I hope this will enlighten or iron out some of the opinions posted in the CD Players thread that was locked while I type this.
Check the three links below, they might be some of the most useful links you'd want to keep on your bookmarks for future use when choosing CD players/Transports:
1. Use this link to find what transport mechanism is used in specific CD player/transport models (it also includes info. on the DAC, but that's out of the scope of this thread)
CD-Player-DAC-Transport List:
http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm#T
2. Use this link to get brief explanations on various Philips mechanisms
The almost complete Philips CDM range of Swing Arm CD Mechanisms:
http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/specials/marantz-philips-classics/the-almost-complete-philips-cdm-range-of-swing-arm-cd-mechanisms/
3. Use this link to see specific mechanisms or laser (design and cost for comparison where applicable)
Various Mechanisms/Laser Units Details - Not in English, you can use Google Translate if needed:
http://www.ersatzteil.justone-schnepel.de/html/uebersichtsliste_lasereinheite.html
The above links proves consumers (us) are misled by brands, externally visible build quality / aesthetics and finally, the major misleading factor - price
The information from these websites justifies the little experiment I shared earlier (Reply #41 on this page https://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,69909.30.html)
The Harman Kardon DVD27 ($299) happens to use a slightly better mechanism (Sanyo SF-HD62) than the award winning Cambridge Audio 840C ($1,499) which uses the slightly cheaper Sanyo SF-P101N mechanism - if you scrutinise the two mechanisms, you'll understand why the HD62 costs a little more than the P101N.
Cambridge Audio uses the same relatively cheap mechanism (Sanyo SF-P101N) on their entry level Topaz CD5 ($180) as their top of the range Azur 851C ($1,999).
Again, this same relatively cheap Sanyo SF-P101N mechanism is used in:
MCINTOSH MCD1000 ($7,000)
Topaz CD5 ($180) - To emphasise the ridiculous price difference and build quality when compared to Mcntosh MCD1000
PRIMARE CD22
PRIMARE CD32
REGA SATURN
ROKSAN KANDY K2
ROKSAN CASPIAN M
VINCENT CD-400
VINCENT CD-S7
YAMAHA CD-C600
YAMAHA CD-S700
ADVANCE ACOUSTIC MCX-300
ADVANCE ACOUSTIC MCX-400
NAD C541
NAD C545BEE
ONKYO C-7030
On the other hand, MCINTOSH MCD301 ($5,800) uses a Sanyo SF-HD65 mechanism, basically the "same" mechanism (newer with possible improvements) as the Sanyo SF-HD62 mechanism found in my el-cheapo $299 Harman Kardon DVD27.
Ofcourse there are extremes where some of the best engineered mechanisms like the Philips CDM-1, CDM 12 Industrial, CDM-Pro etc. are used in high end CD players/transports like:
MCINTOSH MCD7000
MERIDIAN MCD
MBL 1521
MBL 1621
PROCEED CDP
MARK LEVINSON No 37, 39 & 31.5
And yes, you'll never find any of these extremely well engineered mechanisms on entry level / el-cheapo CD players or transport.
Bottom line is, Price, Brand, aesthetics and external build quality does not determine the quality of the transport mechanism used, and therefore the perceived sound quality, and yes power supplies and the clock generating crystals plays a role, but these cannot justify the price difference between the $7,000 Mcintosh and the other CD players listed that uses the same mechanism when used as a CD transport.
This point therefore justifies that statement that a decent CD transport mated with great DAC is most likely to do as good or better than even more expensive branded CD players.
Check the three links below, they might be some of the most useful links you'd want to keep on your bookmarks for future use when choosing CD players/Transports:
1. Use this link to find what transport mechanism is used in specific CD player/transport models (it also includes info. on the DAC, but that's out of the scope of this thread)
CD-Player-DAC-Transport List:
http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm#T
2. Use this link to get brief explanations on various Philips mechanisms
The almost complete Philips CDM range of Swing Arm CD Mechanisms:
http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/specials/marantz-philips-classics/the-almost-complete-philips-cdm-range-of-swing-arm-cd-mechanisms/
3. Use this link to see specific mechanisms or laser (design and cost for comparison where applicable)
Various Mechanisms/Laser Units Details - Not in English, you can use Google Translate if needed:
http://www.ersatzteil.justone-schnepel.de/html/uebersichtsliste_lasereinheite.html
The above links proves consumers (us) are misled by brands, externally visible build quality / aesthetics and finally, the major misleading factor - price
The information from these websites justifies the little experiment I shared earlier (Reply #41 on this page https://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,69909.30.html)
The Harman Kardon DVD27 ($299) happens to use a slightly better mechanism (Sanyo SF-HD62) than the award winning Cambridge Audio 840C ($1,499) which uses the slightly cheaper Sanyo SF-P101N mechanism - if you scrutinise the two mechanisms, you'll understand why the HD62 costs a little more than the P101N.
Cambridge Audio uses the same relatively cheap mechanism (Sanyo SF-P101N) on their entry level Topaz CD5 ($180) as their top of the range Azur 851C ($1,999).
Again, this same relatively cheap Sanyo SF-P101N mechanism is used in:
MCINTOSH MCD1000 ($7,000)
Topaz CD5 ($180) - To emphasise the ridiculous price difference and build quality when compared to Mcntosh MCD1000
PRIMARE CD22
PRIMARE CD32
REGA SATURN
ROKSAN KANDY K2
ROKSAN CASPIAN M
VINCENT CD-400
VINCENT CD-S7
YAMAHA CD-C600
YAMAHA CD-S700
ADVANCE ACOUSTIC MCX-300
ADVANCE ACOUSTIC MCX-400
NAD C541
NAD C545BEE
ONKYO C-7030
On the other hand, MCINTOSH MCD301 ($5,800) uses a Sanyo SF-HD65 mechanism, basically the "same" mechanism (newer with possible improvements) as the Sanyo SF-HD62 mechanism found in my el-cheapo $299 Harman Kardon DVD27.
Ofcourse there are extremes where some of the best engineered mechanisms like the Philips CDM-1, CDM 12 Industrial, CDM-Pro etc. are used in high end CD players/transports like:
MCINTOSH MCD7000
MERIDIAN MCD
MBL 1521
MBL 1621
PROCEED CDP
MARK LEVINSON No 37, 39 & 31.5
And yes, you'll never find any of these extremely well engineered mechanisms on entry level / el-cheapo CD players or transport.
Bottom line is, Price, Brand, aesthetics and external build quality does not determine the quality of the transport mechanism used, and therefore the perceived sound quality, and yes power supplies and the clock generating crystals plays a role, but these cannot justify the price difference between the $7,000 Mcintosh and the other CD players listed that uses the same mechanism when used as a CD transport.
This point therefore justifies that statement that a decent CD transport mated with great DAC is most likely to do as good or better than even more expensive branded CD players.
