CD Player choice

kck · « **on:** 6 Mar 2005, 01:12 am »

I recently acquired a used Heart 6000. This is a very nice player and with it being tubed I can change the sound per taste or even mood, even though the box does need to be opened.

But my attention has been drawn to the Onix CD-1 player from AV123. I have scoured that forum and the few pieces of info there are positive. I would like to bring this up with you guys and see what the feeling is. It is not in wide distribution so I know not many of you own it, just wondering if you have heard it via demo, friend's place, whatever.

The cdp is supposed to be a big-league player at a relatively modest price. If I HAD to point out a 'weakness' of the Heart I might say it is a bit laid-back. But it might be my system too, seems I need a bit of volume to get the sound to be exciting. But it is always listenable and I haven't had that too much lately with various experiments.

Any input appreciated!

laserman · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 01:29 am »

I don't think it is a big-league player unless you consider a Music Hall cd25 one. Somewhere I have seen mention that this player and a cd25 are pretty much one and the same units. Check at audiogon or at audio asylum. It is not that expensive so the leap of faith jump won't hurt your wallet too much.

If you do take the plung, please return and tell us what you think about the unit.

Good luck.
L

rosconey · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 01:38 am »

xc88 is the music hall -the cd1 is a rebadged german player with a msrp of 3-4 grand.

big difference in price also-=$1500 cd1-$400 xc88

kck · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 05:26 am »

Correctly identified, rosconey -- but you knew that.

So.... what is the wisdom on the CD1?

BeeBop · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 12:17 pm »

I see the 88 uses a Cary CDM-12.1 transport. I see from searching AA that the Cary 303/200 used a CDM-12 transport and a number of people had problems with them (at least when the model first came out). Fixed in the 12.1?

rosconey · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 01:50 pm »

just about every dedicated cdp(no sacd) under a grand uses the cdm 12.1-my sheng-ya does.drives are hard to come by because the market dictates dvd drives right now -so you can only find a few cdp ones to use-

i cant comment on the cd-1 i've never seen or heard one,but the rep of av123 is good enough that if i was interested in it i wouldnt hesitate.

Eduardo AAVM · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 03:38 pm »

Hi Rosconey, nice avatar, "happy, happy, joy, joy..."

I just would like to say that also many above 1 grand mark use the CDM-12 in it's original version or the upgradede ones: