newer marantz5004 vs older rega planet

soundfreak1

How would a tega planet stack up against something like a 5004 marantz or the like? Amy one jave tje rega? Thet are bout tje same money?

tonyb

Both good cdp's, with the Marantz probably being a tad more on the warmer side. So if your system is somewhat bright, the Marantz maybe the ticket.

soundfreak1

well they parasound amp i have leans towards the warm side plus my jared pre tends to add to that. Just want something that is accurate clean and has fast dynamic base without being artificialy bright.want to be wowed.

tonyb

soundfreak1 wrote: »

Just want something that is accurate clean and has fast dynamic base without being artificialy bright.want to be wowed.

I don't know about being "wowed" in the price range your looking at, but the traits your looking for is more attributed to the preamp rather than a cdp. Sure the pre isn't playing more so a role in what your lacking ? Maybe do some tube rolling ?

All things considered, the Marantz should do way better than a dvd player for cd playback.

gudnoyez

I have a 5004, for that price its a good sounding CDP, I just bought another Marantz yesterday a 5003, I am happy with them both.

soundfreak1

as far as tube rolling goes I've gone through about 6 different sets of tubes good ones and have settled on a matched set of telefunkens that handle such a wide variety of different music that I don't roll anymore. The amp , pre, speaker senergy is exctly what i was wanting. To the point that im perplexed and dont want to change anything. Leaving me only source improvments. And i dont to color the sound anymore with a cd. But want it to " stay out of the way" so to speak. My current cd just screwes it up. And im trying to avoid ( as much as possible) the rabbit hole of going through 10 or so diff. Cdp's in order to get. The right one. It took 5 years to get the sound i have now!!! Just trying ( maybe in vane) to avoid as much of that as i can. In the last 24 hours my available budget has increased substantialy ( big surprize tax refund) and want to buy smart.i can easly spend 3 to 4 hundred which is not much for a new cdp but i think i should be able to get a realy good vintage one ( i hope) for that much. At least a large improvment over what i have now which is crap admitedly. I just dont any exp. With cdp's.

drumminman

IMHO you really should think about getting a transport (a cdp with a digital output) and a stand alone dac. Some really good ones can be had for about the price of the 5004. I'm using a very old magnavox cdp with a hand built Peter Daniel NOS (non oversampling) dac - it's a magical combination.

I would try a dac with your present cdp if it has a digital output and go from there.

heiney9

I'd say if you have a good transport with digital outputs, get an Adcom GDA 600 dac. Best bang for the buck and better sounding than either of the cdp's mentioned. It will keep the sound you have and like.

H9

tonyb

The way I see it then, since you like your pre and amp, is your trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. Dac and a source. Budget as always plays a huge roll in this and many cdp's have pretty good dacs in them. If your wanting to stay within a few hundies, then stick with a good cdp like the Marantz.

You could buy a SB Touch too for a few hundies, download all your cd's into flac, plus the Touch's own built in dac is fairly good too. Just another thought/option for you. Believe me, I have a Sonos, and not getting up to change cd's, finding the wrong cd in the jacket, is long forgotten about. Think about your direction/budget and apply the funds to where you have a path to upgrade.

PreCd

Yea Tony but sometimes that is the only exercise we get. The turntable was the best exercise machine ever!

tonyb wrote: »

Believe me, I have a Sonos, and not getting up to change cd's, finding the wrong cd in the jacket, is long forgotten about.

heiney9

Tony the adcom for the same money would be a better sounding unit. But I can't remember what he's using for a transport. If it's reliable then and outboard dac is a great option because generally you will get more sound for your money.

I have found the source to be as important as the pre and amp. He is using Telefunken tubes w/ a Brimar rectifier in the Dared. TFK's are extremely neutral and don't have a tubey sound, they are much more linear and to me are closer to a solid state sound vs. something like a Mullard or old blackplate RCA's which seem to have that "tubey" sound comparatively. TFK's have amazing air and soundstage but are more balanced throughout the entire spectrum. Not as much midrange bloom.

I also 2nd the SQB Touch if he can swing it, right out of the box it's a nice unit and as funds become available he can look at a dac or some other upgrades such as a better power supply.

PreCd

What outputs does the squeezebox have?

heiney9

analog RCA

coax

toslink

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/squeezebox-touch

PreCd

So I could take the analog RCA out into the CD input on my pre? Can I use the squeezebox as a transport?

heiney9 wrote: »

analog RCA

coax

toslink

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/squeezebox-touch

heiney9

Yes, that's exactly what it is. Perhaps you should read the link I provided. You would need to rip your music to your computer and then stream it over your wireless network or you could run an ethernet cable from your computer to the SQB.

Are you familiar with this unit at all or how it works? I ask, because we are assuming you are, so if you aren't then you need to do some research and we can help you.

H9

tonyb

Yes, you can hook it up straight to the pre. Think of it as more so an interface between your computer and your stereo.

