Most vinyl sounding CD player I have heard

[tabarddn]

Hi Guy's, Lat weekend I picked a Arcam Solo 2.1 player up from a local garage sale. Didn't need it, but it was just to good a price to pass over.

Well what a gem this is, it is now permanently in my system. As the title says it is the most vinyl sounding player I have ever heard & I have had quite a few players 10+, through my system over the years.

Quite strange though (maybe why it was sold off) it will not play a SACD in SACD mode, even though it is set up to play SACD as the priority, it always defaults back to CD. But the sound is quite astoundingly vinyl like. It does play DVD & DVDaudio, which also sound fantastic.

I have a Topping 50S dac & the output from the CD into the dac gains me no extra increase in S/Q.
 
Cheers Derek

[vanakaru]

So you are using stand-alone DAC and getting stream out of the CD player via optical or COAX? And you experience differences in sound with different CD players? Or it is the Arcam that sounds good with its DAC and preamp?

[timelog]

According Arcam user manual (https://www.arcam.co.uk/ugc/tor/solomovie21/User%20Manual%20(English)/solomovie2-1e_manual.pdf)
playing has three options, 1-2 are for SACD and 3. for normal CD layer of multilayer SACD.

1) SACD MCH layer The SACD multi-channel layer is played
2) SACD 2-CH layer The SACD two-channel (stereo) layer is played (default)
3) CD The CD layer is played
The default setting for SACD priority is ‘SACD 2-CH layer’.

Note that you can not use external dac ( as Topping 50S dac) with SACD two/multi-channel records as ARCAM digital outputs does not allow SACD output because of digital copy making prevention included by manufacturer. Normal CD should be possible play trough analog/digital outputs and be available for your Topping 50S dac. SACD outputs are typically normal analog RCA 2-CH outputs (restricted by legal copyright rules).  

Good digtal sound can not be compared equally to vinyl player because vinyl has more technical restrictions. Both can be enjoyed.

[vanakaru]

I just wonder where this vinyl sound comes from. Up to preamp(after DAC) every player is about the same - just digital stream and nothing to do with sound characteristics. There are differences how well digital information is read and corrected though but this has nothing to do with sound. If there are problems to digital then you hear cutouts, crackle, distortion. As much I know "best sounding" DAC is oxymoron.

[timelog]

It's possible to get some quality info about DAC making some measurements like is done for Topping D50s DAC:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-new-topping-d50s-dac.7914/

As conversion from digital to analog is usually correctly made in dedicated chip, quality of analog output circuit (in DAC or CD player)
defines more sound quality. "Best sounding" is as subjective as "vinyl sounding".

[tabarddn]

Hi, Thanks for the replies.
-Yes the Arcam player using it's internal dac sounds as close to vynil as I have heard from a CD player.

- I have not done a A/B test between the Arcam dac & the Topping Dac using the Arcam as a transport. As I do not have a remote control for my source inputs on my Pass B1Korg.

- Sorry I have no idea how they measure their equipment reviews in Audio Science. But after reading the review last year I decided to buy the D50S.

-Yes I know about the Arcam SACD default set up & have go in & reset it on the Advanced Menu. But this did not change things. However SACD's sound better playing the CD layer from the Solo than they did from both my Sony & older Arcam SACD player (both these play the SACD layer no problem). So as I have increased the S/Q coming from my SACD & CD's I am not that worried.

- I have tried to do a factory Re-Set as per the manual instructions. However what I get on my menu is different from whats in the manual!! And I at present cannot get to the Re-Set menu.

DVA is also stunning & for the 1st time I have sound coming down the walls with digital tracks, This previously I could only get from my vynil rigs.

Cheers Derek

[stonetostone]

Hi Derick are you trying to to do a factory reset from standby?
press front panel buttons mute/vol-/vol+ Then use the source button on the remote control to scroll up or down press ok on reset on the display,i don't know if you have done it like that in the same order but should work.
steve

[tabarddn]

Hi Steve, Thanks for that. putting my ''I am dum cap on now'' Where on the crowded remote is the source button, I can only see it on the unit itself.

Cheers Derek

[stonetostone]

Hi Derick try the source button on the solo instead (second press button from the left).
let us know how you get on.The source buttons are above the ok button in a group of eight on the remote
steve
ps pressing the mute,vol-,vol+should put you in engineer mode,then you use the remote control source buttons to scroll up or down till you get to the factory reset,hope that's a little bit clearer.

[tabarddn]

Hi, Very strange, none of that work (found the Set Up button, Granddad look ) All I could do is change over the regional setting say from 4 (Aust/NZ) to 2 (US), but nothing else.
So I though I would try DVD A, to see how that works and yes it does, very well. But it outputs to my DAC through optical. Which if I remember when these formats were set up neither SADC or DVA should, but CD & DVD can.

Anyway I am happy as said before the output from the player & my D50S is undiscernable. So what ever it is outputting is very, very good.

Cheers Derek

[stonetostone]

Hi Derick
Disconnect the unit from power supply,press and hold down standby-on button while still pressing the button reconect the power supply as soon as (is tv on) is displayed release the standby-on button.
worth a try

[tabarddn]

Hi Steve, Well that did not work, so I will just enjoy it as it is. I have far more CD's & only about 10 SACD, 5 DVA's. So I am not missing anything really, because it is a very fine CD player.

Cheers & thanks for your help. Derek