I've got a CD upgrade opportunity

[s2000db]

Hi guys, for reasons that I won't go into, I've been offered an upgrade of my CDP, the choice around £1k that I've got to choose from is Arcam, Cyrus, Denon. Marantz, MF, and Roksan Caspian.

What are your thoughts please? Thanks

[Davewhityetagain]

s2000db wrote:

Hi guys, for reasons that I won't go into, I've been offered an upgrade of my CDP, the choice around £1k that I've got to choose from is Arcam, Cyrus, Denon. Marantz, MF, and Roksan Caspian.

What are your thoughts please? Thanks

Arcam MF or even Denon would be my short list

[icehockeyboy]

Is that the only choice? i ask as id steer you towards the cdp i bought, i had the MF X Ray v3, and the A3.2, and they are both good cdp's, but the Eastern wees on them. There was a letter in HFW from a guy who tried MF A3.5 and A5, plus a Meridian, and something else, a Naim or Linnmaybe, and he chose the Eastern, saying it was the closest you can get to the red book thing.

Having said that, if that list is your only option, i would go for MF, as you should be able to get something at a discount price now.

[Papa Lazarou]

icehockeyboy wrote:

Is that the only choice? i ask as id steer you towards the cdp i bought, i had the MF X Ray v3, and the A3.2, and they are both good cdp's, but the Eastern wees on them. There was a letter in HFW from a guy who tried MF A3.5 and A5, plus a Meridian, and something else, a Naim or Linnmaybe, and he chose the Eastern, saying it was the closest you can get to the red book thing.

Having said that, if that list is your only option, i would go for MF, as you should be able to get something at a discount price now.

:gag:re the Minimax.


How about that Audionet V2 in the classifieds section if you can slightly stretch your budget? Superbly built, german engineering and superb performance.

[technobear]

s2000db wrote:

Hi guys, for reasons that I won't go into, I've been offered an upgrade of my CDP, the choice around £1k that I've got to choose from is Arcam, Cyrus, Denon. Marantz, MF, and Roksan Caspian.

What are your thoughts please? Thanks

<shameless plug mode on>

If you're willing to go second hand you can trash all of those with one of these:

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/view_topic...amp;forum_id=5

<shameless plug mode off>

[griffo104]

From the few times I've heard them I think the Cyrus and MF players are quite close to each other sonically- not the same but have similar characteristics. I'm not a fan of either of them so I wouldn't recommend them.

I quite like Denon, used their DVD2900 as a substitute cd player for a while and could quite happily have lived with it for longer, so I would go for the Denon.

[Biscuit]

from that list I would proabably go for either a Marantz SA-15, Denon DCD-2000 or Cyrus CD8x

[ErikFH]

Edit, cos Biccy forgotmentioning the MF. ;)

[Testure]

s2000db wrote:

Hi guys, for reasons that I won't go into, I've been offered an upgrade of my CDP, the choice around £1k that I've got to choose from is Arcam, Cyrus, Denon. Marantz, MF, and Roksan Caspian.

What are your thoughts please? Thanks

Curious which model of Marantz?

[Ant]

I thought the cyrus cd8 was good

[harv]

technobear wrote:

s2000db wrote:

Hi guys, for reasons that I won't go into, I've been offered an upgrade of my CDP, the choice around £1k that I've got to choose from is Arcam, Cyrus, Denon. Marantz, MF, and Roksan Caspian.

What are your thoughts please? Thanks

<shameless plug mode on>

If you're willing to go second hand you can trash all of those with one of these:

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/view_topic...amp;forum_id=5

<shameless plug mode off>

The audionet really is a cracking spinner, having just bought one a couple of weeks ago for a little more then one in the classifieds... I also have a Classe CDP 10 which is very good too... very different to the Audionet much warmer and softer sounding with better texture. Both are excellent... but I've got to choose one and sell the other and I'm going to keep the V2... depending on your partnering equipment and personal taste... you might prefer the Classe but either of the players wouldn't disappoint... Also seen a Wadia 830 for that money too...

[s2000db]

Unfortunately, I have to stick with the brands listed, as my dealer is currently being very accomodating with me...

Looks like the Marantz will have to be deleted as they don't stock any thing between £429 and £1999.

