Phil is such a nice guy. About 2 months ago I dealt with him regarding a Rega Amp, and some Really under the radar Ophidian speakers (they were both great). He is old school. Man of his word. But if you want the latest psycoaudio RE streamers and digital. He isn't tbh, your man. I am investigating that side elsewhere. But that in no way negates his experience and expertise. He's a good guy.
Transport/Dac is the best way to go. We have been seeing more transports being produced as of the last year or so! Atoll is great! Make no mistake. A quality product.
I glad audio research got mentioned for the first time in this series (I think). It would be interesting to see how well this player would compare with say the ARC CD8 which came about 15 years ago but already then costed more than twice the amount of the CD400se
I’m very pleased to see more cd players, especially as I’m going from a Melco server with all my cd's ripped to it, back to a dedicated cd transport as I still feel they sound better than being ripped. Simaudio Moon 260DT. Playing music from a tablet just left me cold and completely detached from the music, with constant track hopping and never really enjoying it. With physical media I tend to listen to a whole album and convenience whilst sacrificing enjoyment and ultimately sound quality wasn’t a price worth paying. It's actually quite incredible that Audiolab have 3 dedicated transports, Primare have two and now TEAC have just brought back the VRDS system with a transport at £2k. Pro-Ject have just brought out the RS2 T with the new stream elements cd mech so lots of options available.
That’s interesting as I have found the reverse. I guess it partly depends on which models are being compared. I moved away from CD to streaming, partly because I had no more storage space despite a number of purges and felt that the sound quality was compatible. I recently added a Melco to my system and have been importing my CD’s. To me, this sounds much better than the CD transport I used prior to going down the streaming route. This is just my experience and I realise that options will differ. At the end of the day, it’s about what works best for each person. I do tend to listen to albums all the way through. However, I do understand that track hopping can be tempting.
I've been happy with my year old PS Audio Transport that I bought for CD's and SACD's. It couples to the pS Audio DirectStream via I2S over HDMI. The Atoll looks interesting but the cost is over twice my PS Audio but you do need an external DAC with PS. Like you my tastes tend towards the 1970 era, I still plat records i brought back with me from Korea when I was up on a mountaintop radio site.
My Naim puck became very tired and being a cyclist I got out my puncture repair kit and stuck to the puck two puncture repair patches one on top of the other on to the underside of the puck and shape the patches to fit the puck. It grips the cd's like glue.
I don’t like cd’s but I love your channel so I liked it anyway ❤ps please can you let me know your thoughts on the best possible speakers for a Rega Elex-r amp
Considered buying that for upgrading. ( still have an Audiolab 6000 transport coupled to Heed Abacus DAC through Atls Mavros)… but then I went straight to the “Tank” aka the Electrocompaniet EMC1… Jesus never money were better spent. Try if you ever have the chance listening to it. A truly musical cd player… totally isolated ( almost 20 kilos) and sounding really lovely…
True, Atoll sounds better with use! I own the transport! Mechanism is very quiet. Sounds is well balanced, good detail and separation are main qualities! No balanced XLR 's
Why would they send out a unit for review that isn't run in already, and then ask for it back before it sounds its best? Is their marketing department clueless about high end audio?
Great review one of the few guys I trust on You Tube I would like one but not at those prices I spent over 3000 pounds in the 80' and 90's on players but the sound was second rate to my vinyl so I gave up
Interesting review. Ive always enjoyed the CD format from the early Meridian Pro, CDs2 then Naim CDS3 with a 555 power. The review is timely as my CDS3 may be un repairable ie the mechanism. You did mention Naim in your dialogue and I know you should not make reference to memory....I have a choice to buy a CD555 or do I look towards the Atol. Its difficult to do a true A B comparison. Any thoughts🤔🎵🎵🎵
Naim audio are not interested in c.d players anymore,there more interesting in boring streaming,attol take cd seriously a good range at sensible prices
Did Phil really say that this CD player was nearly as engaging as a Nottingham Analogue Interspace Junior TT? ( 14.50) Given that he sells the latter for £1,400 (say £2000 including cartridge) it makes the CD player sound expensive! And that is always my problem with CD player reviews- I want a CD player that sounds as good as my TT and most reviewers are focussed on one or the other, not the comparison. Still, as ever, an interesting review/discussion.
th-cam.com/video/_V9GziuSldU/w-d-xo.html I quite enjoyed music on CD in the 1990's, but then I did have an Arcam Alpha 5, which sadly died after about ten years use. Phil has mentioned the Alpha 5 as being a good sounding player, having quite an analogue, more vinyl like sound, though it was never as good as my Rega Planar 3 and would not hold a candle to it now I've got a nice cartridge on the Rega. Maybe, it's "analogue-ness" was what made the Alpha-5 enjoyable for a CD player???
