- Joined
- Jan 9, 2003
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Well, it's about damn time I got a halfway decent source. And while I'm not quite psychologically ready to plunk down >= $1K on a source, for now I'd be willing to spend 500-700 (willing to buy used on audiogon) to try something that would be a substantial improvement over my current sources and also have decent resale value.
- I need: the best redbook CD playback I can get for this money, preferably through a standalone CD player, though if I could get great redbook out of a higher-end dvd player that would be great. Also, a DAC that's jitter resistant could work for me.
- I have: The toshiba 4900 (quite similar to the also hyped 3950/3960) and a Panasonic rp91, both dvd players. While they sound relatively similar, they each have flaws that bother me. The toshiba has a liquidy smooth sound that is also more resolving & detailed than the panasonic, but the dynamics and attack are weaker than the panny's (probably the panny has a better power supply tucked within its much beefier chassis). The panny has a slightly grainy and gritty sound that started annoying me after I heard the toshiba do it better. Tonally, the toshiba is slightly warm, and the panny is slightly less warm.
- I want: A player that combines the strengths of my 2 current sources and doesn't have any flaws that are as big as the ones in these sources. That means I want something at least as smooth, grain free, and detailed as the toshiba, and with dynamics at least as good as the panny. I want the sonic upgrade to justify the cost, and when I listen to my new source I don't want to feel like something important is missing. Tonally, I don't really care so much as long as it sticks close to neutral. I wouldn't want anything warmer than the toshiba, though.
I've been especially looking at a used rega planet 2000 (BTW, what's a good used price on these?), but I've also become interested in the NAD 542 and S500i due to the positive comments on this forum. Has anyone with experience in the $500-$700 CD player range heard one of the hyped toshiba players? I'd like to hear whether you think I can get what I'm looking for. Even if you haven't heard them I'd like thoughts on whether the rega will get me what I want, or if you have any suggestions you think are better. I'm getting the itch to pull the trigger on something here soon (luckily there are no real guns in my apartment). Sorry for the annoyingly long post
- I need: the best redbook CD playback I can get for this money, preferably through a standalone CD player, though if I could get great redbook out of a higher-end dvd player that would be great. Also, a DAC that's jitter resistant could work for me.
- I have: The toshiba 4900 (quite similar to the also hyped 3950/3960) and a Panasonic rp91, both dvd players. While they sound relatively similar, they each have flaws that bother me. The toshiba has a liquidy smooth sound that is also more resolving & detailed than the panasonic, but the dynamics and attack are weaker than the panny's (probably the panny has a better power supply tucked within its much beefier chassis). The panny has a slightly grainy and gritty sound that started annoying me after I heard the toshiba do it better. Tonally, the toshiba is slightly warm, and the panny is slightly less warm.
- I want: A player that combines the strengths of my 2 current sources and doesn't have any flaws that are as big as the ones in these sources. That means I want something at least as smooth, grain free, and detailed as the toshiba, and with dynamics at least as good as the panny. I want the sonic upgrade to justify the cost, and when I listen to my new source I don't want to feel like something important is missing. Tonally, I don't really care so much as long as it sticks close to neutral. I wouldn't want anything warmer than the toshiba, though.
I've been especially looking at a used rega planet 2000 (BTW, what's a good used price on these?), but I've also become interested in the NAD 542 and S500i due to the positive comments on this forum. Has anyone with experience in the $500-$700 CD player range heard one of the hyped toshiba players? I'd like to hear whether you think I can get what I'm looking for. Even if you haven't heard them I'd like thoughts on whether the rega will get me what I want, or if you have any suggestions you think are better. I'm getting the itch to pull the trigger on something here soon (luckily there are no real guns in my apartment). Sorry for the annoyingly long post