Author Topic: What do you Prefer as the Best? Cayin, Nad or Rotel? (Read 4819 times)

byron · « **on:** Jun 25, 2008 at 03:39 PM »

Hi,
I noticed that there are individual threads for these CDP systems, so I would just like to ask for your personal preferences and opinions on what you think is the best amongst the 3 well-known brands from a CD Player + pre-amp + power amp perspective.
Thanks!

macdon · « **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2008 at 05:15 PM »

Naku sir - mahirap ata sagutin yan ah

byron · « **Reply #2 on:** Jun 25, 2008 at 05:25 PM »

Haha, sir Macdon,
That's why I mentioned "personal preference / opinion". The main reason is that I personally think that there would be no best because audio is very subjective.... thanks!

odyopayl · « **Reply #3 on:** Jun 26, 2008 at 02:48 AM »

Quote from: byron on Jun 25, 2008 at 03:39 PM

Hi,
I noticed that there are individual threads for these CDP systems, so I would just like to ask for your personal preferences and opinions on what you think is the best amongst the 3 well-known brands from a CD Player + pre-amp + power amp perspective.
Thanks!

Cayin products are mostly Tubes then Nad & Rotels are SS. Based on my experience those brands are all good. But to be able to achieved good sounding set-up there should be "Synergy" or system matching, this is very important.
Your preference plays an important role in selecting your gears, first you need to know your tolerance with your budget, second how do you like it ? You can only achieved your preference (sounds) thru "Audition".
Warning: there is a fine line between Audition & Addiction

Adam Warlock · « **Reply #4 on:** Jul 12, 2008 at 12:52 PM »

Please bring your reference CDs and audition Cayin CDP at Audio Amplified located at Unit 3 & 4 Madison Square Bldg., Libis QC. Across shopwise, in between BPI and Metrobank. 637-0250, 3955115

Cheers

Audionuts · « **Reply #5 on:** Jul 14, 2008 at 10:47 AM »

My List regarding of price

1st Cayin CD17T
2nd Rotel RCD1072
3rd Nad 542

NADphyle · « **Reply #6 on:** Aug 03, 2008 at 10:25 PM »

I remember when I played using my NAD CD player.. sabi nung maid namin kuya parang ang ganda ngayon ng tunog

Adam Warlock · « **Reply #7 on:** Sep 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM »

Quote from: Audionuts on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:47 AM

My List regarding of price

1st Cayin CD17T
2nd Rotel RCD1072
3rd Nad 542

We have brand new CDT-17a and a prestine pre-owned Rotel RCD1072

Sorry OT

macdon · « **Reply #8 on:** Sep 11, 2008 at 03:36 PM »

Quote from: Adam Warlock on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM

We have brand new CDT-17a and a prestine pre-owned Rotel RCD1072

Sorry OT

Sir Noel - I'm convincing a member here in PDVD to consider that RCD-1072 that you're offering. Kindly PM me nalang po the details of the cdp - its history, etc.
Salamat po

doasmarx · « **Reply #9 on:** Sep 11, 2008 at 07:55 PM »

Quote from: Adam Warlock on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM

We have brand new CDT-17a and a prestine pre-owned Rotel RCD1072

Sorry OT

sir pls pm price of rotel cdp. sorry ot

bass_nut · « **Reply #10 on:** Sep 12, 2008 at 01:01 AM »

i acquired a brand new Cayin CDT-17a (tweaked) from AudioAmplified approximately 8 months ago... and heard a friend's Rotel CDP recently... and had a chance to hear an entry level NAD CDP

not fair to consider these CDPs on equal level as the price point are different... there were varied associated equipment as well so my observation is not that accurate... so i hope you will please consider these factors/variables

having said that, here are my humble share
#1 Cayin CDT-17a... my own turntable was just barely better sounding than this baby
#2 Rotel (i forgot the model number)... 5 years old unit... very accurate sounding too
#3 NAD entry level model (forgot exact model number)... barely used... slow reading next track, will not read sometimes... sound quality not that revealing as the Cayin & Rotel

best regards,
fer

byron · « **Reply #11 on:** Sep 12, 2008 at 05:48 AM »

Hi bass_nut,
thank you very much for your inputs. what did you tweak in your CD17a?

many thanks!

bass_nut · « **Reply #12 on:** Sep 12, 2008 at 08:26 AM »

Quote from: byron on Sep 12, 2008 at 05:48 AM

Hi bass_nut,
thank you very much for your inputs. what did you tweak in your CD17a?

many thanks!

hi sir Byron,

we upgraded the Soviet made OEM 6922 tubes with an after-market 6922... we also upgraded all 6 pieces of OP-AMPs to 627... a bit pricey for these move but the improvement was audible and pleasing for my taste of music...

have a wonderful day

fer

byron · « **Reply #13 on:** Sep 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM »

Quote from: bass_nut on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:26 AM

hi sir Byron,

we upgraded the Soviet made OEM 6922 tubes with an after-market 6922... we also upgraded all 6 pieces of OP-AMPs to 627... a bit pricey for these move but the improvement was audible and pleasing for my taste of music...

have a wonderful day
fer

Hi Bass_nut,
WOW!!! major upgrade. can you advise your setup (amp, pre-amp, speakers, wires)?

thanks!

