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source disappointment

I have built a system that I would guess is fairly revealing(in my limited experience), and have begun experimentation with the CD Source.

Signal Cable Analog 2
Cary SLP 88 pre
Zcable Live V3
Cary 2A3 se monoblocks
Elco Sti-2b Silver Bi-wire (used as single for soliloquys)
Soliloquy 2A3 monitors

Sennheiser HD590

I recently purchased a used Audio Note CD 2 to replace the use of my Panasonic XP50 DVD/DVD-A, player which I assumed was not much of a source, though it does have a remastering upsample feature.

In several extended listening sessions using various albums I have been unable to detect any sonic improvement offered by the Audio Note which I purchased because of their reputation for analog sound. I actually A/B'd a getz/gilberto cd I had two copies of, syncing both players up and using my Headphones, and I believe I prefered the Panasonic. During intermmitent audience applause on the disc, the Panasonic rendered a warmer and much wider soundstage.

Is this crazy?
wheeler
wheeler OP
16 posts
 
Good thoughts.

I just remembered hearing something about the high output impedance of the AN CD 2 which apparently means that it should be used with amplifier inputs with a suitable input impedance, "ideally around 47kOhms"

I don't know how the SLP-88 or Cary 2a3s relate in this respect.

sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
If you picked your interconnect cables because they sounded good with your Panasonic; you may want to start over with cables.

CD players are very cable dependent from my experience.

Cables that make the Audio Note sound nice, could very likely bring out the worst in the Panasonic.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Is the Audio Note you are using one of the ones with no digital filter and no oversampleing?
wheeler OP
16 posts
 
I believe so Viridian. It's not the 2.1x
cytocycle
1,034 posts
 
First off you need to keep the AudioNote plugged in for at least a week or two so the DAC's can warm up. My Wadia dac required 3 weeks before it sounded musical. So if you just plugged it in an listened.... that might be it.

Even if that doesn't do it, you should then look at tubes as the NOS might be duds (I switched my Audible Illusions to NOS, and assumed it would be better, and suddely I was missing tons of information compared to my friends with the stock tubes...)

PS: If you haven't done a power condidtioner you need to do that... PS Audio Powerplant or something.

Goodluck
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