Talk Electronics CD player

Levi · « **on:** 25 Nov 2004, 04:51 am »

I recently purchased a dedicated CDp for my system. Talk Electronics Thunder 3.1b.

It uses proprietary Anagram Technology that does 24bit/192Khz upsampling.

Have you heard one yet? It's really popular in UK for it's excellent PRat and bass resolution.

Music Maven · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 05:18 am »

Sorry, I've not heard anything by them but I am thinking they make good equipment at a reasonable price. Probably most of the coverage of that company I've read has been in some of the British rags I've sampled, like Hi-Fi+ and Hi-Fi Choice. It's very nicely styled. I would think you're the only one on your block with it, as I would imagine there are relatively few USA dealers.

You should post again in a few months and let us know how it's doing once it has "a few miles" on it. The test of any component is how well and reliably it performs over the long haul. We all hope for a car or a stereo component "made on a Wednesday" I guess.

I own a Myryad amplifier and pairs of B&W and Rega speakers, so I definitely have an affinity for British audio.

I hope you have a lot of enjoyment with your new "toy!"

Jerry

Levi · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Dec 2004, 12:20 am »

My new Thunder 3.1b arrived.
It still needs break-in so I will probably really listen to it in a week.

I just could not resist no to open.

No wonder it weighs over 40Lbs.

closer

Anagram Technologies DAC

Finally, rear

Levi

Music Maven · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Dec 2004, 01:45 am »

Great photos, Levi!

I'm not sure of technology, but at a glance the innards appear neat and well-built.

What is the retail price of this unit?

Is there an outboard power supply?

Nearly 40 pounds is definitely an unusually heavy CD player. Half of that would be heavy. My heaviest CD player was probably a Sony ES I had that was about 12!

Let us know here how it sounds and interfaces with your system.

Jerry

Levi · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Dec 2004, 02:11 am »

There is an optional external power supply they call "Whirlwind" that they custom made. Considering most companies are gearing towards universal players; this one is strictly CD and it won't even play MP3s

Retail is $3,600. It is well engineered. As you can see, parts selection are audiophile quality. You can find Anagram Technologies here.

Out of the box, the unit has PRaT galore! So-far-so good.

Quote from: Music Maven

Great photos, Levi!

I'm not sure of technology, but at a glance the innards appear neat and well-built.

What is the retail price of this unit?

Is there an outboard power supply?

Nearly 40 pounds is definitely an unusually heavy CD player. Half of that would be heavy. My heaviest CD player was probably a Sony ES I had that was about 12!

Let us know here how it sounds and interfaces with your system.

Jerry

Levi · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Dec 2004, 03:06 am »

As you might already knew, several audio companies are using the Anagram Technologies DAC:

Orpheus One DAC

Nagra DAC

Audio Aero CDp

Manley Labs "Slam!"

... iknow you got the idea.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Dec 2004, 12:10 am »

Nice guts. I like that it has two torroids, presumably one is for the analog section and the other is for the digital side.

Levi · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Dec 2004, 01:27 am »

Dan is correct.

The small donut is for the digital power and the larger Toroid is for the analog side. There is an optional external power supply that by-pass the analog supply. The external power supply will improve the sound even further and retails around $2,000USD according to manufacturer.

It sound as good as it looks. All it needs is a few more days of burn-in

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 02:52 am »

It looks very nice, Levi. How is the sound now that you've broken in the player a bit more. Ah, I see they take the British route of better power supplies to improve the player (ala Naim), it always seems to work.

Michael

Levi · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 04:10 am »

Thanks Mike. I am totally happy with it. It is definitely different from my previous CDp. Custom made external power supply, NAIM like in my thoughts. Talk Electronics is a small company though so each components are built by hand. The Thunder 3.1b is geared towards the higherend of the spectrum. I never heard so much details from a regular CDs. I can hear all the individual instruments yet is not etched or fatiguing. Definitely PRaty. The burn-in is almost there.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 04:31 am »

Levi,

Now that the Hoggster has jumped back into Naim, you should ask him if he can use his high cap power supply to power his Talk player. I know some Rega Ear headphone amp users used the Flat Cap power supply to power the Rega amp and it improved it tremendously apparently. Obviously, I'm not suggesting you go and buy Naim power supplies to power a Talk, when they clearly have a fine power supply for the player, but it's just an interesting talking point. Glad you are enjoying the player. I liked it when I briefly heard it at your house.

