Shanling CDT100A vs. Rega Apollo vs. Denon SACD

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,644
edited October 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
Weirdest shoot out ever ---

I will let Tom comment before me since the majority of the gear here is his ---

But was a pleasure to have Tom over, listened to some good tunes -- love that Audiophile voice CD - phenominal stuff...

Welcome anytime bud!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    The pleasure was mine Trey. I appreciated the opportunity to meet your mom and do this test. Man, what a very weird and confusing test session.

    The end result........<drum roll>...........

    Shanling came out on top. The Rega Apollo only sounded better on the first CD we put in [Sarah McGlachlin, Afterglow song 7] with Rat Shack Cables on both the Rega and the Shanling. The Denon SACD player wasn't hooked up yet.

    So, we listened to all sorts of CD's and then swapped the IC's to Silver IC's on both. We never listened to Sarah again, but we would play one song in the Shanling, and then we would try the same song on the Rega, playing all sorts of different types/genre's of music. We both came to the conclusion that the Shanling had a slight edge on clarity and it also had a lot more texture to the music, most specifically noticed when we played Carlos Franzetti's "Once Upon a Lifetime" redbook layer off the Chesky Records World's Greatest Audiophile recordings. The Rega also seemed to have a slight midrange emphasis that was not present on the Shanling. Subtle details were not present with this player or were a strain to listen for when compared to the Shanling. Overall, The Shanling was the preferred player.

    NOTE: Because Trey had a tube pre, we only tested the Shanling on the analog outs. We tried it once with the tubes and to be honest, it sounded like crap. Too tubey, sloppy and slow. That only lasted, what? 30 seconds before we went back to analog.

    That said, if you have read my other thread about getting True SACD from my Denon 2910, you will know that I am still unsure as to whether or not I am getting true SACD. We followed what the Denon Tech. had said to do, but couldn't figure it out. So were we listening to the SACD layer? Your guess is as good as mine.

    This player was the absolute loser in the test. Even with the "pure direct select" button engaged. No clarity when comparing to the both of them and the 3 dimensionality seemed to have flattened. Also the midrange emphasis was there as well, however worse than the Rega.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • read-alot
    read-alot Posts: 812
    edited October 2007
    I don't doubt the results at all guys but I have found for some reason my Apollo needs to "warm up" for at least 45 minutes of playing before it can be suitable to sit down for serious listening.
    polkaudio SRS (rdo194 x 8)
    Dodd ELP (separate power supply)
    JC 1 blocks ( strapped )
    Rega Apollo
    MIT (speaker cables) Outlaw (ICs)

    polkaudio SDA2(rdo194x4) (front) polkaudio CRS (rdo194x4)(rear) polkaudio 400i (center)
    B&K 505
    Samsung LCD
    VIP 622
    HSU STF-2
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited October 2007
    Because Trey had a tube pre, we only tested the Shanling on the analog outs. We tried it once with the tubes and to be honest, it sounded like crap. Too tubey, sloppy and slow. That only lasted, what? 30 seconds before we went back to analog.

    I'm not understanding that one.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    Some reason the tube output of the Shanling just dosnt mesh with my rig -- loses alot of detail, alot of everything...

    We listened to tunes for roughly 3 hours -- Rega was on the entire time, plenty of time to warm up... so I doubt that was the real factor --

    But my thoughts are just about the same, the Shanling in its analog output -- pretty much had the detail and texture over the Rega, where as the Denon didnt seem to click at all...

    Could be that we werent really in SACD at all - who knows

    I do know that for some reason it just didnt mesh well here...

    But I definitely would say the Shanling was the one to come out on top -- but it was very confusing there for a bit, at first the Shanling was to laid back -- then the very next CD, polar opposite traits to both... Shanling had the detail, clarity, etc -- and the Rega did not...

    Extremely weird..

    But was interesting

    And I really like Silver cables... thats for sure...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    I've never heard this sound before. The timing of the playback sounded slower than that of the analog, bass and mid bass was sloppy [mudded] and it just plain did not sound good at all. Quite obvious.

    Too tubey might not have been the best explanation for it. It did sound like crap though.

    Hey, read-alot....I was there for approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for this experiment and the Rega was running for a while before I left, and she's pretty broken in. I play all my Redbook on it. Trust me, I wasn't to god awful pleased at the outcome considering how much I paid for it brand new.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »
    Extremely weird..
    That's for sure. Glad you got a chance to hear some different cables other than Rat Shack on such a nice rig Trey. I don't think I ever asked you how you liked them.....
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    Well --

    I have SC else where, just that last connection is still ratshack :(

    But I have some of Ben's Silver ICs coming soon hopefully to finish it off! cant wait!

    Yeah, with the tube output used -- it just sounded horrid. Almost to relaxed is the best way to describe it --

    Its like the high end detail was still there, but the overall clarity of the entire recording was totally lost...

    But I definitely like silver cables -- right up my alley..

    Me and my brightness! ;)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited October 2007
    But my thoughts are just about the same, the Shanling in its analog output -- pretty much had the detail and texture over the Rega, where as the Denon didnt seem to click at all...

    The tube output is analog.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    Then why did it sound like crap? [not familiar with the Shanling]
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    When we say Analog outs --

    Its the set of outputs that bypass the tubes...

    The tube stage is an analog out with tubes in the path...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    The tube output is analog.
    Indeed, and the other set of analog outputs would be from an IC op-amp.Obviously the tube output stage is not the most neutral sounding.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited October 2007
    Ok, that's making sense now. It has both tube and SS analog outs.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    Indeed

    Sorry for the confusion
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2007
    Thanks for the review Trey. Do you know anyone with a CA 840C in NC? I'd love to hear your Shanling up against that CDP.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    unfortunately I do not...

    I did have the 540d at one time --- I doubt thats a good comparo
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    FYI, Jesse's "hot rod Jolida" whooped the snot out of the Rega as well at PF '07....:eek:

    I need a new player.:(
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    Theres the CDP I was telling you about, FWIW

    cd_player.jpg
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    Thanks. You gots a linky?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    I do...

    But..

    Do you happen to speak German? >_>

    Would be best to just give Klaus a call and ask him about that one.....

    13172995578

    This is pretty much all I can show you in English --
    http://www.symphonic-line.com/cd_player.htm

    And here it is in German --

    http://www.symphonic-line.de/produktbeschr_cd_player.htm
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited October 2007
    Preache' ;)
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2007
    Interesting review fellers. I have never been impressed with my Denon DVD-2910's SACD or Redbook playback....it is just BLAH. I found my CEC/Benchmark combo (redbook) sounded far better than the Denon SACD playback on Pink Floyds DSOTM.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited October 2007
    Thanks for the review guys. I was surprised about the tubes though.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited October 2007
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Thanks for the review Trey. Do you know anyone with a CA 840C in NC? I'd love to hear your Shanling up against that CDP.

    I was just going to say I would love to see an 840 in the mix. The 840 seems to be superior to the Apollo and pretty darn good against the Saturn.
    Venom
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