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Post by dsjr on Apr 25, 2024 11:11:23 GMT
Now, the original 9000 was actually a GOOD product in terms of performance. Expensive yes and eye-turner most definitely, but it did the job properly (Beosystem,s ALWAYS had good FM tuners too since the 60's). Too bad they seemed to chuck all the tooling so once again, they've bought 200 good used samples and totally refurbished them. Don't know the speakers at all but unsure of the heavy 'boots' they wear at the bottom compared to the delicate but substantial (due to materials used) pencil-poiunt models.
Price? You've guessed it - if you need to ask you can't afford it  |
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Post by Westie on Apr 25, 2024 11:53:40 GMT
Now, the original 9000 was actually a GOOD product in terms of performance. Expensive yes and eye-turner most definitely, but it did the job properly (Beosystem,s ALWAYS had good FM tuners too since the 60's). Too bad they seemed to chuck all the tooling so once again, they've bought 200 good used samples and totally refurbished them. Don't know the speakers at all but unsure of the heavy 'boots' they wear at the bottom compared to the delicate but substantial (due to materials used) pencil-poiunt models. Price? You've guessed it - if you need to ask you can't afford it Typically it’s just about the only B&O I’ve disliked visually. Always reminded me of a traffic light. |
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Post by André on Apr 25, 2024 12:23:26 GMT
I always liked the 'CD-X'. Getting a Laser for the original 'CD-X' would not be easy. Most probably the reason PHILIPS 'CD104' sell is to cannibalize for the Laser.
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Post by Westie on Apr 25, 2024 16:44:40 GMT
They are a nice machine to own. They often go cheap because of a broken left hinge (it’s under quite a bit of tension so I can see how they fail). You can get the part from Europe and they aren’t all that difficult to fit.The lid mechanism is pretty clever when you take it apart and see how it works.
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Post by dsjr on Apr 26, 2024 9:35:26 GMT
It was the CDX and Mission DAD7000 (Philips 104 in drag) that convinced me that CD was a viable source. I didn't like the first Micromega with lift up perspex top and heavy (why?) disc weight (sounded squidgy in a way to me) and the Meridian MCD gave me a headache as did all the very first Philips based machines (the Sony 101 was fine though). Maybe it wasn't the players at all and forty years is a long time ago.
I nearly bought a CDX I have to say, but in the end, Meridian introduced the MCD Pro and that was my first CD player for a couple of years, replaced by a two box 207. I didn't like the 207's preamp stage but I was using the LK1 then and that one curtails the response from its preamp outputs* worse than any Quad does, so maybe the Meridian was fine here after all.
*Sorry to bang on so, but this is where you need at least some measurements to know what the gear is doing. The LK1 focuses attention on the midrange, but without seeing exactly what it's doing, you'd think there were magic tune-pixies inside the box making it sound 'different' to everything else except Naim, which was very different and back then, worse if anything...
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Post by André on Apr 26, 2024 11:00:09 GMT
Ive had all those early machines. 'MCD Pro' being the most expensive. I like the SONY '101' but didnt like the gloss paint finish that was quite flawed even though mine was in the optional extra dark wood sleeve. I kept the MISSION 'DAD7000R' for years, even bought a second one, you might remember pictures i put up on AOS of them. They were just basic PHILIPS 'CD104' with MISSION plastic fascia & an encapsulated filter on the output.But the '7000R' had one of the best remotes that even B&O would be envious of lol. I did a side by side with the standard 'CD104' which i actually preferred but kept the MISSIONS because of the brand name (What a knob)
As for MICROMEGA Had a STAGE 2 & a STAGE 6, Philips Lasers failed in both, but never got on with those flimsy press buttons on the front anyway. My fav however was the little original 'MINIUM'
Im still on the look out for a PHILIPS '104B' but in the brushed silver Fascia that you don't see much of in the UK.
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Post by Westie on Apr 26, 2024 14:26:48 GMT
I didn’t get on with any early CD players until I heard a Sony in 1987. It just had a far more natural (not the same as analogue) feel. I’ve since had a Marantz equivalent of the CD104 and a B&O CDX. Both were still enjoyable but a bit poor in terms of giving a sense of space.
I had a Micromega Leader (OK but nothing special), a Microdrive/Microdac (poor), a T-Drive and T-DAC (lovely) and a Duo BS2 (warm and seductive). I’ve seen so many Stages that are faulty, and mates have also had dodgy ones, so I wouldn’t buy one.
