Let's talk about the low-ends (Monitor 50 et all)

tommyboy

shack wrote:

The best single item that will take your current system to the next level is the source, whether it be a good CD player and/or turntable. There is nothing at CC that I would consider for a CDP (Well maybe the Sony CE-595 CD/SACD changer - It is considered to be a real bargain at its price-point of $149). I would search this forum and others to see what is out there.

Shack

sorry for asking so many questions about the subject but here goes. I could get the sony 595 cd/sacd player for a nice discount but I will not be using it as a sacd player since I don't have any super audio cds and don't plan to. I just want to listen to some good quality stereo music on my entry level system. Sony has a little cheaper cd player(cdpce375) that doesn't play super audio. My question is, did you recommend the 595 because it is a sacd player or because you think it sounds great for a little higher end system?

by the way, thanks shack for the info(previous threads), now I know I should definetly by a seperate cd player for my system

shack

Mainly as a good SACD player, but for the money it is a good entry level CDP. I have heard this player on a couple of occasions and it compares very favorably to my Sony CE775. I like Sony SACD players....so I'm a little biased. Here are a couple of reviews that think so too.

Enjoy the Music

Positive Feedback

Audiophile Audition

shack

Bob Richards wrote:

Many thanks for your inputs. I do have a new Onkyo DVD/CD 6 Disc player that I like very much. I'll keep reading and learning and take it one step at a time.

I would defintely consider a CDP as my next upgrade.

Tour2ma

BjornB17 wrote:

Please stop me from buying those outlaw monoblocks, i still need money to feed myself!

Food is overrated...

May have been covered somewhere above, but the new Monitor series' tweeters have a break in period after which they smooth out some.

However, even after break-in and with amp/ source/ wire/ etc. upgrades, they are never going to be as smooth at higher volume levels as RTi's and LSi's...

While they are quite good for a budget speaker line, there's a reason they're the budget line.

tommyboy

One last question about the sony 595 cd player. I noticed that it had a fiber optic input for cd use. My reciever of course has a optical input(pretty much all do nowadays) so for music, in your opinions, will music sound better with fiber optic or rca's?

shack

Even at $150 I'm willing to bet the DACs in the Sony are much better than the ones in the Onkyo AVR. So use RCA interconnects...decent ones...not the crap that comes with the player...and don't ask...search the forum for "Cables"...you can spend a week reading all the posts.

tommyboy

don't worry shack, i wasn't going to go that far

Tour2ma

shack wrote:

...search the forum for "Cables"...you can spend a week reading all the posts.

But if you skip over the "helps/ helps-not" arguments and subsequent name-calling, it's about 5 minutes worth of info...