View Full Version : Cambridge CXC or Audiolab6000cdt
Currently I am using a Quad Artera Play to do two things, volume control and spin the occasional CD. It does both of these fine, however it's a tad over kill, a Cambridge CXNv2 which already exists can take over volume reponsibilities, which leaves a need for a CDT. Both the Cambridge CXC and the Audiolab6000cdt will work, they are within £20 of each other so cost isn't an issue, the Cambridge has the advantage that both it and the CXN use the same remote, the apparent advantage of the Audiolab is the slot loading rather than a tray which strikes me as mechanically better. Other than those things has anyone a view about sound quality bearing in mind that both would be using the CXN DAC.
Regards
Martin
Have the Audiolab, not heard the CXC.
Superb sound quality,
For CD playback, beats out my heavily modded Oppo 203 outputting i2s into the same Dac as the 6000CDT over coaxial.
Audiolabs a “memory player”, meaning it plays from its ram buffer, so jitter less of an issue, and is known to play scratched CDs that other players can’t.
Looked into both when buying a CD transport, and on American sites like Audiogon the Audiolab seemed the preferred choice.
Can’t go wrong with the 6000CDT.
From experience:
player is silent, slot loader is solid, doesn’t scratch your discs and is silky smooth.
Solid bit of kit, heavier than you’d expect, sounds, looks and feels more expensive than it is.
Future classic IMO
here’s a great review of it, in fact the one that convinced me to pull the trigger.
https://youtu.be/JAfk5a5M5ds
And a great thread on it if your the reading type. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/audiolab-6000cdt-cd-transport.860164/
Gary
Thanks for your thoughts and the pointer to the other thread which makes interesting reading. It seems honours are about even although the only major downside to the Audiolab would appear to be the danger of scratching discs which I think should only occur of something is faulty or misaligned. Anyway I've decided to go with it, for the amount of CD's I play it will be more than adequate and I didn't want to spend any more time prevaricating essentially over a choice of two.
Regards
Martin
the apparent advantage of the Audiolab is the slot loading rather than a tray which strikes me as mechanically better.
My two penneth. If the choice is down to this and not SQ then personally I'd steer clear of slot loaders. I have had nothing but trouble with my Cyrus CD XT SE players Discs constantly get stuck and wont eject. Eventually Cyrus swapped my CD XT SE for the SE2, it was better but still needed to go back once and even now the occasional disc wont eject without a load of faff. In contrast I've never had a glitch with my Panasonic stable platter although the Cyrus sounds marginally better. I accept the Audiolab may not suffer from this but IME slot loaders are not necessarily better.
Steve
Steve
I have been using a slot loading Quad Artera for the last three years without any issues. I can all too readily remember the 3 or 4 failed tray Cd players I have owned over the last twenty years or so. I suspect there probably isn't much statistically to separate them, personal experience and predjudice being the greatest variable. If it all goes horribly wrong then I will have made the wrong choice which is better I think than terminal fence sitting.
Regards
Martin
Landloper
24-03-2021, 17:15
My two penneth. If the choice is down to this and not SQ then personally I'd steer clear of slot loaders. I have had nothing but trouble with my Cyrus CD XT SE players Discs constantly get stuck and wont eject. Eventually Cyrus swapped my CD XT SE for the SE2, it was better but still needed to go back once and even now the occasional disc wont eject without a load of faff. In contrast I've never had a glitch with my Panasonic stable platter although the Cyrus sounds marginally better. I accept the Audiolab may not suffer from this but IME slot loaders are not necessarily better.
Steve
Same here, Stephen, again a Cyrus product, but mine was a world of pain called the CD8Se2. Ever since then I've avoided slot loaders. That said, I have a 10 year old Mac book that is slot-load for optical discs and it is still going strong. I use a Cambridge CXC and have no complaints. Quiet as anything and does its job well. Nothing againt the Audiolab 6000 as I've never had or heard one. I don't suppose I'd be able to tell the difference between Cambridge or the Audiolab transports in action if I was blindfolded.
I also have the Audiolab and am happy to recommend it.
I don't think that a slot loader is intrinsically better or worse, but if you look at the internals you can see the slot loading mech could easily be disconnected, removed and replaced if it ever went bad. Not always so easy with a draw mech.
