Welcome home, Jazzy.

New stocks of made-in-Portugal Vishay Roederstein (MKT 1813) 2.2uF 63V Coupling Capacitors arrived from RS Components today. For those who have pre-booked this item, you may collect them from me at their costs w/o any mark-up; all for the sake of our common hobby and passion.

I've mentioned more than once in my review of the T-amp the importance of having a CDP proper instead of using DVD machine for CD playback; for those who are keen in owning a very inexpensive yet affordable CDP, check this out: Sansui CD-X310 cdp at only RM320. And for those who're contemplating venturing into affordable yet great-sounding home audio system by spending less than a grand, here's how to do it: Sansui cdp + T-amp + bookself speakers of RM550 thereabout.

It turns out ekool is yet another owner of T-amp. Welcome aboard TAFC, ekool.

Bro Xtorm,

I usually have deadlines to meet but not working on dead lines!

Anytime would be a good time for me; this is our passion and it keeps me sane inspite of my hecticness!

Bro ongbs,

If your Sony CDP-42 is working fine, I feel there is no reason to upgrade. Remember the adage of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it ! "

Personally, I can't tell how good the Sansui CD-X310 is; I'm recommending it especially to those who are using DVD machine for CD playback on price factor alone. Anyhow, I'm buying 1 unit for myself for my bedroom.

Next time, we go yum char together, ok?

Bro ongbs, I just deposited funds into the guy's bank account, the CDP is arriving tomorrow only.

My Sansui CDP-X310 arrived at my office this afternoon; now spinning some CDs pairing with my T-amp and the 3” paper-cone loudspeakers of my JVC UX-L5000 midi. First impression: great sound, definitely more coherent-sounding than using a DVD machine.

Bro ongbs, at its price, I’m not critical of Sansui CDP’s sound. I personally don’t think it would not be any worse off than the current crops of CDPs in Marantz CD-5001 and NAD-C515 BEE. If we seek more, we could always modify / soup it slightly. What say you? Are you game for it?

Bro Ijan, my recommendation on RM550 (or thereabout) loudspeakers? Try some decent sounding ones like Tannoy Mercury M1, Q-Acoustics 1010 (non i version), Mission m31i, Mordaunt Short 901 or others that you do come across and like the sound. I always go for those models which have been replaced by newer ones which could be gotten at very attractive prices.

Ya-loh, but only 1 is mine; the other 2 ordered by my collegue and friend, the 2 guys I poisoned.

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Added on September 11, 2008, 7:17 pmBro Ongbs,

I don't have any slightest inkling on the type of digital-to-analogue (DAC) converter used in my Sansui CDP; its instruction manual merely states encoding to be on 16 bits linear (Redbook CD = 16bits 44.1kHz oversampling). This CDP is made in 1995 in Hong Kong, tried to google for related info but found none, at best its description (or rather poison) in Chinese language as per below:

"SANSUI CD-X310 - 山水(SANSUI)品牌形象在美國向來高居前十名.僅次於ACCUPHASE..比LUXMAN.YAMAHA.SONY....品牌形象都要來ㄉ好..在很多資深玩家的眼中-SANSUI-就是日本的美聲代表..講到日本音響第一個想到的就是山水

SANSUI在黃金時期推出的高級CD唱盤..作工細緻.用料紮實.轉盤進出平穩安靜..讀取頭狀況良好.讀取快速穩定.不跳針不挑片.燒錄片也讀的很好...音質溫暖細緻.透明度高水分充足..人聲Q柔甜美有肉..解析度良好細節豐富....有老山水獨特的甜美聲底與Q柔韻味.適合聆賞各式音樂.聽古典.弦樂.人聲小品風味獨特.是玩家聆賞音樂的最佳夥伴... "



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 11 2008, 07:17 PM

Bro Jazzy,

I believe Sansui Electric Co Ltd has already ‘bungkus’ for quite some time, hence not much info could be found on its products.

The Sony DVP-S7000 that both you and bsl555 owned is built like a tank and in fact beyond reach of many ordinary folks (me included) when it was first launched in yesteryears. It sure is one hell of CD transport and when paired with a decent audio D-A-C, not many midprice CD players let alone the entry level Sansui CD-X310 could come close to its sonic prowess.

My colleague, friend and I went to KLIAV Show 08 together where one of us was ogling at amp, another at cdp whereas the other at both cdp + amp (all affordable priced ones); I managed to convince them to try out the T-amp at RM55 and one thing led to another; now we bought the Sansui CDP to complete our inexpensive but great-sounding systems. Since we bought 3 units, the seller relented to just a little discount for our purchase.

I have yet to replace any single SMD with capacitor/resistor and actually wanted to hear out / follow the leader of either your goodself or bro Xtorm. I may also need to replace tip of my red Hakko soldering iron with a finer tip before I could solder caps/resistors in place of SMDs.

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Added on September 11, 2008, 10:03 pmHeheh, I just saw your newly added signature of "Home is where T-amp is".

I say make one unit for the office as well; I brought mine to office today and is having a field day here ....



