Author Topic: CDP - to tube or not to tube ? (Read 2565 times)

oweidah · « **on:** May 15, 2007 at 02:51 PM »

is a "tubed" cdp really worth it?
is a "tubed" cdp really better than an "SS" cdp?

appreciate your inputs...

Superman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2007 at 03:55 PM »

pare, nice one here!

is it worth it?? my answer is...if it matches your gears, it is worth it...as far as my experience is concerned, IT'S WORTH IT!

is it better than SS CDPs...depends...there are SS CDPs that sound much "tubey" than tube CDPs...for some, if they already have a tube pre-amp, no need for a tube CDP...naim, for example is SS, but i find it "tubier" in sound, and more balanced than my tube CDP mainstays...

thanks!

oweidah · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2007 at 04:31 PM »

tnx jen

dagdag ko lang....

how does a "tubed" cdp compare to an SS cdp + tube buffer? pareho lang ba ang suma-total?

Superman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2007 at 05:59 PM »

Quote from: oweidah on May 15, 2007 at 04:31 PM

tnx jen

dagdag ko lang....

how does a "tubed" cdp compare to an SS cdp + tube buffer? pareho lang ba ang suma-total?

magkaiba yan kasi dahil sa ICs na gagamitin

Bogsle · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2007 at 07:31 PM »

Quote from: oweidah on May 15, 2007 at 02:51 PM

is a "tubed" cdp really worth it?
is a "tubed" cdp really better than an "SS" cdp?

appreciate your inputs...

Bro, nice question.

I wish I can provide a sure answer. But I have not spent enough time yet with my tube CDP to confidently respond to your question. I have to put my audio toys for the meantime into storage since my home is undergoing renovation.

With the short time I have spent with my tube CDP, I noticed differences and most of them I found nice. Better bass, warmer sound, a bit laidback, smoother highs, may lack a little detail, not as dynamic as SS CDP, not as focused or imaging as SS CDP, but more relaxing to listen to, more analog sounding, weightier sound, more body, not as clean sounding, but not as clinical sounding on certain occasion as SS CDP.

However, all this observed characteristics may also be attributed to the associated equipment used.

But then in spite of the descriptions above, I feel it is still premature to say if tube CDP is better that SS CDP for me.

accastil · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2007 at 06:53 PM »

normally i would go for a SS cdp. ive heard a lot of tubed cdps and none really convinced me enough that its a better choice...until i heard the ah! njoe tjoeb...a cdp with tubed output

you may want to give this one a listen either at upscale audio outlets or at audio den in QC.

saltuhin · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2007 at 10:05 PM »

hi allan,

you sure have gone a long way! naka tube cdp ka na pala.

what are the most striking differences between ss and tubed cdps on your opinion?

accastil · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2007 at 12:01 AM »

ss players offers faster response to transients, vocals are thin, instruments and voices tend to sound more forward. this is best for rock, disco, fast ensembles.

tubed players offers lush, warm sound, thicker presentation of vocals, instruments and voices tend to sound more extended both in the lows and the highs.

the ah! njoe tjoeb cd player offers both. one very striking quality of this player is its ability to reveal all of the subtle nuances embedded in the source material..youll start to hear things which are not there. it also has a holographic presentation of the music, separating not only the vocals from the instruments but moreso, each instrument is being separated from each other, giving the listener a pinpoint image of every individual sound.

rascal101 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2007 at 10:02 AM »

In my experience SS players can also have warm and thick presentation.

aHobbit · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2007 at 12:55 PM »

Quote from: rascal101 on May 22, 2007 at 10:02 AM

In my experience SS players can also have warm and thick presentation.

