The best source you've heard on LSi speakers?

LuSh

Need some input on CD player sources. I've made a terrible mistake with my current NAD 541i cd player I'm afraid, and I'm now currently lookin for other players from Rega, Linn, Musical Fidelity, Roksan, Rotel and Simaudio.

I need some honest feedback. I want a higher end CD player. I'd prefer it to be a single unit. I understand I could buy a DAC but those advantages could be lost via interconnects. I'm not interested in mid-fi suggestions but by the same token I can't afford mid level high end CD sources which range from $2k-3K. I was hopping for around $1,500 CDN.

Any feedback is welcomed. My NAD is less then 4months old and I think my dealer would do a tradein. He carries Musical Fidelity and Linn, but if I hear or come across a Rega or Roksan player that sounds better (I've heard the MF CD A3.2's are rather bright, I'll find out monday) I'd be willing to sell my NAD online and then purchase the right CD player. Right now though I'm a cat lost in a hat I just need overall direction and suggestions, obviously the overall conclusions will be made by me.

pjdami

I have the Jolida J100a with Level one mod from Underwood Hi Fi.

http://www.underwoodhifi.com/mod_jolida.html

The mod includes a lot of things you can read about there on the website. Included are Svetlana 12AX7 output tubes.

I also have a Rotel RCD961 cdp, a Myryad Z100 cdp, and recently acquired a Musical Fidelity Pre - Cd.

The Jolida bests the Rotel and the Myryad. You get a little of that tube sweetness in there with it. The margin of victory is slim though but slightly there in the highs. I've been burning in the Musical Fidelity Pre - cd for a couple of weeks. Haven't compared it to the Jolida yet but plan to. You can get the MF Pre - cd for the same price as the Jolida from Underwood Hi-Fi. A great deal if he still has any left because that's like half off and you get a preamp as well. Ask to talk to Walter.

pjdami

p.s. the cool thing about the Jolida is that you can change out the tubes and change the sound. Although the Svetlanas are pretty good for me.

organ

What don't you like about the 541i? What other components do you have connected to it? Are you using the analog or digital out?

Maurice

RuSsMaN

The best source for LSi?

Unplug whatever you have going to the LSi's, and put SDA in the loop instead. INSTANT improvement.

Cheers,
Rooster

pjdami

Unplug whatever you have going to the LSi's, and put SDA in the loop instead. INSTANT improvement.

WTF Russ??

Hey man I respect your opinion and everything but was a comment like this really necessary? It has no significance to the question asked in this thread.

I'm glad that you have found your audio karma in your SDAs but Polk doesn't sell them anymore and they are hard to come by for many of us. The LSi aren't perfect by any means either but they have more strengths than weaknesses and it is the product that Polk is currently manufacturing and that I support.

Were you drunk last night?

RuSsMaN

Pj,

Was I drunk? Maybe.

Are you on your period? Obviously.

Lighten up already, I dig the LSi and have made postive comments on them since their release. Even got a write-up in the Speaker Specialist on the first Texas Gathering.

Everyone else,

Sorry for the comment meant in jest, and the de-rail.

Cheers,
Russ

LuSh

I'm using analog Cardas 300B twinlink interconnects with Kimber 8TC wiring.

The NAD is a very entry level player as I'm finidng out once I upgraded my Amp (to the Moon) and I'm interested in making sure if I do upgrade my source that It's at or beyond the level of my existing gear.

ATCvenom, I'll find out tommorow about the MF, I've heard the exact same thing. I've been reading review on the Roksans, Linn's and Rega's.

The Rega is probably the cheapest solution but I'm not really after cheap at this point, I'm after getting it right.


RussMan. I think speakers are the last link to the puzzle. I always prefer to build from source up. Anything else could mean hi-fi dollars to mid-fi sound.

steveinaz

1. Rega Planet 2000
2. Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 (latest version)

Both outstanding players under $800. I think this is about as good as it gets for the $1000 and under range....

pjdami

Okay cool Russ. Didn't realize you meant that in fun. I'll go back in the archives and look at the first Texas Gathering.

Period me? No not me. I do tend to be on the serious side most of the time and do need to loosen up. Ironically, I donated blood on Friday. Low red blood cell count maybe.

