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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Granite Audio 657 Tube CD Player CD Player/Recorder by mcw120

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REVIEW: Granite Audio 657 Tube CD Player CD Player/Recorder

64.220.79.130


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Model: 657 Tube CD Player
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $2900
Description: Tube output CD player
Manufacturer URL: Granite Audio
Model Picture: View

Review by mcw120 ( A ) on May 21, 2002 at 11:57:42
IP Address: 64.220.79.130
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for the 657 Tube CD Player


I was looking for a tube output CD player. Since the rest of my system is solid state, I was looking for the “sweetness” that one gets from tubes. Previously I had been using a CAL Alpha/Delta combo with Mullard 12AX7 tubes, and without the 24/96 upgrade. I really liked the Alpha, but when a friend of mine bought the Cary 303-200, I knew there was “more” out there.

Unfortunately, there are not many high end tube CD players out there. I looked mainly at the BAT VK-D5SE , Jolida JD-100, CAL Alpha, Heart 6000, Norh Cd-1, AudioAero, Metronome, and the Granite Audio 657.

I was pretty skeptical of the Granite Audio player before receiving it because I could find so little information on it. Granite has a 30 day in home trial, so there is really nothing to lose. When I first hooked the player up, I unhooked my tuner and used those interconnects. I did not want to unhook the Alpha because I wanted to A/B test the two unites. After about 30 seconds into the first track, I realized that there was no need to A/B the two units, the 657 was far superior, even without the same quality of interconnects and vibration control.

Granite Audio ships the player without the tubes installed. Therefore, there first thing I had to do was open up the unit and install the tubes. When I opened up the unit I saw that the construction was unlike any that I had seen. There were “cables” running from point to point not little wires. To be honest I didn’t know what I was looking at, but it was obvious that the construction was far better than my CAL Alpha (which I had to occasionally open up to change the tubes).

The sound of the unit was much more detailed and natural sounding than the Alpha. I was actually started by how lifelike the cymbals sounded. The sound is also very balanced from top to bottom, with well defined bass lines. The midrange was slightly warm sounding, but not bloated.

The Alpha is really a great unit, and I would highly recommend it for the $450 or so it can be found for on the used market. It certainly is much better than the MSB link III or the Perpetual Tech DACs for about the same money. However, the 657 is really in another league from the Alpha. It does everything the Alpha did right, buts added more detail and balance.

I also compared the unit to my EAD Ovation with HDCD decoding. The discs sounded better on the granite than they did on the Ovation. I do not know if the 657 has HDCD decoding but it still beat the EAD.

Next, I compared SACDs through the Sony 9000es to the same non SACD discs played through the 657. I was very surprised to find that I preferred the sound of the 657 to the SACDs. The manufacturer has a review on their website where the reviewed came to the same conclusion that I did. Honestly, I was sure that I would prefer the sound of the SACDs to that of the 657. I have paid quite a bit for a collection of about 20 SACDs and I used to think they were pretty special, but I have to concede that I preferred the sound on the 657.

In my opinion, you can reach a point where components just sound different from one another but neither can be said to be better than the other. At a certain level it comes down to preference. Some may like more details, other may want a more musical unit, etc. I have not auditioned every player in my system, but I have heard Wadia, Levinson, and other “reference” level components at various different places. With that being said, I found the sound of the Granite 657 “better” than that of any other CD player I have ever heard.

I would also like to add that the customer service at Granite Audio is as good if not better than any I have encountered. Don Hoglund helped me throughout the process, and was extremely friendly, honest and helpful.

Some negatives: There are no buttons on the front of the unit, so you must use the remote control. Also, the remote control is not the most ergonomic or pretty remote. I use a universal remote so this is not a problem, also, I keep the remote on top of the unit so it is always there as I am changing discs.


Product Weakness: Remote required and ergonomically challenged remote.
Product Strengths: Balanced, natural and detailed. Very smooth sounding. Warm midrange. Build quailty. Can be connected directly to amps with variable output control.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Odyssey Audio Mono Blocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): EAD Ovation
Sources (CDP/Turntable): CAL Alpha/Delta and Sony 9000es SACD
Speakers: PSB Stratus Silver i
Cables/Interconnects: The Music Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Vocals, Rock
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Granite Audio 657 Tube CD Player CD Player/Recorder - mcw120 11:57:42 05/21/02 ( 9)