Built like a tank-top loader-foot suspension-DAC

0

Takes the brightness out of my rig, sounds very warm, incredible soundstageing ,depth.
Rotel rsp 980 (preamp)
adcom gfa 555II 200x200w (front power amp)
carver av-64 80X80 rear 160w bridged center (power amp)
rega planet, single cd
adcom gda600 (digital to analog converter)
yamaha ddp 1 (dolby digital 5.1 decoder)
hitachi 35" tube
Rca ds* first gen
denon am/fm tuner
klipsch heresy II's fronts
klipsch k5's centers
klipsch k4's rears
Advent/sunfire 15" sub
standesign rack (leadshot filled)
cpu
PIII 500mghz overclocked @ 620mghz
224 megs ram
asus p3b-f (mobo)
soundblaster live (liveware 3.0)
creative encore dvd 6x
Hp cd writer plus 8100i
Ati all in wonder 128 32meg
sony 19" 400ps monitor

Similar Products Used:

Denon Pioneer carver

Sound stage, imaging

Requires very clean CDs

Don't know all the lingo-jingo B.S. but this thing is as good as my ears will allow. I've seen cd players for 2500-3000 and it must require an amazing system to bring out the subtleties. I've read through some of the reviews of this and I can't really believe someone can rate it a 1 (one). What are they thinking; they must just be trying to sway people to buy something else but this piece of equipment is amazing. I might rate it a 4 or 4.5 if possible but due to all the idiots giving it a 1 (one) or 2 (two) I'll give it "double prizes". This cd player seems to be widely available for 600-700 dollars and is well worth the investment. Just back it up with decent quality components and speakers and you'll be as happy as you can be. I look forward to coming home from work and letting the planet take me away.

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None

Excellent sound & build

none

While looking to upgrade my Denon CD player, I came across the NAD540. I really liked the machine, but I returned 2 of them due to tracking/skipping/error correction problems. (see review under NadC540) Out of disgust I upgraded to the Planet and never looked back. I would have to agree with the majority of the reviews which state the sound is "laid back" without the digital edge. My Denon was 8 years old, featured 2dac's/channel and was for it's price range a fabulous unit. However, if I Listened to it for any extended period of time at medium-high listening levels my ears would get "fatigued". The Planet sounds fuller to me which I suppose in the audio language corresponds to soundstage. More importantly, that digital edge had been removed and my ears are grateful. Do not confuse "laid back" with the "muddy" sounding el-cheapo disc players (I've owned those too!) which lack detail.
When I look at other reviews for this product I am humbled by equipment others list as their system components.
I have and Adcom GTP500 preamp and GFA5400 Amp. My speakers are a pair of 8 year old polk audio LS50's. The Planet is definitely the strong point of my system. I'm almost too embarrassed to mention the Monster Cable interconnects. Nevertheless, even in this budget level system, the planet really shines. I can listen to it for hours which is I suppose the best endorsement of all. By the way, it easily tracks some of my discs in the worst shape.

Similar Products Used:

Denon DCD2560, NAD C540

A warm and involving sound

Noisy transport

A good value player without the typical harshness of digital sound. Much better than my old Marantz 63SE and matchess other players in its price range. The Arcam 9 is a much better player, but double the price.

Recent downside of noise from transport. This is audible with quite passages and lowers my rating.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz, Dennon, EAD and Arcam

Solid constuction. Good, neutral sound. You can turn the display off from the remote. Programming sequence is excellent.

Uses Sony high end transport--tracking a bad disc stinks.

This unit is built like a tank. Top loader, so you need room on top in cabinet to load it. Remote is ok, and you can turn off the display or dim it from the remote. Not many keys on the unit itself. Coax out only.

It's big weakness is Sony transport error handling. My Onkyo will track anything. The Rega won't. If it hits a bad track it will do a few types of things, like skip back a track or two and loop forever, or lock into a track and repeat it at that point, like a turnable tonearm stuck in a groove. So dump the disk.

Sound is outstanding. With a really high quality disk like a Sheffield Lab, Mercury Classic, or Reference Recording, the sound is unbelieveable. It is very laid back. Nothing really nasty every comes out of the Rega. Makes the Marantz or Rotel sound crummy. I traveled two hours one way to get it. Very happy with it.

Warranty is 1 year on the transport and three on the electronics. So they said. No problems so far.

A bit expensive, but easily beats any others in it's price class.

I use it with Straightwire Chorus interconnects, Straightwire Quartet speaker cable (biwired), Acurus RL11 preamp, Acurus A100 power amp, and Vandersteen 2ce Signature speakers (biwired).

Similar Products Used:

Magnavox CDB650. Onkyo. Sony. Aiwa.

looks,price,build

moving parts

i managed to get this unit at avery good price. In Malaysia they are selling it for USD 736 for a brand new box with remote.after scouting for quite sometime i managed to get hold of this baby at a very reasonable price. my first impression of this was not as credible at all. the first set up partnered with the rega was an intergrated bryston valve amp and magna planar ribbon speakers which i heard at a demo in one shop in malaysia. well it does not give that "ummph" it sort of too laid back like seating in the 11th row, but after reading some reviews in audio reviews and endless quest of surfing in the net and together with a reviewer from scotland, who using the same gear as i am using ie. linn majik line 1 amp and 752 mission than i have no doubt that this would be well match with my system.

well the first thing that i noticed was the rega can really sing, well who cares 'bout detail when the clarity of the music is soothing. the dynamics and the presentation of the rega is quite impressive, when i put on my test cd i.e. eagles "hotel california" (live version) the kick in the bass drum really goes down well, control and tight. i positioned my speakers 1.5 feet from the wall and the bass line and kick bass for normal rock/pop/r&b song is there. basically the rega give the sound quality of tireless listening pleasure.
the closes that i come across such pleasure listening to a cdp was the audionote zero set up but bear in mind the price is tripple that what i am paying for my rega.lucky that i got this unit from a formidable user before and the period of runing in has been done.

well this rega work marvelously with linn majik amp, mission 752, ixos 604 cables and either audioquest quartz or van den hull the 1st interconnect and with good support such as using a marble slab and spike the slab if possible .the only set back is the supporting feet under the cdp but i have put additional cones triangular and it manages to lessen the jitters.

i highly recommend this player to anybody who wishes to listen to "MUSIC" and not technical freak (i.e comparing details etc). my advise is go have a listen whether it matches to your current system. its the only reasonable audiophile cdp without the audiophile price. also do check the new rega planet 2000, it has an awsome fascia.

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cyrus dad3, dad 1.5, arcam alpha 5+, audionote cdt zero + dac.