AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Virtue Audio Owners => Topic started by: marvda1 on 28 Mar 2010, 04:51 am

Title: Piano M1
Post by: marvda1 on 28 Mar 2010, 04:51 am

Hello fellow Piano M1 owners.  What are your thoughts on the Piano?  You know mine. :drool:
http://www.stereomojo.com/Virtue%20Audio%20PianoM1%20Cd%20Player/VirtueAudioPianoCDPlayer.htm

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: dvenardos on 28 Mar 2010, 05:05 am

Nice review, makes one wonder about a Piano DAC...

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: virtue on 28 Mar 2010, 06:14 am

Smack, smack (your hand, again).  Futures are off-limits but doesn't the DAC on the Piano smoke?  My australian dealer just loves the sound and says that his favorite DAC uses the same chip.  Semi-finished units do exist on the DIY market and cost very little I hear...  Sometimes the best stuff gets overlooked.  I've heard some ESS stuff that sounds **much worse** than Piano and a few that sound as good or better depending on ones tastes.  It's the whole package that matters; individual components, even very exotic "hi-tech" ones, do not guarantee superior performance.

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: virtue on 28 Mar 2010, 06:47 am

Marvin,
Can you post some photos of Piano in your system?  John who is a moderator at AC also has one but has not yet posted photos.
Seth

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: JohnR on 29 Mar 2010, 01:37 am

Pics?? Sure, will do that later today. It looks just like the red one in the StereoMojo review :)

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: JohnR on 29 Mar 2010, 05:33 am

Here are some pics of my Piano:

(http://www.lostupnorth.net/item/7980/1003f-0012.JPG)

(http://www.lostupnorth.net/item/7982/1003f-0032.JPG)

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: JohnR on 29 Mar 2010, 06:26 am

And one without the valve amp:

(http://www.lostupnorth.net/item/7984/1003f-0037.JPG)

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: virtue on 29 Mar 2010, 12:22 pm

You are an amazing photographer.  Wow these look great in your very natural setting.  I just love the wood and the tubes and the aluminum... and the zebra-wood works very well.  Gorgeous!  That's what the "high-end" should look like!!!

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: JohnR on 30 Mar 2010, 04:21 am

Hey Seth - thanks! Appreciate it :) The build quality is amazing, I'll be trying plain Al sides soon..! I'm very pleased with the Piano - altho it's hard for me to offer comparisons/reviews as I changed amps and speakers at the same time - and I'm still mucking about with the speakers :duh: I'll get there...

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: OzarkTom on 3 Apr 2010, 02:24 am

Quote from: marvda1 on 28 Mar 2010, 04:51 am

Hello fellow Piano M1 owners.  What are your thoughts on the Piano?  You know mine. :drool:
http://www.stereomojo.com/Virtue%20Audio%20PianoM1%20Cd%20Player/VirtueAudioPianoCDPlayer.htm

My Piano has only been on for a couple of days now, there has to be tubes in there somewhere. The Sensation is still breaking in so I know this will only get better. My Sensation 451 only has about 20 hours on it. I could not pass up that combo deal. Thanks Seth!

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: JohnR on 3 Apr 2010, 05:12 am

That is an awesome deal...!

Hey, I think you need to post some pictures now, let's see them ;) :D

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: pardales on 3 Apr 2010, 10:23 am

Nice review, and nice pic's!    :thumb:

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: OzarkTom on 3 Apr 2010, 04:05 pm

Pic of my Piano

(http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt300/OzarkTom/metal%20detectors/IMG_0094.jpg)

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: OzarkTom on 4 Apr 2010, 03:01 pm

Are there any downloadable manuals on the Piano?

And the sound now of the Piano after a few days? What is that phrase the younger generation is saying?

Sweet!!!!!

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: Cheerwino on 8 Apr 2010, 01:14 am

Here's my silver M1 Piano with smooth sides, aluminum remote and oak top. It's sitting on top of The Truth buffered preamp from Ed Schilling at The Horn Shoppe and next to a First Watt F1 piping through Horn Shoppe Model 1 speakers--sounds awesome! I have another DAC but I prefer the Piano's internal DAC to the external one. Kind of wish I could tap into it for computer audio, too. It's really an awesome CD player.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=28705)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=28706)

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: Vinnie R. on 28 Jun 2010, 06:59 pm

All,

Just wanted to share my Piano M1 experience so far:

I contacted Seth a while back when I was setting up the RWA listening room.  I mainly use my Macbook as my source (feeding USB into the Isabellina dac), or play vinyl - but I knew I needed to have a CD Transport to add to the listening room for customers who bring their CDs.

