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Review 1 of 1
Price Paid:
$199.00
from Local shop Summary:
I bought this as an "emergency" cd player about 4 months ago when I purchased a new amp and pre-amp and found that my Sony 100 disc changer sounded *terrible* in my new system. This was in the shop connected to a parasound halo amp and pre-amp with Legacy Audio speakers and it sou nded great. I was impressed that such a low cost (although original list was something like $400) player could hold up in a system like that and so I bought it with no further adu. Oops. It sounded really crummy in my system (which is legacy audio pre-amp and parasound hca-750 amp). It was a whole world better than the Sony in terms of noise, detail and transient handling but it gave some new problems that were even worse in terms of being able to actually enjoy hearing the stereo. The midrange was hot, the treble was really hot, the bass was not defined or controlled. There was a maddening hissing noise that I could just barely hear in the upper treble. This noise was evident to even greater extent with the SONY 100 Disc changer. I don't know what this noise is - I suspect it's some kind of digital distortion. At first, I thought the brightness was due to the amp or my speakers which, to be fair, is to some extent true, I have Paradigm monitor 7 speakers and they are a little bright. I recently replaced the TEAC with a ROTEL 1072 and the over-all sound of my system improved so much it was like night and day. Also, the noise is gone. This is not a review of the ROTEL so I will not add more about it here. Bottom line, I didn't really like this player in my system but your results may differ. I would say listen to it if you are interested in it . . but don't buy it without hearing it in your system first. It is a big step up from something like a low model Sony and for $200, I have not heard a better player. It is also true that it sounded great connected to the halo/legacy set-up I heard in the shop. I have 3 other "cheap" cd players and the TEAC beats the pants off all of them . . except I couldn't bear to listen to it in my system. I upgraded the interconnects in the first week I had the TEAC to MIT Avt1's and that helped a bit but not enough. Another thing is the physical construction of the player. It *looks* like nice build quality - it has a thick brushed aluminum faceplate and main display is pretty cool looking. When you pick it up, though, it is light and flimsy. Also, the power cord is cheap and can't be replaced. I can't fault it for that at $200 - but I don't like it for the $400 original list. I guess that's why these players can easily be had brand new for 199. Strengths:
Good detail, nice dynamics and clean transients compared to similarly priced players. Nice looking. The remote is logical and functional. Weaknesses:
Treble that makes you turn away from the speakers. Depending, of course, on your related equiptment. Some distortion is audible. Power cord is cheapo and can't be replaced. Similar Products Used:
various cheap cd players.
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