1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 1169906478

Best analog sounding cd player under 5K

Hi,

Im looking for a new or used one box player mainly for redbook. My budget could go up to 5K.
I know and have read a lot of threads about cd players but none deals with the analog sounding issue. Also, not everyone like his cd player to sound like his analog set up.
I can define analog, as neutral(good tonal balance), organic, natural, with a lot of low level information retrieval, inmediacy,with very good 3d image, not forward sounding and not analytical. I think the extension at both ends is not a must. Obviously, It cant be dark or too bright sounding.

I have in my short list so far, resolution opus, bluenote sttibert, apl denon 3910, audio aero capitole mkII, ayre Cx5.
For the reviews and comments on several forums it seems that the most organic and natural sounding is the Stibbert. How does it compare with the others? And also what other should be included in this list?
Thanks
Alan Brain
alanbrain
david12
1,398 posts
 
We have to remember the under $5000 bit of the question. I would certainly say my GNSC modded Opus 21 fits the bill. However, not dissing the product, just my own unit. I have had more trouble with it than any other product I have owned. It has been back to Steve at Great Northern Sounds, 3 times and that is across the Atlantic! Great credit to him, he has been unfailingly helpful, but I've had enough, I give up. It really did sound great though.
Someone else mentioned the Esoteric SA60 and I and a number of others were able to do an A/B comparison with the Opus and they were markedly different and the Esoteric was certainly in the detailed, cool digital camp, the Opus, warm, more analogue sounding. I took a straw pole at the show demo and everyone preferred the Opus, excellent though the Esoteric was.
ckoffend
684 posts
 
David12, so sorry to hear of your troubles with the modded Opus 21. Knock on wood, I never had a single issue or hick-up with mine. I kept it a good while too and eventually contacted Steve before putting it up for sale to see if he had any lookers. He did and bought it back from me and sold it on.

Having owned the Esoteric and the Opus 21 at the same time, you are correct about the "flavor" of these two machines. While I would not call the esoteric cold, I think of it as pretty neutral, but very detailed. I don't consider the Opus warm or analogue, but certainly warmer than the Esoteric.

The differences as you point are, are not subtle. It doesn't take a fine tuned ear to hear the differences in the sound of the two companies/products.

Your comments are well presented.
ckoffend
684 posts
 
Finally, on David's comment on the $5K level. All of the units I referenced in my prior posting were purchased by me for under $5K, some well under $5K. Of course, I generally purchase used and assume that is what the poster means, he has up to $5K to spend (vs. units that list for $5K new). But that is always a question as to how posters include pricing but not necessarily budget.
smw30yahoocom
154 posts
 
Ckoffend, you seem to know a lot about cd players, have you hear the Electrocompaniet emc up or the Ayon players or the Perfectwave dac? I am looking for a player with a lot of detail but also warm, musical, flowing. That makes a hard decision as I can't listen to many of them where I live. I also want to be able to hook it up to my computer. Thanks, Sandra
jaffeassc
166 posts
 
Where is it written that the AA units are poorly made and breakdown a lot? I've read about problems here on A'gon but certainly no more than other players. And many of the problems have been about the transport, which can hardly be attributable to AA. Then of course there is the problem about no current representation in the states and the fact that AA does not return emails. Legitimate problems, but I still think the rap AA has taken is a bit overblown. I've owned 2 AA players over the last 7-8 years (I still own my Capitol) and never had an ounce of trouble with either one. Bottom line is they are wonderful players IMHO, very musical, have as much detail as I need, and are about as close to analog as you will get with digital. And with the bad rap they have taken, very attractively priced these days. I have no affiliation with AA, I’m just a happy AA owner.
More to discover