5 Players Enter, 1 Player Leaves (M5, SuperNova, DP-75, CD7, CD36)

[HiWire]

Five Players Enter, One Player Leaves

This is an epilogue, of sorts, and in another way, it?s the beginning for me. As some of you may have noticed, I bought an Arcam FMJ CD36 last week. This is the tale of what went before? I listened to the $50,000 dCS Paganini system three weeks ago and returned to hear more CD players to inform my final purchasing decision. If I won the lottery today, I would certainly give serious consideration to the dCS Puccini player or perhaps the EMM Labs CDSA SE, but that is currently happening only in a parallel universe, with more goatees.

I would like to thank Michael, Leland, Angie, and Arnold at American Sound in Richmond Hill, Ontario for providing me with the opportunity to audition many pieces of quality audio equipment that are beyond the means of most audiophiles. Also, I would like to thank Ben at Kennedy Hi-Fi and Will at Great Metropolitan Sound for their assistance, patience, and goodwill in dealing with a very particular, cash-strapped, and possibly insubstantial (over the period of two years) customer.

The players were hooked up using a Primare PRE30 stereo preamplifier and a Primare A32 power amplifier using balanced interconnects and power cables from Transparent Cable. The reference speakers were Focal Electra 1027 Be.

Musical references:

Taking a Chance on Love ? Jane Monheit

Honeysuckle Rose

Taking a Chance on Love

I Won?t Dance

Love Me or Leave Me

Girlfriend - Matthew Sweet

Girlfriend

I?ve Been Waiting

Elv1s ? Elvis Presley

(You?re the) Devil in Disguise

Surrender

Return to Sender

Johannes Brahms ? Julia Fischer, Daniel M?ller-Schott, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77, Allegro non troppo

NAD M5, $2,500 (http://nadelectronics.com/products/masters-series/M5-CD-SACD-Player)

This is a player that I really wanted to like. It?s priced solidly in my ballpark and has all the features that I?m looking for and more ? HDCD decoding, SACD capability, solid build quality, and NAD?s reputation for value. The bonuses were balanced output, multi-channel output, and bass management. In terms of aesthetics, NAD isn?t quite there ? it?s a reasonable-looking piece of equipment all right, but you expect a bit more at this price. ?Understated elegance,? as another reviewer put it, might be stretching it.

This was the first player that I auditioned. Unfortunately, it was also the least impressive, in audiophile terms. In my notes, I wrote that it had punchy bass and a smooth sound, but almost immediately noticed a flat soundstage and only medium detail retrieval. The highs on the cymbals were pleasant, Matthew Sweet?s electric guitar flowed quite well, and the drums conveyed the rhythm well. Vocal harmonies were decent, but tended to mix together. In the orchestral recording, the blurry soundstage was apparent. Strings had a good leading attack, while brass wasn?t quite realistic. The cellos and basses in the orchestra were boomy and indistinct. Acoustics of the concert hall were only hinted at.

If you haven?t heard anything else at this price level, I would say that the M5 could make you very happy. Despite my nitpicking, the overall sound of the NAD is pleasantly neutral and its sins are generally those of omission. Also, please note that I have previously auditioned this player on the NAD M3 amplifier and PSB Platinum speakers. I would also audition Marantz players, the Rega Saturn, and the Cambridge Audio Azur 840C if I was looking in this price range.

Simaudio MOON SuperNova, $5,500 (http://www.simaudio.com/moonsupernova.htm)

I didn?t think that I?d be able to afford this player, but when you get a chance to listen to a SuperNova, you take it. Since I?m Canadian, I give preference to Canadian manufacturers, and Simaudio has been getting plenty of good press for their equipment lately. The MOON SuperNova player is a very attractive player, but its appearance is marred slightly by the oversized red LED display on the faceplate. The build quality is impressive.

In listening, I immediately noted that it had an apparently brighter overall tone and wider soundstage than the M5. Also, bass reached lower, more details were present in even the Elvis recording, and rock recordings had more drive. This was definitely a more exciting and higher-quality listening experience than with the NAD. However, I did note that Jane Monheit?s voice sounded slightly more sibilant on the mike, although her recording also had greater separation between the jazz players and a more open sound. Acoustics were far better in Julia Fischer?s Brahms performance ? her violin was easier to follow, less harsh in tone, more musical, and more expressive. In general, highs were far better on the SuperNova: voices and guitars sounded more realistic, drums were cleaner sounding and the acoustics of the recording venue were appropriate.

Of the many players I?ve heard in the past few years, the SuperNova definitely grabbed my attention. I?d have to audition it on a long-term basis to know if I could adjust to its slightly more aggressive, brighter sound, but it definitely had some of the magic that I?m looking for in a great player. Out of the selected set, the SuperNova was a standout.

