Rob, There is no question at all that upgrading your source will take your entire system to a much more enriching level. See if you can get out and hear a few. If you bought your speakers & amp from a dealer, see if they will allow you to try out some players in your home. I'm willing to bet that whatever you like in your rental home will be great in the new place as well. Good luck!
Photofreak, Sorry I came off so confrontational. I too think there are excellent CD players to be had at $4000 or under. It just so happens that in my experience, the best players I've heard were slightly more expensive, including the AA Capitole MKII, which seems to be around $4500 on the used market. The SE upgrade runs $700. Also, some of the modded players from Modwright, Exemplar, APL, etc. are definitely worth a listen. For a guy who has $80K+ in an amp/speaker combination, cuting corners on a source component would not make sense, at least not in my opinion. Which of course, is just that: an opinion. Regards, Howard
I don't know if Photofreak is actually referring to the MKII SE version of the Capitole, but it is by no means an overrated machine. If so, by what rating system? To what have you compared the LATEST version of that player? And in what way do the "modest" players equal it? To my ear, they simply can't keep up. Or maybe over 1/2 the vendors at T.H.E. Show should have opted for the Jolida instead of using the Capitole?
I've owned the Rega Planet, the Planet 2000, the Jolida, the AA Prima, the AA Capitole MKI, and have heard the MKII extensively. It is a stellar machine, and NO, I don't even own one. Neither the Jolida (or Photofreak's "modest" source) can come close to the playback of the Capitole, or any of the other mid-priced players, for that matter.
With a pair of AG Trios & Cary 1610SE monoblocks, you have over $80K in those two components alone. I'm sorry, but to suggest that a $900 CD player sitting on a bike tube is an adequate conductor for that orchestra simply misses the point. Because your system, Rhoneycutt, ain't modest. Held back by the shortcomings of its source, perhaps. But it is not a modest system, and it requires a source that can adequately showcase the capabilities of the other players. Best of luck! Howard
Absolutely phenomenal system. I agree with Kirk (Audiofankj) that an upgrade to something like the AA Capitole will bring your source to a level that is commensurate with the rest of the gear. The sonic improvement from such an upgrade will be enormous. No joke. You will be shocked by the difference. Enjoy!
