[doug s.]

Just came from a listening session at George Louis(Ultrabit Platinum Plus, X-Link,Blue and Red Damper Discs).
All I can say is Wow! Do your Vinyl Cartridge- Preamplifier-turntable combinations produce holographic sound? A demonstration disc from Von Schweikert Audio, treated with Ultrabit platinum Plus, using Red and Blue Damper Discs and played on an Adcom CD-575, does it in spades!
Check out "Keith Don't Go" by Nils Lofgren, "Misa Criolla" With Jose Carreras, "Semillia de Piedra" with Lila Downs"Swing Low" by the Fairfield Four, and "Live Rockin' Blues Concert" with Terry Evans.

what part of the industry do you participate in? 

so, are you saying that the adcom gcd-575 is the world's best cdp, as long as this magic sauce and damper discs are used?   

doug s.

[7x57]

The best digital I have ever had in my system was feeding the digital out of my Sony DVD/SACD player into my AKG HEARO 999 Audiosphere digital input (coaxial) transmitter base and using the internal DAC and then listening via the HEARO 999 headphones. This was a professional unit that came in an aluminum carrying case and sold for around $1200 with one headphone several years ago. Additional headphones were $700 retail and I bought an extra so that I could listen to one while the other one was charging. I got the $1900 system for $650 closeout price from 8th Street Music. The trasmitter base also functions as a preamp due to variable analog output and three inputs. The headphones can be switched between three different transmitters so you can monitor three different sources remotely. Like I said, it was a true professional unit, and it sounds like it. I use the analog variable output to supply signal to my home theater system, and I can use the headphones to monitor the program while I am up and away from the system. It also supplies synthesized surround sound through stereo headphones or stereo speakers. The wired headphone amp is custom tailored to high end AKG headphones such as K601, K701, K702 with very high drive capability for inefficient headphones.

When I really want to hear what is on a CD, I play it through the AKG HEARO 999 Audiosphere unit. I was turned on to the HEARO 999 by a German mastering engineer who used it constantly in his mastering studio. This unit flew way under the audiophile radar, being mainly marketed to pro users. I think the end marketing was to audiophiles to clear out inventory that hadn't sold to professionals. AKG made a HEARO 888 unit with less features for consumer use, but all the pro features is what put the HEARO 999 in a class of its own.

[TONEPUB]

Pretty happy with my dCS Paganini.  But anxious to get the new Vivaldi for Christmas.  That should do the trick...

[fplanner2000]

I have yet to hear anything that touches my APL NWO-Master CD/SACD player - 20 32-bit 2nd generation AKM Dacs/side, class A tube output stage, etc., etc., etc.  The realism is pretty astonishing - great detail and musicality at the same time.  At this point, its a really nice fit in my newly improved system.

[htradtk]

All,

Has anyone heard the McIntosh MCD1100? I just purchased this great player a few months back, huge soundstage along with my Analysis Plus gold interconnects.

Henry

[jab]

for those attending the rmaf, you might stop by for a listen to The Memory Player..  I have yet to hear a digital/vinyl playback system so true to the sonics of the master recording..  The latest iteration is pretty impressive.. I'm looking forward to attending this year after missing last..  Jack

[es347]

http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/pdt-type/unitiserve

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/pdt-type/unitiserve

Yes, that's is probably the way to break thru the 'fire wall' of red book CD format to HD sound (i.e. 24bit-192KHz & beyond.)

The question is such music programmes are so limited unless one rips its own lossless soundtracks.

One thing I, as one of the so many many stereo audiophiles, concern most is there is NO, repeat, zip analogue stereio O/P jacks to feed our stereo system. The audio signal has to go thru digital O/P which has to go thru a 5.1 digital-analogue decoder usually built in a digital home theatre receiver designed for movie sounds.  NOT any real stereo audiophiles' cup of tea.  Not for yours truly, a die-hard vinyl fan for sure.

Another question is, even if one does not mind acquiring a really hi-end digital HT receiver which means more money to spend because of owing that hard drive CD player. How much would that British made hard drive disc player retail for??  It sounds like not cheap at all.

