ajst2duk Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 Man I've been like a dog chasing his tail today with one ebay and two trademe listings for CD-101's all ending within an hour of each other - what gives, nothing for weeks then a whole bunch at once. Are they falling victim to the streaming revolution?? Are they still a good proposition these days with the plethora of good high end DAC's around? Be interested in some feedback from someone who's got one. I've always been keen on Plinius gear and am thinking about one matched with a 9200 integrated. I've only just bought a Perreaux SXCD which I've not yet set up - I was going to set up a simple CD based system with it, matched with an SX25i amp.
ilikecrumpets Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 There's another one on Ebay, also 5 years old but the guys must be dreaming (AU$4200). They are fabulous CD players but you are right about the streaming thing. Spending that sort of dough I'd want to be able to use the internal dac, and there are mutterings at Plinius regarding this. Allegedly...
Statsman Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 I had one briefly - an incredibly nice player, both sonically and aesthetically. But I fell victim to the streaming revolution... But if I hadn't, I don't think I would have felt the need to upgrade (even allowing for it's quirky operation).
Electra Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 I have said it before - about 18 months ago - that I simply would not fork out on high end CD players. Their time has passed for me. If they have truly stellar DAC's in them, which external inputs, then yes, I may. But without that, they would sit on my rack looking pretty, doing nothing.
SONDEKNZ Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 I had one briefly - an incredibly nice player, both sonically and aesthetically. But I fell victim to the streaming revolution... But if I hadn't, I don't think I would have felt the need to upgrade (even allowing for it's quirky operation). Can I ask you to elaborate on this please? Surely worth knowing for any of us who may elect to make a purchase... Many thanks! -SONDEK
ajst2duk Posted August 30, 2010 Author Posted August 30, 2010 Yep too_tall me too, I was into full digital streaming as soon as technology allowed it without too much sonic compromise, and I'm a bit of a closet computer geek. I am starting to feel a bit nostalgic though about actually spinning a disk now and then, so I got a bit carried away. I know if I do go back, I'll remember then about the mission it was to find a CD I was looking for in amongst the mess of empty CD cases and piles of mixed up CD's. That CD-101 went straight to the top of my lust list though when it came out, and it still looks very retro cool. I gotten into a bad habit lately of just buying gear for kicks and to collect it.
eRaS1553552749 Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 Sorry for being off-topic; but sadly my CD player is still a better transport than my MBP, into my DAC (which has SPDIF and optical inputs). Need a better way to get the sound out (USB/Firewire->SPDIF) but that's an extra device ($$$) which may become redundant. I wonder if every CD player does the same job; and if they don't, which one's have the best digital out?
got tinnitus Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 Like the vinyl to CD 'evolution', it was all CD for years but we all know what happend there! Same with Computer Audio; there will always be a place for a good CD player, for several reasons. Instant playback is one. Like eRaS, I too have a decent Mac playback system that "sounds as good" as the CDP but the CDP has that certain something that CA doesn't. I was talking to Bruce at Pure HiFi and he backed up my thoughts on the subject; CD rips can sound too fluid. CA's place for me is in quality hi-res recordings/transfers. And setting up a playlist for dinner parties etc!
Electra Posted August 30, 2010 Posted August 30, 2010 got tinnitus;131787 wrote: Like the vinyl to CD 'evolution', it was all CD for years but we all know what happend there! Same with Computer Audio; there will always be a place for a good CD player, for several reasons. Instant playback is one. There is an inherent difference between computer based audio and CD vrs the CD / Vinyl preference. The difference being its a different transport only, the mechanism is still digital, 0's and 1's. Vinyl is anything but this. This is why I feel that CD players are a thing of the past. Tables, however, are not, and I enjoy listening to a good turntable setup. However I personally prefer digital, but thats just how I am used to hearing music, so I prefer it. And as for instant playback? By the time I find a CD in amongst the collection, I could have listened to several tracks via the squeezebox!.
