SME or Brinkmann your thoughts!

I've never been that smitten.

I like both the Shelter 901 and the ZYX but a vdH EMT should sound pretty good.

 

God, no. Transfiguration cartridges are rubbish. This is well-known.

 

Well Louis Cipher what do you suggest

Diablo what do you suggest, cartridge wise, I only have three records which I just use to check the system is working properly!

 

I have more than three records really I do,

Isn't that the apocryphal story of the guy who only plays the same three records to discover whether the new ( insert item ) has made a difference!

 

Haven't heard any of these, but they look pretty amazing and must therefore sound amazing

Clearaudio Master Reference
VPI HR-X
EAR Master Disk
Lumley Stratosphere
Basis Debut Signature

Would quite happily live with any of them, but I'd still really miss my Pro-ject

DT

 

Massive 'bake off'

I have always wanted to arrange a massive HiFi showdown, pit one turntable against another,one CD player against another and compile a definative order of merit, perhaps I wi hire a room at the April London how and throw down the gauntlet to some manufacturers /distributors, I am going to listen to the Brinkmann and the SME in an A/B soon, so I will post my findings ( for what they are worth ) best CD player I have heard is without doubt the full DCS rig, head andshoulders better than anything else imho.

 

It isn't that easy to do. You'd have to decide on a cartridge, (and get two of them) transformer, pre/pwr and speakers that would do justice to and suit both TT's.

The criteria you apply to evaluating them and the music you chose would undoubtedly be different to many other peoples so the result would not really be definitive but rather simply your preference.

 

I would have to disagree on the CD player side of things. My preference is the Weiss Media and Jason Combo.

 

you are right of course

You are right it would be nigh impossible, I think there might be certain areas where we could all agree, some players pull of more information from the disc, some restrict bandwith, the DCS is the only one I have heard that really presents a deep soundstage,most do width pretty well, I would like to hear the Weiss, how do you think it is better?

 

Only you can decide if you like it or not by having a listen.

 

Weiss

I have had a quick look at their website, and they are pro digital manufacturers, which is always a good sign, do I have to give Dave a ring at brighton.

 

I think Audio Acoustics in Windsor also do Weiss. It is a nice sounding combination.

 

Weiss in nice!

I will give Weiss a listen the thing about the DCS is that it takes CD to another dimension, it isn't just different it is hugely better, I must have listened now to six or seven single and two-box players, including the CD7 really expensive Audionote transport and DAC's a Meridian 808 signature etc, until I heard the DCS I thougt they were all much of a muchness, different but not better, the DCS is better in every aspect, I am always surprised when I see them or sale secondhand.

 

There are a couple of people who do weiss including my self. I chose it as my reference player because I liked it over everything else. I wont dis DCS but I did prefer the Weiss.

 

Whats makes you think it was the DCS player and not the rest of the system?

 

The rest of the system was my system. I invited a friend around who had heard DCS at shows and thought them mechanical,too analytical etc, but it sounded superb,unlike anythig else, mind you so it should at 24k!

 

Have you heard the top of the line MBL transport and DAC? I found them sweeter sounding and made my foot tap more than the DCS Elgar and I forget what transport. The MBL stuff does look a bit ‘chav’ though

 

MBL? I was curious and Googled their web site.

Hmm, rather unusual () and interesting I'd say, especially the Reference line.

 

Anyone heard the TW Acustic Raven AC, another uber German turntable?

http://www.tw-acustic.de/tw-acustic englisch/index.htm

 

No I haven't appparently their sound is extraordinary , just going back to the DCS, they were definately better together , DAC upsampling transport and clock, although the DCS DAC improved the sound of my player considerably. MBL are omni directional speakers aren't they?