DVD/CD Transport suggestions

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #20 on:** 11 Jul 2003, 01:42 am »

Here's the link to the CEC transport mechanism:

http://www.cec-international.de/pages/s2.htm

JLM · « **Reply #21 on:** 11 Jul 2003, 11:06 am »

Pysch:

Where can someone in the U.S. audition/purchase a CEC belt drive CD transport?

How much do they cost?

Are there any on-line reviews available?

(Their website is a tease, not a library.)

thanks,

jeff

jcoat007 · « **Reply #22 on:** 11 Jul 2003, 01:41 pm »

You might also consider a modded DVP-S7700 from Empirical Audio.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=3602&highlight=

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #23 on:** 14 Jul 2003, 03:26 am »

Quote from: JLM

Pysch:

Where can someone in the U.S. audition/purchase a CEC belt drive CD transport?

How much do they cost?

Are there any on-line reviews available?

(Their website is a tease, not a library.)

thanks,

jeff

You guys need to have some *faith*...

I called Doug S. and told him about my latest toy and he replied that he needed to hear one. You see, Deano sent me the link to the thing and I just bought it. I trust Deano--he's heavily into digital and has a CEC transport. He's told me it sounds like music--it does. Belt drive is the way to go.

I don't know about Audioengr's mods, but my Parasound CEC made transport is their "cheapest" ever (the size of a regular CD player) and it weighs a hefty 23lbs. It bested my McCormack SST-1 transport, which is outstanding to start with. After about one week I started reallizing the music was getting to me--extremely penetrating and emotionally involving...

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 Jul 2003, 10:41 am »

Quote from: JLM

Pysch:

Where can someone in the U.S. audition/purchase a CEC belt drive CD transport?

How much do they cost?

Are there any on-line reviews available?

(Their website is a tease, not a library.)

thanks,

jeff

CEC made a transport for Parasound:
http://www.sunshinestereo.com/reviewcdp-2000.htm

The above site is a now-defunct store, but the review itself is a reprint of Robert Harley's review in The Absolute Sound. There's also a review of the mega$$$ CEC transport on the Stereophile site.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #25 on:** 14 Jul 2003, 01:43 pm »

That review is accurate. The Parasound/CEC sounds just like the reviewer says. I have the transport, which I got in mint shape from an Audiogon ad for a mere $600. Two weeks later I saw the CDP for $480 and it was gone fast!

As I've been told, Parasound is the importer for CEC and they no longer have *private label* transports or CDPs. The good news is that Parasound can service them creatures...

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #26 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 02:27 am »

I have to add that the Parasound/CEC does have weaknesses, but they are not transport related. The electronics are definitely wanting and the McCormack does have much stronger bass, slam, dynamics and overall impact. The Parasound/CEC is WAY more musically involving, though. I have searched the Audiogon and Asylum archives and it seems that is the case with the "lesser" CEC transports (less than $5K). Not to worry, today I had a telephone conversation with Dan Wright and he's going to take care of my transport's shortcomings--digital mods are his specialty...

Chops · « **Reply #27 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 07:19 pm »

I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the Sony DVP-NS755V?

I just bought this player and have been playing it in my system over a week now. For a light weight deck, it seems to be fairly solid and the tray is nice and smooth opening and closing.

Since this is the first time for me listening to SACDs on my system, I think it sounds pretty darn good. It's alot better sounding than my old Parasound CD/P1000 ever was, even with regular CDs.

Also, if there are any kind of tweaks that can be done to this deck, I would really like to know. I have 3 Molly Toes on their way here this week from http://www.needledoctor.com/, and I was thinking of some kind of damping for the chassis, either something to line the innards of the player or something like the VPI Magic Brick that sits on top of the player.

Any suggestions?

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #28 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 09:09 pm »

Chops,
I've used Dynamat (car damping) on the underside of the chassis top to good effect (I have an Ah! player which inherits the flimsy casework of a Marantz CD player). Check the Verastarr thread for other similar thoughts.

For a VPI brick---why not try lead shot in a container???? That's basically what the magic brick is (though with the very attractive oak box). I found some wooden boxes and stuck leftover shot in them.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #29 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 09:18 pm »

Dynamat Extreme does the trick. Also, check out the DIY tweaks at http://www.tnt-audio.com.

I have noticed that a combination of rigid board supported by Vibrapods or the rubber/cork dampers and cones under the CD/DVD player works very favorably. Look in the Mapleshade site to get ideas also...

Chops · « **Reply #30 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 09:21 pm »

Tonto,

Thanks for the input!