The irony of the "next best thing hype" is sometimes being new and revolutionary the tech is interesting, enticing, better(?) or perhaps more practical and convenient on paper but not fully resolved... So often there is a need for companies to try and test the market and as make some money and revenue to cover the initial and ongoing R&D costs! So in some cases the public really are actually guinea pigs of marketing hype ...and then companies use profits to refine and improve second and third generation products ...that might eventually catch up with the original marketing claims and hype! But strangely, even though the marketing and digital tech has taken over almost every aspect of recording, broadcasting, production and playback....it's still subjectively behind vinyl and some older analogue technologies...even though the increased bandwidth should make digital miles ahead.... But perhaps that's the problem - less is more 😂- as even ripping vinyl to digital files can be revealing and eye opening! Mind you I personally dont miss the phaff, ceremomy and constraints of vinyl over digital
Looks stunning.... but at $7800 USD.... a bit expensive !!! Hard for me to justify financially... But so happy for those that can afford em.
Phil is such a nice guy.
About 2 months ago I dealt with him regarding a Rega Amp, and some Really under the radar Ophidian speakers (they were both great).
He is old school. Man of his word. But if you want the latest psycoaudio RE streamers and digital. He isn't tbh, your man.
I am investigating that side elsewhere. But that in no way negates his experience and expertise.
He's a good guy.
Transport/Dac is the best way to go. We have been seeing more transports being produced as of the last year or so! Atoll is great! Make no mistake. A quality product.
@@eugeneniemierzycki6490cd transporters and desperate DACs big con , your paying for a expensive case works, cables and mains leads,
I glad audio research got mentioned for the first time in this series (I think). It would be interesting to see how well this player would compare with say the ARC CD8 which came about 15 years ago but already then costed more than twice the amount of the CD400se
I’m very pleased to see more cd players, especially as I’m going from a Melco server with all my cd's ripped to it, back to a dedicated cd transport as I still feel they sound better than being ripped. Simaudio Moon 260DT.
Playing music from a tablet just left me cold and completely detached from the music, with constant track hopping and never really enjoying it. With physical media I tend to listen to a whole album and convenience whilst sacrificing enjoyment and ultimately sound quality wasn’t a price worth paying.
It's actually quite incredible that Audiolab have 3 dedicated transports, Primare have two and now TEAC have just brought back the VRDS system with a transport at £2k. Pro-Ject have just brought out the RS2 T with the new stream elements cd mech so lots of options available.
That’s interesting as I have found the reverse. I guess it partly depends on which models are being compared. I moved away from CD to streaming, partly because I had no more storage space despite a number of purges and felt that the sound quality was compatible.
I recently added a Melco to my system and have been importing my CD’s. To me, this sounds much better than the CD transport I used prior to going down the streaming route.
This is just my experience and I realise that options will differ. At the end of the day, it’s about what works best for each person.
I do tend to listen to albums all the way through. However, I do understand that track hopping can be tempting.
Also if cd transports are not perfect ripping will be limited to how good the cd transport is, won’t it?
@@Coneman3 Good point. I did invest in a good drive to maximise the quality of the rips.
I've been happy with my year old PS Audio Transport that I bought for CD's and SACD's. It couples to the pS Audio DirectStream via I2S over HDMI. The Atoll looks interesting but the cost is over twice my PS Audio but you do need an external DAC with PS.
Like you my tastes tend towards the 1970 era, I still plat records i brought back with me from Korea when I was up on a mountaintop radio site.
My Naim puck became very tired and being a cyclist I got out my puncture repair kit and stuck to the puck two puncture repair patches one on top of the other on to the underside of the puck and shape the patches to fit the puck. It grips the cd's like glue.
Nice fettling!
love the design remeinds me of a projector from Barco the shape
Fabulous advert for turntables and vinyl.
