CEC CD Players/transports

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 22 Dec 2003, 02:03 am »

Has anyone here tried the CEC 3300 CD Player? If so, is the front panel aluminum? How well made are they? And is it a good transport?

AudioAdvisor.com has pretty good pricing on that unit, assuming it's a decent piece.

BTW, are the top loading belt drive models from CEC still available?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Dec 2003, 10:34 pm »

Not getting any reply in the Digital Domain, so I've moved to 2 CH. Any feedback on the CEC line would be greatly appreciated, good or bad.

viggen · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 12:56 am »

I read from 47lab's webpage that their former transport source has stopped making whatever type of transport they used to use with the Shigaraki and Flatfish. This possibly means the belt driven transports are no longer in production.

As for the 3300, the transport is of the standard fair. I am not sure what kind it uses, but it is not the top loading belt drive type.

I think there was a few threads on AA regarding this CD player not sure if it address its transport specifically though.

Ears · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 02:11 pm »

I am going to Audio Advisory later today....I will ask how good the cec transport is.....do you think I will get an impartial opinion?

audiojerry · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 02:20 pm »

Quote from: Ears

I am going to Audio Advisory later today....I will ask how good the cec transport is.....do you think I will get an impartial opinion?

Is Audio Advisor trying to sell this model; is it a clearance item?
If you get a 30 day return option, a paritial/impartial opinion isn't very significant anyway.

Ears · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 03:08 pm »

I was kidding about there opinion but I do believe they are the distributor/only seller of CEC in the U.S

I might pick one of these up today while I am there and give it a 30 day trial.

The only review available is from another local suburb dweller who seems to love the player.

Greg

jackman · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 03:27 pm »

FWIW, I auditioned the Audioadvisor CEC player when it first was introduced. It was okay, however I liked my Delta/DIO combo much better. The DIO was a bit more forward, however it seemed much more lively than the CEC and more enjoyable. The construction on the CEC was okay. The metal used on the case is a bit thin and I was disappointed to see that it was made in China (most CEC stuff was made in Japan). Nothing wrong with China, but it appears someone else is making this player for CEC (IMO). I returned it and the folks at AA were very cool about taking it back. I like those guys a lot.

J

Ears · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 03:47 pm »

Quote from: jackman

FWIW, I auditioned the Audioadvisor CEC player when it first was introduced. It was okay, however I liked my Delta/DIO combo much better. The DIO was a bit more forward, however it seemed much more lively than the CEC and more enjoyable. The construction on the CEC was okay. The metal used on the case is a bit thin and I was disappointed to see that it was made in China (most CEC stuff was made in Japan). Nothing wrong with China, but it appears someone else is making this player for CEC (IMO). I retu ...

Although I don't relate build quality to sound quality these days, I guess I will skip the audition as I have had a lot of problems whith chinese made players that I have tried including the Denon 5900 which does have a decent build.

Thanks for the info as you probably saved me some time mentioning were the CEC is made.

flintstone · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 03:49 pm »

I was wondering about this player myself, the research I did on this player turned up very little info. I was thinking about useing it's balanced output with a Bent audio passive pre to my Krell Ksa-250 amp. It's output is over 4v from it's balanced outs. I spoke with a couple of owners..they seemed to like it but had limited cdp experence with other players. I did read somewere that an upgraded player will come along soon, it will be black.

Dave

J North · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 05:17 pm »

www.mutine.com (Canadian distributor of CEC) has been showing the new model as coming to North America since October.

My dealer said that they rejected the initial production run due to some quality issues with the new Black faceplate.

At this price point I think the newly revised Shanling CD100 mkII is a must audition as well.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 05:47 pm »

I'm mostly interested in how well built it is (ie how heavy, well damped, what's it built of, etc). The single ended topology isn't a big deal as it would just be a transport anyway.

I see that AA does have an open box/demo of the CEC- it'd probably be pretty safe as it would carry the full warranty.

The Music Hall MMF-25 also looks pretty good in that price range, and I've heard good feedback.

Ears · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 10:20 pm »

There so nice about returns at AA it makes you want to spend money there so I did take the demo CEC home as well as two packages of Blu tack, one of those Audioquest 2 prong chords and some Auric Illuminator

They were out of Pro Gold which is what I was after.

Anyway, I was told that this unit was sold but never used and by the sound of it....I believe it.
Let me just say that out of the box a JVC SA-600 which lists for 300.00 and is selling for under 100.00 at Crutchfield sounds better than the CEC.
The JVC is reccomended in the current Absolute Sound as a good cd player but a great dvd-a player.

The Philips 963sa is far superior also.
What I did notice whith the CEC is more bass but it is not controlled bass at this point.

I will give my hopefully different impressions of the CEC after it has some hours on it and when I most likely return it, there is always the Shandling cd/sa-cd player with tubed output to try

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Dec 2003, 06:11 am »

Hmmm...I had that JVC player. It wasn't total junk, but my Denon crushes it, sound quality wise, with DVD-A. It also ran fairly hot when I had it. I ditched it for a Phillips, which I later sold when I bought...I can't remember, maybe my Toshiba? Or a Sony? I've been thru seven DVD players over the last 6 years or so (they weren't all bad units, I just kept upgrading and new stuff keeps coming out!

).

I'm curious how the CEC will sound once it's burned in, though again, I'd just use it as a transport. I'm mostly concerned with build quality and durability, as well as how well damped it is to resonances, etc.

I've never purchased from AA but I appreciate the recommendation. I'll give em a shot in the future.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Dec 2003, 06:21 am »

Wonder if AA's Music Hall CD players are still shipping with the cheesy, 50's style Buck Rogers remote or the newer, classier aluminum one? I think the older one is the most comical thing I've ever seen.

Wickedly beautiful looking machine, though.

Ears · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Dec 2003, 08:58 pm »

Yes , I agree the JVC xa-sa600 is no world killer but makes a nice second systym or spare cd/dvd-a player for the money.

I found that dvd-a players don't have dramatic sonic differences between 99.00 and 2k universals like sa-cd does.
The CEC player sounded so bad out of the box that the JVC sounded better as a transport.
The CEC after playing all night whith no volume is sounding much better already and has surpassed the JVC in most areas already.

If it gains even 10% better sonics whith more run in, I would consider it a great deal.
The build is pretty decent and the player looks more hi end than most players in this price range.
The lid resonates and could be thicker but this is nothing that either dampening the case or adding a 5# baggie full of sand on top could not fix.

The Auric Illuminator works far better than I thought it would on all 10 cd's that I have treated so far whith increased resolution from top to bottom.
The difference is immediate and obvious and makes me whish I had tried disc tweeking much sooner.
I guess this tweak works even better on single layer sa-cd's than cd's but I wanted to try it out on some guinea discs first.
I imagine it also works on dvd-a but there is no mention of that format whith the kit.
It even worked on an old scratched up copy of Led Zepplin 3 that looks as if it should not even play

If you want to know about the remote that comes whith the Music Hall player...give them a call and I am sure they will tell you whith a smile.

rosconey · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Dec 2003, 04:27 pm »

my cheap ass philips keeps getting better

best sounding cd player i have yet too hear in my system- tempted to add a sn tube dac

philips dvd 580m

guest1632 · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Jan 2004, 02:53 am »

Quote from: Ears

I am going to Audio Advisory later today....I will ask how good the cec transport is.....do you think I will get an impartial opinion? :D

ah, well, probably not. anyhow I had asked about that player versus the music hall, and I was told that the Cec sounds better up to about $750. The next offering is the Roxan candy for just over a Grand.