Looking for full balanced integrated CD player with warm analog sound

yoms · « **on:** 14 Jan 2008, 09:17 am »

Hello,

I own active studio monitors (NHT M-00 / S-00). The sound is analytical, lively with strong immersion into the music. My preamp is a passive Promitheus TVC balanced. I am presently looking for CD player.

My criteria are the followings, both are mandatory to me:

100% full balanced conception throughout the whole circuitry
Very warm, smooth, analog but detailed sound
Price range : 0 to 1100 euros / $1650 USD / £830 GBP (buy new)

Could you help me building a shortlist of the devices that match BEST my requirements ?
Then, I'll be able to read reviews and post on the dedicated topics.
So far, I have only heard about Cayin CDT-17A and CEC TL51XR. Maybe they are the best for my purpose, maybe not...

I really thank you for your kind advice

JLM · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 09:49 am »

Welcome yoms,

I'd start by reading the reviews for tubed CD players like:

Raysonic 128 & 168
Shanling 3000 (stock and modded by Underwood HiFi)

yoms · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 12:39 pm »

Quote from: JLM on 14 Jan 2008, 09:49 am

Welcome yoms,

I'd start by reading the reviews for tubed CD players like:

Raysonic 128 & 168
Shanling 3000 (stock and modded by Underwood HiFi)

Thank you JLM.
I agree with you about reviews reading. My primary idea was to make a shortlist, then read the reviews accordingly. So, do you think I should focus on tube CD players ?

chosenhandle · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 03:30 pm »

Resolution Audio Opus 21 I believe is true balanced.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 03:37 pm »

The Raysonic 128 is warmer than the 168. The Cary 303/300 lets you change from tube to SS outputs on the fly so you can have both worlds in one unit. I've owned all 3.

yoms · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 03:41 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 14 Jan 2008, 03:37 pm

The Raysonic 128 is warmer than the 168. The Cary 303/300 lets you change from tube to SS outputs on the fly so you can have both worlds in one unit. I've owned all 3.

Thanks, are they all true balanced ?

Cheers,

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 05:23 pm »

Photon46 · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 05:34 pm »

Well, I sure think my Marantz Sa11S1 meets all of your stated requirements. The new Sa11S2 has an even better transport. All of the professional reviews describe it's sound with accuracy in my estimation. It has a very nice balance of detail, accuracy, and analog type warmth. The analog output stage is fully balanced.

yoms · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 06:21 pm »

Photon46 > thank you. I guess this one is Super Audio CD as well, not required, but might be interesting anyway for classical music.

Wouah, there are far more units that meet my requirements than what I initially thought. I thought that my short-list would be very... short actually

Aren't there warm, analog, full balanced CD players that stand for references ?

BTW, nobody seems to encourage me in my initial thoughts which were Cayin CDT17 and CEC TL51XR. Or is it just to propose other choices ?

Thanks a lot again !

yoms · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 06:26 pm »

Edit of my first post to specify a price range.

ckoffend · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 06:50 pm »

My recommendation is to spring for a used Audio Aero Capitole, slightly higher than what you have budgeted. But you can run this direct to your powered speakers without the preamp (the AA Capitole has an analog volume control). This is the best sounding CD player that I have heard to address your desire to warm things up a bit.

The midrange with the Capitole is unsurpassed in this regard. It also will accept digital inputs (ie. a music server, etc. . .).

If you have a system that is a bit bright, overly detailed or are justing looking for some warmth in a CD player, this is your unit.

yoms · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 10:00 pm »

Quote from: ckoffend on 14 Jan 2008, 06:50 pm

My recommendation is to spring for a used Audio Aero Capitole, slightly higher than what you have budgeted. But you can run this direct to your powered speakers without the preamp (the AA Capitole has an analog volume control). This is the best sounding CD player that I have heard to address your desire to warm things up a bit.

The midrange with the Capitole is unsurpassed in this regard. It also will accept digital inputs (ie. a music server, etc. . .).

If you have a system that is a bit bright, overly detailed or are justing looking for some warmth in a CD player, this is your unit.

