Hello all, I've got an Arcam CD193 with MF 3.5 amp, Chord Co Anthem and Chord Co Odyssey 2 linking MA GR20 speakers.
I think the weak link is the CD player, any thoughts on an upgrade? I was thinking of matching an MF CD player? but the spec/DAC of the upsampling Arcam s pretty good.
|
 |
|
|
|
Not thought about that.............hmmmmm
|
|
meant to say CD93 too...already 4 chip 192 24 bit upsampling...
|
|
You should be able to get the matching A3.5 cdp at a discount , so, obvious choice for more than one reason,however, you dont give a budget?
|
|
budget up to a £1k player to match amp?
|
|
 The A3.5 is a good choice. It's about a grand, too. But, I think the upgrade isn't really that significant, as the CD192 is a good player in its own right.
I think you might be better saving your money a bit more and going for a £1,400-£1,500 player, like the Rega Saturn, Arcam CD36 FMJ, Musical Fidelity A5 or the Naim CD5x. Or you could go for a Cyrus CD8x and PSX-R combo.
|
|
Thanks Alan, CD 36 FMJ has the same electronics as the CD192? it's just the casing i.e Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), which IMO can't make THAT much difference, especially when I have isolated supports? [tell me if I'm wrong]
A5 has the tube output? I've got the X-10D between CD and amp atm.
I haven't heard Rega, Naim or Cyrus - perhaps I'm better off saving then demo these makes? or my upgradeditis has gone out of control.........surely if I go for a £1500 player then my amp should be upgraded too?
:-)
|
|
Alan's right about £1k being too little. It would be a sideways move rather than an upgrade. My personal view is that in a primarily digital system, speakers make the most difference. I went the DAC route myself with Perpetual Technologies P1a/P3a from www.av123.com. I also tried a second hand Meridian 566.20 which cost me £350. Of the two I preferred the Meridian.
|
|
If you know what to look for, a 1k player isnt necessarilly a sidegrade. I proved that to myself when i bought my Minimax, which has seen off many far more expensive players.
|
|
The FMJ technologies do make a difference. The isolation technologies, especially isolation from EM interference, does improve on the basic performance. But I think the upgrade will still not be that great.
And, no... it will not necessitate an upgrade in amplifier or speaker. There's still a lot to be said for the 'garbage in, garbage out' school of thought, which states that the whole system is only as good as the source component.
|
|
Isolation is something you can do yourself. The new Seismic sinks look interesting & would be a cheaper thing to do.
|
|
I meant isolation from electromagnetic interference. The Stealth Mat technologies inside FMJ players stops EMI pretty much dead. I guess you could rig up a Faraday cage and place the player inside, but it wouldn't look that good!
But a Seismic Sink is a good idea, too.
|
|
I use ERS Stilcloth for that. It's not 100% though.
|
|
Seismic Sinks, faraday cages, isolation mats, what is all that about? Are we in a power station? I'm new to this game and would really like to know what it all means.
|
|
