Sure wish Klaus would offer an Odyssey CD player

BobC · « **on:** 27 Oct 2005, 04:33 pm »

Anyone know if Klaus / Odyssey ever thought of making a CP player based on the Vibrato? I can't afford the Symphonic Line stuff, but an Odyssey version (priced ~$1000 - $1500) would hit the spot!

Bonus would be upsampling 24/192 and 2 ch SACD playback

Regardless, what are the hot players people are having luck with now-a-days? There seem to be a lot of Jolida fans around. Tubes would be nice. Thoughts?

Bob

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 04:38 pm »

The latest and greatest seems to use a computer as a transport and a modded Squeezebox 2 or 3 to be used as a DAC.

Empirical Audio has a modded USB M-Audio card to your own DAC solution to a PC based system.

The first (squeezebox) option is a LOT less expensive.

I know at least one who is giving up his $4500 digital front end to go this route.

John151 · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 04:49 pm »

I am very pleased with the Easteren Electric MiniMax that I purchased from Bill O'Connell at MorningStar:

http://www.morningstaraudio.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=3

buckeyefanandy · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 04:57 pm »

Marbles,
What is the cost of that set up?
Does it need to be modded?
What all is needed to go that way?

I second the idea of a nice Odyssey cd.

I will never be able to go the Symphonic Line route, however I have seen a Symphonic brand cd and DVD in my price range. I thought that it might make a good joke, but came to my senses.

BobC · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 05:00 pm »

...just wanted to say Go Bucks!

slurve · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 05:08 pm »

I always thought that a DAC would make a nice addition to the line, though not sure that SL has any either.

Marbles · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 05:18 pm »

Andy, do a search on the Bolder circle, and the Red Wine circle.

It should sound pretty good stock and GREAT modded.

It would be GREAT if Klaus could do for the SL CDP's what he has done for SL speakers and amps, that is make them in the US for 1/3 of the cost.

Chris_B · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 05:20 pm »

I use a Modwright 999ES for the front end of my Khartago mono/Lorelei setup. Very nice detail and warmth without being too tubey.

kfr01 · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 05:39 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

The latest and greatest seems to use a computer as a transport and a modded Squeezebox 2 or 3 to be used as a DAC.

Empirical Audio has a modded USB M-Audio card to your own DAC solution to a PC based system.

The first (squeezebox) option is a LOT less expensive.

I know at least one who is giving up his $4500 digital front end to go this route.

Just a note: very good sound, i.e., bit perfect, is obtainable through a $90 UNMODDED USB M-Audio card. All the Empirical Audio mods purportedly fix is jitter. You be the judge as to whether fixing jitter is worth hundreds of dollars. If you already have a PC and some sort of DAC/Pre, $90 gets you to a pretty darn good alternative to a CD player.

BradJudy · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 06:38 pm »

At the RMAF someone asked Klaus if he would be doing a CD player and he gave a pretty definitive sounding 'no'. It sounded like it didn't interest him at all.

peter59 · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 07:53 pm »

Hey what about the AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CDP. This tube output cdp is fitted with Amperex 7308's. I have that as my source with the tempest and mono extremes and soon to come loreleis. If you can splurge and get the upsampler option Whole cdp runs approx $1,000. Incredible sound simply magical mids.. Highly recommened.. I thought I would call Klaus to see if he could get me a SL Vibrato. I honestly don't think I need to change my CDP. It sounds just like vinyl. One happy listener!

bunky · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 08:55 pm »

Quote from: peter59

Hey what about the AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CDP. This tube output cdp is fitted with Amperex 7308's. I have that as my source with the tempest and mono extremes and soon to come loreleis. If you can splurge and get the upsampler option Whole cdp runs approx $1,000. Incredible sound simply magical mids.. Highly recommened.. I thought I would call Klaus to see if he could get me a SL Vibrato. I honestly don't think I need to change my CDP. It sounds just like vinyl. One happy listener!

peter59 has the best bang for buck as far as cd players go and if i didnt luck out and buy Klaus,s vibrato from him i would be running the same cdp with the Amperex 7308s as peter59. Klaus will not build an Odyssey cdp because for the money he couldnt offer a lower price than some of the players like this and Odyssey is all about Great gear for less and this is what he likes to bring to the table. klaus likes the AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 and thinks it is very good for the money. i have discussed redbook cd players at length with Klaus prior to buying the Vibrato and as you all know he loves to talk about audio. thanks....WCW III

miklorsmith · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 09:09 pm »

FWIW, I own a non-OS DAC vs. very good tubed CDP and perfer the DAC, at about 30% of the cost.

