What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[aligreto]

I added spiked outriggers to my Vandersteen Quatros



(pic of different speaker from http://soundocity.com )

The effect is surprising, like getting whole new speakers.

The Quatros have cones in the front and a single spike in back for tilting the speakers.  The cones are not sharp and aren't able to penetrate to the floor under my thick carpet, so the speakers tend to "float" on the carpet, which really muddied the sound.  The speakers were also difficult to level and not at the same height, which played havoc with the soundstage, and makes the optimum tilt difficult to get right.  The outriggers allow me to "ground" the speakers to the subfloor and level them, making them very stable, and eliminating the height difference.  I expected this to clean up the bass and even out the soundstage, but was surprised by how much it cleaned up the midrange.

Such a simple fix which yields such a big sonic difference! I have wooden floors and found that when I put a small marble slab under the spikes of my speakers I had a similiar resut to you. Isolation works; the same will apply to your electronic components.

[Daverz]

And one of the last pieces of my system, a really good listening chair:



I've been using an Ikea Poang chair and ottoman for years, but needed something that put my ears a little higher and decided to splurge on an Ekornes Stressless chair.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've been using an Ikea Poang chair and ottoman for years,

I got myself a Poang chair recently, precisely because I wanted a low-slung chair that was good for thinking, reading and headphoning. It fits the bill nicely.

[Daverz]

I got myself a Poang chair recently, precisely because I wanted a low-slung chair that was good for thinking, reading and headphoning. It fits the bill nicely.

Yeah, they are great chairs, and about 1/20th the cost of the Ekornes.

[Moonfish]

Hmm, my cd player just burned out and crashed after 15 years of hard work! Poor thing!     

Needless to say I am now looking for a new one as I am already entering the phase of withdrawal. Help!   
First I looked at single disc players (Onkyo C-7030 as well as the more expensive Marantz CD6005), but I think I will favor a multi-disc unit. What kind of gear (mid range - most bang for the buck) would you recommend as a replacement? However, you could talk me into a single disc player...

I was looking at the Onkyo DXC390 , but it seems to have some potential issues according to the reviews. Any good multi-disc players out there in your experience? Or a good single disc player?
I am all ears (literally)....  The Marantz? Onkyo? 

What do you guys think about the OPPO BDP-103?

[Moonfish]

The Yamaha CD-S300 seems interesting....

[Ken B]

Hmm, my cd player just burned out and crashed after 15 years of hard work! Poor thing!     

Needless to say I am now looking for a new one as I am already entering the phase of withdrawal. Help!   
First I looked at single disc players (Onkyo C-7030 as well as the more expensive Marantz CD6005), but I think I will favor a multi-disc unit. What kind of gear (mid range - most bang for the buck) would you recommend as a replacement? However, you could talk me into a single disc player...

I was looking at the Onkyo DXC390 , but it seems to have some potential issues according to the reviews. Any good multi-disc players out there in your experience? Or a good single disc player?
I am all ears (literally)....  The Marantz? Onkyo? 

What do you guys think about the OPPO BDP-103?

I have an Onkyo multi, I think that's the number, and have been quite pleased with it. It is big though.

[Moonfish]

I have an Onkyo multi, I think that's the number, and have been quite pleased with it. It is big though.

It seems like only Onkyo and Yamaha are making multis nowadays...! 

[Fëanor]

Hmm, my cd player just burned out and crashed after 15 years of hard work! Poor thing!     

Needless to say I am now looking for a new one as I am already entering the phase of withdrawal. Help!   
First I looked at single disc players (Onkyo C-7030 as well as the more expensive Marantz CD6005), but I think I will favor a multi-disc unit. What kind of gear (mid range - most bang for the buck) would you recommend as a replacement? However, you could talk me into a single disc player...

I was looking at the Onkyo DXC390 , but it seems to have some potential issues according to the reviews. Any good multi-disc players out there in your experience? Or a good single disc player?
I am all ears (literally)....  The Marantz? Onkyo? 

What do you guys think about the OPPO BDP-103?

I bought my last silver disc player over a decade ago -- it gets very little use nowadays despite that it's also an SACD player.  I'll never buy another purely CD player;  I still buy CDs but immediately rip them to computer file and listen via computer.

I might consider a new SACD player though.  Top of my list would be ...

• Sony SCD-XA5400ES; unfortunately doesn't seem to be for sale in Canada
• Marantz SA8005: least expensive and can serve as a DAC for other sources such as computer
• Oppo BDP-105 which is by far the most versatile.

