Sony D-25 Portable vs. Marantz 5001

[MikeJ138]

hello all. I am new here and I would greatly appreciate some advice.

I listen to a lot of CD's at work and was wondering which you thought was better for a source unit.

Scenario #1
Senn HD650 Headphone
Darkvoice 336SE or 336i headphone amp
Sony D-25 PCDP

Scenario #2
Marantz CD5001
Senn HD650 Headphone



I heard the 5001 headphone out has a very good internal amp so that is why I would like to compare it to the D-25. Also, feel free to suggest any other type of headphone amp. Doesn't necessarily have to be a tube amp. Just anything under $280.

I listen to a lot of collectible CD's. Most are first pressings or Japanese pressings from waaay back. I typically like a lot of response and dynamics in what I listen to and that is what I am looking for in a source to play my CD's.

Thanks so much for your time and knowledge.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Scenario #1 would be my choice because the dark voice 336i is the main attraction here with the Sennheiser. It has a great synergy with the HD600/650 that puts it a little above the CD5001 HP out with them.

The interesting thing is my 336i sounds great with HD600, is still good with Denon D2000/7000 or Edition 9, and is okay with Grados (needs a tube change for Grados) - > while the CD5001 HP out has very similar synergies in that same order, just not being quite as good as the 336i with any of them. The CD5001 HP out is still very good, just not as good as the 336i HP out. CD5001 can still drive the HD600 decently but it's nothing amazing, while with the right tubes the 336i with HD600 can be impressive with the Sennheiser (I never liked HD650 as much as HD600 and sold my HD650 after a month). With HD600/650 it's almost like "amp first as long as the source is halfway decent", because without the good amp they wont sound good with a $10,000 source.

In regards to the source choices, the D25s has an excellent HP out and line out, and I used a good mini-RCA to feed the DV336i for many months in my basement rig, until someone talked me out of the D25s and I moved my D-5 into that role. While the DV336i is warming up, the D-25s can still power the HD600/HD650 to sound similar to the CD5001 HP out.

So, I know for a fact, having tried it, that the D25s line out feeding the 336i will sound better with Sennheiser than CD5001 HP out feeding the Sennheiser directly with no amp. The amp is that important with these phones. But, I have never directly compared the HP out or line out of the D-25s to the CD5001 because they were always in two different rigs across the house, sorry. All I can say is they are both better than one would expect.

The CD5001 has the advantage of optical and coax out, so you can upgrade your system around it as a transport, which is what I did. I started off by feeding my D-303 optical into iBasso D1 DAC into the 336i which was wonderful, then bought the CD5001 and it sounded just as good from it's RCA out on the back. I finally bought an Apogee mini-DAC and WA6 later on, which was a definite upgrade. The CD5001 line out is still very good, and only slightly below a good $400-800 DAC (Micro DAC and mini-DAC), and as good as my $250 iBasso D1 DAC. When I upgraded from 336i to a Woo WA6 and bought the Apogee, I moved the 336i to the basement rig with my D-25s and had two rigs.

Also, the CD5001 should be cheaper than the D-25s, unless you already have one. You might be better off Doing CD5001 > DV336i > HD650, instead of using the D-25s, because then your only need to get a better DAC to upgrade the system. I was perfectly happy with the CD5001 and 336i until Ken at ALO Audio teased me one time too many about upgrading. Look where that got me now!

Hope this wasn't too confusing - in summary: With HD600/650 it's "amp first" if the source is decent. The D-25s or CD5001 will be on a similar level with line out and headphone out, but the CD5001 will be a great transport if you decide to upgrade the DAC later. And, it is easier to find good quality $40 RCA-RCA interconnects than it is to find good affordable mini-RCA for less than $80.

 

[MikeJ138]

Thanks so much for all the thoughts. Here are some follow up questions:

What would be the amp you'd recommend running out of the D-25?

What would be the amp you'd recommend running out of the CD5001?

I am open to more than just DarkVoice but would like to keep the price somewhere under $300 for the amp.

Can you also expand on your thoughts of the 600's vs. the 650's? What were the differences that you noticed?

Also, what are your thoughts of the D-5 compared to the D-25?


Thanks so much again.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeJ138 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks so much for all the thoughts. Here are some follow up questions: What would be the amp you'd recommend running out of the D-25? What would be the amp you'd recommend running out of the CD5001? I am open to more than just DarkVoice but would like to keep the price somewhere under $300 for the amp. Can you also expand on your thoughts of the 600's vs. the 650's? What were the differences that you noticed? Also, what are your thoughts of the D-5 compared to the D-25? Thanks so much again.

For the Sennheiser I think you picked a nice amp for either CD player. However, the Head-direct EF1 is more versatile with a variety of headphones, and as it burns in it has passed up the 336i, but it is also $400. Still, that is the one I would pick. Or, buy a Millett Starving Student from Whiplashaudio.com for under $200 and it will come extremely close. Both of these beat the 336i with most headphones, including the Sennheisers.

I found the HD600 to be more transparent and accurate, faster and less veiled, and easier to drive.

My vintage D-5 is not quite as good as the D-25s was, but since I had the CD5001 to replace the D-25s I didn't mind selling it. The D5 is a little more edgier and detailed, but less smooth and musical. Plus the D-25s is portable and you can buy lithium batteries for it that last 3 hours on a charge.

 

[Oliver :)]

The D-25 can drive the HD600 quite decently with its own internal amp. It is a great little player. In the OP's scenario, I would think about space, portability and features. If you want a small player that can be easily taken/stored away it is quite obviously the D-25, while it is not a particularly good choice if you like to have more sophisticated features than search and skip. (actually, the D-25 has quite a lot of features but it is not as comfortable as a unit with more buttons / remote in giving you access to them)

 

[MikeJ138]

I see the Starving Student Mini Millet DIY Tube Amplifier on the website. The "DIY" concerns me though. Does this amp come in pieces and therefore I'd have to put it together myself? Not sure I want to get that involved.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

it's already built.