What are the most 'analog' sounding CD players?

[TimSchirmer]

A bit off topic, but i've noticed a lot of people recommending stuff that they have never heard before. Please don't do that! All it does is creat hype, which can seriously mislead people.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

I read that supermini + eggos will make any source sound like vinyl!

Biggie.

 

[bozebuttons]

Look at the Meridian 508-24,I had the origional 508 1 bit player for a while and it had a lot of analog qualities.

 

[screwdriver]

for a budget cd player -the rega planet original is said to be of that the analogue sound.

 

[dd3mon]

Even my cheap SACD player provides a large jump in quality between CDs and SACDs. SACDs are far, far less fatiguing in the highs (less brittle and nasty) than CDs. If I get my player modded perhaps the CD playback will jump up to close to that level

-dd3mon

 

[dhwilkin]

My MF NuVista player has been described as giving an analog-like sound, and I would have to agree.

 

[kuma]

• Primare D20

• D20 review

It's not the US household name, but this was one of the few sub 1500$ player that I thought possessed some of the quality you are looking for. i.e. flowing and non fatiguing, slightly warmish. I prefer this unit over Audio Refinement, Audio Analogue or any of the Sonys in the same price range.

It does not fit my description of 'vinyl like ' sound, but might fit yours.

if i were in the market for around 1k, here's another good one.
• Cairn-ezo /Fog2

It's got unfortunate name of 'fog' but, nothing foggy about this player. Equaly 'flowing' as Primare albeit tonal balance might be bit leaner. But you get better pace and bass as good vinyl playback.

 

[KShaft]

My audio analogue was most certainly smooth and flowing, But I thought it booring and weightless. No freakin prat. If I could compare it to a headphone, it be an akg 501. My Metrenome mk II was similar, with a little better prat and dynamics, but not much.
Impedence might not have been matched properly. Lower imp tubes(metie) did help, but at the expense of midrange quality.

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by KShaft My Metrenome mk II was similar, with a little better prat and dynamics, but not much. Impedence might not have been matched properly. Lower imp tubes(metie) did help, but at the expense of midrange quality.

Metronome one box cdp was sort of ho-hum, but, their separates, T1A/C1A combination was the one of the best I have heard out of digital. Midrange presence, excellent timing and flow. Hardware just dissappear and only leave you with music. Somewhat similar to Linn CD12.

• Metronome T1A/C1A

 

[KShaft]

well thanks Kuma.

I thought maybe my ears might have been bad(they still may be!) or something. I thought one could do substantialy better for 3500.

k.s.

 

[kentamcolin]

Adcom GCD750 does a nice job with highs and mids, not brittle at all and that's compared to my VPI setup. $1,250 new, or around $600 used.

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by KShaft I thought one could do substantialy better for 3500.

My thought exactly!

In addition, when I put in NOS tubes, one of the channel started hum because power supply was not well sheilded inside I had to wrap copper tape around the tube. ( it was a real sleeper with stock tubes )

BTW, I agree with your impression of Audio Analogue. i.e. Boring and weightelss and lack of pace'n'bass.

K501, however, with different amplification, you can wake 'em up. I've tried it with Krell front end + Emmline. Jaw dropping shift in overall disposition.

 

[Tomcat]

My vote for the most "analog", natural and musical sounding digital playback goes to non-oversampling DACs and players, without a digital filter. The ones I've heard are the "Shigaraki" transport and DAC combo developed by "47 Laboratory" which retails for about 3000 US$. The "Audio Note CD3.1x" player costs 2500 US$ and the "Audio Note CD2.1x" is a bargain at 1500 US$.

 

[gbeard]

The most "Analog sounding" cdp's I've heard in order of "analogness". Please note: I have either owned these players-dacs, or had them in my system for extended periods. It is also important to note that my most "analog" redbook player is not ultimately my favorite player of the bunch...

Most Analog ---------------- Ultimate order of preference
========= --------------- ===================
Sony SCD-777ES --------------------- Sony SCD-777ES
(in SACD mode only) --------------------(in SACD mode only)

Meternome CD2V Sig --------------------Cary 303-200/Chord 64 Dac

Cary 303-200/Chord 64 Dac -----------Cary 303-200 (my reference)

Almost any good transport --------------Meternome CD2V Sig
and the Perp. Tech P1-A/
EVS Millennium Dac 1 combo

Cary 303-200 cdp ----------------Almost any good transport
---------------and the Perp. Tech P1-A/
-------------- EVS Millennium Dac 1 combo

Sony SCD-777ES PCM ---------------- Sony SCD-777ES PCM



These are my opinions, and everyone is free to disagree (I know, I know, that is soooo generous of me...

). All of these players sound very, very good and it is being very critical to place them in this order. Remember this is with my gear, with someone elses stuff, all may be different! After a short demo, I found the Audio Note players are very analog (and great)sounding too. I did not in my short demo, think the Shanling was in the same league as any of these other players, but it looks cool as hell!

YMMV!

gb

Sorry about how squirrely this looks!

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tomcat My vote for the most "analog", natural and musical sounding digital playback goes to non-oversampling DACs and players, without a digital filter. The ones I've heard are the "Shigaraki" transport and DAC combo developed by "47 Laboratory" which retails for about 3000 US$.

I concur on 47 Lab
gear on sheer tune carrying ability ( which lacks in most CD players ).

Forget about resolution, warth, smooth highs and all that. Good players should give *life* to the music as good analogue playback.