Marl☆1 · « **Reply #14 on:** Oct 04, 2008 at 01:17 AM »

A number of factors to consider particularly model given that all have various tiers. Anyway if I had to choose in general between the three brands, I'd go for the Cayin. In my audio journey, I've owned and sampled the three brands at one point or another and clearly - they all have their upsides, evidenced by their high equity brand. The award-winning Cayin CDPs like CDT17 have just garnered raves across the forums I've seen and from personal feedback as well. Well tube CDPs anway are a different animal altogether with diff sonic attributes vs the SS brands you've lined em up with. Well at the end of the day, to each his own.

byron · « **Reply #15 on:** Oct 04, 2008 at 02:19 AM »

Hi Marl_1,
thank you for your inputs. very hard to distinguish the differences for newbies to audio like me. sigh. parang same tunog nila.

lithium_deuteride · « **Reply #16 on:** Oct 04, 2008 at 10:41 PM »

Quote from: bass_nut on Sep 12, 2008 at 08:26 AM

hi sir Byron,

we upgraded the Soviet made OEM 6922 tubes with an after-market 6922... we also upgraded all 6 pieces of OP-AMPs to 627... a bit pricey for these move but the improvement was audible and pleasing for my taste of music...

have a wonderful day
fer

3 pairs of 627? $$$

Doesn't it sound good enough without having to change the opamps?

byron · « **Reply #17 on:** Oct 05, 2008 at 12:39 AM »

Quote from: Adam Warlock on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM

We have brand new CDT-17a and a prestine pre-owned Rotel RCD1072

Sorry OT

sir Adam,
please PM price range of the preowned CD17A and advise the amount of time owned by the 1st owner

thanks!

bass_nut · « **Reply #18 on:** Oct 05, 2008 at 02:49 AM »

Quote from: byron on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Hi Bass_nut,
WOW!!! major upgrade. can you advise your setup (amp, pre-amp, speakers, wires)?

thanks!

my apologies sir Byron for a very delayed reply... i missed to visit this thread... my fault

set up

Amp: Plinius 9200 integrated amp 200watts per channel at 4 ohm

Speakers: Dynaudio Confidence C1 (4 ohms impedance) & Dynaudio sub500 (200watts self-powered subwoofer)

Digital source: Cayin CDT-17a

Analog source: Michell Engineering Gyrodec SE turntable w/ tecnoarm (Michell Engineering tonearm), Lyra Dorian MC (moving coil) Cartridge, Trichord Research Dino mkll phono amp

Speaker wires: Transparent "in wall" wires 12awg, 8 feet per side
Interconnect cables: inexpensive China made coaxial silver wires, 1.5m, 1.8m, 5m (all factory rca terminated)
Trichord "Pulse Wire" silver IC rca terminated w/ amphenol gold plated
Mundorf Silver wires rca terminated w/ eichmann copper bullets

AC power chords: xindak and DIY... all 12 awg

AC supply: 220v AC wall outlet --> SEIG 5000watts servo AVR --> Xindak line conditioner with multiple outlets

Cayin CDT-17a is an amazing digital source... very revealing... soundstage depth & width, focus, micro-details from lows to mids&highs are pleasing to my ears... this machine cost 1/3 of my analog source but performance wise it is up there...

you may want to contact sir Tyrone (audioamplified) & sir Noel (Adam Warlock) for more infos... they are very kind and super generous... meron pang dimsum chitchat... hehehe

please let me know if you may need more consumer input... after all, i learned a lot from your very informative inputs in another thread here at PDVD which i appreciated much...

warmest regards,
fer

bass_nut · « **Reply #19 on:** Oct 05, 2008 at 03:12 AM »

Quote from: lithium_deuteride on Oct 04, 2008 at 10:41 PM

3 pairs of 627? $$$

Doesn't it sound good enough without having to change the opamps?

the more audible improvement came from upgrading OEM tubes to after market 6922 tubes

opamps 627 gave a tad bit improvement on the 1) soundstage character 2) slight solidness of bass as i noticed on fast kick drums of rock/pop CDs... 3) slight increased details on mid & high frequency

opamps 627 x 6 pieces sourced locally was less than P5000.00... australian supplier a bit more pricey

byron · « **Reply #20 on:** Oct 05, 2008 at 08:24 AM »

Thank you Bass_nut for the inputs. have been contemplating which for some time now...

MANY THANKS AGAIN!

mcbry · « **Reply #21 on:** Oct 06, 2008 at 10:29 AM »

Quote from: Adam Warlock on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM

We have brand new CDT-17a and a prestine pre-owned Rotel RCD1072

Sorry OT

sir, pa pm po price ng Cayin CDT-17a.
thanks.

bass_nut · « **Reply #22 on:** Oct 06, 2008 at 07:27 PM »

Quote from: mcbry on Oct 06, 2008 at 10:29 AM

sir, pa pm po price ng Cayin CDT-17a.
thanks.

OT: sir mcbry, on going pa sale ng CDs & SACDs sa glorietta 2/f... original brand new sealed music CDs from P50 to P200 each.... SACDs at P300...

bagay yang mga CDs na yan sa Cayin CD players natin

cheers!!!
fer

mcbry · « **Reply #23 on:** Oct 07, 2008 at 11:05 AM »

thanks, sir bass_nut.

by the way, i already saw the srp of cayin cdt-17a.

thanks.