[The new erato]

I bought my last silver disc player over a decade ago -- it gets very little use nowadays despite that it's also an SACD player.  I'll never buy another purely CD player;  I still buy CDs but immediately rip them to computer file and listen via computer.

I might consider a new SACD player though.  Top of my list would be ...

• Sony SCD-XA5400ES;

I have one and it is very good (but I think it is discontinued), though for pure CD playback my old Wadia 302 sounds slightly better. If I ever need a new player though, I'll buy a top DAC and play through computer drives/streaming. 

[Ken B]

It seems like only Onkyo and Yamaha are making multis nowadays...! 

You don't want to live without your multi. I tried. You have a lot of boxes to get through; you need good tools!

[The new erato]

I cannot understand the need for multis. They have more parts, more mechanics that can go wrong and they also reputedly sound inferior. As well as restricting the available choice.  Anybody that yhinks changing discs a chore, should rip them and play them from a harddisc.

[Todd]

I can only listen to one disc at a time, so a single disc player seems good enough to me.  Then there's the fewer things that can break aspect.

Oppo is good enough that Lexicon tried to pass off a $500 BD-83 as a $3500 Lexicon unit after changing nameplates a few years back, and MSB currently sells a $5K or so unit based on the BDP-103 transport and guts, though MSB at least markets it as such, and claims miraculous improvements in other areas (DAC, output stage, etc).

[Pat B]

I cannot understand the need for multis. They have more parts, more mechanics that can go wrong and they also reputedly sound inferior. As well as restricting the available choice.  Anybody that yhinks changing discs a chore, should rip them and play them from a harddisc.

Regarding sound, I suspect that's a hold-over from the analog days -- and even then, changers tended to be generally cheap; I'm not sure they sounded any worse than a single-player with a comparable motor, platter, arm, and cartridge. Likewise I doubt a CD changer sounds any worse than a single-player with a comparable DAC.

With that said, I happily stick with single-disc CD players (currently Onkyo C-7030). I had a 5-disc Denon once but it had too many mechanical problems. The only time I even slightly miss it is when listening to multi-disc works or recitals (and even then, I don't miss it much).

[Moonfish]

Could you guys please educate me about the importance of a DAC?  I'm a neophyte in terms of their importance.  Some people on the boards suggest to use a low level cd player (e.g. an Onkyo 7030) and connect it via a DAC to the amplifier/receiver.  Would such a setup greatly improve the sound or is it just a matter of convenience for connecting one's computer and other digital devices to one's stereo system?

[Moonfish]

You don't want to live without your multi. I tried. You have a lot of boxes to get through; you need good tools!

True! True! But a high level single disc player seems to shimmer like a fancy BMW. I was spoiled with my previous multi. I guess it just is a matter of habit. Your multi Onkyo certainly has received mixed reviews on Amazon. It seems as if one either receives a functional item or a lemon. A very bipolar set of reviews! 

[Moonfish]

I bought my last silver disc player over a decade ago -- it gets very little use nowadays despite that it's also an SACD player.  I'll never buy another purely CD player;  I still buy CDs but immediately rip them to computer file and listen via computer.



Marantz SA8005: least expensive and can serve as a DAC for other sources such as computer

The Marantz is very alluring! It is chunk of change though.....   Would the awe factor of such a unit make it a worthwhile investment?
The Marantz PM8005 and SA8005 seem like a great combination!

[Moonfish]

Hmm, now I am considering a major overhaul of my system [it has been 15 years after all]. Any interesting combinations to recommend in the price range of about 2-3k for an amplifier,  a cdp as well as a pair of speakers?     I need your knowledge and experience! 

[Todd]

Source:
Oppo BDP-103


Amp/Receiver:
Outlaw RR2150

Emotiva Fusion 8100

NAD C326 BEE

NAD C316 BEE

Marantz PM6005


Speakers (assumes USA):

Salk Sound SongTower

Salk Sound SongBird

Philharmonic Audio Slims

[Moonfish]

Source:
Oppo BDP-103


Amp/Receiver:
Outlaw RR2150

Emotiva Fusion 8100

NAD C326 BEE

NAD C316 BEE

Marantz PM6005


Speakers (assumes USA):

Salk Sound SongTower

Salk Sound SongBird

Philharmonic Audio Slims

Thanks Todd!
Any specific reason behind the Oppo (blu-ray capacity?)?  If those speakers sound as beautiful as they look I will be in nirvana! Amazing!
Thanks for your suggestions. I was checking the specs of the Marantz PM6005, but I had not yet considered the NAD, Outlaw or the Emotiva.