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In Reply to: Suggestions for universal player for under $1k? posted by Sampsa on April 21, 2004 at 07:37:50:
A universal player under $1k that sounds better than the MF A3.2 CD player? As NonA said, you really have only one option, the APL modded 563.The best under $1k stock universal player that I've heard is the Yamaha, but I don't think it's in the same league as the MF CD. If you can live without DVD, the Marantz 8260 is reportedly a decent CD player and is in your price range. It does have some reliability issues though. And for the same money as the MF CD player (~$1500) you can have the Marantz DV-8400 universal. I liked it better than any of the <$1k universal machines and the Denon 5900.
Follow Ups:
Oops, I meant the earlier model A3CD, which can be had for under $1k used.
How good is the Marantz DV-8400 on regular CDs?
It has a refined, detailed, and airy top end. That's probably it's biggest strength. It also has a nice deep soundstage, with average width and good imaging. Tonal balance is a little bit tipped up and the bass isn't as deep & tight as it could be, so the presentation is a little on the light side. But it's not bright or cold like the Denon 2900. I also noticed a hint of softness on the leading edge of sharp notes. Overall, I found it to be musical and pleasing but lacked the weight of my SACD 1000. I also found that the DV-8400 performs a fair bit better on DVD-A than CD and SACD. In particular, the bass was tighter and the slight softness I heard on CD and SACD was gone.
I posted a more detailed writeup on it in Feb over on the Hi-Res Highway.
Thanks for the info. Is the Denon 2900 bright really? Could you tell me more. I'm getting a bit worried about both Denon 2900 and Marantz 8400 since my system most definitely doesn't need a high-freq emphasis (quite a bright room).
I know others disagree, but I didn't care for the 2900 much at all. To me, it seemed lean in the midrange, cold, and bright. The Denon 5900 was quite a bit better.The 5900 was fuller in the midrange and had better bass than the 2900, and it also had good detail and dynamics. But it was still a bit too forward & sterile for me and didn't have the soundstaging ability of the SACD 1000 or Marantz DV-8400.
Although several of us now have described the tonal balance on the Marantz as tipped up, I don't think anybody would accuse it of being bright. The top end is actually quite refined. It has detail & air without being too bright and in your face.
I've never owned a Rega Planet, but from what I've heard it's a warm sounding player with an expansive soundstage. If that's true, I think the Marantz DV-8400 or even the Yamaha would end up being a better replacement than the Denon units. But if you're patient, I imagine a modded unit would quite a bit better still.
I agree with Dave's assessment of the DV-8400 except that I don't notice a softness in the highs- a particular strength of my system. The 8400 is particularly effective if you have control over your low bass output and as a 24/96 digital out to a real good 24/96 DAC for cd and dvd-a playback.
Just curious, Dave, did you have or listen to a Marantz DV-8300 and compare it to a DV-8400? If so, is the 8400 a significant improvement in sound over the 8300?I've heard some good and harsh words on the 8300, which I own, but it sounds OK to me. But then again, I like the sound of jet planes taking off at the airport . . .
Those who have heard both seem to agree that the 8400 is better, but I don't know by how much.
That is not a universal machine, no DVD Audio.
nt
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