Thank you. Had a look on eBay and elsewhere. No it's definitely far too expensive for me. I won't even have a look at the detailed specs lol.
Cheers

navi · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Jan 2008, 10:49 pm »

Yoms,

I use active monitors and Passive preamps- I've heard the cayin and wasn't much fan of it...... Too dull for my taste. There are a lot of cheap chinese valve CD players out at the moment with Balanced output but the valves are only for SE output. If you want really want the Cayin- you will have to do many mod's to it
http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29777877&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://www.pacificvalve.us/DOGE6.html
http://cattylink.com/

But I recommend you keep an eye out for a 2nd hand High-end CD player (check out retail store websites, ebay, or call stores in your country) 10-15 yr old high end CD players still sound pretty good- I once picked up a $17,000AU krell 20iKPS CD player for $2000AU

bixby · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jan 2008, 11:31 pm »

Hi Yoms:

you might consider the Opera Droplet. I use it in my main system but run it through a different dac because it is a touch more warm than I prefer. I would not call it as warm as some of the highly touted Marantz players in the $1500 range, but it is a bit warm on the low end and has great tone, if you know what I mean. Read the six moons review for another slant on it's sound. You should be able to pick one up used for close to your target price.

Good luck

Bixby

yoms · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Jan 2008, 12:13 pm »

Thanks for your advice.

So Marantz are known to be really warm as well ?

I've also had a look at the new CEC TL53Z. I'm waiting for its price from Timaudio...

pearsall001 · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Jan 2008, 12:43 pm »

Check out the Cambridge Audio 840C. I recently picked one up & it has lived up to it's reputation & then some. It actually surprised the hell out of me at how musical it is. Also, it features digital inputs for external sources. So when the time comes for a digital server (squeezebox comes to mind) it's superb DAC's will also be in use running the server. A real sweet feature. I think these guys were thinking down the road a bit.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Jan 2008, 04:01 pm »

Quote from: yoms on 14 Jan 2008, 09:17 am

So far, I have only heard about Cayin CDT-17A and CEC TL51XR. Maybe they are the best for my purpose, maybe not...

Disclaimer that I am a Cayin dealer...but hearing the Cayin CDT-17A (paired with a Cayin A70T) was one of the major reason why I became a Cayin dealer. It replaced a Bel Canto CD-1 ($5K) in my system and immediately I could hear it was much better (IMHO). It is the first tubed CDP I've heard that I felt had enough PRAT to do well with the type of music I like (jazz, classic rock, etc)

yoms · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 09:16 am »

I've called stores around my place as suggested, but they only sell super well-known stuffs for every day's customers. The 2 or 3 stores that know brands such as Cayin and so on don't sell them, nor do they propose second hand devices.

I'm really not ready to buy a second hand device without having seen it first. So, I give up this solution.

As for the Cayin CDT-17A, I've taken into account the fact that it sounds dull. It's not the first time I've heard this.
I'd like to know if a tube replacement (new model to be defined), and ONLY this, no additionnal tweaks, could make this dull sound completely vanish and make the Cayin sound really warm, clear and open ? Or is it impossible to achieve just by replacing the original tubes ?

Thanks for your answers.

Cheers

PhilNYC · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 01:11 pm »

Quote from: yoms on 23 Jan 2008, 09:16 am

As for the Cayin CDT-17A, I've taken into account the fact that it sounds dull. It's not the first time I've heard this.

How old were the tubes in the CDT-17A that you heard? I don't think the CDT-17A sounds dull at all...we've had it at a couple of NY Raves too, and people have given it some pretty good kudos....

yoms · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 01:22 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 23 Jan 2008, 01:11 pm

Quote from: yoms on 23 Jan 2008, 09:16 am

As for the Cayin CDT-17A, I've taken into account the fact that it sounds dull. It's not the first time I've heard this.

How old were the tubes in the CDT-17A that you heard? I don't think the CDT-17A sounds dull at all...we've had it at a couple of NY Raves too, and people have given it some pretty good kudos....

Hi Phyl :

Sorry, I did not make myself clear : "It's not the first time I've heard this" meant that I've read it a couple of times on a french forum, here, in an e-mail from cattylink. That is why I asked the question about tubes replacment. I haven't heard the Cayin, nor have I heard any other audiophile CDP. They are simply not sold where I live...