Funny thing, I was actually thinking about using some DynaMat. Possibly just one of those "car door speaker kits" that just has I think two 12" x 12" sheets for placing directly behind door speakers. That should be more than enough for inside my Sony.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #31 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 09:53 pm »

Chops,
I found that moderation can be a good thing. At first I covered each side and as much of the top as I had Dynamat. The sound seemed too dull, so I ended up with just two or three strips on the underside of the top and both sides covered. With the peel and stick Dynamat, it's easy to adjust the amount.

You might also try the sand-in-Baggie damping tweak for the top---not exactly elegant but maybe effective.

Chops · « **Reply #32 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 10:16 pm »

Not to doubt you, but I find it hard to imagine that too much DynaMat would dull the sound. Considering that it is the chassis mass that is being modified. The whole point is to rid the chassis of all physical and airborn vibrations. In doing so, you would expect the sound to become cleaner and possibly extended on the low and high end.

I could be wrong though.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #33 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 10:33 pm »

Fortunately, you can play around with the Dynamat amount without much trouble. When I did this tweak, I was somewhat surprised at the effect of over-damping. I thought maybe I had talked myself into hearing effects that weren't really there, so I asked on Audio Asylum and others had experienced the same thing.

Your experience may be different but it's worth checking out.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #34 on:** 15 Jul 2003, 10:57 pm »

Over damping causes the soundstage height to collapse. That's when one can tell it's overdone...

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #35 on:** 16 Jul 2003, 11:34 am »

Quote from: Psychicanimal

Over damping causes the soundstage height to collapse. That's when one can tell it's overdone...

I'd like my soundstage height to be 3 3/8" lower (due to a ceiling fan); could you tell me how much damping I'd need to accomplish this?? I have absolute faith in your psychic predictions.

petermwilson · « **Reply #36 on:** 16 Jul 2003, 01:02 pm »

Hi,
This is my first post to this forum, so I hope my response will not be thought of as off topic.

With the advent of the 2 new HIREZ music formats, I think that I have purchased my last RedBook cd or transport.

I use an upgraded Denon 5800 which fortuneately has 2 sets of analog ins.
There is a battle heating up amongst the equipment makers in the introduction of combi machines (dvd-a/sacd). This is presenting an excellent opportunity to pickup mltidisc single use machines as the stores clear them out to make room for the combi's.

I have recently bought the 7 disc jvc prog scan dvd/dvd-a player and the Sony 5 disc interlaced dvd/sacd players for $500 cdn combined.

My real investment has been in software as I now own over 130 discs in the combination of formats.

For film I use the now discontinued Panasonic rp82 which also plays dvd-a.

What I'm suggesting here is since you are music lovers, if you haven't already, you soon will be hipdeep in the HIREZ formats and when buying new equipment IMHO you should audition some of these discs and players.

But I warn you, once you do, you cant't go back. BTW when I speak of these I am not promoting mltich (many discs are best left in 2ch and are)
Listening to Chicago in 192/24 2ch is awsome.

Peter m.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #37 on:** 16 Jul 2003, 05:19 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

Quote from: Psychicanimal
Over damping causes the soundstage height to collapse. That's when one can tell it's overdone...

I'd like my soundstage height to be 3 3/8" lower (due to a ceiling fan); could you tell me how much damping I'd need to accomplish this?? I have absolute faith in your psychic predictions.

You really need to ask that question in the Audioreview forums.

OBF · « **Reply #38 on:** 24 Jul 2003, 09:50 pm »

Hey Psychicanimal, what do you think of this guy's transport suggestions....?

He recommends an older Sony CDP-X707ES or X779ES with upgraded clock and analog section disconnected. I asked him what he thought about the CEC transports you mentioned as I've considered getting one of the Parasounds, and his reply is also interesting regarding the technicals of the Sony.

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/69497.html

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #39 on:** 24 Jul 2003, 10:13 pm »

Interesting, that is. I know the older transports are more rugged and better than most of the new ones. I have not heard of any comparisons done, however that guy did not put down the CEC (diretly). I think CEC is a division of Toshiba. He explained the laser rides on air--but what about the spining disc's drive mechanism? I would say that's where a lot of the vibration really is. Also, the subject of musicality was never addressed, was it?

As for the transport thing, he's mostly right--a good CDP is enough and simpler--but with a good transport you can upgrade DACs as technology makes them cheaper.

Lak heard my transport smoke his Wadia #20 and a couple days later got one of the transports I have (in excellent shape) for a mere $500! Keep your eyes open in Audiogon.