Light Capture
10-01-2012, 20:34
Has anyone ever considered vintage Akai electronics. I haven't and always thought Akai was cheap junk until now. I'm really impressed with my new to me 1988 Akai CD-32 cd player. It is better than a vintage 1991 Yamaha CDX450 it is replacing. From memory it is better than the famous vintage 16 bit Magnovox 495 cdp I used to own, Rotel RCD975, and maybe not quite the equal to a Cary CD308 but close.
The Akai uses:
Burr-Brown PCM56P DAC
Sony Kss-150a Belt drive transport w/ soft loading and the fastest loading I've ever seen
Inside chips are also Sony
Nice robust power supply
Heavy gauge SS (I think) chassis
Has digital output that the Yamaha didn't have, but it doesn't have variable output like the Yammie so I can't try it direct to my tube power amp.
The sound is warm with a robust bass, clear articulation, airy highs revealing room acoustics, and an creamy sweet sound. Very tube like to me.
System:
Akai CD32 cdp > Mac C37 preamp > AES tube power amp > Altec Model 15 speakers.
I think this system needs a tube pre or passive pre instead of the Mac. Anyway the Mac c37 and mr77 have been for sale locally, so it maybe a reality sometime soon.
The Akai uses:
Burr-Brown PCM56P DAC
Sony Kss-150a Belt drive transport w/ soft loading and the fastest loading I've ever seen
Inside chips are also Sony
Nice robust power supply
Heavy gauge SS (I think) chassis
Has digital output that the Yamaha didn't have, but it doesn't have variable output like the Yammie so I can't try it direct to my tube power amp.
The sound is warm with a robust bass, clear articulation, airy highs revealing room acoustics, and an creamy sweet sound. Very tube like to me.
System:
Akai CD32 cdp > Mac C37 preamp > AES tube power amp > Altec Model 15 speakers.
I think this system needs a tube pre or passive pre instead of the Mac. Anyway the Mac c37 and mr77 have been for sale locally, so it maybe a reality sometime soon.