Hi Billearns,The Rossini apex would CB probably sound good. But I wonder if the estoteric grandioso k1x could be just as good. I like the idea of a transport built in but my esoteric k01x could do that.
I'm looking for end of life unit (my life) and the idea of equaling a Clearaudio master innovation is attractive. 6000 cds so lots of material.
Little did I know that cd cannot equal vinyl so far. (Realism, to me, of the music). as I said before, ch precision $90000 set gets close.
I could try a rossini unit but I'd need a few days. Or grandioso k1x. And need to build up some savings.
You have quite a system there. I have heard the might full-stand Clearaudio in Hong Kong. I know nothing about vinyl, but I do have a lot of regard for Ernie Lau, and he had 2 TT there...the original Rockport Sirius III and the massive Clear Audio full-standing one. It was magnificent sound, and I am sure Ernie would not have used the Clearaudio without having extremely high regard for it.
Meanwhile, on your search for digital, if you are looking for end of life unit...and you want something organic, sublime, all about lifelike music making, there is a [nowadays] slightly off-piste suggestion...mainly because of your already reference vinyl and your desire for digital that evokes analog.
No surprises, that would be the Zanden 4-box...but with a lot of the recommendations I have discovered and now use with the original Zanden 4-box digital. If you want to play SACD layer or hi-res, then skip the rest of this. However, if you wish to take the majority of hard-disc playback into enjoy music and 'be done', I have not found anything that so keenly keeps me in the music in the world of digital than the Zanden (again, 'updated' in the ways that I have).
With the right tubes, the right cables and the Waversa INT Ref Plus, I have not found nothing that tempts me away from it...at any cost, and even more so at the cost of the Zanden these days which is only available 2nd hand. Happy to speak off-line but only if you are so interested. the key descriptors:
- organic and remarkably life like
- about the music
The most interesting commonality amongst all the reviews from Roy Gregory, Mark Michelson, Srajaen Six Moons was their comparison to the best analog...Roy most famously made the statement that in his experience only the Blue Pearl Gem Turntable matched the Zanden's uniqueness wholeness of grainless music making. I know nothing about that TT, but it is a reference TT so I suppose that says something given that he made comparisons to other reference digital (Metronome, Esoteric, etc)...but found analog (in some respects) the better rival.
- its primary set back as originally set up was that it did not convey sheer muscle and power...and that it was definitely behind in detail retrieval
- setup properly with correct tubes, isolation/grounding, cables and the Waversa, its dynamic range and sheer power went toe to toe with the Esoteric reference at that time which was quite a shock, and now I do not feel any lack for detail (I am not a detail freak, however)
Best wishes with your search. There are indeed some great current-gen digital...from your description, I would have thought Lampi Horizon, TotalDAC, APL fit very well...but you still need to find a transport..perhaps JMF, CEC.
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