CD Player/Caiman SEG

[JohnNB]

Some advice or suggestions please on a good cd player or transport that works well with the Caiman SEG DAC.

I use a Marantz CD6006 and last week took delivery of a Beresford Caiman SEG DAC to replace my faulty Arcam rDAC. I love the sound of the Caiman but I'm having the same problem experienced by Michael in his 'Crackling noise' thread. This only happens when the DAC is connected to the Marantz CD6006.

Stan suggested I try the different sound modes but the noise persists in each setting. I also noticed a loud pop from the speakers when the CDP is turned off while it's connected to the dac and the volume is higher than 0. and worry that this could potentially damage the speakers.

In one of Michael's posts he included part of Marantz's response to his crackling problems/ They thought it was odd that the DAC did not mute the sound upon no input signal, suggesting, therefore a fault with the DAC. As the DAC works fine with the tuner, this doesn't seem credible.

I don't want to give up on this lovely sounding dac, so will consider alternative CD Player/Transports costing £500 or less if I can be sure the player works well and sounds good.

Thanks,

John

[superbike999]

You may get more success if you move this to the specific Beresford thread:-

https://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?47-Beresford-Banter

[Hypnotist]

I also just upgraded my DAC to the latest SEG from Stan just before Christmas, I have a Denon DCD 520 which I use via the optical out into the DAC, to be honest I've not heard and pops ? I have my Pioneer Network Player connected to optical in, so I can swap between 1/2 and I did a test playing the same track on the CDP and FLAC from the Pioneer, I didn't notice a pop even switching while the track was playing on both.

Update

In the TV break I switched the Denon CDP on and connected to the SEG =No Pop volume on my amp was at the 9 o'clock position and loud enough any pop would frighten you. I tried it also just off 0 volume.

Playing a track, pressed the power button off =No Pop
Switched the Denon CDP back on =No Pop
Switched between the Pioneer Network Player and the Denon CDP =No Pop

No matter what combination of Power On/Of I can't reproduce the pop your hearing. Maybe its Marantz CDP and their output to the optical out is causing the problem?

Do you have any mates you could borrow another make of CDP off and do the same test?

[southall-1998_mk2]

Have you tried visiting Audio Gold, John? Maybe they might have something decent going.

S.

[Hypnotist]

You may get more success if you move this to the specific Beresford thread:-

https://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?47-Beresford-Banter

A Mod will have to move it Dave.

[JohnNB]

Thanks Dave. I do have a couple of other cdp's I will try - but one's the previous model Marantz and the other is a very old and flimsy feeling old Sony. I get the noise from both coaxial and optical outputs of the Marantz, so I guess it's a compatibility issue as referred to in Michael's post re same issue.
.

[JohnNB]

I haven't Shane, and I hadn't thought of them though it's near me and I know the shop well, even going back to their first shop in Crouch End. It's not the place for a bargain though as they charge a lot understandably because of the location. I'll look at their webpage

[Hypnotist]

Try both CDPs you have and shout back John

[Smoothgroove]

No pops here with a Marantz SA7001 with optical connection to Caiman SEG.

[Andy831]

Not noticed any "noise/pops" from my newly purchased SEG/Dorado using optical from a Cambridge CXC

[Hypnotist]

Looking like it points towards the Marantz and that model Johns got, be confirmed when he's had a chance to swap out the CDP for one of the others in his collection

[JohnNB]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I followed Dave's advice and connected my two other CDPs to the Caiman - a Marantz CD6003 and a Sony XE570. Interestingly the older model Marantz produced the same crackling noises when the try was opened and closed, but the Sony did not produce any cracking on loading the tray. This has assured me that the problem is with the Marantz, and that the Caiman is 'not guilty'. Thanks Dave.

This is both good news (keep the Caiman) and bad (need to replace the Marantz). The Sony plays well, but it's very old and I think, was a budget player when it came out. The sound I get from the Sony through the Caiman is acceptable, but a little on the bright side of shrill! and not the rich, full sound I get with the Marantz's

It's interesting that Greg's Marantz doesn't produce the cracking noise. I've email Marantz this morning asking for advice, but don't expect a solution given their response to Michael on the same issue.

The obvious solution is to go for the Cambridge CXC transport, but will have to try to sell the Marantz to cover some of the outlay. Would you recommend this pairing Andy? In the meantime I might look for a vintage/cheap 2nd hand deck before splashing out.

[Andy831]

Definitely I would John, whilst my set up does not major on digital I do find the CXC a surprisingly good transport for its fairly low cost.


I am aware that with some its a bit of a "marmite" machine though, some swear by it others not so keen. So best advise may be to try and get a listen to one first.

