Detail, bass, very "analog" sounding with good recordings.

Slightly "cool" sounding overall, so system matching is important.

I've been searching for a good used transport to compliment my upgraded Parasound DAC1000 for some time. I had been using a modded Harman Kardon 7600 CD player, and I knew it would be a weak link due to its age despite it being there premier model at one time. I had been holding out for a Parasound C/BD 2000, but had been beaten to the punch on the auctions I had found.

I found a small local hi-fi shop here in Portland which offers a lot of used gear. Over a couple months, I borrowed a Wadia 3200, and later a Cal Delta.

The Wadia, despite its age, was amazing in terms of clarity. I opted not to buy it because the Phillips transport is long since unavailable, and I didn't want to risk buying a $575 paperweight if the unit failed outside the seller's warranty period.

The Cal Delta was decent... better mid bass and had a more tangable sense of rhythm overall then the HK. It was smoother then the HK also, except in the upper midrange where the combo of my Dahlquist DQ-28s and Parasound amps and DAC became less then ideal.

The T-1000, in my system, was dramatic. Much better detail, soundstaging and sense of pace then the HK or Cal. Better sense of pace then the Wadia, and nearly as detailed. The bass is far more tonal then the HK, CAL and Wadia, but a bit less "deep" then then Wadia. Overall, it sounded more "analog" then anything else I've tried, and it was an easy decision to buy.

I picked up a used Audioquest ST-Glass cable to try when I settled payment for the transport. Compared to the Kimber AGDL, the optical cable was slightly "cleaner" in the top frequencies and perhaps had a bit more "air" to the soundstage, but the difference was minimal.

Similar Products Used:

Parasound CDP1000
Wadia 3200
CAL Delta
Harman Kardon HD7600
Denon DCD-515
Audio Alchemy DDS-Pro

midrange magic,commestically its one of the better players around within its price cap.Leans more towards the warm side and system matching is critical.

lacks abit of dynamic pace at the frequency extremes

If your looking for a full dynamic CD player maybe you should avoid this unit,but if your looking a player that creates a dramatic midrange with stunning soundstaging and "you are there" seating then by all means audition this player.Matching amps and speakers is very critical with this unit,I notice with equipment with cold signatures tends to highlight them traits,but with equipment that leans towards warmth the spacial bloom is incredible.I would put this unit against equipment that cost $$$$ more.Built quality is first class,controls are laid out in a sensible manner,and it looks damn good also.

Similar Products Used:

Sonic Frontier,Wadia,Sony ES series.

Clear, smooth, revealing sound.

Few, if any, maybe, needs a little more airyness.

I have owned the EAD T-1000 Transport and the EAD DSP-1000 III HDCD for four years now. Joined to one another by an AT&T glass cable, this duo sings. They are fluid, clear, and extremely easy to listen to and enjoy. I recommend them if you are looking to take your first step into high end audio.



I have a VAC Vintage Linestage
A Muse 100 amp
Magnepan 1.5 QR

Similar Products Used:

Cal Tercet

Build Quality, Reliability

Soundstaging and Delicacy

I have lived with the T-1000 transport for over 5 years. I bought it based on it's rave in Stereophile, and because it was the only resonably priced transport with an ATT glass output jack. At the store, it sounded better via D60 Kimber coax (silver digitsl interconnect). I have since auditioned this transport in 3 friends systems as well as my own. When listening to this transport by itself, it fairs well. When comparing this transport to others (as well as single CD players), this transport never fails to disapoint. It never seems musically enjoyable, and is almost always bettered by whatever is being compared (except for the Proceed all in one player, used as a transport). The 10ga XLO power cord helped considerably, but still no cigar. Sonically, this transport excels in nothing. The only reason I keep it, is for it's rugged build quality(I gave it 2 stars for quality based on the build). If I did not have another transport however, I would have certainly got rid of it by now. Thanks Stereophile for the recomendation.

Similar Products Used:

Wadia 22, Transport

I have owned the EAD CD-1000 Series III for over two years now and it continues to impress me. I has anaturalness and ease that you don't find in most other CD palyers. It almost has an analogue-like quality. It is
never bright or etched and is easy to listen too. Yet, it still presents all the information without veiling or
blurring. I strongly suggest the Series III upgrade to anyone who still has a Series II, it is like getting a whole
new unit. It has great bass, and a smooth midrange. I beats the ARC CD-2 and all offerings from CAL and
Rotel. I don't know how it fairs against Levinsons but it costs a lot less than those and is very good its own
right.

I listened to these briefly in the same store where I bought Wadia 850's.The are as smooth as the more expensive Wadia player, but the lack life.
Dynamics are only average and ultimate low end definition and power are lacking.

From what I remember, the CD 1000 series III with HDCD sounds smooth and warm, but lacks the see through
transparency, microdynamics and resolution of higher end
players like the Mark Levinson No.39, Goldmund 39DA player.

Smooth, liquid, warm sound.

Not as dynamic as a Mark Levinson but at what cost???

I purchased this unit initially in 1996 but took the first unit back because of a glitch in one of the channels. I actually picked up the dealer's demo unit (I really can't call it a demo since he only used it two weeks) and it has been going strong ever since. I believe that the quality of the head unit or lack of will be multiplied or enhanced by inferior equipment and lines out by way of the speakers. I've run this unit on top of a seismic sink and used moderately priced interconnects through a Audible Illusions preamp which are routed to a pair of monoblock GTA SE-40 and then connected (bi-wired) to the VR4s a couple of feet away. Playing a Patricia Barber CD or even one by Enya gives a sense of "being there" or at least in the vicinity and if my turntable ever failed me (heaven forbid), I could survive for a while. I plan to acquire a 24 bit DAC from EVS and although I expect it will be tremendous, I still have good memories of the basic unit.

I purchased the EAD T-1000 a week ago. I'm running it through a CAL tube analog processor (SIGMA. My Amplifier is a Threshold 400a. My pre-amplifier is an Audio Research LS3. The speakers I have used are; Dahlquist DQ-10's. I have listened to everything from classical music, rock and roll to Christian Rock and can't get over how much I have been missing over the years. The music I'm listening to I have sat through many times before in what I considered to be the best cd/laser disk from Sony.I've never heard the music like I'm hearing it now. I feel as though the entertainment is live and I'm sitting in the audience. I havent heard the Levenson products, but I do know what I like and for the money, I don't think you could go wrong with the T-1000.

Wonderful, musical sound.

Discontinued

I have owned the EAD T-1000 cd transport paired with the DSP-7000 Series III DAC for five years. I've found the combination to be a wonderful cd player. It is very smooth and very, very natural and musical. It has a more analog sound than any other cd player I've listened to. That is not to say that it lacks clarity and definition, because it is very detailed and clear, and it is very dynamic. But it is not as clinical and harsh as most other cd players. At the time that I bought it I was intending to go with Meridian (I was replacing a Meridian 207 Pro circa 1987), but the Meridian had a much harsher tone to it (the Audio Research by contrast had all the warmth you could ever want but was not at all dynamic--totally uninvolving). The EAD was the only one that to me had the perfect combination of clarity and warmth.

Similar Products Used:

Auditioned versus Meridian, CAL, Audio research, and Wadia