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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 2, 2020 11:07:29 GMT
At present I am using a Panasonic Blu-ray player as a CD transport into my Caiman SEG DAC(30), this seems to work reasonably well, and I know the DAC is pretty good. I have a reasonable collection of CD's, classical, jazz. I enjoy listening to these, but am wondering if I could get a better experience with a CDP rather than using the Bly-ray, or is it unlikely to make any difference?
Any thought and suggestions would be most welcome.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 2, 2020 11:22:59 GMT
Assume a dedicated CD player will sound better
2nd hand should do it or spend up to what you feel
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Post by Dave on Oct 2, 2020 11:25:09 GMT
I agree with Mike, a decent quality dedicated CDP is a better bet in my opinion... A friend of mine has a Pioneer PD-S801 stable platter CDP which has impressed me mightily, it is a fine sounding machine... |
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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 2, 2020 11:39:06 GMT
I agree with Mike, a decent quality dedicated CDP is a better bet in my opinion... A friend of mine has a Pioneer PD-S801 stable platter CDP which has impressed me mightily, it is a fine sounding machine... Thanks for that Dave, might go for one of those. |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 2, 2020 13:01:56 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 2, 2020 13:16:50 GMT
Another good value alternative could be the Cambridge CXC - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184466110743That's the latest version but I read it's only a cosmetic upgrade on the original. |
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Post by Slinger on Oct 2, 2020 13:26:36 GMT
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Post by John on Oct 2, 2020 15:22:20 GMT
I am going to come at this from a different angle The Caiman was a great DAC in its day but DACs have moved on a lot and think you get more from a modern DAC
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Post by jandl100 on Oct 2, 2020 16:17:49 GMT
My experience of dvd players is that they often make excellent CD transports. I'd not be surprised if Blue Ray players were the same. So you might find getting a good upgrade by moving to an all in 1 CD player more of a challenge than you might think.
There are certainly plenty of "flavours" when it comes to DACs. Personally I've gone off the Chinese specification-wars DACs, as I think of them, where measured performance is the objective and ever-better model upgrades are introduced every 6 months or so as new chips come along, finding them rather sterile and uninteresting to listen to. I suspect I'd much prefer a Beresford SEG.
After a brief period with a Chinese Topping D70, that got sold on and I am currently really enjoying the organic immediacy of a near-vintage Rega DAC!
Don't dismiss the Beresford because Stan's been around for a while, it's a good'un.
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Post by John on Oct 2, 2020 16:53:51 GMT
I tend to see it as liking different flavours its good to work out what it is that you enjoy
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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 2, 2020 17:17:01 GMT
My experience of dvd players is that they often make excellent CD transports. I'd not be surprised if Blue Ray players were the same. So you might find getting a good upgrade by moving to an all in 1 CD player more of a challenge than you might think. There are certainly plenty of "flavours" when it comes to DACs. Personally I've gone off the Chinese specification-wars DACs, as I think of them, where measured performance is the objective and ever-better model upgrades are introduced every 6 months or so as new chips come along, finding them rather sterile and uninteresting to listen to. I suspect I'd much prefer a Beresford SEG. I was think of a CD player as a transport being better, but not so sure, maybe the already mentioned Pioneer PD-801 would be an improvement I agree on the DAC front, I find the SEG very good, and I do not want to sink thousands into digital, not just yet anyway, aspects of how it sounds sometimes I just do not like. |
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Post by Slinger on Oct 2, 2020 17:47:29 GMT
Weren't Oppo BDPs touted as excellent players for CDs?
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Post by John on Oct 3, 2020 4:02:27 GMT
So what is it you are hoping to achieve sound wise
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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 6, 2020 11:25:32 GMT
Hi John,
This is a tricky one to answer, but put simply I feel that the current set up Panosonic Blu-Ray player to Caiman SEG DAC can sound a little thin, perhaps a bad expression, sometimes a little harsh may be a better way to express it. I am pretty sure it is not the DAC as I used it with a Meridian 508 CDP and a couple of others and found it fine. So my thinking is that it is maybe limited by the quality of the mechanism and possibly the laser used(although this should not make much difference I Think?).
So I was hoping to find a good CDP with a good mechanism that would be a good choice to use as a transport rather than the blu-ray player. I am open to all suggestions, but do not want to go down a high cost route, I am looking for a bang for bucks VFM solutions really.
Thanks
Adrian
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 6, 2020 14:09:47 GMT
I think the Cambridge CXC is a good value route.
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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 6, 2020 14:27:41 GMT
I think the Cambridge CXC is a good value route. That sounds like a sensible option, VGFM, and new so no short term worries, and can always upgrade the DAC later on if I use it enough. I will have to start saving, Thanks |
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Post by John on Oct 6, 2020 14:53:20 GMT
If you enjoyed another transport and that gave you what you wanted then go for that I think the main issue with the Blue Ray is probably a cheap power supply built in
Would you consider streaming it opens up a whole new world of music choices but I know not for everyone
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Post by ajski2fly on Oct 6, 2020 16:37:54 GMT
Hi John,
I actually do stream with Volumio, RPI/Hifiberry HAT into the Caiman SEG, although I switch the subscriptions on and off as required, I also use Audirvana on Mac which gives a pretty good experience IMO, I also have a lot hi-res and some CD's ripped either FLAC or WAV to a NAS drive.
I know streaming is effectively good value with TIDAL or Qobuz, but SWMBO resents the monthly cost of it, I also do not enjoy the free low SQ on Spotify, although OK for finding new stuff.
I went full CD in the 80's and over time became disappointed with it, I suppose I wasn't prepared to invest lots of dosh into something that was supposed to give a great musical experience without much outlay, but that is a can of worms subject.
Cheers
Adrian
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Post by John on Oct 6, 2020 17:25:30 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Oct 6, 2020 17:59:43 GMT
I know streaming is effectively good value with TIDAL or Qobuz, but SWMBO resents the monthly cost of it I bet if you stopped buying CDs and LPs that would more than cover the £15 monthly cost of HiRez Qobuz. Most of the LPs you show in the classical 'what's playing' section are available streamed. |
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