Would a modded Music Hall CD-25 be a Good Source?

[Hi-Fi Nut]

Would a Music Hall CD-25 with level 3 mods costing $1000 be a good value. Would its performance be comparable to CD players like the Meridians costing thousands of dollars more?

Or would a cheaper but very high quality CD player like the Cambridge Azur be a better value?

 

[GlowWorm]

I havn't heard the Music Hall, but the Azure 640C is a great CDP for the money. Smooth, sweet, and detailed. I doubt if you could go wrong either way, even if you go with a stock CD-25, but it's always better to demo 1st if you can.

 

[BrianS]

i am thinking of getting the ultimate level 4 cd-25 when it comes out....

 

[Hi-Fi Nut]

I wonder if there's anyway a customer could know for sure if when the CD player arrives at their home that all the mods have been done and the dealer didn't rip you off by just sending a stock unit. They could advertise all these expensive mods and then just send the customer a stock unit. It wouldn't be ethical but its possible it could happen.

How can a customer know what they're really getting when they receive there supposedly "fully modded high performance" (Five hundred dollars worth of "improvements") level 3 upgraded Music Hall CD-25 from a place like SoundOdyssey.com?

 

[tagosaku]

I don't think Head-Fi will accept anyone like that as a sponcer

 

[jeffreyj900]

I ordered a level 3 CD-25, and it is suppossed to ship this Friday

I can't wait. You can always crack that sucker open when you get it. Stryker recently posted some pics of the inside of his level 3 CD-25. They state what you are getting with the level 3 mods, and have pictures of the parts @ SoundOdyssey.com. I will take some pics and post them when mine comes in

 

[BrianS]

let us know how it sounds too, i am very eager to see your results

 

[jeffreyj900]

will do... although I must warn you that the ONLY thing I have to compare it to is my IPOD

I'll do my best. From everything I have read it should be SWEET

 

[BrianS]

haha, anything is better than nothing i suppose

 

[sacd lover]

My cd-25 with the level three mods ships Friday too. I will have the sacdmods 555es and 963sa players to compare the cd player to. IMO, the sacdmods 555es(which has nearly the identical mods as the cd-25 except for a different aftermarket clock) stomps some highly regarded players well above its price.

 

[gloco]

I recently acquired a used cd-25 with the OPA627 op amps installed over the stock op amps. It's sounds beautiful, makes my paltry samsung dvd player a lousy source and i'm definitely a believer in upgrading sources now. I'm sure you'll hear the difference when you get one.

 

[sacd lover]

Check out the modded cd-25 head-fi member stryker has for sale in the for sale forum. This one has even more mods and its priced $100 or so under a new level 3 modded cd-25. I have no affiliation with stryker I just wanted to make you aware of this deal; its a good one.

 

[andrzejpw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hi-Fi Nut I wonder if there's anyway a customer could know for sure if when the CD player arrives at their home that all the mods have been done and the dealer didn't rip you off by just sending a stock unit. They could advertise all these expensive mods and then just send the customer a stock unit. It wouldn't be ethical but its possible it could happen. How can a customer know what they're really getting when they receive there supposedly "fully modded high performance" (Five hundred dollars worth of "improvements") level 3 upgraded Music Hall CD-25 from a place like SoundOdyssey.com?

There are 5 screws holding the cover of a cd-25.

 

[jeffreyj900]

Got my level 3 Music Hall CD-25 from Sound Odyssey yesterday. Have not had a chance to listen to it for an extended period of time, but it is NICE

Very nice finish and heavy! I'll try to post some pics this weekend, and maybe some impressions. I have never done a review, and the only thing I have to compare it with is my Ipod

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffreyj900 Got my level 3 Music Hall CD-25 from Sound Odyssey yesterday. Have not had a chance to listen to it for an extended period of time, but it is NICE Very nice finish and heavy! I'll try to post some pics this weekend, and maybe some impressions. I have never done a review, and the only thing I have to compare it with is my Ipod

Mine was supposed to ship today. I should have the player by Wednesday. I am especially interested how HDCD discs will sound on this player. Congrats Jeff!