[Landloper]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

The obvious solution is to go for the Cambridge CXC transport, but will have to try to sell the Marantz to cover some of the outlay. Would you recommend this pairing Andy? In the meantime I might look for a vintage/cheap 2nd hand deck before splashing out.

John, I use an SEG fed by a CXC Transport and get good results from the pairing. As it happens the CXC took the place of a Marantz CD6005, which now does service in a second setup. At the moment the CXC is £250 new at Richer Sounds. I think I'd struggle to spend £250 elsewhere and match that unit's performance. If you did go down this route & found that you didn't like the CXC transport, they seem to have have a decent resale potential.

[JohnNB]

£250 for a CXC is tempting John, and I may succumb! Trying out 3 different cdps this afternoon though has helped me appreciate the point made by several contributors about the sound of cdps/dacs being more a matter of taste than purely sound or build quality. Some praise the sound of Sony over, say Marantz. Comparing my very old Sony with a modern Marantz today has raised my awareness of issues of different 'tone' and 'presentation' etc. So, as usual, there's more to this than meets the eye - or ear in this case!

[Hypnotist]

I play 99% FLAC through my Pioneer Network Player to the SEG, and when doing a back to back with the same track via the Denon CDP I cant hear any difference, well not on the 1 track I tried which was a female vocal of Amazing Grace.Your welcome to listen to mine if your in Cornwall.

Just seen your in North London bit far for a back to back test.

[JohnNB]

Thanks for the offer Dave and, as much as I like Cornwall, it's a bit of a trek!!

If your Denon sounds as good as a FLAC file then that's high praise. The model currently available (Incredibly cheap at £179) is the DCD 520AE. Is this the one you have? Richer Sounds no longer stock it though, which is a shame as I could have taken the Caiman in to test with the Denon.

[Hypnotist]

Yes thats the model DCD 520AE I have, very pleased with mine

[CageyH]

Buy a CXC from Richer Sounds, and if you don’t like it take it back.
I did that with a CD63KI CD and amp. Really didn’t like the voicing of it.

[JohnNB]

I might do that Kevin, but just heard from the person who made the original post on noise problems with the Caiman/Marantz combination. Michael replaced the Marantz with a CXC and all was well for awhile, then he got the same noises. What a conundrum! A lovely dac that produces nasty noises as well as beautiful music. Still can't decide wether to return mine (still within the returns period), or try to find a player that doesn't produce unwanted noise like Dave and his Denon.
I'm a bit shocked by these problems as hifi gear, in my experience, is usually very reliable.

[StanleyB]

Still can't decide wether to return mine (still within the returns period), or try to find a player that doesn't produce unwanted noise like Dave and his Denon.
Send it back. This thread is giving my product a bad name even though it is not the SEG that is faulty. My only regret is that is that I did the clock mod for you on a new unit, whilst I have refused to do the same for others. But even though it means me having lost a lot a of time and money for nothing, it's still far better than reading all these comments that try to put the blame on the SEG. I don't need the money so I can put up with the loss.

[Hypnotist]

Send it back. This thread is giving my product a bad name even though it is not the SEG that is faulty. My only regret is that is that I did the clock mod for you on a new unit, whilst I have refused to do the same for others. But even though it means me having lost a lot a of time and money for nothing, it's still far better than reading all these comments that try to put the blame on the SEG. I don't need the money so I can put up with the loss.


try to find a player that doesn't produce unwanted noise

I think Johns statement above says Johns aware its the CDP Stan, the SEG plays whats its fed and in Johns case the marantz is the problem.

[JohnNB]

I'm sorry you feel like this Stan but I am sharing my experience of using a piece of equipment, which I think is one of the primary purposes of this site. My comments on the SEG, apart from the problems with noise, have been exclusively positive about the SEG and as soon as I noticed the noise I emailed you hoping for a constructive response, which, unfortunately, was not forthcoming. I therefore looked to the AoS forum for advice and guidance, and came across Michael's post concerning exactly the same issues I am experiencing. Surely sharing information and experiences in this way is important information for potential buyers, and for yourself.

I have tried 3 different cdps with the SEG - 2 Marantz, 1 Sony, all with similar results. The Sony was slightly different in that it doesn't produce noise when the tray is opened and closed, but when turning the player off I got the loud 'pop' as I did with the 2 Marantz decks. I am still open to the possibility that the problem is with the cdps I have tried, and I was hoping to try at least one more before making a decision within the 30 day trial period. If you think this is unreasonable and that I should return the SEG before trying other alternatives, I will do this. But, as I've posted several times, I think the SEG is a excellent dac that has significantly elevated the sound I'm getting from my system, and I would like to try at least one more cdp before making a decision.
Regards,
John

[Hypnotist]

Personally John I'd keep the SEG and if your just using the CDP via optical pick up a s/h Denon DCD520 off ebay their not to expensive Its what I use without problems, or the new model