My only gripe is that when you press the button to remove the disc the display reads 'Open' and not 'Eject'. Not really a deal breaker though ;)
I had the same dilemma over the CXC and the Audiolab 6000 as Martin, but my problem was also that neither play SACDs. I therefore opted for the Marantz. I'm on my 3rd version now and have been pleased with all of them. They're the only cdps, in my experience, that have been solid, unfussy performers with any format, and, so far, totally dependable with excellent SQ. I've got a nice dac though and would like to try a cd transport but can't find anything within the price range that plays all formats. Any suggestions?
John
DCS Vivaldi will output native DSD from a SACD but they are a bit pricey.
Another SACD option, not quite DCS money but not cheap at current “Scalper” prices,
a modded Oppo 203 with Oppomod i2s board functions as a SACD player or (even better), can output native DSD to a compatible Dac over i2s.
Alternatively, just forget about SACD and enjoy Redbook, it’s MORE than good enough?
Found a video in the ‘Toob af the Audiolab 6000CDT played in a rather high end system.
Sound good?
BTW, My 6000CDT sounds better playing CDs than my own i2s Modded Oppo 203, to me there’s no great need for SACD, unless you want the surround sound aspect of it.
Just a thought.
https://youtu.be/bKOMVcpGjAE
Whilst I agree there's no inherent advantage to SACD I can appreciate that if you've got a lot of non-hybrid SACDs that you'd want something that would play them.
Whilst I agree there's no inherent advantage to SACD I can appreciate that if you've got a lot of non-hybrid SACDs that you'd want something that would play them.
Totally,
think a fair few of the early ones weren’t hybrid layered?
Maybe one of the best SACD references online is here.
http://www.sa-cd.net/
All mine are hybrids but I do have a couple of DVD-A discs, remember them? Not so easy to find a player for them now Oppo have packed it in.
Well in the end I bought the Audiolab which sounds perfectly satisfactory. Unfortunately something non hifi has occurred which now makes it somewhat surplus to plans so if anyone wants a brand new, one disc only played, cd transport I'm up for a discussion. Best laid plans!
Regards
Martin
If anyone has a picksave20 ebay 20% off discount code they can save £75 on a cdt6000
Ha! :eek:
Well in the end I bought the Audiolab which sounds perfectly satisfactory. Unfortunately something non hifi has occurred which now makes it somewhat surplus to plans so if anyone wants a brand new, one disc only played, cd transport I'm up for a discussion. Best laid plans!
Regards
Martin
Way above my price range Martin and, having read the blurb, my competence. I didn't understand at least half the stuff in the description and technical spec!
I agree Gary. I wouldn't have bought the SACDs had I known about the limitations on playability, and most of my cds are standard discs, which I'm happy with - although I haven't heard SACDs played on a compatible player. I'm swayed to replacing the Marantz at some point with the Audiolab though out of interest.
hifinutt
31-03-2021, 21:34
Not keen on slot loaders so waiting to get a marantz 6007 when I can afford one . Their stuff is so reliable and well made
It's the interest in a different sound that tempts me to go for the Audiolab Phil, but it will be hard to resist replacing again with another Marantz. By the way, my CD6006 is not even the UK version and still sounds brill. Which model do you have?
I had a MF M1 CDT Transport. It was fixed under warranty initially and 6 months later after the warranty ran out it stopped returning the CD. MF refused to fix it unless I sent over £200 to them. I went to one of the independent repairers and they told me the unit slot loader is an expensive part and that the £200 from MF was a very reasonable deal as it should be nearer £400 for their costs. The economics didn't add up to me (as I only purchased it as NOS so I told MF that they could keep it FOC. After that experience I have now gone for the CXC and not the Audiolab 6000cdt
hifinutt
13-05-2021, 12:26
Be interesting when the new cambridge evo transport comes out at about 800 quid I think . Not keen on slot loaders otherwise it Might land here
hifinutt
13-05-2021, 12:28
John , I have a superb marantz sa8005 which is superb both as a CD and a transport.
Stranraer
14-05-2021, 19:31
I bought the CD Chrome by Catherine Wheel from Music Magpie some months ago, and it's failed to play on both my Mark Levinson and Oppo.
Just popped it into the Audiolab 600 and it's rocking AND rolling.
Lovely little machine, though it sounds exactly like my spice grinder when loading discs.
Playerpower
28-05-2021, 08:52
Bought audiolab 2nd hand, sounds great and think the memory buffer makes a difference but appears sounds drops out momentarily when something else is plugged into same spur and slot loader has started to struggle.
