RMAF 2008 - Your impressions,...

Gawdbless, are you arguing with me about what I paid for my Playback Designs MPS-5??? I paid $10,000 and it's still available for that price.

No one's made a great sounding CDP for #1,000 that I've heard.

Dave

Gawdbless,

Interesting. Thanks. I'll swing by Lindfield (beautiful place) one of these days and have a listen to Impulse.

FWIW on "philosophy" - it depends on experience and needs. I have big spaces to fill and a passion for totally realistic dynamics and accurate (not copious boomy) bass. Despite what anyone will tell you - this does NOT come cheap in any speaker. My subwoofer alone is $10K - almost as much as both main speakers. The system custom soffit speaker installation was as much again. I could easily spend twice that on a CDP if I wanted to - but why bother - (do you really think I have not tried?). I do find digital to differ (slightly). Indeed I do prefer my Benchmark DAC1 to the analog cheap Sony megachanger output or the DAC in my preamp but it is not "night and day". While I do get "night and day" differences from speakers - although mostly in the bass and lower midrange when you go to greater expense (massive woofers/cabinets) and to custom installs (including room treatments). So like anything I guess my "philosphy" comes from both experience but also partly different goals/needs.

To sum it up I guess I expect percussion ( a drum set ) to sound like the real thing. I have never heard percussion that sounded realistic on a small speaker - period. However, even a cheap CD player can do a passable job at reproducing drums although the crash, ride and hi-hat can sound a bit grainy on a best-buy type player.

Dave- are we not being a tad pedantic and frivolous?, but thanks for clearing that up with us, the whole Gawdbless household can now get back to a normal sleeping pattern, the dogs can rest more calmly now, the horse has had a good night also.lol. To clarify because you are being so defensive, I did say your gear cost x amount of $$$, I did not say YOU paid x amount of $$$.

Shadorne, where did you get Lindfield from? We maybe talking about the wrong speakers, if you can hear a pair of Impulse H1's (sold around 1989 in the UK)you'll be lucky as there were only 19 pairs made, to big and costly for many UK audiophiles, due to the average apartment, house size being rather small compared to the US. Hey you got a Roland V kit?,very nice. I got the older TD-8 kit (in storage), always wanted to play drums (to amuse ones self with headphones of course, connected to a cheap player like the Playback Designs MPS-5 with AC/DC being played, 'Thunderstruck'....).lol
Your kit is really nice though, I would love the TD20.
Funnily enough the reviewer chap really rates Sony cd players especially the cheaper ones, there was one that he said go and buy like now a few years back before they sell out it was a 761es European model, it sounded excellent way above its price, although probably not listenable to Dave's ears. I too like to hear a drum sound like a real drum if possible, I can forgive things in hi-fi speakers but I do like to hear the kick drum have a real kick.
Relax Dave its only hi-fi forum banter.Nothing personal.
I did check their website playback designs to see if there are any dealers local to me so I could go and have a listen for myself. If hi-fi gear gets praised, then I always want to hear for myself.I only comment of gear I have heard myself.

The PD now (October 2008) costs $10,000, just in case Gawdbless has confused anyone.

BTW Gawdbless, what's all this talk about drums?? Have you got drum-envy or something? It seems to be a recurring theme that you intertwine in many conversations. I hear live drummers every week (real drums, not that synth stuff), in either my right ear or left ear, depending on how the band stand is set up. (I carry earplugs in my guitar and trumpet cases, for those "special" drummers that hurt my ears).

I do agree that reproduction of drums and other percussion are a big part of any good system. We all have different priorities and mine lean toward accurate midrange with stress free, musical production. Maybe this is why I prefer my CDPs to be free of glare and haze, while others don't find this particularly important.

Dave

Dave; Its not a question of envy, everything has a value ie how much value is it worth to me?. If I wanted to buy a kit like Shadornes or the top of the range TD20, then I would purchase either one of them, I am not a drummer so It would be pointless spending money needlessly as I would not do either of them as much justice as a proper drummer, as I only bang a beat to amuse myself and pretend to be 'Moon the loon'. I do not envy anyone, like wise with hi-fi gear If I want something that badly then I will strive to get the money to purchase it, whether it be new or second hand.
I am sure your cd player is bringing out the best in your speakers, but are your speakers bringing out the best in your cd player? Just a thought.......no offence intended.