Price Paid:  $205.00 from ebay

Summary:
I was very skeptical about how much better this single disc player would be over my circuit city special onkyo mulitdisc player (i think i wrote a positive review for it, for what its worth)...I no longer use the onkyo, though, because this cd player is so much better....i don't like changing cd's manually, but i can't stand the sound of my onkyo even worse...

This cd player is awsome...and now used ones are affordable via ebay/audiogone...i have not listened to any other high end cd players so i can't say how this one compares...all i would say is that it is way better than anything you can get from big electronic superstores...i would recommend this unit to anyone that is cheap and has a love for accurate reproduction of sound....

my system:
NAD T751 A/V Amp
Paradigm Monitor 7v2 front speakers

Strengths:
I hear details in recording that i never heard before...sometimes they almost make me jump out of my chair!...It also has been able to handle every recorded disc that i have tried...it was easily programmed into my sony rv900? universal remote (with the learning function)...you can turn off the display for listening in the dark

Weaknesses:
it seems to skip more when i walk heavily on the hardwood floor next to my system rack....obviously, single disc mean more gettin' up to change discs....

Similar Products Used:
None in cd players (this unit has replaced my circuit city onkyo multidisc player)

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Hawthorne Stereo

Summary:
Regarding my previous post, I brought the CD player to Hawthorne Stereo who shipped off to Arcam's North American distributor who fixed it and everything's but perfect since (I believe they replaced the tray/door).

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I posted a few months ago, but this time I'm not as happy. Recently the loading mechanism began to fail sporadically. It often will not open. Wondering if I should've sprung for a reliable NAIM system...

Strengths:
Bass. Clarity. Value.

Weaknesses:
Build. Remote.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Did not get the opportunity to audition the 7SE - but with a cd player of such unanimous acclaim, I wasn't exactly nervous about just going out and buying one - especially given that I had no other components at the time, i.e. no existing baggage to fit in with.

Within days I bought a used arcam amp and some mission 733e speakers (and cables).

Partnered with an Arcam Delta 290, the depth and quality of sound produced by this arcam union is staggering. Warm and natural detailed sound which has real punch and attack - but not so as to sound forced or artificially created. The highs, lows and mids all sing along very nicely - the 290's tone controls are permanently defeated, any tampering with these controls would be utterley pointless. Inspiring and highly musical cd player, worth every penny.

Having said all that, I know bugger all about hi-fi and I've got no real reference point from which to draw comparisons - so don't take my word for it. I'll give it 5 stars though cos it sounds awesome!

Strengths:
soundstage, vocals, 'real' sounding

Weaknesses:
none that I am aware of

Similar Products Used:
some very bad seperates a long time ago when i was a skint.

Price Paid:  $330.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
This is really just an update on my review from 16-10-2000.

With a different interconnect the brightness and occasional lack of drama are no longer apparent. The sound is rich and warm but rhythmic and precise. The timbres of instruments are rendered well and the sense of the recording's acoustic is good. IMHO you need to spend a lot more to get a player that sounds more than just slightly better. Using cones to isolate the chassis will bring its performance up to the level of players costing twice as much. If it is partnered well it sounds great.

I have altered my ratings as the price has fallen making it better value for money. Performance-wise, I've got no complaints but I realise that there are better players available.

System used;

Arcam 7 SE
QED Qudos 4 three metre interconnect
Myryad MI120 integrated amplifier
QED Silver anniversary 5 metre speaker cables
Epos ES14 speakers

Strengths:
This player presents music very well. It plays CD-Rs and is very good value for money.

Weaknesses:
The build quality is not as good as the newer Diva range or the older Deltas. It does need a good support and sympathetic cables to get the best from it.

Similar Products Used:
Arcam Delta 170 transport and Black Box DAC.
Arcam Alpha 9
Samsung DVD player.