Statsman Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 sondek;131768 wrote: Can I ask you to elaborate on this please? Surely worth knowing for any of us who may elect to make a purchase... Many thanks! -SONDEK In terms of how the CD101 sounded, my imrpessions were pretty close to the majority of reviews - that of a well balanced and smooth sounding player. Nothing nothing was particularly accentuated so that it didn't immediately have that 'wow' factor (apart from its gorgeous looks), but rewarded long listening sessions. Its quirky operation has also been well documented in terms of no display, and use of LEDs illuminating through pin-prick holes on the front to tell you the track number. It also doesn't have some of the features common in other DC players (eg A-B repeat), but during the time I had it, I never felt that there was anything lacking in functionality in terms of spinning CDs and making good music. If only it had digital inputs so it could be used as a standalone DAC...
Luckiestmanalive Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 Statsman;131843 wrote: If only it had digital inputs so it could be used as a standalone DAC... That's where I think manufacturers could eek out the longevity of their CD players. I wouldn't even think of buying another CD player now, unless it had digital inputs...
crispynz1 Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 Statsman;131843 wrote: Its quirky operation has also been well documented in terms of no display, and use of LEDs illuminating through pin-prick holes on the front to tell you the track number. I really like that instead of a display, but how bright are the LEDs? Did you feel like a Possum trapped in front of headlights with the cd101? I only ask as some LEDs used in equipment are far too bright.
Statsman Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 crispynz1;131858 wrote: I really like that instead of a display, but how bright are the LEDs? Did you feel like a Possum trapped in front of headlights with the cd101? I only ask as some LEDs used in equipment are far too bright. I loved the look of the gently blinking LED as it spun the disc. I never found it too bright or distracting, but with the remote, you are able to dim or turn off the LED light.
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 luckiestmanalive;131854 wrote: That's where I think manufacturers could eek out the longevity of their CD players. I wouldn't even think of buying another CD player now, unless it had digital inputs... Unless the CD players have reasonably modern DAC chips, there is no way to implement additional inputs. I'd say few manufacturers will devote much R&D in this area unless it's really easy, or it will stimulate sales. Being a transitional product it's a hard ask. There's three brands I can think of, Cambridge Audio, Harman Kardon and Quad. I don't think doing double duty as a DAC does them any favours sonically.
Guest Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 What are those three exemplars of ? :confused: CDPs with modern DACs or CDPs that aren't done any favours by double duty as DACs ?
Luckiestmanalive Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 Ernie;131872 wrote: Unless the CD players have reasonably modern DAC chips, there is no way to implement additional inputs. I'd say few manufacturers will devote much R&D in this area unless it's really easy, or it will stimulate sales. Being a transitional product it's a hard ask. There's three brands I can think of, Cambridge Audio, Harman Kardon and Quad. I don't think doing double duty as a DAC does them any favours sonically. Interesting, thanks, Ernie. Do you mean the sound via digital in is markedly inferior to the sound quality from playing a CD on the CA, HK or Quad players you mention? As long as the output was of the same quality as I got from a CD playing in the player, I would be happy - I mean, I bought the CD player because I liked its sound! A digital input on my CD player would also mean I could access my Itunes library without having to infect another input in my amp with nasty digital signals...
Shane Hanify Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 Gidday folks, there's one of these for sale in ChCh at the moment. Well at least there was this time last week. They do sound pretty good, but demand good ancillaries. The timing to me sounded a fraction off but I'm quite picky that way. The LED's weren't overly distracting but the tectonic speed at which you can change tracks via the remote had me amused. Cheers, Shane.
ajst2duk Posted August 31, 2010 Author Posted August 31, 2010 Low Orbit;131886 wrote: Gidday folks, there's one of these for sale in ChCh at the moment. Well at least there was this time last week. They do sound pretty good, but demand good ancillaries. The timing to me sounded a fraction off but I'm quite picky that way. The LED's weren't overly distracting but the tectonic speed at which you can change tracks via the remote had me amused. Cheers, Shane. Yep thanks for teh heads-up Lo Orbit - I did call them, that was one of the ones on trademe it went for about $2800 - I just miissed that and then the next one 1/2 hour behind it by 10 bucks
got tinnitus Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 ajst2duk;131914 wrote: Yep thanks for teh heads-up Lo Orbit - I did call them, that was one of the ones on trademe it went for about $2800 - I just miissed that and then the next one 1/2 hour behind it by 10 bucks Dude, you should have rung when I messaged you last week! At that stage it had no bids on TM and it was on the shop floor for $2200! She was a minter, too. It is odd how so many have popped up lately.
Recommended Posts