Macca's Lash Up 2: Lash Harder

[Macca]

I want to see if it is true that the first cd players were thin, harsh, hard and 'unmusical' like so many people say. First cd player I got was in 1995, a current model Sony (CDP791E) so I've never tried anything that goes this far back.

[Marco]

I want to see if it is true that the first cd players were thin, harsh, hard and 'unmusical' like so many people say.

Cool, but I think you'll find the opposite...

I'd expect it to sound smooth ['analogue-like'], but bold and forthright with it, and like Dave says, have good bass. Some of Sony's early models tended to sound as you describe (a little sterile), but not the Marantz.

Let's also not forget that CDPs back then were being compared with T/Ts, such as the LP12, which at that time would've made almost anything sound thin or harsh!

Marco.

[Macca]

Very true. My theory is it was the feted but ultimately not very good flat-earth amps and speakers that were the issue. As you say, good match for the early LP12 or soggy sounding compact cassette, not so good when fed with 'pure, perfect sound forever'. We shall see.

[Marco]

Get it fired up and listened to then, daftee!

Marco.

[Macca]

Later on. Too early for music yet.

[Macca]

Right finally got this son of a bitch thing going.

First of all needed to get one of those dumb 2 prong leads, had to rob one off the AV system.

Next up it powers up, draw trundles out, cd in. Won't read. Tried it a few times decided to give up. Switched it off and pulled it forward to disconnect it. Then realised I had left the cd in so switched on again to get it out and what do you know it reads the disc. So press play, music starts, left channel only. Bollocks. Switch off again, fed up now. Then notice when I pulled it forward right channel interconnect had come out. So put that back in, power up again. Reads the disc but now won't play. Bollocks. Cocked about with it, nothing doing. About to give up again and all of a sudden music starts playing, both channels this time!


Think I might need to get my double E to look at it. I've had players muck about like this before after being shipped so maybe it will settle down with some warm up, get the moisture out of it. We'll see.


Anyway listening now and this is a really good player. I thought I'd play something appropriate to the era so put on Dire Staits 'Brothers In Arms', the record that supposedly kick-started cd player sales worldwide. As expected nothing harsh, screechy or hard about it. Lovely instrumental tone, deep soundstage, guitar sounds very 'guitary'.

Female backing singer on 'So Far Away' comes across lovely. Delicate cymbal work at the start of 'Your latest trick' is resolved very well, superbly realistic. A more relaxed listen than my Sony X505ES but it is drawing me in with its beguiling nature. It's certainly better than any of my slew of budget and mid-price players that range from 10-20 years after it. I'll have to try a wider range of albums to see how coloured it is, but I suspect not much, certainly not as much as some other Marantz players.

[User211]

Cool. If it continues to work.

[Macca]

Cool. If it continues to work.

Always the gamble with these old players, but it was only pocket money and my tame EE can sort it if necessary. If he can fix B&O (and he can) he can fix anything.

[Macca]

Now seems to be working flawlessly, played another couple of albums with zero issues. It's not as good as the Technics SLP1200 but then nothing I have ever heard is as good as that, any format, don't care. But it is good.

[Bigman80]

Good news!!

Now seems to be working flawlessly, played another couple of albums with zero issues. It's not as good as the Technics SLP1200 but then nothing I have ever heard is as good as that, any format, don't care. But it is good.

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