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Path: utzoo!utcsri!utai!utflis!molnar
From: molnar@utflis.UUCP (Tom Molnar)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: CD players
Message-ID: <145@utflis.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 25-May-85 02:43:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: utflis.145
Posted: Sat May 25 02:43:57 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 26-May-85 01:45:53 EDT
Reply-To: molnar@utflis.UUCP (Tom Molnar)
Organization: FLIS, University of Toronto
Lines: 46

Well, I took the plunge. I bought a CD player even though I
own one of the best turntable tonearm systems available
(Oracle Delphi/SAEC/Dynavector). I decided to step gingerly and bought
one of the less expensive Yamaha CD-X2 CD players. The price was right
($490 Cdn).

Before buying the unit, I read as many reviews in back issues of
audio mags as I could find in the local library. The general opinion
of reviewers in the "main stream" (read: non-esoteric) magazines
is that CD players all sound alike in general, and differ primarily
in the "features".

Funny thing was, that when I listened to the Mission, Nakamichi, Philips,
Yamaha, Luxman etc CD players - I could *definitly* hear a difference.
Now am I imagining this? Or have others found significant differences
in the sounds of the various CD players? 

There was a marked difference in the sound between a Meridian and a Yamaha,
between a Nakamichi and a Sony... etc. This difference was primarily in the
high end, and in the imaging. The older Yamaha CD-2 is downright shrill.
Strings are squeaky, voices shrill, and in general slightly uncomfortable.
In fact, I had to turn the treble down because I experienced fatigue.

The Mission and Philips players were easier to listen to than the bright
Yamaha and Sony (I forgot the Sony model, I think it was a second generation
unit). Strings were more natural, voices easier to listen to etc.

The Mission and the Nakamichi both exhibited very good imaging. Better than
the others I had listened to. I expect this might be attributed to  careful
filtering techniques (? correct me if I am wrong..).

I finally settled on the Yamaha CD-X2 since it is a reliable machine. On
the bright side mind you, but I can tame it with my tone controls. Besides
I figure I'll move on to a Mission later and give this unit to a friend.
I want to see what the third generation machine will be like before
I sink lots of cash into CD stuff.

I suggest listening to the CD players before buying one. They sure did
sound different to me, and they might to you too. Take along (or borrow)
a good set of head phones (I used Stax Sigmas) too.

I was (am) very impressed with my CD player. Incredible. I paid less
than 20% for the CD player than for my turntable and the music quality
sure does approach my Oracle.

						Tom Molnar