i want a dull, caramel colored cd player any ideas

Mrtennis,
you did not mention the preamp you are using, I assume tubes. Here is where I would start with the Mullard NOS tubes first. The Mullards will roll of the highs slightly. bass will be a little loose. Midrange lush and sweet.

Up until about three years ago I was using an Audio Research LS3 SS preamp with a Audio Research VT50 tube amp. I have hundreds of early CDs (late 80s early 90s) that just set in the rack. Sound quality was either harsh or bright sounding. At a moderate volume level listener fatique would come quicky after just listening to a couple of tracks. The ARC LS3 is a great SS preamp, problem is it will pass the source material straight through without adding anything or taking anything away. In other words, good in good out... Bad in bad out....

I tried different ics. Tried ferrite beads on the power cords of the CDP and preamp. I even tried an equalizer, didn't like that either. So I just quit listening to badly sounding CDs....

Then about three years ago my Son brought over a Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Hybrid preamp for me to listen to. The unit uses a single 12AT7 tube. Two tubes came with the unit one Sovtek and one NOS Mullard. With the Sovtek installed the sound from my system, the preamp pretty much sounded like a SS preamp. Good CDs still sounded good. Bad CDs still sounded bad to me. Pulled the Sovtek and installed the Mullard tube. Right out of the gate I could hear a big difference. Highs were rolled off a tag, bass not quite as tight, midrange, warm, lush, wet. Old CDs, well, they did not sound great but listenable, not bad at all.

About two years ago I move onto a Sonic Frontiers Line One preamp. I have never tried Mullard tubes in the Line One. I do have a few pairs of the early 60s NOS Siemens CCa tubes, great tube but very pricey today. Also a few NOS pairs of Amperex USA PQ white label 6922 tubes, also a great sounding tube. At the present time I am running the PQs in my preamp.
As for the ARC VT50 I am using all EH tubes.

Here is a link to check out,
http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html
Jim

Mrtennis: Go back and reread my first post. If you were sincere, your seemingly highly satirical method of communicating it -- especially in light of your total lack of Audiogon history -- was completely out of whack. Sincere contributors, while they may joke around at times, aren't in the habit of posting threads that look for all the world like a troll. Personally, I'll stand by my very reasonable -- based on the evidence -- interpretation, and continue to think you might just be changing your tune now to wiggle out of a jam, or more likely still having your fun with a troll, until you acquire a track record around here to prove otherwise. It's nothing personal, just based on experience and what you wrote. I note I'm not the only one to take what you wrote the way I did. If I was wrong, I regret the misunderstanding, but don't feel I'm to blame for it. If you're not trying to have us on, then it's up to you not to come across like it.

thank you again mr. z for a thorough explanation.

ket me see if i understand the issue you raise.

i have indicated a desire to achieve a sonic presentation which lacks credibility with some individuals. i am allegedly desiring to attain the worst sound as phd staes and that position is not believable. it would then appear to some that i am disingenuous, or insincere in my request and have other agendas.

ok, you and others are entitled to your opinion.

you are implying that i am looking for a reaction and enjoying the result, so it seems.

if i say again that i dislike high frquencies and actually enjoy listening to a presentation devoid of clarity, will you now believe me or is such a position so unlikely that you still doubt the veracity of words.

my point is that in life one assumes innocent until proven otherwise.

you are assuming the opposite, i.e, accusing me and then saying the burdrn is on me to demonstrate the opposite.

i would hope a man of your education and intelligence, which by now i have great respect would take the opposite approach, namely, not a troll, or not an instigator, or not a churl until other facts are in.

as it stands now, i have gotten a few useful suggestions, accusations and the rest, sillyness.

just as you said, i don't take it seriously, audio is just a hobby.

i don't think that i am trying to extricate myself from a situation, because there is insufficient information to justify the attribute.

i bear no ill will to anyone.

you can see my other post which asks for information about cd players under construction which are not 24/192.

you made a valid point. will most likely not find the cd player of my dreams.

i may find one which does not irritate my ears, so if you have any constructive suggestions i would be glad to hear them.

my point is that in life one assumes innocent until proven otherwise

That's life (or really only the platonic ideal of the justice system) -- this is the internet. Also, on the internet as in life, one should try to be cognizant of the rules of the game if one does not want to feel cheated by the experience. But we all have to start somewhere with every new venture.

if you have any constructive suggestions i would be glad to hear them

If what you're claiming is literally true, then I would guess you should probably go to an ear doctor, get tested, and maybe get fitted for a set of custom-tailored in-ear filters to make life, or at least listening, tolerable.

Rather than change the source, your target would be a FR that dips at 3kHz & falls over 10kHz, with no midbass coupling b/ween the spkrs (i.e. minimise "dynamics).
What you want can easily be achieved with some room padding (1st reflections for sure) and bad spkr positioning (this will help compromise dynamics). Also, you may try padding the spkrs' tweet. Use a +5W, 8-10ohm resistor across the tweets. Proceed carefully!

OTOH, why on earth would you do that??