Lush,

Okay back on track. Some other good recommendations here. I'll be interested in what your findings are. For me at least, I have found more similarities than differences in the $500 - $1000 price class. More like lateral moves really in sound quality or personal preference if it can even be perceived. I wouldn't bet that I could tell the difference between any of the three players that I have if I left for a week and someone hooked them up individually and I didn't know which one was playing. They all sound pretty good really. The website where there are some reviews that say the Jolida blows away the other cd players .... well I have to say that in my experience with it on two different systems that I have in different rooms that is not the case at all. More similarities to me than huge differences. Slightly better with the tube output but is it worth the extra coin is the huge question.

polkatese

Once upon a time, I used to believe that the price of a stand-alone source quality player, whether it be a cassette deck, CDP, or turntable, would always outshine a cheaper one. Now, after owning two modded CDPs, I am a convert! In the hand of a highly experienced modder, a moderately priced player can easily beats a much higher-priced player. I have to say, the LSi is a very natural sounding speakers, given the right source. Not until I have the modded CDPs that I was truly able to appreciate its merits. Quality of its amplification will only take it so far, and the caveat is a capable high-current amps. Case in point, with the little modded Pio 563A-S, and the 15, I've been discovering music again! Nothing like hearing the same song that you play so many times before, and finding a little nuances here and there, nuances, expanding soundstage, and all. My other modded Philips, with doubling of the DAC on ALL channels has transformed my multi-channels experience to the next level. I am not going to bore you with superlatives in describing my new appreciation of listening to my music with the modded players, suffice to say that one has to hear it himself to appreciate it. So, the best source for LSis? of course it is highly subjective, but any player that can move you emotionally, is what you need. Start with an appreciation of how live music sounds, and go from there. For me, these two players are my reference, and my next level for me is to pair them up with a Sonus Faber Grand...

(boy, I sound like Sean and that's a complement to him)

Hope my rambling makes sense to LuSh.

mantis

Lush,
try running a pair of Kimber Hero's.Then decide if the cd player still doesn't sound right.

Honestly I don't care for NAD gear.I find it cheaply built and sound quality to go with it.Not expensive gear but with companies like Rotel in that price bracket,no brainer for me anyway.

Cd players well I personally like the Sony 777es sacd cd player.It's disco now and retailed for 3500.00.It sounds fantastic no matter what you put in it.They also released a new one in the 9000es.It's as nice sounding but I'm not sure in the looks department.

Regas are nice but not my cup of tea.

The Rotel rcd1072 is suppost to be hot but I have not personally demo'd the unit.I like there last years model alot.Great sounding player and in my opnion destroys NAD's.

I have doen some jobs with NAD gear and was very dissipointed in there overall performance.

A pair of Hero's and a Sony ES cd player and I think your in business.

Dan

organ

Originally posted by mantis
Lush,
try running a pair of Kimber Hero's.Then decide if the cd player still doesn't sound right.

Honestly I don't care for NAD gear.I find it cheaply built and sound quality to go with it.Not expensive gear but with companies like Rotel in that price bracket,no brainer for me anyway.

Cd players well I personally like the Sony 777es sacd cd player.It's disco now and retailed for 3500.00.It sounds fantastic no matter what you put in it.They also released a new one in the 9000es.It's as nice sounding but I'm not sure in the looks department.

Regas are nice but not my cup of tea.

The Rotel rcd1072 is suppost to be hot but I have not personally demo'd the unit.I like there last years model alot.Great sounding player and in my opnion destroys NAD's.

I have doen some jobs with NAD gear and was very dissipointed in there overall performance.

A pair of Hero's and a Sony ES cd player and I think your in business.

Don't agree with you there, Dan. My NAD pre amp is MUCH better built AND sound a lot better than the Rotel. If you don't believe me, I'll strip both girls and take pics. Rotel was pretty cheap on the female RCA's providing a gold plated input only for the CD input while the NAD has gold plated on all inputs and outputs. That's only the beginning. You should see the transformer on the NAD compared to the Rotel.

Rotel looks much better in pictures but in person the NAD's build quality is superior. I'm comparing the Rotel RC-971 to the NAD C160.

Maurice

organ

Sean,
The Rotel is a pre amp just like the NAD and they're both about the same age. Yeah, the components like the resistors and small caps are about equal but the power supply of the NAD is superior to Rotel. The Rotel uses a normal cheap tranny while the NAD have a much larger Holmgren transformer. I'm sure you can see them in your C370. The smaller one is for the pre section and larger one for the amp. Also, the pot used to adjust gain on the Rotel isn't as good as the one on the NAD. Rotel's pot doesn't provide equal attenuation on both channel until you reach a certain point. If you're going to be running it under the 9 o' clock position, the balance have to be moved slightly to the right. This was also mentioned in a professional review.

I agree with you about how Rotel seems to be the jack of all trades but the NAD is much better in the mids and bass extension.

Maurice

organ

****, I think you're right. I'll have to search for that review again and get the date.

Maurice