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Post by André on Apr 26, 2024 14:57:28 GMT
CD players are all crap in my eyes hence i work on build quality where as the first generations are obviously the ones for me. i just have to use one under duress.
The MARANTZ version of the 'CD104' will be the 'CD34' was a nice looking machine. I had the 'CD74'
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Post by dsjr on Apr 26, 2024 18:00:44 GMT
CD104 was in two versions - pre the price drop and post the price drop (I've seen what was taken out of th elater cheaper version!!! No idea what was inside the Mission though. At the time, we did have the two box Sony to try (502 and 701 dac?) and it was impressive, but showed up the glassy Naim amps and peaky Linn speakers a bit. I was a regular visitor at Jimmy H's place then and got to know and respect the 502, then 552 and last the 555 which quickly became a classic (the transport was incredibly fast and the thing solidly made). Sony wanted us to stock it all, which wasn't what a top Linn/Naim dealer such as ourselves wanted (all us prima-donnas strutting around as if we knew it all, myself included  ) Apart from two of us who initially went against the corporate grain as regards digital, it was the Naim CDI which drew us all together as regards CD as it didn't stray too far from neutrality but had a slight warmth of tone to suit LP12-based systems with thin toned screechy speakers (if the LP12 in 'fruitbox' mode was taken away). I'm bloody going off on one again. I look back on that era angrily really, but that was part of the growth curve. |
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Post by André on Apr 26, 2024 18:49:01 GMT
I bought the '104' when it very first came out Black/Gunmetal with Brushed silver drawer front. The Mission was originally with no Remote Control then the 'R' version came out was a slight circuit changes with associated parts omitted in the '104' thats all. The '104B' was all black. Its the rare silver one with the black control panel im wanting, probably have to import one.   |
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Post by André on Apr 26, 2024 19:42:28 GMT
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Post by Westie on Apr 26, 2024 20:00:16 GMT
CD104 was in two versions - pre the price drop and post the price drop (I've seen what was taken out of th elater cheaper version!!! No idea what was inside the Mission though. At the time, we did have the two box Sony to try (502 and 701 dac?) and it was impressive, but showed up the glassy Naim amps and peaky Linn speakers a bit. I was a regular visitor at Jimmy H's place then and got to know and respect the 502, then 552 and last the 555 which quickly became a classic (the transport was incredibly fast and the thing solidly made). Sony wanted us to stock it all, which wasn't what a top Linn/Naim dealer such as ourselves wanted (all us prima-donnas strutting around as if we knew it all, myself included ) Apart from two of us who initially went against the corporate grain as regards digital, it was the Naim CDI which drew us all together as regards CD as it didn't stray too far from neutrality but had a slight warmth of tone to suit LP12-based systems with thin toned screechy speakers (if the LP12 in 'fruitbox' mode was taken away). I'm bloody going off on one again. I look back on that era angrily really, but that was part of the growth curve. I loved the CDI players I had. Not sure if it was 3 or 4. I particularly liked the CDM9 pro one. |
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Post by André on Apr 26, 2024 21:47:47 GMT
Sony were the Kings of Digital back then Dave. Those PCM 501/601/701 units are mega rare these days. the R1 DAC & Transport was a good un anorl. Id still have my 502ES CDP if the laser had not packed up. You just cannot get them, not many machines used that laser, a couple Accuphase & a couple Top end Technics machines thats about it.
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Post by André on Apr 27, 2024 0:11:56 GMT
A few CD Players ive been looking for
JVC - XLV1
ROTEL - RCD870
ONKYO - DX5
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Post by dsjr on Apr 27, 2024 10:05:00 GMT
I'm a huge fan of the Denon DCD-1015 which wasn't expensive (£320 when new) and better than the 600 and 800 models they had below it. The *sound* is un-molested, it's simple and I think lasers can be got still.
I have the Technics micro-system now which will go in the kitchen ecentually, but I always wondered how good the Denon DM-30 would be as a CD/Tuner/Aux source and feeding an external power amp from its pre-out sockets. All subsequent ones lacked these outputs.
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) Apart from two of us who initially went against the corporate grain as regards digital, it was the Naim CDI which drew us all together as regards CD as it didn't stray too far from neutrality but had a slight warmth of tone to suit LP12-based systems with thin toned screechy speakers (if the LP12 in 'fruitbox' mode was taken away).