Also, think of it this way. A cdp gives you one source, obviously only cd's. The SB will let you play your cd's, and you can subscribe to a music service like Rhapsody for 10 bucks a month and have access to 15 million songs at your finger tips. Plus radio stationS from anywhere in the world so it takes the place of a tuner as well. You can download playlists from others IPODS, or even online. Slick devices. Upgrades would be a seperate dac when a few more hundies become available.

PreCd

Not familiar with it at all but have seen it mentioned many times here. I will visit that link, keep edumacated on it, and if I cannot live without it peel off the lettuce.

Thanks for the response.

To the original OP I have the Marantz CD5004 and enjoy it very much. The headphone out is very good. The tray seems a bit cheap to me as does the mechanics of the tray but it has a 3 year warranty. I definitely want it to last beyond that but at least it carries that. I agree that is warm sounding. I run a Adcom GFA-555 so it works well in my setup.

heiney9 wrote: »

Yes, that's exactly what it is. Perhaps you should read the link I provided. You would need to rip your music to your computer and then stream it over your wireless network or you could run an ethernet cable from your computer to the SQB.

Are you familiar with this unit at all or how it works? I ask, because we are assuming you are, so if you aren't then you need to do some research and we can help you.

H9

PreCd

I miss having a tuner so this is sounding very interesting.

tonyb wrote: »

Yes, you can hook it up straight to the pre. Think of it as more so an interface between your computer and your stereo.

Also, think of it this way. A cdp gives you one source, obviously only cd's. The SB will let you play your cd's, and you can subscribe to a music service like Rhapsody for 10 bucks a month and have access to 15 million songs at your finger tips. Plus radio stationS from anywhere in the world so it takes the place of a tuner as well. You can download playlists from others IPODS, or even online. Slick devices. Upgrades would be a seperate dac when a few more hundies become available.

decal

Look for a Marantz SA 8001. They are available frequently on A'gon and E-Bay for around $400.00. The CD playback section is fantastic and you have the option of stepping up to SACD if you really want to hear some good sound. I own one and no, it's not for sale!!!!

soundfreak1

if I understand a squeezebox correctly. I store my cds on my hard drive squeezebox allows me to access them interface them with my pre app either through wifi or ethernet or maybe even bluetooth this sounds much higher end but basically what I'm doing now with my internet streaming but but through a bluetooth dac. I assume and higher bit rate plus the ability to send the cd music from the hard drive to the preamp virtually eliminate the need of a cd transport. if I have that right that sounds interesting.i will do some research and edgeamacateyself on this.as i currently subscribe to groove shark and I am quite satisfied with the sound I get streaming their music then with the addition of my cds this may be a smart way for me to go. does anybody know the bit rate that's a squeezebox transfers steaming at?

heiney9

soundfreak1 wrote: »

does anybody know the bit rate that's a squeezebox transfers steaming at?

What streaming? It depends on the source. If it's a FLAC or WAV file then it's full cd bitrate, if it's a 192kbps MP3 then it's 192kbps, if it's internet radio whatever they are streaming at over the internet.

The SQB just receives the bitrate, it's doesn't determine it, the source of the material determines the bitrate.

Make sense?

H9

tonyb

soundfreak1 wrote: »

if I understand a squeezebox correctly. I store my cds on my hard drive squeezebox allows me to access them interface them with my pre app either through wifi or ethernet or maybe even bluetooth this sounds much higher end but basically what I'm doing now with my internet streaming but but through a bluetooth dac. I assume and higher bit rate plus the ability to send the cd music from the hard drive to the preamp virtually eliminate the need of a cd transport. if I have that right that sounds interesting.i will do some research and edgeamacateyself on this.as i currently subscribe to groove shark and I am quite satisfied with the sound I get streaming their music then with the addition of my cds this may be a smart way for me to go. does anybody know the bit rate that's a squeezebox transfers steaming at?

You have that right, and H9 answered the last part. Really, look into it, I haven't spun a cd in 6 months now or even bought a cd. With Rhapsody, I have more music I can ever listen too, can play other peoples play lists, edit, save. Plus access all my personal cd's. I use Sonos, same concept as the SB, both will get you there. I was slow to go the digital route myself, but now I'm diggin' it, the wife is diggin' it, all my guests dig it. Nothing like sitting out on the deck and letting your guests play whatever they like, without having to change cd's after every song. These devices will change the way you listen, what you listen to, and how often.

heiney9

tonyb wrote: »

These devices will change the way you listen, what you listen to, and how often.

Yep absolutely, and you'll never go back. I do have my DVDp hooked to my dac in the main rig for spinning cd's that I haven't had a chance to rip to my music server or if someone comes over, etc. Really though, it takes less than 5 minutes total to add a cd to your music library so it's not really necessary to even have a disc spinner anymore

H9

soundfreak1

got it
the question on the bitrate was just in case the squeeze box was limited by its technology I haven't fully study date yet but in my first perusal I saw something about 54 kb s I just wanted to be sure of its capabilities. does indeed seem like the answer to my problem especially considering I already have a subscription with groove shark.