There is, IMO, another simpler & more affordably way of breaking down the red book CD 'fire wall' sonic limitation, we can take a look at Blu-ray music plaftorm. Yes, there is quite a few music discs in Blu-ray format now available in the marketplace. More & more selection should be available when Blu-ray musics is getting more mature. Very affordable from any bigbox stores now.

Yet there is not such Blu-ray HDMI-stereo analogue converter readilly available for us in the marketplace yet, for stereo die-hards who are very reluctant to go for HT movie things.

This has been bothering me quite a while as where to get a converter to convert Blu-ray HD sound to HD stereo to feed my all-tube stereo system.

Thanks goodness. I've finally got one only last week enroute my overseas trip from an OEM offshore. I really can't wait to audition it until I return home. Now I can start enjoying Blu-ray (24-bit 192KHz & beyond) HD stereo music via my all-tube stereo system. Very affordably as that Blu-ray-stereo converter is not that that expensive at all. Some gratifying reward for my keen quest for HD music!

No need to drop a huge bundle to acquire the world so called 'best' red book CD player nor any hi-tech
hard-drive player which only provides 5.1 HT digital sound!!!!!!

c-J

[Rclark]

 until people start paying for music again, cd is the best format.

 When people stop being dirtbag thieves, the hirez formats will take over and advance.

 .... incidentally, I adore my Emotiva ERC-2, it is a balls to the wall, revealing, accurate, live player that doesn't apologize for rock music by attenuating it.

[TONEPUB]

Where are you finding a "large selection of Blu-Ray music?"

[doug s.]

until people start paying for music again, cd is the best format.

 When people stop being dirtbag thieves, the hirez formats will take over and advance.

 .... incidentally, I adore my Emotiva ERC-2, it is a balls to the wall, revealing, accurate, live player that doesn't apologize for rock music by attenuating it.

don't you mean folks will start paying for music again, when the quality is worth paying for?  quality went out the window w/the advent of redbook, and now, w/ipods, mp3's, etc, it's only getting worse.  the music industry major labels opened up a pandora's box when the released "not ready for prime time" redbook cd.  they sold convenience, not quality.  the major record labels are the true dirtbag thieves, not some teenager that burns some crap medium on some crap ipod.

doug s.

[Bill Baker]

don't you mean folks will start paying for music again, when the quality is worth paying for?  quality went out the window w/the advent of redbook, and now, w/ipods, mp3's, etc, it's only getting worse.  the music industry major labels opened up a pandora's box when the released "not ready for prime time" redbook cd.  they sold convenience, not quality.  the major record labels are the true dirtbag thieves, not some teenager that burns some crap medium on some crap ipod.

The problem is not having enough people that actually care about the absolute quality of CD's or music in general. Audiophiles are a very small part of the whole music industry. Record labels have no reason to put out top quality recording due to the average consumer does not even know what a high end audio system is.
 It's a Catch 22 as far as i'm concerned.
 When enough consumers start caring about high quality recordings, things could change but then again, the potential of these recordings cannot be realized on a $999 Sony rack system or BOSE kitchen table top system.
There needs to be education on both sides to make things change. Right now, labels are only concerned about quantity and the bottom line. Can we really blame them?

[es347]

All dissing aside via vinyl lovers, the 44.1 cds of today are much improved over the ones I first purchased back in '82.  When ripped as FLAC files and played through my Naim Unitiserve/ MCD500 dacs/MC500/MC501s/VR5 Anniversaries I find it more than acceptable.  I have a nice TT to be sure and when feeling nostalgic I'll fire it up but if I feel like enjoying a fully seated evening my digital setup simply cannot be beat...and yes, sorry vinyl/tuber guys, not much if any sacrifice in sound quality.

[es347]

The problem is not having enough people that actually care about the absolute quality of CD's or music in general. Audiophiles are a very small part of the whole music industry. Record labels have no reason to put out top quality recording due to the average consumer does not even know what a high end audio system is.
 It's a Catch 22 as far as i'm concerned.
 When enough consumers start caring about high quality recordings, things could change but then again, the potential of these recordings cannot be realized on a $999 Sony rack system or BOSE kitchen table top system.
There needs to be education on both sides to make things change. Right now, labels are only concerned about quantity and the bottom line. Can we really blame them?

