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Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Xindak SCD-2 SACD Player by Teresa

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REVIEW: Xindak SCD-2 SACD Player

65.178.73.152


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Model: SCD-2
Category: SACD Player
Suggested Retail Price: $1695
Description: SCAD/CD Player with tube output stage and Balanced analog outs
Manufacturer URL: Not Available
Manufacturer URL: Not Available

Review by Teresa ( A ) on August 07, 2004 at 23:16:35
IP Address: 65.178.73.152
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for the SCD-2


This is my second journey into the land of SACD. This Xindak SCD-2 with well-recorded SACDs produces absolutely gorgeous sound, and the feeling of being in the presence of the musicians. This feeling of liveliness is the best I have yet achieved. My reasons for leaving SACD before was because even though SACDs are sonically more accurate and have that “Magic” in the midrange no other format has, they were just not as lovely sounding as my LPs and sounded almost “Digital” after listening to an LP. I abhor that sound of “Digital” preferring Analog and unamplified live sound. So sounding “Digital” after listening to an LP was totally unacceptable. I took a gamble that “tubes” would remove that trace of “Digital sound” and I could reclaim the magic midrange and tonal accuracy of SACD. AND I WON BIG TIME “Tubes and SACD are the perfect combination!” I can now go back and forth between SACD and Vinyl LP with a big giant smile on my face and satisfaction in my soul.

This Xindak SCD-2 is the 110-Volt Chinese Version with 2 JJ Electronic E88CC output tubes from the Slovak Republic. I do apologize but for this review to mean anything I have to describe what version I have as there are 3 or 4 different Chinese versions (mainly different tube sets) and one make for the USA market with a copper-coated chassis inside.

I studied the pictures of the USA version compared to mine. This Chinese version does not have the copper-coated chassis, the LARGE transformer is the same size only the cover is Gold instead of Copper, on both versions the transformer covers says "Xindak Power Transformer for SACD" in giant letters. The disc transport looks the same on the Chinese version. The DSD chip is CXD275R, and the other chips also are in the same places and look the same as the USA version. The Caps and everything else looks the same. So the only real difference I see from the insides of the two units is the Chinese unit does not have a copper-coated chassis and the transformer cover is Gold instead of Copper.

Purchased from www.nysound.com for $949.00 with Xindak PC-03 Power Cable and free Air Shipping from China (took 7 days to get here!) NY Sound website states there is an 18-month warranty. Current retail is listed as $2,000.00 but I am sure that is for the USA version that is selling for $1,695.00 currently. Still this is the best $949.00 I have ever spent!

My first Xindak was defective (kept reading Undisc) and Jim of NY Sound came through and sent a New replacement. The service from NY Sound is superb! I've had the new unit over a month and it has played every SACD and CD perfectly. It found and read the SACD layer every time on the first try on Hybrid discs. It has as not skipped once! Also I reported the first sample overheated and distorted 4 times, this has not happened with the replacement unit! I will keep everyone updated but I believe that was also do to the first unit being defective.

Now on to the review:

I did my research and all the reviews were very favorable I found on the Internet, many found it comparable to Sony's $5,000.00 SCD-1 but with the smoothness of tubes! However they were comparing the unit made for the USA market which is supposed to be even better. The only negative's I found was a problem with skipping the units had, this is supposed to be solved now. I have not had a single disc skip so they have solved the problem!

If you remember I wanted a SACD that was tubed, 2 channel only, audio only, SACD only with no PCM. Well I got 3 out of 4 and that's not bad and the PCM for CD is upsampled to 24/96 and CD for once in my life is actually enjoyable and beautiful sounding. And if you know me I have never used the words beautiful and CD in the same sentence. CDs, especially from Telarc are very enjoyable, image well have powerful deep bass and an extended high end I didn't think CDs could do, just not the resolution of SACD. Turning the volume loud CDs never get course or ugly.

CDs sound excellent but don't have the glory or midrange realism of SACDs on the Xandak. I have a theory the output tubes smooth out the digital nasties and the upsampler (to 96k) give the feeling of extended highs. I had to come back to SACDs as I missed my Telarc's and Erich Kunzel SACDs. I was never really without Kunzel and Telarc as I have a lot of them on cassettes that I listen to in the car.

The Xindak SCD-2 is utterly beautiful to look at; it is all silver and gold and makes my black face components look cheap. It is now available in traditional black as well. It is very heavy and looks well built. The 2 output tubes should last 5 years and the replacement tubes run $30.00.

The Xindax is a fabulous sounding tubed SACD player, it bring SACDs up to where they are on or near par with the best audiophile LPs, Tubes and SACD are a perfect combination! If you like the sound of well recorded Analog this player will be a dream come true. I am keeping my LPs for 2 reasons 1) The best LPs are still the sonic champs. 2) Some of my favorite LPs may never be released on SACD.

The sound with SACDs (especially Telarc SACDs) is warm, realistic, exciting and utterly beautiful.

If Rich were around he would say this is my first SACD player. As he called my Sony DVP-S9000ES a DVD player that just happens to play SACDs. At the time Rich only considered the Sony SCD-1 and 777ES as SACD players, well thanks to the "high end" community we have a few more 2-channel audio only SACD players to choose from.

The Xindak PC-03 Power Cable is very, very thick and looks like a big fat snake, and may be the secret to the great deep bass with both CDs and SACDs.

The remote control has too very important features: 1) A dimmer button to turn the display on the SCD-2 off and 2) A volume control for use with the gold plated headphone jack which sounds great. It's a full featured remote.

The player also comes with a Naxos SACD Sampler.

I highly recommend this player for anyone looking at 2 channel SACDs in the $1,000.00 - $5,000.00 price range. I believe this is a statement player for sound quality obtainable with 2 Channel SACD and possible one of the best sounding Redbook CDs players ever! CDs were quite enjoyable and had a high frequency extention and an airy "smoothness" I didn't think was possible. The best SACDs are a pure joy to experience!


Product Weakness: Quality control, my first unit was defective and others in the asylum have had problems. Make sure you get a warranty!
Product Strengths: Absolutely gorgeous sound, adjustable headphone output, display can be turned off, SOTA SACD player and killer CD player!


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AMC CVT-1030 tubed
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Music Hall mmf-1
Speakers: Infinity Reference 7 Kappa
Cables/Interconnects: AudioQuest and Monster
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Jazz, Classic Rock
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months old unit / 1 month new unit
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Adcom ACE-515
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Xindak SCD-2 SACD Player - Teresa 23:16:35 08/7/04 ( 13)