😎 the Sony XA7es CDP is a beast! sound awesome, very very well made cd player and I believe was retail $3,000usd back in the late 90's, is too bad that this days don't made cd player like this any more.
I bought one of these relatively cheap Lite Audio Nono oversampling DSC's based on 8 x Philips TDA 1543 and has that silky smooth quality and also seems to resolve low level ambient detail and cues in well recorded acoustic music,definitely not as dynamic and punchy sounding but for some systems and types of music it's exactly what's needed,well worth seeking one out just to try try for not a lot of money.
Today bring Mcintosh d150 at home and didnt impress me. Compare to gold note ds-10 has d150 gain in mids and bass. But its not real like gold note. Gold note is just natural.
Hi Thomas! Seems like you've been testing out lot of sabre dacs. Any cirrus logic dacs up for trials? To me sabre dacs clarity & details are top notch, but sometimes its too good to a point that it might sound artificial. So im wondering if cirrus logic like marantz warmth would happen to be one of your preference. Thanks!
Hi Hasan. Here are a few dacs I have tried. Moon 300D v2 Exasound E18 Exasound E28 Mcintosh D150 Wyred4sound dac v1 Wyred4Sound DAC v2 Jolida Glass FX Tube Dac Emotiva XDA-2 DAC Hegel HD12 and a few other not worth mentioning. None use cirrus chip. I now believe that its not the dac chip that is important but rather how the manufacturer design the output stage. The reason is because a lot of these dac uses the ESS chipset but they sound SO DIFFERENT. Some are as you said too much clarity and details while others have clarity and details but don't sound artificial. So I think your search for a natural sounding dac should not be limited to the chipset but rather the unit. The Moon, jolida, Exasound and D150 has that 'natural' sound that you might be looking for. Rest were too bright for me.
Thomas & Stereo Thank you! Another fulfilling reply and cleared a ton of doubts. I think i have to open up to a bigger budget so as to get 1 satisfying purchase rather than many disappointments just to stay in the entry level budget
On a side note, I just picked up a pair of Dynaudio Focus 106 2 days ago, will do a video eventually. Love them and they sound great with bel canto 1000s monoblocs. (well I am driving them with 1000w@ 4 ohm)
@@ThomasAndStereo I prefer laid back for sure. I'm not using anything high end but I have a mcintosh mht100 using analog inputs since no other way to bypass processing and mcintosh MC7106 bridged to 320wpc. Currently use a Jolida/Black Ice Audio Glass FX TUBE DAC DSD that I like very much but I want convenience of remote control. I also use a Black Ice Audio FOZ SS-X soundstage expander between the power amp and pre that adds more tube in line. Not for pure audiophiles but I love it.
😎 the Sony XA7es CDP is a beast! sound awesome, very very well made cd player and I believe was retail $3,000usd back in the late 90's, is too bad that this days don't made cd player like this any more.
Yesit's a great sounding cd. Eventually it got replaced by a Linn cd player but that one is over $10k msrp.
@@ThomasAndStereo The Linn CD12 20bit??
@@stereophonic9220 Linn unidisk
@@ThomasAndStereo👍oh ok thanks!
I bought one of these relatively cheap Lite Audio Nono oversampling DSC's based on 8 x Philips TDA 1543 and has that silky smooth quality and also seems to resolve low level ambient detail and cues in well recorded acoustic music,definitely not as dynamic and punchy sounding but for some systems and types of music it's exactly what's needed,well worth seeking one out just to try try for not a lot of money.
I agree the Lite DAC Ah is an amazing DAC by any measure
Hey man I know this is an old video but I just want to know if you still think this Macintosh d150 is still worth buying. Thanks!
Good cd player exspecly when it's over 25 years old.
Sony CDP XA7ES TOP1
Great video! Great system!
Thanks, he just sold part of his system and upgrading, more videos to come.
Today bring Mcintosh d150 at home and didnt impress me. Compare to gold note ds-10 has d150 gain in mids and bass. But its not real like gold note. Gold note is just natural.
Nice video
Sony CDP-XA7ES on Ebay . Seller says excellent $750
My friend sold it around that price but in cdn $ so cheaper than that. Great cd player but he already upgraded.
Hi Thomas! Seems like you've been testing out lot of sabre dacs. Any cirrus logic dacs up for trials? To me sabre dacs clarity & details are top notch, but sometimes its too good to a point that it might sound artificial. So im wondering if cirrus logic like marantz warmth would happen to be one of your preference. Thanks!
Hi Hasan. Here are a few dacs I have tried.
Moon 300D v2
Exasound E18
Exasound E28
Mcintosh D150
Wyred4sound dac v1
Wyred4Sound DAC v2
Jolida Glass FX Tube Dac
Emotiva XDA-2 DAC
Hegel HD12
and a few other not worth mentioning. None use cirrus chip. I now believe that its not the dac chip that is important but rather how the manufacturer design the output stage. The reason is because a lot of these dac uses the ESS chipset but they sound SO DIFFERENT. Some are as you said too much clarity and details while others have clarity and details but don't sound artificial. So I think your search for a natural sounding dac should not be limited to the chipset but rather the unit. The Moon, jolida, Exasound and D150 has that 'natural' sound that you might be looking for. Rest were too bright for me.
Thomas & Stereo Thank you! Another fulfilling reply and cleared a ton of doubts. I think i have to open up to a bigger budget so as to get 1 satisfying purchase rather than many disappointments just to stay in the entry level budget
On a side note, I just picked up a pair of Dynaudio Focus 106 2 days ago, will do a video eventually. Love them and they sound great with bel canto 1000s monoblocs. (well I am driving them with 1000w@ 4 ohm)
Thomas, is this D150 worth purchase on the used market in the $1.5-2k US range in 2020?
$1.5k sure. I like that it has a more lay back presentation. Some people prefer a more forward and faster presentation. Depends on you.
@@ThomasAndStereo I prefer laid back for sure. I'm not using anything high end but I have a mcintosh mht100 using analog inputs since no other way to bypass processing and mcintosh MC7106 bridged to 320wpc. Currently use a Jolida/Black Ice Audio Glass FX TUBE DAC DSD that I like very much but I want convenience of remote control. I also use a Black Ice Audio FOZ SS-X soundstage expander between the power amp and pre that adds more tube in line. Not for pure audiophiles but I love it.
What about the Kef's
Do a search on KEF in my videos, I made 2 videos on KEF.
Suggest you to try DAC from Ayre, Weiss, DCS, Playback Designs, etc. McIntosh isn’t that good.
Just picked up a PS Audio perfectwave dac, will keep trying other dacs like those you recommended.
Rambling
My gush 4k for just a CD player..... I won't even buy that for 4 dollars
@bobbyjimenez4482 Then you are in the wrong hobby.