Pieoftheday
28-05-2021, 08:57
[QUOTE=Stranraer;1271332]I bought the CD Chrome by Catherine Wheel , brilliant album :)
Floyddroid
23-06-2021, 12:58
I auditioned both and the Audiolab is head and shoulders above the Cambridge. Obviously i bought the Audiolab.
welcome to the 6000 CDT owners club, think there is quite a few of us now.
Yup.
Future classics imo.
hifinutt
23-06-2021, 22:01
Good to see folks like the audiolab. I put my onkyo c5 sacd player in as a transport 2 days ago , used a cheap cable but then upgraded to better one into a tube distinctions conditioner , my my it was rather better than the rotel I have been using . Hugh difference in detail and imaging . Really pleased but teeny bit of drive noise can occasionally be heard but it's still good
Floyddroid
24-06-2021, 17:10
welcome to the 6000 CDT owners club, think there is quite a few of us now.
Thank you sir. Yes it's a fabulous piece of kit for the money. Build quality alone puts many others to shame at much higher prices. I have just ordered an NJC 24bit 192Khz reference DAC to go with it.
Thank you sir. Yes it's a fabulous piece of kit for the money. Build quality alone puts many others to shame at much higher prices. I have just ordered an NJC 24bit 192Khz reference DAC to go with it.
Your not wrong Steve...
Worth investing too in a good SPDIF coaxial cable to truly let it do its thing.
Punches biblically above its weight.
In my experience the "for the money" damning with feint praise doesn't apply.
The better the Dac the more it shines through, especially with a quality digital cable.
Floyddroid
25-06-2021, 07:20
Your not wrong Steve...
Worth investing too in a good SPDIF coaxial cable to truly let it do its thing.
Punches biblically above its weight.
In my experience the "for the money" damning with feint praise doesn't apply.
The better the Dac the more it shines through, especially with a quality digital cable.
Yes indeed Gaz. I fail to see how they class it as a budget item as to me it is high end quality. It does make you wonder how many manufacturers are taking the piss with their pricing? No feint praise here as i am totally blown away by it. I am using it with a Topping D30 DSD DAC at the moment though i have ordered an NCJ 24bit 192Khz reference DAC to marry up with it. I am using a Kimber coax cable i bought years ago at the moment so things are looking and more importantly sounding good at Petch towers ha ha.
Floyddroid
25-06-2021, 07:23
Your not wrong Steve...
Worth investing too in a good SPDIF coaxial cable to truly let it do its thing.
Punches biblically above its weight.
In my experience the "for the money" damning with feint praise doesn't apply.
The better the Dac the more it shines through, especially with a quality digital cable.
Which cable are you using Gaz?
Which cable are you using Gaz?
Hey Steve,
Glad your enjoying the silver discs again, same here - making a comeback and buying CDs again because of what the Audiolab does for my favourite albums.
Wish I hadn't sold off a few hundred of them a few years ago when I went to streaming.
Its Deja Vu all over again...re-buying the LPs I sold back in the day.
Will I never learn? :doh:
Anyhoo...
My take on the Audiolab is that its transparent and revealing enough to get out the way and let you hear what your Dac can do.
The SPDIF coax is Pseudo-balanced and its best sounding output imo.
Shame its not true balanced XLR but hey ho.
Any noise issues sent up the cable to your Dac (not that there is) would be taken care of by a good digital cable.
Speaking of which:
Buying the Audolab was a bit of a punt for me, had read it sounded great and was a bit of a game changer, but wasnt sure if I wanted to invest fully in playing CDs again.
So wanted a digital cable that was "good enough" but not breaking the bank in case the Audiolab didn't work for me.
Budgeted £100 as a fair price to pay.
From reading a long 6000CDT post over on AudioGon forum when researching the Audiolab, a strong recommendation kept coming up for the Wireworld Starlight 8 coax cable.
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-starlight-8-digital-audio-cable
My power cables and interconnects are all Wireworld and rate them highly, so it made sense.
Came in under budget so I went with this one.
Don't feel as though its holding the things back, CDs sound great with it hooked up to the Transport.
Getting into CDs again, and the Audiolab plays nice with good dacs so I'm wanting to upgrade this cable in the future...possibly even the Transport at some point down the line.
