CD10 back in the rack

[Gyp]

My CD player needed a belt replacement a good while back and, to be honest, I messed it up. Rather than potentially make it worse I decided it would be best to send it to Marantz' authorised service centre.

For reasons that I can't entirely explain, having made that decision and boxed it up, it's sat in the spare room for about 3 years. But about 6 weeks ago I finally got round to shipping it.

It's now back, fully sorted and serviced, back in the rack and all connected in.

I reckon that it's probably been 4 or 5 years in total that I've been CD-free, so it was a wonder to pop a few disks in after an extended period of streaming.

I can definitely say that a CD10 - Rega DAC - Michi pre/power - 105/3 musical experience is far superior to the Sportify - pair of Echo Dot experience

It's like discovering HiFi all over again!

 

[JANDL100]

I reckon that it's probably been 4 or 5 years in total that I've been CD-free, so it was a wonder to pop a few disks in after an extended period of streaming.

Strangely coincidentally, I bought a new CD player (well, actually 2 CD players) over the last few days, after several years of streaming.

And, like you, I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience!

 

[JANDL100]

How about a photo of your resurrected pride and joy?

 

[Gyp]

How about a photo of your resurrected pride and joy?

Not my best photography, but is a reminder that I need to tidy up my cables at some point!

 

[JANDL100]

Lovely!

I remember those.

What an interesting system.
And large KEFs.

 

[JANDL100]

Double post.

 

[rabski]

I still use my Pioneer stable platter as a transport, as well as a somewhat temperamental Micromega transport. Never mind Spotify, on more than a few albums, CD sounds better than Qobuz 'CD quality' using the same DAC. Most times there's not a lot in it though (if anything), and the convenience factor is major. When I want inconvenience, I'd rather just play vinyl.

 

[JANDL100]

Hmm, yes.
But a CD revival is healthier.
It's like a vinyl revival but without the OCD.

 

[MVJ]

Not my best photography, but is a reminder that I need to tidy up my cables at some point!

Lovely player and system

I have been listening to CD's since I bought my first player in the late 80's I just can't imagine not having my CD collection to play.

I have a vinyl set up too which is great and I also stream music mainly but stuff to see if I like it before getting a hard copy or if I'm feeling idle.

 

[hiacedrifter]

Not my best photography, but is a reminder that I need to tidy up my cables at some point!

Lovely looking CD player, and my word those amps are glorious (I had to google them!)

RE upgrade/service "paralysis" (my word) I bought and sold a couple of items without ever listening to them ... just couldn't bring myself to do AB testing with CD v SACD player or CD v separate transport/dac. In the end they came and went and my Saturn CD never left it's shelf.

 

[Jules_S]

Original Michi too, rather than the new one. I had the PH10 phono some years back and liked it very much. Build quality was stunning.

Love the CD10 - that's a proper behemoth!

 

[Gyp]

Lovely!

I remember those.

What an interesting system.
And large KEFs.

Indeed.

All bought in the 90's when I was single and solvent.

Thankfully the missus can't lift them so they are staying put.

 

[Gyp]

I still use my Pioneer stable platter as a transport, as well as a somewhat temperamental Micromega transport. Never mind Spotify, on more than a few albums, CD sounds better than Qobuz 'CD quality' using the same DAC. Most times there's not a lot in it though (if anything), and the convenience factor is major. When I want inconvenience, I'd rather just play vinyl.

The CD10 replaced a Pioneer PD-9700 which was pretty darned good and would likely still be used if I'd paired it with the Rega DAC way back when

 

[Idlewithnodrive]

solvent

You obviously don't have vinyl as your primary source

 

[tackleberry]

Good player. And a rotel Michi

 

[Pet27]

Indeed.

All bought in the 90's when I was single and solvent.

Thankfully the missus can't lift them so they are staying put.

Love those speakers !

 

[Headcoat]

I still use my Pioneer stable platter as a transport, as well as a somewhat temperamental Micromega transport. Never mind Spotify, on more than a few albums, CD sounds better than Qobuz 'CD quality' using the same DAC. Most times there's not a lot in it though (if anything), and the convenience factor is major. When I want inconvenience, I'd rather just play vinyl.

That Micromega transport has been temperamental for at least 15 years, I reckon it'll still be the same in another 15

 

[Juancho]

I still use my Pioneer stable platter as a transport, as well as a somewhat temperamental Micromega transport. Never mind Spotify, on more than a few albums, CD sounds better than Qobuz 'CD quality' using the same DAC. Most times there's not a lot in it though (if anything), and the convenience factor is major. When I want inconvenience, I'd rather just play vinyl.

I think Rabski you are using SPDIF between transport and DAC. I don't think you'll get the best out of streaming Qobuz until you've got your streamer in the same box connected via i2s. Done this way I much prefer Qobuz to CDs

 

[Gyp]

Err... has WAM got a confessional as I think I need it.

Connecting the CD player back in, I felt that it was good, but not as good as I remembered.

I put this down to my ears being 30 years older than when I bought the kit, and it being a few years since it was all together.

Tonight I plugged in the Celestion Ditton 44s in to check they were ok and something was missing. Something in the musicality wasn't quite there.

So I swung them round so they faced each other and moved them close.

You can probably see where this is going...

Anyway, after some investigation, it seems that the last time I wrestled the amp out for a dusting I got one set of speaker cables crossed over so the speakers were out of sync.

Unsurprisingly the 44s sounded an awful lot better after I sorted the cables out.

And having connected the Kefs back in, the system sounds awesome. Just like I remember.

...and goes some way to explain why I've found streaming to be more disappointing than it deserved to be for the last couple of years.

Ho hum.