Accuphase DP-75, $6,500 used (http://www.accuphase.com/dp-75_e.htm)

This was an interesting pick. Normally, I?d never be able to afford Accuphase gear, but I noticed this player along with an Accuphase DP-65 in the used equipment section. I was told that it originally sold for $20,000 new, but that it was marked down quite a lot. I?ll say. Since it was somewhat close to my theoretical maximum of $5,000, I put it on the audition group. Certainly, it would be interesting to hear some high-quality Japanese equipment. As Accuphase equipment goes, this player is a golden tank like the rest of them. Interestingly, I actually enjoy the look of the Accuphase equipment ? they do a good job of blending delicacy and weight into their designs, although I?m not generally a fan of gold-anodized equipment.

At first, I thought that I had found my player. When I listened to the Elvis tracks, I just wanted to keep playing more tracks ? it seemed like such smooth and flowing, golden-honey (like their faceplates) sound. Surely, that couldn?t be a bad thing? As I listened more carefully, I realized that I had been had. The DP-75 puts a euphonic sweetness or sheen on recordings that deviates from the actual performance. It?s not as bright as the SuperNova, and also seems a bit farther back in soundstage. On Monheit?s songs, the sound was seductive and had a wide soundstage, but also, it had a fuzzier bass reproduction than the on the SuperNova. Shockingly, the DP-75 fell down completely on rock recordings. Aggression, drive, rhythm, and speed were deficient, robbing Sweet?s performance of its defining, engaging traits. The Fischer disc was very quiet ? I was finally forced to turn up the volume for a fair comparison against the previous players. Less acoustic information was forthcoming and I noticed Fischer?s violin had the same euphonic characteristics noted earlier.

Frankly, I was disappointed by this player. It had a strongly colored sound that rang warning bells in my head. For lotus eaters who prefer sweeter-toned players, Accuphase might offer the musical food of choice, but I sail away. I wouldn?t discount listening sessions with their newer players, but I hope that they emphasize accuracy over sweetness after the DP-75.

Audio Research Reference CD7, $9,000 (http://www.audioresearch.com/referenceCD7.htm)

After I finished my listening session, I chatted with another customer in the store. He was also looking for his ?last? disc player and strongly recommended the CD7. There was a bit of a fuss when I mentioned that I disliked tube gear, since the CD7 uses a tube output. However, I was in the mood to hear one more player, regardless of its design. The CD7 uses a magnetic puck and a slider drawer on its transport, which seems a bit old-school to me. The player is solidly built, but looks clumsy or plain rather than attractive.

I only listened briefly to this player, on Audio Research HD220 amps with Sonus Faber Elipsa speakers and on the reference system used for the other players in this session. It was hard to get a handle on the exact characteristics of the player ? most likely, listening fatigue was finally setting in. It seemed to do most of the audiophile things right ? soundstage, realistic highs, and a neutral tone ? but it sounded a bit indistinct. Bass wasn?t as impactful on the CD7 as on the SuperNova and I didn?t really want to try a lot of music on the player. It didn?t have the drive of the SuperNova or the sweetness of the Accuphase, which left it somewhere in between. To its credit, it sounded quite good for a tube player ? I didn?t hear any distortion or harmonics.

This player was a bit of surprise at the end of my planned session. Perhaps I might listen to it again if presented with the opportunity, but the high price tag is a turn-off ? I certainly didn?t feel like I was listening to a $9,000 piece of equipment.

Arcam FMJ CD36, $2,000 (http://www.arcam.co.uk/prod_fmj_CD36_intro.cfm)

After my prolonged session with some very expensive and difficult-to-find audio gear, I decided to check my previous reference. I have posted my previous impressions of the CD36, so I?ll only post notes from the most recent audition here. From an aesthetic point of view, the CD36 succeeds in looking like high-end equipment. It has a minimalist look, with nothing heavy or flashy in its faceplate or body. The silver is a muted satin finish, which I preferred over the dull-looking black option (shades of NAD or Naim, particularly with the green display light).

I listened to all the same reference recordings as on the previously-reviewed players. Overall, I was reminded of why I came back. The Arcam does everything I like properly, which is, of course, entirely subjective. It has a holographic soundstage, similar to the SuperNova or Paganini, with great acoustics on good recordings. Highs are pleasurable, extended, and less aggressive than on the SuperNova ? more like those on the dCS player. Bass goes as deep as the amplifier and speakers can extend, while the mids are full-bodied and musical. On rock music, all the drive, urgency, and even harshness are properly conveyed, while the CD36 sounds incredibly lyrical, smooth, and realistic on acoustic performances (e.g. jazz and classical).

It?s probably obvious that I fell in love with the CD36 a long time ago, but I wanted to hear more sources before taking the plunge. This is actually my first purchase of any home audio gear at all, so it?s a huge step. Also, it?s the most expensive audio item that I?ve ever bought, so I?m really hoping that I made the right choice. Price aside, the musical characteristics of the CD36 were the most attractive of all the players that I have heard, not including the dCS player. I?m looking forward to listening to all of my music on the player once my headphone amp has been repaired, and you can expect a detailed review once I?ve burned it in.

