I don't have audiophile ears but I did distinguish some obvious differences with the various CDP's. The conditions were less than ideal for a thorough apple to apple comparison (we were switching from one preamp to the next when we began using the tubed amp and I became keen of listening for differences). And like audioslave, I would have preferred faster and more complicated music to test the mettle of each player.
At the risk of "inviting the ire" of some CDP owners, here are some of my impressions:
1. Earlier on, using the SS amps of our host with the Denon, the Exposure, and the Usher on line, I could perceive a widening of the soundstage everytime we switched from the Denon to either the Usher or Exposure (and a narrowing of the soundstage kung vice versa). Sa first notes palang ng song halata mo na. Parang the Exposure had a slightly wider soundstage than the Usher but the latter had more "bloom". The Exposure resolved the the details better and mas "madiin" yung bass compared to the Usher. The highs were more defined with the Exposure compared to the Usher.
2. Using the same SS amps this time with the Sony ESD, the Rotel 1070, and the older Rotel of our host and later on the NAD 542, I wasn't too keenly listening at this stage but I did note the following: the Sony was surprisingly good, its bass was strong and taut, the 1070 played the loudest - you have to lower the volume a bit when you switch to the 1070 as if malakas yung kanyang gain, I couldn't distinguish between the 1070 and the other Rotel although those who listened keenly said the 1070 had more details. The 542, like the Denon had a narrower soundstage compared to the Rotels and the Sony but but wasn't too far behind overall.
3. Using the AMX 30-wpc EL-34 amp and various preamps with the Exposure, the 1070, and the Sony and this time playing audioslave's fast and catchy Sundance Flamenco CD, the Exposure really shined with its balanced and detailed presentation which made it very musical and involving, the 1070 matched the Exposure in revealing the details but had more emphasis on the highs and lows which somewhat drowned some of the finer details, the Sony didn't match the Exposure's and 1070's detail resolving capability but it was very well balanced too. The 1070 had a big sound that grabs at you. In comparison, the Exposure is more laid back with greater focus on the position of the singer and instruments.
There were other combinations that I didn't listen to and hopefully the others can comment on these for the information of everyone. Afterall, this is what we're after with shootouts di ba? At all shootouts may winners and losers but another day using other amplifiers and cables (we were using P 25,000 XLO speaker cables BTW), the results can very well be different. And this is just one man's opinion.
Special mention to sir Obet's MS-914's nga pala. Maganda tumunog specially with the tubed amp.