So that narrows it down a bit - any views on the MF X-rayv8 vs the A3.5?



Cheers DB

[Boxer]

Out of those I'd say Arcam or MF.

Personally do NOT rate Caspian electronics: harsh & grainy (a cliched "transistor" sound if ever there was one) & not at all pleasant; boogies along well enough, but so do the Arcam FMJ & the X-Ray...

Shame no Naim or Rega or Expo...

Boxer

[Umberto]

Cyrus CD8x is a nice player, albeit a little lean soundingand lacking in prescence. I have also heard the Marantz SA-11 which was quite bright sounding and the Arcam CD93 which was quite smooth sounding.

[alex]

the caspian m series should not be overlooked it is imho a smooth and detailed player but one mans meat etc. listen to all players on your list if you can, then ask for a home demo of maybe two of players you have shortlisted.alex.

[icehockeyboy]

s2000db wrote:

Unfortunately, I have to stick with the brands listed, as my dealer is currently being very accomodating with me...

Looks like the Marantz will have to be deleted as they don't stock any thing between £429 and £1999.

So that narrows it down a bit - any views on the MF X-rayv8 vs the A3.5?



Cheers DB

The X ray v3 is an A3.2 basically, in a smaller box, i was told this by an employee at MF, despite what others might say, folk say the 3.5 is a better player than its earlier model............ i prefer the larger cased stuff...........

[ErikFH]

icehockeyboy wrote:

The X ray v3 is an A3.2 basically, in a smaller box, i was told this by an employee at MF, despite what others might say, folk say the 3.5 is a better player than its earlier model............ i prefer the larger cased stuff...........

To my(and HFN)ears the X-ray V3wasan improvement over the 3.2. I think theyhaddifferent dacs but could be wrong.

Btw, question was V8 vs 3.5. MFreleases (to) many models in the same price range.

[gsrai]

s2000db wrote:

Unfortunately, I have to stick with the brands listed, as my dealer is currently being very accomodating with me...

Looks like the Marantz will have to be deleted as they don't stock any thing between £429 and £1999.

So that narrows it down a bit - any views on the MF X-rayv8 vs the A3.5?



Cheers DB

DB

I've just done a reviewette on the new MF X-Series in the equipment review section.

I think the X-Ray V8 is fantastic but do bear in mind that the player is £800 and you need a XXX PSU which is a further £300 to make it work!

I wouldn't bother with the A3.5 as they tend to go for £5-600 on ebay and that's new!

I had the Cyrus CD8x and I would go with the MF X-ray V8 (if you go for the X-T100 amp then the XXX PSU comes with it for £900 so you then only buy the CD player).

Either way, Cyrus or MF, there are upgrades a plenty to keep you tweaking for the whole of eternity!


Are you sure you cant get the Marantz SA15 ( I think that's really nice and is definetly under £2k)

[earl of sodbury]

Curiously, given what I've owned in the past, and what I've said about the brand - I would definitely not discount the Roksan Kaspian: Build can be iffy, but the very latest iteration is actually very good and a more interesting listen than most of the rest...

...the exception being the MF X-rayV8 - but I suspect that on its own it will be good, but unremarkable - I think Gobind's advice to secure the amp as well would ultimately be the direction to take were it me.

Arcam's always underrated - it's highly neutral, and if you like long listening sessions to challenging music, then this should be very high inyour list.

I've only ever heard one Cyrus system that sounded any good, and the owner of that sold it all and bought some goldy-lookin' japcrap ;)

Not heard current Denon kit, but Davewhit seems to have been impressed with his, and he's owned a LOT of kit...

good luck, churz, eofs

[Davewhityetagain]

earl of sodbury wrote:

Not heard current Denon kit, but Davewhit seems to have been impressed with his, and he's owned a LOT of kit...

good luck, churz, eofs

The Denon SACD player I have with tweaked power supply, being used as a transport is doing very well, its seen off a few players I have been messing with.

I think that now I have an extrenal dac, if I send it back to Tony he must be able to do even more, when he gets back on line will pick his brains, always knew it was going to be good because of its transport.

But more than its transport Denon have always put kit together well, look at all the tuners in use from years ago