[boomana]

Congrats on your new player, especially after doing all you did to find it.

[HiWire]

Thanks, Vicky! It was a lot of work to write everything up, but I'm looking forward to finally doing some listening... maybe next week. My amp is being repaired and I haven't been able to listen to my new player at all since I brought it home a week ago. It's been a long week.

Also, my home listening station is incredibly ghetto - it's an empty banker's box with two pieces of plastic egg-crate foam and 4 pieces of cardboard (from the bottom of the Arcam box) on top. My new player sits on top of the cardboard... because it was sinking into the foam, actually. Now that's build quality. Perhaps I'll be able to afford audio furniture in a few years. Ramen - it's what's for breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Argh - something weird happened to my hyphens up in the review up there. Oh well.

[boomana]

Ouch. That's gotta make you nuts.

[HiWire]

Yeah, I was a little anxious.

Just a little... it did allow me to catch up on the current amps out there, though

[HiWire]

I might try something like that... a long time after Christmas. Ikea is pretty close.

[tkam]

just a general fyi about the accuphase gear, the north american prices are terrible, they are much much much cheaper to buy new in Asia than they are here.

congrats on finding a player within your budget that suites your needs/tastes

[Jon L]

Accuphase 75 (not 75V) is a very, VERY old player from Accuphase before their digital Golden Age. What's worse, it resampled all the digital signal to 48kHz before sending it to the DAC. The player to audition around this period is the 65V IMO.

Audio Research CD7 is quite a bit of achievement for AR b/c it sounds so unremarkable and doesn't put its own character (much) into the music, especially for a tubed player. However, many would find it "boring" sounding. I believe it to be a reference piece myself.

Then again, it's probably true the Arcam coincides perfectly with your tastes, which is a powerful thing..

[purk]

Very entertaining read and congrats on your new source.

[HiWire]

Thanks, guys. Sorry about the punctuation... MS Word doesn't cut-and-paste into this forum very well.

Jon L, I didn't know anything at all about the Accuphase players before I heard the DP-75. They were always too expensive and practically non-existent in this area. Thanks for the info.

The Audio Research CD7 is a very good player. I didn't find it boring, but I had trouble describing it in the usual "audiophile" terms. I'm sure that I would enjoy its sound in long-term listening, but from a reviewer's point of view, I was a bit exhausted from listening to the same tracks back-to-back for three players in a row. Its slightly diffuse sound signature failed to grab me immediately (which could be a strength or a weakness), its price was almost double my budget and I preferred the voices of the dCS and Arcam players in general over the Audio Research's. A $50,0000 reference is fine by me

[aerius]

I held off on commenting since I wanted to go hear a couple of the players for myself, namely the Supernova and AR CD7. The Supernova is pretty much as you described, it's similar in sound to the discontinued Simaudio Eclipse but with a larger more filling soundstage. Lots of detail & resolution, but the tone & balance is a little too bright for me, I prefer the fuller richer sound of the flagship Andromeda. If I were to take a guess, I'd say that Simaudio is targeting the Supernova towards those who like solidstate sound while the Andromeda is more for the tube guys.

The CD7 was a little hard to get a handle on since it doesn't really do anything, it basically has no sound and upon first impression it's a little bland, kinda reminds me of the Grado HP-2. Frequency response is dead flat from top to bottom, the soundstage is basically whatever's on the CD, it realistically portrays small spaces, big spaces, and everything in between. Like the HP-2, it's great at doing the initial transients, but tends to sound a bit lean and dry on the body & decays of the notes. For instance, "Sweet Child 'O Mine" sounds a bit too much like a thin 80's recording even though all the details are there, it just doesn't have the fullness to really make it sound good.

The resolution's great, the soundstage & imaging is good and so the frequency response, but the damn thing is just too lean & dry sounding to me, especially in the midbass and midrange. Drums & bass don't sound big & full as well as being a bit lacking in weight & impact. The initial transient is there, but there's not enough follow through "whoomp!" For music which is mixed with too much warmth & bass, the CD7 sounds great, but with recordings which are pretty much dead neutral it's too bland sounding, and with less than excellent recordings it's just no damn fun at all to listen to. As a rough guess, I'd say a good 80% of my CDs would be a pain to listen to with the CD7, so despite all its technical merits it would be off my list real fast. It just doesn't do anything for me.

[HiWire]

I think aerius nailed it. I didn't try my Guns N' Roses on the CD7... the dCS got everything right on that track ("for $50,000, it should!" - Captain Obvious), but if the CD7 can't rock, I don't want it. The diffuse sound would have been a nightmare on the HP-2s, which is why I ended up with a player that was less bright than the SuperNova, but more lush and liquid than the characterless CD7.