggerate of course. Overall I prefered the Naim CDS3. I personally prefer a more musical listen to an analytical one.

In this respect, the G08 is very good. It, too, is able to convey the emotion of the performers, which the dCS P8i was unable to do so well. All I was thinking throughout my listen was, "Wow, there's so much detail!". Not once did I think, "This music makes me so sad/happy". That said, I do like the dCS P8i purely because of its ultra high resolving power and it can convey emotion, just not as well as Naim, Chord and Meridian CDP. The G08 is not muddy, but just not as crystal clear. The CDS3 is just an upgrade from the G08. It is more detailed and more musical. What can I say? The CDS3 does cost twice as much as the G08.

The rig was dCS P8i OR Naim CDX2, CDS3 -> Naim NAP300 amp/NAC282 preamp/HiCap PS for preamp -> ProAc D38

I hope this justifies what I said earlier.

 

[Ruppin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu Once I get the Wadia 302 with the optional 24bit/96kHz digital input during the first week in November 2006, I will sell off my ModWright LLC Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi for $800 USD plus free Blue Jeans Cable component, stereo, coaxial digital cables, Grado SR-60 headphones, and Vibrapod Isolators Type II. I will include 30 SA-CDs and DVD-Audio discs including one DualDisc.

Did you order the Wadia and get put in a 6 month waiting line, or are you just waiting to order it?

 

[JahJahBinks]

Naim is a good one if you are comfortable with its price.

 

[kuma]

A Naim CD555 should be added.
It's the best effort by Naim so far.

milkpowder,

In order to realise the max performance from a CDS3, the system needed a 552 in place of a 282.

 

[Welly Wu]

.

 

[Welly Wu]

.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Welly>Why don;t you get one used? Maybe somewhere like AudioGon?

You would end up saving money.

 

[EdipisReks]

i've seen the 302s go for as low as $2800 in 9/10 condition on 'gon.

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 Welly>Why don;t you get one used? Maybe somewhere like AudioGon? You would end up saving money.

But he won't get a dealer support nor the product warranty.

I haven't done any business with the Audio Connection, but they seem to to be better than others.

 

[Welly Wu]

.

 

[Welly Wu]

.

 

[Trogdor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu Kuma: Exactly. Buying new means I get the full five year non-transferrable warranty from Wadia since I am purchasing from an authorized Wadia dealer. Like it or not, this CD player is going to have to keep me satisfied for the next five years along with the rest of my existing components. That means through MFA graduate school, through possible relocation due to getting the job at the US Postal Service, and beyond. I am building a reference system now that has to last a very long period of time. I need that full five year warranty just in case I get a technical problem and I need help from Wadia. That's also why I chose Wadia because they are a Head-Fi sponsor, I am a member, and they have an authorized dealer less than 10 minutes away from my home.

Welly, you are making a very costly mistake here. Its a CD player, you can save yourself literally like 2k buying used. MOREOVEr, let me tell you something, I'm not a big fan of audio connection.

I too went there to buy RS-1/RA-1 amp and was treated pretty badly after I left. I called them up several times to order them and I never got a call back. I know of several people who have had issues with equipment and have had a hard time dealing with Audio Connection.

I would LOOK REALLY REALLY HARD in the mirror and ask yourself how really important is that warranty of a CD PLAYER. You can probably get a 302 off of Audiogon from a LOCAL person Tri-State area really easily. You could probably then try it out and verify everything is kosher. I mean how many people out there are abusing Wadia's?

I use to think EXACTLY like you so I can empathsize and I'm not saying you should never buy anything new, but honestly, you would be saving at leaset TWO THOUSAND dollars.

I mean c'mon....

Btw, I say all of the above as a fellow NJ Head-Fier, i.e. a friend.

EDIT: Its late, I typed that way too fast, and I would like to throw in a SCD-1 used is another GREAT CDP for the money (I got mine with a warranty left on it off of eBay for cheap).

 

[Welly Wu]

.

 

[Welly Wu]

.