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#1
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rega planet vs. cambridge D500SE?
I would be grateful if anyone could comment on the trade off between
these two CD players. The Rega is obviously the better player, but it is twice the price of the Cambridge Audio alternative. I don't expect quality to be linear with price...but I am wondering if as a budget buyer the Rega is really worth the extra investment. I'm happy to pay the larger price if the difference in sound quality is going to significantly and obviously improved over the cheaper model... the rest of my system is: Melos Pre-Amp, B&K power amp, Linn Keilidh speakers. One complaint about this setup (using my prior California Audio Labs CD player) was a slighty bright sound and a touch of sibilance on some recordings. Hence, I was looking for a CD player that added a bit of warmth or richness. I am wondering if the Rega is too much for other components, and thus if the D500SE would do just as well...or whether the Rega would improve things enough to justify the expense. Comments gratefully received. Many thanks Amy |
#2
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Jolida CD Player
Jolida has a tube CD player which might float your boat, or you could go
with a Bella Canto DAC II with your Cal Audio. Upscale Audio does mods on Jolida CD Players. The tube output should get rid of the sibilance. Let me know what you discover. amy radcliff wrote: I would be grateful if anyone could comment on the trade off between these two CD players. The Rega is obviously the better player, but it is twice the price of the Cambridge Audio alternative. I don't expect quality to be linear with price...but I am wondering if as a budget buyer the Rega is really worth the extra investment. I'm happy to pay the larger price if the difference in sound quality is going to significantly and obviously improved over the cheaper model... the rest of my system is: Melos Pre-Amp, B&K power amp, Linn Keilidh speakers. One complaint about this setup (using my prior California Audio Labs CD player) was a slighty bright sound and a touch of sibilance on some recordings. Hence, I was looking for a CD player that added a bit of warmth or richness. I am wondering if the Rega is too much for other components, and thus if the D500SE would do just as well...or whether the Rega would improve things enough to justify the expense. Comments gratefully received. Many thanks Amy |
#3
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Jolida CD Player
Philip March wrote:
Jolida has a tube CD player which might float your boat, or you could go with a Bella Canto DAC II with your Cal Audio. Upscale Audio does mods on Jolida CD Players. The tube output should get rid of the sibilance. Let me know what you discover. amy radcliff wrote: I would be grateful if anyone could comment on the trade off between these two CD players. The Rega is obviously the better player, but it is twice the price of the Cambridge Audio alternative. I don't expect quality to be linear with price...but I am wondering if as a budget buyer the Rega is really worth the extra investment. I'm happy to pay the larger price if the difference in sound quality is going to significantly and obviously improved over the cheaper model... the rest of my system is: Melos Pre-Amp, B&K power amp, Linn Keilidh speakers. One complaint about this setup (using my prior California Audio Labs CD player) was a slighty bright sound and a touch of sibilance on some recordings. Hence, I was looking for a CD player that added a bit of warmth or richness. I am wondering if the Rega is too much for other components, and thus if the D500SE would do just as well...or whether the Rega would improve things enough to justify the expense. Comments gratefully received. Many thanks Amy If the other poster's California Audio Labs CD player has a digital output and is still functiional mechanically, he might want to consider looking for a used California Audio Labs tubed DAC such as the Alpha, which while retailing for $1500 when new, should be available for considerably less via eBay, Audiogon, or other used gear outlets. I'm currently using this DAC (with 2 Mullard 12AX7's from Upscale Audio) with a California Audio Labs Delta CD transport with excellent rresults. The sound is detailed, but never bright or overly sibilant, while the tubed output stage of the DAC imparts just enough warmth to satisfy those with more analogue tastes. The rest of my system includes a VPI Aries/JMW 10" tonearm/PLC Speed Controler/Line Conditioner, conrad johnson PV-12 and Premier 11A and Martin Logan CLS II speakiers. Wiring and interconnects are all Straight Wire Encore, except for the Phono Cable, which is Straight Wire Maestro and the digital interconnect between the DAC and the preamplifier, which is a Straight Wire Balanced Digital Cable. (the CAL dac is very flexible and accepts balanced, unbalanced, and other interconnects). Bruce J. Richman |
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