I remember seeing a thing about a Denon transport/dac CD player for something like £30k *years* ago
I don’t like cd’s but I love your channel so I liked it anyway ❤ps please can you let me know your thoughts on the best possible speakers for a Rega Elex-r amp
Looks a bit fiddly getting discs in. I could see them getting scratched on the sides but maybe it's bigger than it looks
Considered buying that for upgrading. ( still have an Audiolab 6000 transport coupled to Heed Abacus DAC through Atls Mavros)… but then I went straight to the “Tank” aka the Electrocompaniet EMC1… Jesus never money were better spent. Try if you ever have the chance listening to it. A truly musical cd player… totally isolated ( almost 20 kilos) and sounding really lovely…
Still Love my AstinTrew 3500plus
True, Atoll sounds better with use! I own the transport! Mechanism is very quiet.
Sounds is well balanced, good detail and separation are main qualities! No balanced XLR 's
Why would they send out a unit for review that isn't run in already, and then ask for it back before it sounds its best? Is their marketing department clueless about high end audio?
Great review one of the few guys I trust on You Tube I would like one but not at those prices I spent over 3000 pounds in the 80' and 90's on players but the sound was second rate to my vinyl so I gave up
Interesting review. Ive always enjoyed the CD format from the early Meridian Pro, CDs2 then Naim CDS3 with a 555 power. The review is timely as my CDS3 may be un repairable ie the mechanism. You did mention Naim in your dialogue and I know you should not make reference to memory....I have a choice to buy a CD555 or do I look towards the Atol. Its difficult to do a true A B comparison. Any thoughts🤔🎵🎵🎵
Naim audio are not interested in c.d players anymore,there more interesting in boring streaming,attol take cd seriously a good range at sensible prices
Did Phil really say that this CD player was nearly as engaging as a Nottingham Analogue Interspace Junior TT? ( 14.50) Given that he sells the latter for £1,400 (say £2000 including cartridge) it makes the CD player sound expensive! And that is always my problem with CD player reviews- I want a CD player that sounds as good as my TT and most reviewers are focussed on one or the other, not the comparison.
Still, as ever, an interesting review/discussion.
looks very cool but what an unimaginative name to give such a machine - CD400se sounds like a marantz
Leema are making good players.
I want one of their top line ones
As soon as you hear running a CD in, the end.
It's not a square box
Love it.
There must be billions and billions CD,s out there. The question is.why are there not more new players on the market?
JA Surrealistic Pillow - 1967
If I brought that home and my wife saw it I,d be out on the street 😅
"bit by bit it got better" 😊 or was it byte by byte.
th-cam.com/video/_V9GziuSldU/w-d-xo.html I quite enjoyed music on CD in the 1990's, but then I did have an Arcam Alpha 5, which sadly died after about ten years use. Phil has mentioned the Alpha 5 as being a good sounding player, having quite an analogue, more vinyl like sound, though it was never as good as my Rega Planar 3 and would not hold a candle to it now I've got a nice cartridge on the Rega. Maybe, it's "analogue-ness" was what made the Alpha-5 enjoyable for a CD player???
Rega Saturn mark 3 and Dac in one is astounding and UK BUILT
Looks like a QVC toaster
Hello? Esoteric ????
The only company designing and building bespoke new VRDS CD/SACD transports...
Looks like a specialist toaster. Stunning , to say the least.
Oh no I've bought a Cyrus CDi for £1000 I didn't even know about the Atol. What should I do?
Kate Rusby is always a good listen. I have a Bel Canto transport which is very good. Excellent sound stage presentation, but expensive.
Cd players got better 'bit by bit' 😅
Oh Look ( EXPOSURE - TAKE NOTE ) ..... A Hole / Indent for your Finger / Thumb .....
So that U can EASILY ... Open the 'Door' ! ! 🤔
minging - sorry!
Psychoacoustic delusional bias ... very much evident here ... 😂🤣😅
The irony of the "next best thing hype" is sometimes being new and revolutionary the tech is interesting, enticing, better(?) or perhaps more practical and convenient on paper but not fully resolved... So often there is a need for companies to try and test the market and as make some money and revenue to cover the initial and ongoing R&D costs!
So in some cases the public really are actually guinea pigs of marketing hype ...and then companies use profits to refine and improve second and third generation products ...that might eventually catch up with the original marketing claims and hype!
But strangely, even though the marketing and digital tech has taken over almost every aspect of recording, broadcasting, production and playback....it's still subjectively behind vinyl and some older analogue technologies...even though the increased bandwidth should make digital miles ahead.... But perhaps that's the problem - less is more 😂- as even ripping vinyl to digital files can be revealing and eye opening!
Mind you I personally dont miss the phaff, ceremomy and constraints of vinyl over digital