I think I need a new CD player

Posted by: smercer on 20 April 2004

Up until recently I was happy with my fairly modest system which I had for about 15 years… a Nait 2, Epos ES 14, NACA4 (upgraded to 5), Linn Axis TT, and an old Dennon CD player (I cannot recall which one, but at the time it was probably around the upper mid range of the what they made at the time). Then about two years ago I began to make some changes when the CD player just quit on me. I purchased a new Rega Planet 2000 and was astounded by the improvement. New details on my favorite CD opened up, bass was tighter, and the high end (cymbals and horns on classic jazz and big band recordings in particular) was clear, exciting, but never fatiguing. I was convinced I was set for a good long time. But then…3 months ago, another upgrade was made when I moved to a new house and my wife insisted that the Epos ES 14s had to go. She said they were too large for the living room. While these are not that large, I thought this was a good excuse to start listening to speakers that fall into the bookshelf category. I narrowed my search down to the Spendor 3/5 se and Harbeth HL P3ES -3. After auditioning them at home, I purchased the Harbeths. Again, I was astounded by the improvement in my listening experience. The Harbeths are just amazing to my ears. I found them to be just slightly more exciting than the Spendors, just a bit more detail, but most of all, I found than the Harbeths sound like I am sitting closer to the musicians while the Spendors pushed the instruments back. I’d say it was the difference between sitting in the 10th row versus sitting in the 50th. I never thought I cared about this aspect of hi-fi, but it was enough to convince me to put down the extra $ for the Harbeths. No longer comparing them to the Spendors, I find the mid-range on the Harbeths to be just extraordinary, smooth and detailed. But now my problem…after living with Harbeths for 3 months, I am noticing a harshness, brightness, on many of the recordings I love to listen to. The mid-range is still sweet, but cymbals, horns, and even drums are now fatiguing. And, I notice I am missing some of the bass information my Epos ES 14s did such a nice job of getting at. It is getting to the point were I am listing to music less, and just turning on the TV at the end of the day. I am still convinced I made a good choice with the Harbeths, which may sound counter-intuitive. My question is…is it time to seriously consider getting rid of the Rega Planet and take a step up to a Naim CD player? Is something like the CD5 going to address the harshness I am describing? Or, will I need to add a Flatcap to a CD5 to really get at this, or am I better off with a used older Naim CD…a CDX? Price being a serious consideration, I’d be grateful for thoughts about what I can expect from upgrades to the front in along the Naim chain. I should add, I have my gear sitting on a modified Ikea Corras, with SuperSpikes on a wood floor (again the wife insisted on something that didn’t look like typical hi-fi racks and I had fun taking a stab at rising to the challenge of coming up with an inexpensive but wife-approved rack), it is perfectly leveled, and the CD player is sitting a used Mana Sound Frame.
Posted on: 20 April 2004 by NB
I think your still missing those Epos speakers. No matter what improvements you make to the CD, the harbeths are not in the same league as the Epos's.

At least try the CDX and CD5 and see if this replaces the lost bass, but I fear all you will find is that you miss those Epos's.

If the ES14's are too big for your listening room, have you considered one of the smaller Epos speakers?


Regards


NB
Posted on: 20 April 2004 by seagull
Try taking out the sound frames...
Posted on: 20 April 2004 by gavagai
I think you should look at your floor. Wood floors without lots of rugs can send your ears into serious depression. I'd ignore NB's blanket comments regarding the Harbeths. It must be ignorance. If you want more bass, well you should try larger speakers. The tiny "shoebox" speakers are obviously going to be limited ion the bottom end. I'd try some room tweaks / damping if I were you. Of course a naim cdp will help, but it seems like you have room resonance problems if you are getting fatigued. I am biased (Harbeth compact 7 owner), but NBs comments are virtually the only negative critique of Harbeths I have read posted on any of the chat forums.
Posted on: 21 April 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Smercer

I have just gone from a Rega Planet to a Jupiter. The improvement is wonderful and IMO a real alternative to Naim CDPs, on an easier to swallow budget. You may also find that as ( I think ) the Planet and Jupiter look identical, you have an easier time swinging it past the Mrs.

I know that when I grow up I will get Naim as my CD source, but I really enjoy the Jupiter.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.