Current Contenders for BEST 1 Box CD Player? MUST make old CDs sound like MUSIC!!!!

[jap]

Aesthetix Romulus: tube output stage, optional volume control, USB uses the asynchronous transfer mode licensed from Gordon Rankin / Wavelength Technologies.

Review on TAS website:
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/aesthetix-romulus-cd-playerdac/

The Signature version can do DSD via its USB input.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I'm going to put in a big vote for my recent acquistion, the Eera Tentation. beats by a large margin my previous Emm labs CDSA SE w/various mods, which itself I chose over the Marantz SA1, Linn CD12, Reimyo , AMR, one box Meridians, Wadias, ARs. The only player i'd poss choose over it is the long-discontinued Marantz CD12 SE (2 box, but who's counting?) from the late 80s (still Ken Kessler's cdp of choice).

 

[joeinid]

The EAR Acute III is an outstanding player. It has amazing width and depth in the sound stage and is very three dimensional and holographic. Any doubters should listen to one.

I'd suggest an EAR Acute III, which allows a degree of sonic customization through the choice of ECC88/PC88 tubes.
I can use any of my E188CC tubes (milspec E88CC) all of Phillips manufacture, but from different plants to get any degree of warmth and/or resolution I choose.
I can use E188CCs from (in 'warmth' order) -
Mullard -Mitchum plant
Amperex - Heerlen plant
RTC/Mazda - Surenes plant
Siemans - Munich plant
CBS spec Seimens - PCC88, Munich plant, the cleanest tube I've ever heard

FWIW,
Paul

 

[rbbert]

...Precision and accuracy are interchangeable words so I'm hardly "confusing" one for the other.

Precision and accuracy are hardly the same, in science or in audio. Just as in science, one can be very precise but inaccurate in audio; finely detailed, one-dimensional tonally imbalanced sound can be appropriately described as precise but obviously not accurate. Now back to the OP topic.

 

[mep]

Precision and accuracy are hardly the same, in science or in audio. Just as in science, one can be very precise but inaccurate in audio; finely detailed, one-dimensional tonally imbalanced sound can be appropriately described as precise but obviously not accurate. Now back to the OP topic.

Not according to the Merriam Webster dictionary:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accuracy

According to Merriam Webster, the synonym for accuracy is precision. I stand by what I said previously. You can't have precision without accuracy and you can't have accuracy without precision.

 

[rbbert]

Apparently Webster's can be "wrong" sometimes. However, if you look down the list under both "accuracy" and "precision" to the "Chemistry; Physics" definitions, you will see that they are distinguished from one another. I do believe that audio reproduction falls in the category of "Physics"; of course you (the reader) may disagree...

 

[mep]

Apparently Webster's can be "wrong" sometimes. However, if you look down the list under both "accuracy" and "precision" to the "Chemistry; Physics" definitions, you will see that they are distinguished from one another. I do believe that audio reproduction falls in the category of "Physics"; of course you (the reader) may disagree...

I looked down the list, but I don't see what you are talking about with regards to physics and chemistry. When I did look down the list I saw a category that says "related words" and one of the related words is "fidelity."

So please explain the difference between precision and accuracy as they relate to audio.

 

[rbbert]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/precision

there is a link to the scientific definition of "accuracy" as well.

 

[rbbert]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precision

likewise look at definition 2a and its link to "accuracy"

 

[mep]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/precision

there is a link to the scientific definition of "accuracy" as well.

From your link: the quality of being precise; accuracy

Let me write a sentence here: "I think you are using precision in an attempt to separate fly sh!t from pepper with a high degree of accuracy to distinguish between the two in order to argue a point with me."

 

[rbbert]

From your link: the quality of being precise; accuracy

Don't be obtuse, it's not becoming Anyway, I'm happy to be able to add to your store of knowledge...

 

[mep]

Don't be obtuse, it's not becoming Anyway, I'm happy to be able to add to your store of knowledge...

I was going to say the same thing to you, but I was trying to be polite.

 

[FrantzM]

Look, I think Caesar is asking for the impossible, but even if he wasn't, how are you going to get "acute precision" by swapping tube colorations until you find something you like?

Was wondering about the same ...

 

[Bodhi]

I have a Vitus SCD-010 and agree it is a terrific player, very natural sounding. Eventually gave way to EMM DAC-2X but for spinning a disc, it fits your description of what you want from it musically.

I had a look through your album album & am very impressed. That is a beautiful room! The Vac Statement amps are right up there with the best tube amps. The SCD-010 is very good, though a friend of mine who upgraded from the 010 to the 025 described the improvement as "huge". Also, rule of thumb: Vitus sounds best with Vitus. And in the absence of a Signature Series dac I can see why the 010 was moved on.

 

[Brian Walsh]

David, by now you must know my brand of choice
It just does redbook, but it does so exceedingly well. Rich and full tonality yet very detailed in a natural way, not euphonic. It's a fine balancing act.

 

[tonypdb]

Hi,
Can anyone comment on the digital volume control built into the vitus scd-25? For some reason they have a dac preamp in both the reference series and masterpiece series, and not in the signature series. Since I would like to avoid a preamp altogether, the dac preamp was top of the list, but quite more expensive than the scd-25.
Thanks.

 

[thedudeabides]

No Esoteric K01 fans?

 

[caesar]

I would think so, but I didn't want to prime anyone's mind when I asked the question.

 

[CGabriel]

I had a great time with the Audio Research CD8 and later with the CD9. If it was not for the Metronome's dual box I would still own the CD9.

My vote also goes to the Audio Research CD8/9 series. But they don't do SACDs.

I have had great music lately from the dCS Puccini. Use the up sampling to DSD option for CDs. And it plays SACDs and it can connect to your computer with a Pucinni Paginini clock or a USB-S/PDIF converter.

Oh and it has a nice ability to drive an amp without a preamp.

 

[thedudeabides]

The K01 does play SACD's and also can drive an amp (digital volume control) without a pre.

Why one would buy a SOTA CDP without the ability to play SACD's is frankly beyond my comprehension.

And yes, the K01 seems to play RB quite well.

Euphonic? Please elaborate.

Could be me but it appears there is an anti SACD bias going on here.