Hey Bill...what model Sony preamplifier is that in your avatar? 

[doug s.]

The problem is not having enough people that actually care about the absolute quality of CD's or music in general. Audiophiles are a very small part of the whole music industry. Record labels have no reason to put out top quality recording due to the average consumer does not even know what a high end audio system is.
 It's a Catch 22 as far as i'm concerned.
 When enough consumers start caring about high quality recordings, things could change but then again, the potential of these recordings cannot be realized on a $999 Sony rack system or BOSE kitchen table top system.
There needs to be education on both sides to make things change. Right now, labels are only concerned about quantity and the bottom line. Can we really blame them?

bill, i don't disagree, regarding not enough people caring about the quality of reproduced music.  i was responding mostly to rclark's ridiculous comment about people ripping off music.  that dead horse has been beaten repeatedly, here and other places, and for over 40 years.

but, in this case, yes, i do hold the labels responsible, as it was they, first w/the cassette, and then w/the cd, that pushed convenience onto the consumer instead of sound quality.  they wanted the l.c.d., and they sure got it all right...  now, it may be coming back to haunt them.  there was no reason they could not have also pushed for sound quality.  but they were in too much of a rush, and they were too cheap...

doug s.

[doug s.]

All dissing aside via vinyl lovers, the 44.1 cds of today are much improved over the ones I first purchased back in '82.  When ripped as FLAC files and played through my Naim Unitiserve/ MCD500 dacs/MC500/MC501s/VR5 Anniversaries I find it more than acceptable.  I have a nice TT to be sure and when feeling nostalgic I'll fire it up but if I feel like enjoying a fully seated evening my digital setup simply cannot be beat...and yes, sorry vinyl/tuber guys, not much if any sacrifice in sound quality.

i certainly agree that digital has improved greatly since its intro.  i actually bought a cdp/dac and started listening and enjoying cd's around y2k.     but, it still has a long way to go to equal winyl - imo there's a rather significant sacrifice in sound quality, still...  no need to apologize if you feel otherwise; i certainly am not apologizing for the way i feel!   

doug s.

[es347]

Some vinyl sounds great, some sounds dreadful...just like some cds.  I like vinyl when in the mood for a warm, pleasing sound albeit an inaccurate one   

[doug s.]

Some vinyl sounds great, some sounds dreadful...just like some cds.  I like vinyl when in the mood for a warm, pleasing sound albeit an inaccurate one   

agreed w/everything you say...  but...  every recording i have ever heard that's awailable on both mediums sounds better on winyl.  inaccurate?  sure - but less inaccurate than cd.  imo, of course!   

as i said earlier, and something that's been reinforced by a recent post to this thread - the nova physics memory player 64 is the only expensive cd player that has piqued my interest...

doug s.

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

...on winyl.  inaccurate?  sure - but less inaccurate than cd.  imo, of course!   

as i said earlier, and something that's been reinforced by a recent post to this thread - the nova physics memory player 64 is the only expensive cd player that has piqued my interest...

doug s.

Yes, vinyl is technically less inaccurate than any red book CD and sonically more accurate.

Red book CD is only 24bit 44KHz. Any exotic refinement on playback hardwares cannot break down its own 'fire wall' sonic restriction. IMO, it's only a costly merry-go-around! We need higher digital technology than CD.

Having lived with CD & DVD-audio for many years, I still find vinyl which delivers the emotion, engagement & being-there feeling that even 24bit 192KHz DVD-audio still lacks. Organic sound vs inorganic sound, should I put it this way. That being the case, I still keep my open mind to look for better digital audio format. Blu-ray seems to be an answer.

Blu-ray music performance discs are readily in any musical or electronic box stores affordably.

With my newly acquired Blu-ray HDMI - stereo analogue converter, hopefully it will shed some light on better digital sound reproduction which still can't touch the sonic quality of its historic analogue counterpart todate.

Let's see.

c-J

[es347]

<< every recording i have ever heard that's awailable on both mediums sounds better on winyl >>  I'll just say that hasn't been my experience but to each his own..