A friend owned a different tubed CDP and has sold it in favor of a different non-OS DAC.

I think the difference is more the sampling technique and power supply than tubes vs. not tubes per se. My tubed player is still an excellent player, but even with the benefit of tubes it does not escape the digitalitis that is universal (in my experience) in oversampling/upsampling/aroundthebendsampling players I've heard.

byteme · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 09:22 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith

FWIW, I own a non-OS DAC vs. very good tubed CDP and perfer the DAC, at about 30% of the cost.

A friend owned a different tubed CDP and has sold it in favor of a different non-OS DAC.

I think the difference is more the sampling technique and power supply than tubes vs. not tubes per se. My tubed player is still an excellent player, but even with the benefit of tubes it does not escape the digitalitis that is universal (in my experience) in oversampling/upsampling/aroundthebendsampling players I've heard.

And then there is the "best of both worlds" option - the tubed Nixon Tubedac! Non-OS and a wonderful performer! I'm a huge fan of mine! Couple it with a Sony SS7700 DVD player transport for a few hundred and I predict you'll be pretty please. Or better yet find and EA modded 7700 and you'll be REALLY pleased!

miklorsmith · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 09:34 pm »

I had the TubeDAC in my system last weekend. It's a nice unit. I found it to be a touch tipped-up in the treble, which might be just the ticket in some systems. The owner of the unit said he thought the extra sparkle was an intentional design choice.

In my system, I prefer Red Wine's Monica. It is more balanced to my ears, though some might find it to be rolled off in the treble.

I do think either unit would be an affordable, effective upgrade for most CDP's

I also have use of an Ack! dAck 2.0 for the next couple weeks. I'll post findings when I have something to report.

bunky · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 09:45 pm »

i think i might just stick to my plain jane no frills Symphonic Line Vibrato. the only button it has is a power switch

thanks....WCW III

byteme · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 09:53 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith

I had the TubeDAC in my system last weekend. It's a nice unit. I found it to be a touch tipped-up in the treble, which might be just the ticket in some systems. The owner of the unit said he thought the extra sparkle was an intentional design choice.

In my system, I prefer Red Wine's Monica. It is more balanced to my ears, though some might find it to be rolled off in the treble.

I do think either unit would be an affordable, effective upgrade for most CDP's

I also have use of an Ack! dAck 2.0 for the next couple weeks. I'll post findings when I have something to report.

Was it a Tubedac+? The + was built to add back that "sparkle" on the top end that some people were used to hearing from OS DACs that the non-OS DACs don't have, and, yes it was an intentional design choice on Scotts part. In the early days there was a "regular" and a +. Now there is a toggle switch on the back and only a single offering. I've got the regular.

Bunky - great find on the Vibrato - way to get on that!

Marbles · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 10:22 pm »

I have an AH! 98 (had 2 at one time), the nOrh CD1 beat it.

I've had an Empirical Audio modded S7700 (great transport) to a Scott Nixon Tubedac + and liked it, but liked the Empirical Audio modded PT P3a better.

Just sold the modded Sony S7700.

Given the choice between a PC as a transport and about anything else I would take the PC.

I have gone the EA modded M-Audio to my PT P3a DAC route. If I were to have started over, I would probably go the PC to SB2 (modded) route if only because it would be thousands of $$$$ less.

Since Andy already has a computer he can get an SB2 for $250. If he can get someone else to go in with him, he can get it for $200. He can then get it modded as money allows.

After modding it will be about as good as digital can get..or very close to it.

BobC · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Oct 2005, 11:58 pm »

I like the idea of using the PC as transport, but unfortunately don't have one in my theater. Maybe some day.

The Ah! player sounds promising. I think I'll read up.

Thanks, Bob

djbnh · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 12:45 am »

I know some like the Ah! player, but I prefer the Jolida JD-100 I own that has a few tweaks (JHS Gold Label Sylvania 5751WA triple mica black plates, Chris VenHaus cryoed Flavor 1 PC, Herbie's Hal-O 9 tube dampers, all resting on a 22 lb. granite slab supported by Vibrapods. Also has a 12 lb. piece of marble on the top resting on coasters. Tube pins et al treated with Walker SST).

I'm a little leary of saying what's "best", since seemingly works well in one system, to one's ears, may not sound right to someone else...