Attn Vinyl lovers - what CD Player do you use?

Wadia 850

i recently had my analog rig repaired. i hooked it up and listened to an lp of dave grusin , discovered again on the sheffield label.

i own several copies of the track "keep your eye on the sparrow".

when comparing the sound of the cd to that of the lp, i noticed something interesting. it was the way in which the decay of the vibraphone was presented.

on the lp, the vibraphone's last note got softer and softer, raking its time, before it was no longer audible. on the cd, decay was very quick.

i don't think the cd medium can compare to the analog medium in this respect. so it may be academic what digital front end you use, if certain factors are unique to analog and cannot be matched by digital.

I have Audio Note tube amps and also use Stax SR-007 MK2s (Omega2s).
I use a Mac Mini with M2Tech EVO USB - SPDIF into an Audio Note DAC 3.1 SE.

It sounds better than any vinyl rig I had, and better than my friends (good) vinyl rig as well. Very tuby, analogue BUT fast and revealing with serious bass.
Very happy.

I have an Arcam FMJ CD17. It is very detailed and articulate but opposite of my vinyl rig. Lacks warmth and it is harder to make an emotional connection to the music with it. But for some recordings, this CD player does serve its purpose.

Ayre C5xemp