Another CD player dem

[Mr_Sukebe]

Today I dragged my DAC up to an Audio T branch to have another check on how it compares to other CD players.
Audio T were awfully nice, furnishing a Meridian G07 and a Naim CDX2. Bearing in mind their costs, I was expecting some big things.

The reference system started with an Arcam amp (don't know what it was, but cost around £1300), with a pair of proacs on the back end.
We didn't really get off to a good start. I was intending to get the feel of the amp/speakers with my DAC. Wasn't impressed at all. Pretty yawn inducing and sluggish. So much for Arcam amps. That was rather quickly replaced by an Audiolab pre/power combo. The Audiolab was MUCH better than the Arcam, but was a little too harsh at the top end, and just a little thin in it's body. Guess I've kind of got complacent with my existing amp.

So, down to business. Used several tracks then swapped over to the Meridian on it's own (it was used as transport). Better vocal work, and the mid range was lush. Sluggish, slushy bass, not impressed by that at all. The "driving" groovy mix that my dac produces was reduced to a background sludge. NEXT.
I was expecting big things of the CDX2 as I'm an ex Naim CD player owner. How wrong I'd be. Yes it did have the driving bass, but really did come across as a one trick pony. Simply not natural in it's presentation style. I actually prefered the Merdian unit, and would happily take my DAC over either, despite it not being perfect.

Next weekend I'll be checking out another DAC, from a well known US company. Lets see how that gets on.

 

[9designs2]

Hey this is getting interesting.... So the Non OS DAC is still cutting it....
Bit surprised at Audio T choice of amps, considering what you have....would have gone higher up the ladder myself on them..... Also aren't Proacs a bit of an acquired taste and need loads of power to control them.... not heard them myself, so just speculating.
You know how it is easy to form a polarized opinion of a brand, well your findings on Meridian and Naim fitted mine exactly !!! hence I have neither !
My Monica2 Non OS is on order, should arrive in a couple of weeks....will be interesting to see how it balance out against the Linn's (I've gone for the SMPS option as well

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

The choice on amps and speakers weren't mine, they were Audio Ts idea on what they had which would be closest to mine.
The key point was not the system, but gaining a representative comparison with between front ends, and I guess it achieved that.

What it does make me wonder is just how good the Droplet was last weekend. Whilst they were two seperate dems, the implications are that the Droplet was a good deal better than either unit I heard today, making it rather good VFM.

Lets see how the DAC stacks up next weekend. That's another 24 bit design and is meant to sound like big Wadia units.