Next cable up (for me) is the Black Cat Silverstar! MkII
https://blackcatcable.com/products/silverstar-75-spdif-cable-universal
Had the MkI and it was really really good.
A fair bit more expensive than the Wireworld though, close to the price of the Audiolab itself.
Anyway,
Still enjoying the CD journey, thats the main thing.
Stranraer
25-06-2021, 18:28
I went for the Audiolab 6000 transport earlier in the year following advice on this forum, and absolutely delighted with the outcome.
Bought a Missing Link coax last month and VERY pleased with the result.
Stranraer
25-06-2021, 18:37
[QUOTE=Stranraer;1271332]I bought the CD Chrome by Catherine Wheel , brilliant album :)
I saw them back in the day at The Marquee, London. Great live. I think the singer's related to the singer/pilot from Iron Maiden.
Virtually all my spdif leads are now 1.5m belden component leads with canare plugs, when hdmi came along these became very cheap and probably better spec than many fancy cables. I also have a super short russ abdrews quasi balanced kimber lead, cant remember how i got it i know it was free and after trying it i know why
I use a Gotham coax cable, professional type, thirty quid. Not had any issues with it.
Floyddroid
26-06-2021, 16:17
I use an aged Kimber yellow coax cable though i am tempted by the QED award winner.
Haselsh1
28-06-2021, 16:16
Last year I bought a Denon DCD2500NE SACD/CD player because I have quite a few SACD's so it made sense at the time. Around 5/6 of my discs are non hybrid as well so again it made sense. The player is amazing, weighs a ton and sounds fantastic. It is also interesting to play the SACD layer and then the hybrid layer. The difference is blindingly obvious. My favourite for this demo is Yola by Eleanor McEvoy. Beautiful music.
Haselsh1
28-06-2021, 16:17
Oh yeah, back in 2018 I bought a CXC to use with an Audiolab MDAC. The CXC lasted slightly over a year before giving up the ghost.
Floyddroid
28-06-2021, 21:11
Oh yeah, back in 2018 I bought a CXC to use with an Audiolab MDAC. The CXC lasted slightly over a year before giving up the ghost.
Compared to the Audiolab the Cambridge seems flimsy. The cheap plastic drawer lets it down.
Haselsh1
29-06-2021, 09:11
Steve indeed, the unit is not one I would waste money on again. I bought it as a stop gap but it didn't last long enough even for that.
Haselsh1
29-06-2021, 09:12
My current Denon is in another league but then money wise it is as well.
Steve indeed, the unit is not one I would waste money on again. I bought it as a stop gap but it didn't last long enough even for that.
My CXC is 3 yrs old,never missed a beat
hifinutt
03-07-2021, 16:07
Last year I bought a Denon DCD2500NE SACD/CD player because I have quite a few SACD's so it made sense at the time. Around 5/6 of my discs are non hybrid as well so again it made sense. The player is amazing, weighs a ton and sounds fantastic. It is also interesting to play the SACD layer and then the hybrid layer. The difference is blindingly obvious. My favourite for this demo is Yola by Eleanor McEvoy. Beautiful music.
yes i read a lot of good stuff about that player , is it silent in use ?
hifinutt
03-07-2021, 16:09
My CXC is 3 yrs old,never missed a beat
thats good news , i have googled this extensively over past 3 years and it does seem to have more than its fair share of break downs , one of those posts was shauns a few years back !
i am using an onkyo c5vl as a transport at the moment and it is most certainly better than the rotel 865 bx i was using , more detail , more sense of space and presence . but then the rotel is over 26 years old
Haselsh1
05-07-2021, 14:32
yes i read a lot of good stuff about that player , is it silent in use ?
Yes Phil it is silent when in use and the drawer mechanism is soooo good.
hifinutt
06-07-2021, 10:04
brilliant , thanks shaun . that sounds brilliant . nearly got the model down which is about 899 new [ dcd 1600 ] which has its fans
Haselsh1
06-07-2021, 13:16
brilliant , thanks shaun . that sounds brilliant . nearly got the model down which is about 899 new [ dcd 1600 ] which has its fans
Please be aware that I have only owned this since last springtime when I re-invented my entire sound system. I still remain very impressed with it though for CD and SACD. The damn thing must weigh in at about 9kg and the drawer mechanism is so tight and precise. Very nice unit in my opinion and up there with my old Meridian 200/203 two box from way back when.
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