Parasound CDP-2000 Ultra CD Players
Parasound CDP-2000 Ultra CD Players
USER REVIEWS
[May 20, 2002]
Matt_JM
AudioPhile
Strength:
Heavy unit with good vibration isolation. Unit has excellent build quality, detail and clarity.
Weakness:
Remote layout and quality. Top load design takes some adjustment. Parasound does not build them anymore - so no future upgraded units to trade up to. I, like the other reviewers on this site, am impressed and satisfied with this player. Music is much fuller and richer. Strong vocalist like Elton John, Pavarotti, and Micky Cruz (friend and Latin singer from Albuquerque – www.mickycruz.com) are stronger, more detailed – you hear them breath, but not harshly. Acoustical instruments come through very true and notes and detail not previously heard are marvelously presented. Good soundstage and separation of instruments and vocalists in multi-singer groups. Have not taken advantage of the HDCD capability, but will be trying it soon. A variety of music genre has been played on this unit already and each plays well. The most amazing part is that music on this player truly matches units costing more. Parasound claimed the design was better than some 24/96k units. After putting this unit in the system and listening for a while, I agree! My wife gave it a listen and noted how much better Elton John’s voice presented itself (Whispers album), how much more detail was presented in some whistling in a few Micky Cruz songs. She encouraged the playing of Santana and Pavarotti via A-B testing. Her reaction was, somewhat typical, that this was a good upgrade at an extremely reasonable price. I initially bought the unit thinking I would use it as a transport and get a good reasonably priced DAC, but based on its performance the DAC may not be necessary. Too bad Parasound dropped out of the CD player business! Current set-up: Krell KAV-300i Integrated Amp Parasound 2000 Ultra B&W Nautilus 805s Sonic Horizon (www.sonichorizon.com) – Daybreak Speaker cables (shotgun bi-wire set-up – 4 wires to each speaker) Sonic Horizon – Hurricane and Skyline interconnects Sonic Horizon – Hurricane Power Cords Similar Products Used: Yamaha CD-X5U, Krell KAV-250cd, various Sony and Denon. |
[Feb 29, 2000]
Ray G
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Looks, solid construction, natural sound and Parasound warranty/customer service.
Weakness:
A slight weakness, but putting in and taking out the CD's is a little tough, because the top doesn't have much room. It's like plaing the game "Operation". My system: Parasound HCA 1500 amp, PLD 1100 Pre-amp & CDC 1500 5-changer, JM Lab Electra 920 speakers, Vampire Wire OSC interconnects, Monster Cable speaker wire. Similar Products Used: Marantz CD67SE, YBA Integre', California Audio Labs CL-15, Creek CD43, Parasound CDC 1500. |
[Mar 28, 2000]
Tim
Audiophile
Strength:
Parasound 10 year warranty/customer service, aesthetics, solid construction, belt drive top-load, natural sound and HDCD.
Weakness:
It's a little hard removing and putting in the CD, because there's not a lot of room on the top where the CD is put onto the spindle. My system includes: Marantz SR-18 receiver & CD65SE 5-disc changer, Kimber Kable Silver Streak .5mm interconnects, Nakamichi BX-300 cassette, JM Lab Electra 915 speakers with Monster MC500 speaker wire. Similar Products Used: Parasound CDP 1000 & 1500, Marantz CD65SE, CD67SE & CDR 700, YBA Integre', California Audio Labs CL-15, Denon DCD1500II and Creek CD43. |
[Feb 17, 2000]
Richard Unanue
Audiophile
Purchased the CEC 5100Z cdp belt drive which is identical to the Parasound (the latter being made by the former, a Sanyo sub). At first use, without break-in the sound was like the previous post, hard, forward, and irritating. But clearly providing information my previous cdp had never shown. Not being patient for the break in and, furthermore, using an OTL amp into the Gallo References, wanted to max out the system dynamics. End result was that I bought DIY solid silver cables, teflon tubes, etc. etc. (see Greg Weaver's articles either in Positive Feedback or the Soundstage Archives--Feb and Nov 98). The result: phenomenal. Got rid of the AQ and Kimber, had to reduce the pot on my AI Mod 3A from about 2'oclock to 10:30. A little more break in and all hardness, forward, irritating sounds disappeared totally. the sound is now smooth as can be with an insight into classical, jazz, and other that has never been there before. Concerned about the placebo effect, brought the young females in this family to hear and they confirmed the clearly audible difference in musicality. Outstanding. |
[Nov 23, 1999]
Alexander
Audiophile
Strength:
Detailed and musical sound.
Weakness:
Fit and finish, ergonomics. The remote is a joke. I have used the Parasound unit for eight months now. The top load operations functions well when I got used to it. ( After a couple of months) Similar Products Used: Sony X7, Audiolab DAC |
[Nov 08, 1999]
Tom Kennedy
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Very warm sound. Detail and shimmer. One of the very best I have tried. Top loading looks cool.
Weakness:
Top loading and therefore does not fit in every audio rack, 3/4 pound disc is extra effort. No single track repeat - that is strange but this is a simple beast meant to play music not to play tricks. I know that there is controversy surrounding belt drive CD players. As an engineer I have a hard time understanding how a belt drive system would be superior to a direct drive system. Keep in mind that CD transports vary there speed and it would seem the belt drive would be inherently inferior in that regard. Similar Products Used: Threshold Data Basic II with custom power supply. Linn Classik. Audio Alchemy DDT/DDC combo. Parasound 1000. |
[Mar 30, 2001]
Jack
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Build, smoothness, balanced outputs, clarity, weighty sound, clarity and detail.
Weakness:
It doesnt read a couple of my CD's but maybe its the scratches? I am totally delighted with this CD player. The quality construction, and dampening of the chasis is superb. The belt drive mech. is silky smooth and quiet. My unit doesnt take that long to skip to a chosen track. Similar Products Used: adcom gcd700, and various others. |