Raysonic cd-128/168

[mboldda1]

these two raysonic cd players have been out a while, do you think they are still competitive in their price range?

[richidoo]

The 168 is the best CDP I have ever heard besides Audio research CD7. Smooth as silk, extremely refined and dynamic. A true high end player.

Bryston BCD1 is supposedly very good for the money, but it's not tube output stage. Prima Luna ProLogue 8 is also supposed to be very good holographic sound stage. I've not heard either. Don't know any other $2k CDPs of that stature, but there must be more.  The 168 is a great bargain especially at typical used prices.

[bacobits]

I have the 128, bought used of course, no reason not to at half price.
hdcd, and switchable nos mode. Very nice, works for me.

Den

[mboldda1]

last time i priced from my secret souce i could get the 128 for $1200 and the 168 for $1500.  don't know if those prices are still good.

[stereofool]

I have the CD-168 and it is a great CDP  .

Those prices are probably pretty close, and good bargains.

[Carlman]

Steve's 168 is still the one of the best CDP's I've ever heard, rivaling a BAT..
-C

[mboldda1]

i'm in the middle of doing reviews on the xcd-50 cdp and xia-160 integrated amp at $3800 and $3600.
http://www.calliopehomeaudio.com/Onix_CD_Players.html
the xcd-50 has made me re-think my source

[bacobits]

Yea, that  new Onix stuff is pretty sharp.
Brit made in China? Is that what that is?
They just re-appointed new distributors around the US.

Den

[mboldda1]

onix was origally english and a chinese company bought the name rights but i am not sure if it is designed in england but made in china or if it is 100% chinese.  hard to get answers from them but i do know it's great sounding stuff.

[Black Sand Cable]

Sorry to self promote but I can get Raysonic and PrimaLuna at decent prices if any one is interested.

[richidoo]

http://www.raysonicaudio.com/

[Mike L]

This player is on my short list myself.  Just wondering what other cd players u guys have heard that have said that this is the best cd player u have ever heard.  Also, have any of you heard it with Auricaps?  (the players that I have really liked have had auricaps)

Thanks,
Mike

[bacobits]

I really, really liked the CAL Audio players from the past. To let you know where I'm coming from. I had 2 CAL Audio Icon MKII super Boss Players. I had the EAD DSP7000II with a T1000 transport too that was excellent. That Transport was the Pioneer "stable platter" transport I have never heard of failing.

I had a Sony SACD XA7777ES, I didn't buy or care to get into SACD much because there was not enough music available of what I listen to.Great build good sound, I sold it.
I went to a well reviewed tubed Eastern Electric SACD CD player next. Very nice, I should have not sold it and saved myself all the trouble listed below. Actually, I could not find another one used at the time and these are now discontinued.

I had a NEW well reviewed Consonance Linear 120T, dead out of the box, drawer/ trans problems that this player is noted for.This is a piece of junk. I had a used Carry 308T another well regarded player, dead out of the box, drawer transport problems again. I was not that impressed with build quality on this player either. Damn, I didn't get to hear either of these players. It's that shit Phillips transport the CD12.
I then went to a Benchmark DAC1 with a Denon 1650AR (mint, I got cheap)
as a Transport. I had a 1650AR before and liked the build on it. Sanyo transport and still available.
This is a circa '93 player. That combo was very nice but missing that something again.
We are all nuts!

I heard Steve's Raysonic 168 and liked it, I liked it better than the Altman at the time at Richie's. I read the reviews on both the Raysonics, 128 and the 168. I purchased the 128 used.
Hey, no friggin drawer to screw up now. Trans port is Sony which isn't really saying much I guess.
It is an extremely nice sounding player in NOS mode and built very good, at least I think so.

All this BS from selling the EE CD player and roughly over a 6+ month period.
There are 2 Raysonic 128s on Agon right now.

Since I got my Rega P5 I have not listened to CDs in a month.
I won't get in to tables now but this table just "boogies"! It kills my Basis 1400 I had for 5 years.

The Raysonic also gives that feeling. This is my system, my taste, and priorities which can be pretty different form others here. YMMV, I had to throw that in. My biggest priority is to be moved by the music and presentation. It has to draw me in and make me want to listen.

That is my adventure for now. Sorry for being a bit long winded.
 
Den

 

[Carlman]

Den, being long-winded is highly encouraged so please don't apologize... thanks for sharing your digital journey!

I too must be moved by the presentation.. and that Raysonic 'gets it' for me.  I enjoyed hearing it at my place.  I would've already bought one from Black Sand but I need a sliding drawer because of my rack setup... I'm out of room so I have no height... the TT is a real pain the way I have it in a 'cubby hole'.. I may have to do something else... but anyway.. I can't do anything else that loads from the top.

I had an EE minimax HD CD player.. very nice player.. but I think it needed more refinement in the DAC personally.. I thought the Raysonic had a better sound... just smoother or more whole.  But these were impressions with a lot of time between them...

I haven't compared the Raysonic directly to any other CDP, just to my audio PC and SN USB DAC.. and for it to still impress me after that is saying something.  Generally direct CDP to my rig comparos are a big letdown. 

-Carl

[mboldda1]

not counting the different features of the 168 over the 128 and with some reporting that non-upsampling sounds better than upsampling and with the 128 giving you the option of either and 168 only upsampling, do you think the 168 is worth the difference in price?  would i be just as happy with the 128?