snaphappybob
pfm Member
I have been listening to streamed music from tidal via Audiovarna using a mac mini and the ifi zen DAC. Bang for buck I think you'd be hard pressed to beat it. For the sake of nostalgia I decided to get myself another CD player which was repaired and upgraded by Mike P: An Arcam CD5 plus.
I'm enjoying listening to the old silver discs but can't honestly say it approaches the quality of the streamed audio but it got me thinking of all the players I've owned in the past.
Here's the list:
Marantz CD273
Mission DAD5
Rotel RXB965
Audiolab CD8000
Naim CD3
Linn Mimik
Arcam Alpha 7SE
Marantz SA7003
Sony SCD XA300
Gap when streaming only
Then the modded Alpha 5 plus.
I had the 7se longest and loved the sound. It replaced the Audiolab which went faulty within the first month of ownership but when it worked was probably the best CD player I have owned for sound and build quality. I loved the drawer mech on the Mission but it got stolen, along with my Nait 1 before I had time to fall in love with it. The Rotel was always a great performer until it gave up the ghost after many years of ownership by both myself and my brother. I remember being underwhelmed by the Naim which I bought 2nd hand, I thought this odd given that the rest of the system was Naim then, and I have now returned to Naim (82, Napsc, Hicap, Nap250 & SBLs) The Mimik, well as my mum used to say : if you've nothing nice to say, say nothing. The SA7003 (now with my brother) sounds great with SACDs and pretty good with CDs but the Sony that replaced it was better all round. Kinda regret selling it on.
Clearly non of these are stupid money players but I'm interested in experiences of the good folks of PFM's down to earth CD player histories?
I'm enjoying listening to the old silver discs but can't honestly say it approaches the quality of the streamed audio but it got me thinking of all the players I've owned in the past.
Here's the list:
Marantz CD273
Mission DAD5
Rotel RXB965
Audiolab CD8000
Naim CD3
Linn Mimik
Arcam Alpha 7SE
Marantz SA7003
Sony SCD XA300
Gap when streaming only
Then the modded Alpha 5 plus.
I had the 7se longest and loved the sound. It replaced the Audiolab which went faulty within the first month of ownership but when it worked was probably the best CD player I have owned for sound and build quality. I loved the drawer mech on the Mission but it got stolen, along with my Nait 1 before I had time to fall in love with it. The Rotel was always a great performer until it gave up the ghost after many years of ownership by both myself and my brother. I remember being underwhelmed by the Naim which I bought 2nd hand, I thought this odd given that the rest of the system was Naim then, and I have now returned to Naim (82, Napsc, Hicap, Nap250 & SBLs) The Mimik, well as my mum used to say : if you've nothing nice to say, say nothing. The SA7003 (now with my brother) sounds great with SACDs and pretty good with CDs but the Sony that replaced it was better all round. Kinda regret selling it on.
Clearly non of these are stupid money players but I'm interested in experiences of the good folks of PFM's down to earth CD player histories?