I have heard the angels sing - dCS Paganini system + Arcam FMJ CD36

[neilvg]

I have an NWO 3.0 and it is amazing. And cheaper (by FAR) than 50K and it is a one box player which can be custom built to your specs (input/output) and it can even have an output designed for balanced headphones so out goes your headphone amp (if desired). Also it can be connected directly to your amps, so no need for a separate preamp either. Which is good since I quite like its built in volume attenuator.

Also, it can be made with analog and digital inputs, both which will route the incoming data through the very fine DAC circuitry (best sounding DAC I have ever heard by far and easily noticeable to those who have had the chance to hear it).

To continue my shameless advertisement for APL, the player is also a Universal, playing RBCD, DVD-A, SACD, & DVD-Video. Probably others too. The Video is still intact so you can use up the laser life on your favorite flicks.

All for the bargain basement price of 30K!

Neil

[milkpowder]

So $30K buys a high-resolution AV player, pre-amplifier, balanced headphone amp, top-end DAC and VRDS-based digital transport. Still a lot of money, but I guess good value if you're a fan of one-box solutions.

[HiWire]

Can you audition these players, or did you purchase based on user opinions/meet impressions?

I asked the mod vs. stock question myself a while ago and went for a stock player. I'll probably pick up an Oppo to mod, but Esoteric equipment is beyond me.

[neilvg]

Can you audition these players, or did you purchase based on user opinions/meet impressions?

I asked the mod vs. stock question myself a while ago and went for a stock player. I'll probably pick up an Oppo to mod, but Esoteric equipment is beyond me.

Very few people have these players. I went over to the home of the designer, Alex Paychev of APL. We sat down and listened on his system as well as compared it to various others. Then I bought it and waited for its completion.

This isn't a modded player more as a total rebuild. All that is basically left is the VRDS mechanism and the chassis.

Neil