Michael

Levi · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 03:35 pm »

I really don't know how long it will take to break-in. It just gets better everytime I pop in a CD. Please be advised that I may use bold statements about my findings here. I would advise to have a listen for yourself if possible.

Here are my findings, so far so good:
Brand new Out of box: A-
After one Week: A+++

The Talk Thunder 3.1b is really an amazing CD Player. I listened to a variety of music: Bad Plus "Give", Black Light Syndrome"Duende", Wynton Marsalis "quartet", Pancho Sanchez, Vivaldi, Patricia Barber CDs etc. The Thunder 3.1b never stopped to amaze me. The clarity and detail that I never heard before from my previous CD player was all present. Sound-Staging and depth is excellent. Bass resolution was excellent plus, if it is in the recording it will find it! You can literally resolve how many bass players in Ray Brown's "SuperBass2". Wood instruments sounded like wood! The dynamics and musical timing flows with accuracy. It is not Etched or Fatiguing. Words may not be enough to convey my findings but it really sounded F_ck__ Good! Unfortunately, poor recordings sounded poor. I find my self listenging to all sorts of music uncluding Baroque...those instruments...I think this CD player is made for musicians who knows what instruments sounded and for others to learn.

The highlights of the Talk Thunder 3.1b are:
Amazing bass resolution and clarity.
Excellent Realism of instruments.
Micro-dynamics.
Organic Sound.

I am really happy with it and that's all that matters

.

Levi

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 03:55 pm »

Levi :

Quote

Unfortunately, poor recordings sounded poor.

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 04:05 pm »

Levi,

Did you sell your Modwright player?

Levi · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 05:08 pm »

Yes. It displays text if it's available. You can turn off the display aswell.

Yes. I no longer have the super modified Modwright Sony.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 06:38 pm »

Quote from: Levi

Yes. It displays text if it's available. You can turn off the display aswell.

Yes. I no longer have the super modified Modwright Sony.

hi levi,

do you find the Talk to be a lateral step or a step up in comparison to your MW modded sony 999? can you provide a comparison between the two?

Levi · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 11:42 pm »

The Modwright Sony NS999ES is an excellent SACD/DVD/CD Player. However, it was bettered by the Talk Thunder 3.1b in many ways:

Pace Rythm and Timing.
Amazing bass resolution.
Excellent Realism of instruments.
Micro-dynamics.
Organic Sound.
Amazing Detail and Clarity.
Perception of Depth and Sound-stage.

Based on the items mentioned above, I think the Talk Thunder 3.1b is step up.

I hope this helps.

Levi

Quote from: Mad DOg

[quote="Levi"

hi levi,

do you find the Talk to be a lateral step or a step up in comparison to your MW modded sony 999? can you provide a comparison between the two?

Mad DOg · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 11:53 pm »

Quote from: Levi

The Modwright Sony NS999ES is an excellent SACD/DVD/CD Player. However, it was bettered by the Talk Thunder 3.1b in many ways:

Pace Rythm and Timing.
Amazing bass resolution.
Excellent Realism of instruments.
Micro-dynamics.
Organic Sound.
Amazing Detail and Clarity.
Perception of Depth and Sound-stage.

Based on the items mentioned above, I think the Talk Thunder 3.1b is step up.

I hope this helps.

Levi

thanks, Levi! yes, this helps quite a bit...

JoshK · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 12:28 am »

I heard it against Levi's modwright player at Levi's NY Audio Rave party and I thought it was a step above as well. The Modwright was more sexy in the midrange but was too euphonic for my taste and far from neutral IMO. The Talk player is more of what I was used to in a player but I'd have to A/B it in my system for better comparison to what I know.

That said, I think the modwright player was a really good match with the blue circle preamp and my spectron in Roop's system comprising the RM/X's. I didn't notice any overally colorful sonics in that system but Roop's system was missing all of his room treatments at the time so it was really hard to tell.

Levi · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 01:24 am »

Oh yes... sweet vocals... that's a tube thing.

Catch the wave!