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problems with 24 bit cd players

i am searching for a cd player--preferably one with tubes.

i have auditioned a number of them and something is wrong. i perceive a dip in the 100 to 200hz region and a slight peak in the upper mids/lower treble region.

is it possible that one can buy a current production player which is 20 bit and no up sampling ?

i haven't found any, nor am i looking for a dac, although i am aware that there exists non-upsampling dacs.
mrtennis
clio09
2,978 posts
 
Mr. Tennis - knowing you don't have a preference for a DAC, I'll still throw one out there. The Monarchy M24 uses a 20-bit DAC chip (for Redbook). You might want to look at the review Lynn Olson did in Positive Feedback (see link below) or for a more technical discussion of non-os DAC chips and why Lynn feels the M24 20-bit technology is superior, the other link will take you to that article. I own a couple non-os DACs and like them very much, but upon hearing the M24, which I now own, I was very impressed. It also features a tube output stage (not a buffer) and can double as a preamp (which can be bypassed if you only want to use it as a DAC). I put in some Siemens NOS tubes and the DAC really sings.

BTW - if I recall you're in SoCal. If you want to audition an M24 I'd be happy to let you hear mine in your system.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue25/monarchy_m24.htm

http://www.clarisonus.com/blog/?p=80#more-80
reb1208
518 posts
 
Could the "problem" be traced to your choice of speakers?? Magnepans are not known for mid-bass prowness nor relaxed high frequencies.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The Paradisea DAC is a small unit. As I recall, it's about 8"x5"x1 1/2". It'll fit just about anywhere including on top of your present CD player (does it have a digital output?).

It produces a nice euphonic sound, and at $500 it's relatively inexpensive.
gregm
3,021 posts
 
Herman
The digital to analog portion has to be solid state
Why? Partly, for sure, but why all the way? I wouldn't personally see any reason to insert tubes in there -- but couldn't you construct a tube thingy if it tickled your fancy?
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
my reference cd player is the audionote cd 2 from 1994. it takes a 12 volt tube. i am using a ge 5751 blackplate. i have compared many cd players and none comes close.

yes, some would consider the audionote overly subtractively colored, but whatever deficiencies the magnepan has, the problems which i usually identify--brightness and a lack of warmth are not an issue when the audionote is in my system. i am looking for a cd player which sounds as close as possible to the audionote.

with respect to the paradisea dac, will an oppo cd player as transport suffice to produce the euphonic presentation that supposedly is its character ?
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