At the height of the pandemic last year, my cdp decided to throw a tantrum. Unable to find a sound technician, I decided to search for a replacement instead. Before anyone could yell 'Think!', Aretha style, I had tumbled headlong down the rabbit hole and swapped out every bit of kit.
Well, I'm back in the real world now with an entirely new setup. And, by sheer fluke, it manages to nail that elusive 'synergy' we all crave. This is pretty interesting because I religiously disobeyed the First Commandment - 'Thou Shall Not Buy Blind'! There were no auditions, no AB comparisons, no home demos, no posts seeking advice. I just pored over the numerous online reviews and user comments, and zeroed in on stuff that was being described as 'musical' rather than 'audiophile'.
So this post is my attempt at paying it forward. I hope FMs can glean some useful info, in case they're considering any of the gear listed below. Without further ado, here they are:
Audiolab 6000CDT > Denafrips Ares II > Cayin CS 55A > Wharfedale Linton
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As mentioned above, there's amazing synergy at work here. Together, this kit produces great tone, timbre, detail, soundstage and, above all, musicality. It's the kind of setup where 3 hours feels like 30 minutes.
Right, enough hyperbole. Here's a quick look at each unit.
Audiolab 6000CDT
Colour me convinced, a dedicated CD transport
can make a difference; even one as inexpensive as this. IMHO, the Audiolab is a stone cold bargain for the performance it delivers. However, you do have to be careful with the slot loader. Pressing down on the CD while inserting and removing discs can cause scratches on the playing surface. You'll need to focus after your third large.
Denafrips Ares II
I have very limited experience with DACs, so will avoid commenting on the chips v/s R2R debate. However, I
can confirm that the sound is clearly 'analogue-like', with a beautiful ebb and flow to the music. I honestly did not expect my CDs to sound this fluid, while still transmitting all the subtle details. The only downside is that it needs ~30 minutes to warm up, before it starts singing. I run it in OS mode with the 'Slow' filter on.
Cayin CS 55A
I discovered Cayin only recently, and was intrigued by the fact that they're the ones who manufacture Primaluna amps. The CS 55A is the latest avatar of a model that was introduced in 2005, and I'm running it with KT88s in triode mode: 22wpc is plenty loud in my 26' x 18' living room. You can also swap out the KT88s for EL34s, KT77s or 6550s, and biasing is a breeze. The sound is a good balance of modern and vintage tube, with plenty of air, detail and sweetness. Thankfully, it doesn't sound solid state like some tube amps I've heard. Build quality and finish are stunning.
Wharfedale Linton
Online buzz (probably fueled by its retro style) would have you believe that this is a 'warm and fuzzy' speaker. Nonsense. A wide and deep soundstage, bags of detail, textured bass; it's all there. Laser-etched imaging is not their forte, but despite their size, they can disappear. I was a bit concerned that their 4 ohm impedance dip might cause problems for the amp. No such issue. Hooked up to the 8 ohm taps on the Cayin, the Lintons play loud without a hint of strain.
Guess that's enough gyan for now. If anyone has specific queries, please post here and I'll do my best to answer. Below are links to some of the reviews I found helpful.
Audiolab 6000CDT
Denafrips Ares II
Cayin CS 55A
Wharfedale Linton