So I went ahead and ordered a Virtue Piano M1 from Seth in Black, with a Walnut top (which looks very classy and closely matches my Walnut equipment rack).  I love the size of this CDP, and upon opening the box, I was very impressed by how solid and well-built the Piano M1 is.  It has nice mass from the solid aluminum enclosure and a hefty toroidal transformer used for the linear power supply (not a SMPS that you typically find in a CDP at this price point).

Based on looks and build quality alone, the Piano M1 is a steal - but it also proved to be an excellent transport for the Isabellina.  I am getting great results using both the coax and optical output (I haven't done enough A/B'ing to determine which I prefer using). 

While I do prefer the analog outputs of the Isabellina and bought the Piano to use as a CD transport, I did try the Piano's analog outputs and they are MUCH better sounding than many CD players that cost quite a bit more than the M1 -- Good tonal density, doesn't suffer from a sterile digital sound, no harshness in the top-end, and nice PRaT. 

I'm really impressed with the Piano M1 - it is a silly-good value!  It'll be staying here for a long time.  Nice work, Seth! 

Happy listening!  :beer:

Vinnie

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: virtue on 28 Jun 2010, 07:12 pm

It's the highest honor to be in your listening room!!!  Thanks for your kind words Vinnie!!  You rock.

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: Mariusz on 28 Jun 2010, 11:57 pm

Piano M-1 CDP was quite a surprise. Mainly, because you do not expect anything special from cdp at this price range and enclosure which had to incinerate at least 1/4 of its asking price.
I will also 2nd Vinnie's experiance with this "sleeper".
In contrast tho, I have solely used it as dedicated CD player and can not say much about its capabilities as a standalone transport.
In fact, I had short but interesting conversation with Paul (itr317) about Virtue products in general and we both agreed on various points, including very positive impressions of Piano M-1 CDP.
It is a great CD player that sounds great for the money.
Build and finish is also top notch. 

Mariusz       

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: eclein on 20 Aug 2010, 11:01 pm

How is everyone enjoying Piano M1 units?? :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: shawnbaden on 20 Aug 2010, 11:34 pm

Apologies if this has already been addressed but...

As suggested earlier in this thread, it would be killer if the Piano M1 had a digital input where it would serve as just a DAC.

Any plans in the works for such an addition?

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: ZLS on 21 Aug 2010, 10:11 am

Quote from: Vinnie R. on 28 Jun 2010, 06:59 pm

All,

Just wanted to share my Piano M1 experience so far:

I contacted Seth a while back when I was setting up the RWA listening room.  I mainly use my Macbook as my source (feeding USB into the Isabellina dac), or play vinyl - but I knew I needed to have a CD Transport to add to the listening room for customers who bring their CDs.

So I went ahead and ordered a Virtue Piano M1 from Seth in Black, with a Walnut top (which looks very classy and closely matches my Walnut equipment rack).  I love the size of this CDP, and upon opening the box, I was very impressed by how solid and well-built the Piano M1 is.  It has nice mass from the solid aluminum enclosure and a hefty toroidal transformer used for the linear power supply (not a SMPS that you typically find in a CDP at this price point).

Based on looks and build quality alone, the Piano M1 is a steal - but it also proved to be an excellent transport for the Isabellina.  I am getting great results using both the coax and optical output (I haven't done enough A/B'ing to determine which I prefer using). 

While I do prefer the analog outputs of the Isabellina and bought the Piano to use as a CD transport, I did try the Piano's analog outputs and they are MUCH better sounding than many CD players that cost quite a bit more than the M1 -- Good tonal density, doesn't suffer from a sterile digital sound, no harshness in the top-end, and nice PRaT. 

I'm really impressed with the Piano M1 - it is a silly-good value!  It'll be staying here for a long time.  Nice work, Seth! 

Happy listening!  :beer:

Vinnie

    Class Act  It is good to see that manufactures can respect each others products. 

    Having had both the privilege and pleasure of knowing both individuals, I am not surprised. 

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: eclein on 21 Aug 2010, 01:58 pm

Excellent find ZLS.. thank you!!! I look forward to hearing from other users of Piano M1 !! :thumb: :thumb:

Title: Re: Piano M1
Post by: OzarkTom on 22 Aug 2010, 01:09 am

I run my Piano with the tube buffered Sensatipn. I get wall to wall sound and incredible depth. Tonality is as good as I have ever heard. You like 3D? This will get it easily, depending on the recording.