As usual, knocking on the wrong door ... it might be the right speaker on the SS player that made the warm and thick presentation ... or the pre-amp need to be colored for warm and thick presentation to match the tubed coloring

rascal101 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2007 at 03:50 PM »

The set-up had speakers and SS power amp which is characterized as "ma-high" with passive pre-amp.

butchoy8701 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2007 at 11:47 PM »

Tube CD players will definitely give warm sonics. Tube rolling will definitely create different sound characters. Different tubes have different sound character. For me, it's well worth it!

ezz · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 01, 2008 at 06:46 PM »

Quote from: oweidah on May 15, 2007 at 04:31 PM

tnx jen

dagdag ko lang....

how does a "tubed" cdp compare to an SS cdp + tube buffer? pareho lang ba ang suma-total?

sorry to bring this topic back again. like oweidah, i'm thinking how to go about this. except I have a dvd player and not a cd player.

question is, should I get a :
1. ss cdp (NAD, ROTEL, AZUR)+ tube buffer
OR
2. just tube buffer + my dvd player
OR
3. tube cdp (BADA, CAYIN)

will pair with Cayin MT-35 and Titus202

TIA

george441 · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 02, 2008 at 06:23 AM »

Pakinggan mo...baka maging masyado mabagal tumunog. Hifi is a balance of speed. Masyado mabilis tumunog, ganda nga clarity pero very fatiguing pakinggan...kung masyado mabagal, nawawala detalye at nagiging ngongo ang bosses.

oweidah · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 02, 2008 at 09:17 AM »

Quote from: ezz on Jan 01, 2008 at 06:46 PM

sorry to bring this topic back again. like oweidah, i'm thinking how to go about this. except I have a dvd player and not a cd player.

question is, should I get a :
1. ss cdp (NAD, ROTEL, AZUR)+ tube buffer
OR
2. just tube buffer + my dvd player
OR
3. tube cdp (BADA, CAYIN)

will pair with Cayin MT-35 and Titus202

TIA

1. how much is your budget? how far are you willing to spend to upgrade your setup?

2. try to borrow a tube buffer and check out how it sounds with your dvdp.

3. bring that borrowed tube buffer and audition SS cdps.

4. if still not satisfied, audition tubed cdps.

alexg · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 02, 2008 at 02:08 PM »

I have heard tubed CDP and I am not very convinced considering the price.

If it was me buying a CD source for my tubed audio equipment, I would go this route:

1. Get a nice CD transport with SPDIF out.
2. Get an outboard DAC (I am using Yeo's Monica 2 DAC, a non-oversampling DAC).

These then will be connected to a tubed preamp into a tube amp. It my system, these beats the more expensive tubed CDPs.

ezz · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 02, 2008 at 11:22 PM »

Quote from: alexg on Jan 02, 2008 at 02:08 PM

I have heard tubed CDP and I am not very convinced considering the price.

If it was me buying a CD source for my tubed audio equipment, I would go this route:

1. Get a nice CD transport with SPDIF out.
2. Get an outboard DAC (I am using Yeo's Monica 2 DAC, a non-oversampling DAC).

These then will be connected to a tubed preamp into a tube amp. It my system, these beats the more expensive tubed CDPs.

sorry sir I got lost @ no. 1.

ches · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 15, 2008 at 03:05 PM »

hi ezz transport means it does not have or use the digital to analog converter on the cd player you have to buy external processor like the monica.

Tonmeister · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 18, 2008 at 02:54 PM »

my take on this subject: all things being equal, pareho amp, speakers, ic, etc, and we're talking of cdps at the same price range, for me, the sound difference between ss and tube is not night and day and both technologies have its own advantages/disadvantages. which means it boils down to personal preference.

i'm currently using a jolida jd100s tube cdp. but if cost is not an issue, i'd get myself a wadia ss cdp.

accastil · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 18, 2008 at 03:22 PM »

Quote from: Tonmeister on Jan 18, 2008 at 02:54 PM

my take on this subject: all things being equal, pareho amp, speakers, ic, etc, and we're talking of cdps at the same price range, for me, the sound difference between ss and tube is not night and day and both technologies have its own advantages/disadvantages. which means it boils down to personal preference.

i'm currently using a jolida jd100s tube cdp. but if cost is not an issue, i'd get myself a wadia ss cdp.

right on this. though for me, id get myself an emmlabs cdp