Looking for modestly priced CDP; Cambridge 640C, Tubedac or?

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #20 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 02:26 am »

Well, I couldn't help myself

......passing by Best Buy in Westbury tonite, stopped in and picked up a 3950. I'll compare it to my Phillips CD-80 and NEC CDR-602 MultiSpin 6X.Both used as transports. Worse case, a cheap DVD player or a refund. We'll see........

orthobiz · « **Reply #21 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 02:31 am »

I grew up in Westbury, Oliver Avenue (where Grand Blvd meets Old Country Road). Somehow I wound up in Michigan!!!!

Anyway, My 3950 is coming, do I lose all the "goodness" of the electronics if I try to hook up a TubeDAC?

Also, the reviews in Amazon (I don't live near a Best Buy) indicate that a fair number had one or two stars, arrived DOA, etc. Maybe it doesn't have a reliable transport...

biz

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #22 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 02:42 am »

Quote from: orthobiz

I grew up in Westbury, Oliver Avenue (where Grand Blvd meets Old Country Road). Somehow I wound up in Michigan!!!!

Anyway, My 3950 is coming, do I lose all the "goodness" of the electronics if I try to hook up a TubeDAC?

Also, the reviews in Amazon (I don't live near a Best Buy) indicate that a fair number had one or two stars, arrived DOA, etc. Maybe it doesn't have a reliable transport...

biz

Westbury, the shopping capital of the world. I'm in Mineola....Small world hey! I haven't opened the box yet, hope it at least works....will be paired with a Bolder SMART Dio. Also on hand is a MSB Data Link III.

elnero · « **Reply #23 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 03:28 am »

For those Canadians out there that are looking for one of these Toshiba's I just noticed that the latest Sears sale catalogue has them on for $140 until July.

rbrb · « **Reply #24 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 07:49 am »

I've heard both of the Cambridge players and think they are both outstanding players for the money,particularly the 640.

I have never heard an inexpensive DVD player yet that makes for a good transport for CD playback. Can you say jitter??

elnero · « **Reply #25 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 11:48 am »

Hey rbrb, another fellow Canadian.

You make a very good point which is another reason why I'm hesitant to go the cheap transport + DAC route. If I go the Cambridge route with it's custom servo, low jitter clock and data reclocking I suspect it also may make for an excellent transport in the future. My wife is pregnant with our first baby and we've just moved into our own home and it may be awhile before I upgrade so quality and longevity are definately important. From what I saw build quality seems to be outstanding on the Cambridge so it should last a good long time. I guess at this point what I'd really like to know is how the 640C compares to the TubeDac in sound. Have you heard the TubeDac?

rosconey · « **Reply #26 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 05:46 pm »

lonewolfny42
i see your aa post -

60$ well spent

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #27 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 08:28 pm »

Quote from: rosconey

lonewolfny42
i see your aa post -
60$ well spent

Rosco, What are ya track'in me

.....but your right.....money well spent ! Now if only I could find a $100.00 amp as good as my Krell, I'd be set !

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #28 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 08:40 pm »

Then came the mod's....already >> http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/81792.html .

Carlman · « **Reply #29 on:** 8 Mar 2004, 12:08 am »

I have 2 Pioneer DVD players. The first I bought as a DVD player to replace a VCR and the second I had modded by Dan Wright as a transport. Both have been reliable, the first has been trouble free for 3 or 4 years including moves, temperature changes, rough handling, etc.

The other is only about a year old and has also had no problems. knock, knock.. I couldn't justify spending more than a couple hundred on a $150 player so, I got the level 1 and a bybee on the digital out. It sounds as good or better than anything I've compared it to... It was far superior to an Arcam Alpha 8, another older but more expensive Arcam, held its own with a Musical Fidelity and a Sony DVD player that is often touted as very good... the 777 or something.

I'd like to get a solid, well-built unit that's going to last a long time and often think my DVD players are time bombs. However, I've started thinking... I'll have money by the time it breaks and I'll buy the latest thing at the time. However, I won't spend more than $500 on it total.

You have no more guarantee that a Cambridge or other conventional transport will outlast a DVD player. I've seen the internal components of electronics get cheaper and cheaper over the years. I think they've got the art of digital extraction down to a very efficient science. From what I've seen, cd/dvd players have very similar internal electronics in the $40-$1000 range.

I saw a DVD player at Target made in China for $30. I would bet anything that the same mods done on the Toshiba 3950 would net similar results. What if it lasts 5 years? You've invested less than $100 for something that will sound as good as anything up to 1000. You just have to know what you're doing.... and replace the parts that are cheap.

So, while I don't recommend a stock cheap DVD player, a modified unit done at a reasonable price may surprise you as it has me. I would've never believed it.

PTC · « **Reply #30 on:** 8 Mar 2004, 04:15 pm »

hey orthobiz I grew up in Westbury too.School St not far from Grand Blvd.Small world,I wound up in AZ,Paul

BeeBop · « **Reply #31 on:** 8 Mar 2004, 05:24 pm »

I bought the Toshiba SD2815 CD/DVD changer at Future Shop in Toronto. Not sure how similar the guts are to the 3950 - I bought it beause it is a 5 disc changer with TOSLink and coax digital out and because it is cheap. Future Shop wanted $C 170 for it but they only had their display model left an sold it to me for $C 130 plus another $C 30 to add 4 more years on the warranty (yes I know its a racket but for $30, who cares?).

I have not even listened to the internal DAC. I have it hooked by TOSLink to a Monarchy DIP to clean up any jitter and from the DIP to my Ack! dAck!. A very pleasing result, IMO.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #32 on:** 8 Mar 2004, 09:46 pm »

Quote from: elnero

Hi all, I've been lurking for the past little while doing some reading and research. I've been involved in audio for about 16 years and a member over at Head-Fi for about 1 1/2. Since I discovered good headphones they have become my primary source for serious listening.

My wife and I are moving next month and I'm working on setting up a dedicated headphone listening system in the computer room. Right now I have Audio Technica AT-W100 headphones and a Singlepower PPX3 tube headphone amp on order. What I n ...

Since another thread was started about the 3950... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=8774&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 ....I think this thread should return to the question that was asked .