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 11 2008, 10:03 PM

ongbs, Oops… I didn’t check with you whether you read Chinese or otherwise before posting the 2 lines of Chinese writing in Post 1150; but anyhow and also for info of all, I’ve translated them (poison) to read:

SANSUI CD-X310 – The image of Sansui brand in the United States is highly regarded and placed within the top ten there, after ACCUPHASE but considered better than LUXMAN, YAMAHA, SONY ..... In the eyes of knowing audiophiles, SANSUI represents the excellent sonics of Japan .. And when we mention Japanese high fidelity, we would always think of SANSUI

The CD player from SANSUI’s golden era .. works meticulously and is both quiet and stable in opening and closing of its CD tray, tracks excellently of data encoded on discs, fast and stable in reading encoded data, doesn’t skip whilst reading discs including those self burnt ones, warmth sounding but full of details, highly transparent yet sounding full .. vocals sounding sweet and well fleshed out, highly resolved with excellent details …. Possessing all of the good old SANSUI’ unique sweet sound and gentleness which is suited for listening to all genres of music like to Classical music and Vocals, and is the best companion to appreciate music by audiophiles.


Jazzy,

Cool bro, you really are a leader we could count on. And you bought FOUR T-amps yourself?


ekool, welcome aboard TAFC again.

I only ordered 3 units of Sansui CDP for my colleague, friend and myself. You’ll need to order from the URL posted in my earlier posting if you really do need a CDP yourself. You WON’T regret it as coupled with T-amp, we’re indeed having the greatest bang for bucks spent (just as Jazzy has puts it above). I’ve listened to my unit for several hours today and must admit I’m really impressed with its sound which is surely sweet sounding as claimed in above para (poison). The details through my T-amp are all there and come across without any harshness nor sounding hard. I had always believe that CDPs need at least 100 – 200 hours to run-in as in the case of my Roksan Caspian m-series-1 which only sounds right (at least to my ears) after some 300 over hours of playing music proper.


xtorm, PM answered, kindly check.




This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 12 2008, 02:32 AM

Xtorm,

Did you count the physical quantity of items received against what was written on the reverse side of envelope? Any mistake from your original order?

Since you have received those items, most of us here in this thread expect you to report back the difference in sound of your T-amp after each component change, fair deal?

Joke aside, you need to ensure your fever go away for good.


Ongbs,

Yes, the Sansui CD-X310 cdp could play CDRs, no problem with that.


ekool,

Great posting!

Jazzy,

Ongbs is right, the digital output of Sansui CD-X310 is an optical jack. If you're also contemplating picking up this player, do allow me to suggest that there is another dearer model of Sansui CD-X510 which is purportedly made-in-Japan being advertised by the same vendor at RM400 at HiFi4Sale. During telecon with him, he was prepared to drop price to RM380. He claimed the printed specification of that CD player is much better but when I asked what he actually heard, he said he couldn't differentiate between the two CD players, hence my decision to buy the cheaper model.


Ongbs,

On the drawer of my Sansui CDP-X310 is printed ΔΣ digital conversion which means 'Delta-Sigma', any idea on the digital-to-analogue convertor used?

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Added on September 12, 2008, 7:36 pmJazzy,

If you're planning to use the Sansui cdp as a CD transport alone; my own perception is that it's a bit wasted as the Sansui CD-X310 sounds great as an integrated CD player.


This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 12 2008, 07:36 PM

Thanks for the link, good read.

I must say you really do read a lot.

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Added on September 12, 2008, 7:48 pmThanks, ongbs.

However at such prices, both players are a steal.

This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 12 2008, 07:48 PM

Good morning, all

Heheh, Jazzy, now that you've picked up your goodies, could we all also expect to receive your report (a.k.a. review) on sonic change to the stocked T-amp (your patient No.3) after each operation? Especially after changing to Vishay 2.2uF input caps that many T-amp owners here love, all thanks (or no thanks) to my poisoning.

Newer CD players have seen very vast improvements from their earlier counterparts if it were to be compared to amplifier design which has remained practically unchange (newer design of chip-based GainClone and Class D which include our much loved T-amps exempted) as a result of technological breakthrough and deviation from strict compliance to Red Book regulations; Rega Saturn/Apollo being one very good example.

So, Ongbs, you have made up your decision to pick up the Sansui CD-X510? I'd say it's a fantastic buy as this CD player was previously being retailed at approximately RM1,300.

Whoa, our T-amp sifu at work!

Jazzy,

Great work there and noble spirit of sharing with us all.

Just came home after taking my family out for dinner, now 'listening to' rather than 'playing with' the T-amp; the sound of it too addictive to be left alone.

This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 13 2008, 11:35 PM

How good the T-amp really is? I’m been an enthusiast in hifi for 16 long years and had in the past owned numerous amplifiers at different point in time and I’d say it’s really very good. It certainly is one of the very best amplifiers out there.

I’ve not been tweaking or modifying my T-amp for the past one week, merely listening to and rediscovering my collection of some old CDs which I had not played for several months or evn years. The experience is breathtaking; such a cheap system which comprises of Sansui CD-X310 CDP, Q Acoustics 1010 tiny bookshelf loudspeakers (86dB/1W/1m) and T-amp with a 24-steps (Dale resistors) attenuator sounding so good. It’s now giving my main system costing several times over a run for money; it sounds just as good if not better in certain areas.

Now waiting eagerly for the review from our T-amp sifu, Jazzy to comment how the T-amp sound after change of SMDs to Vishay capacitors and resistors before I commence mine.

Bravo, bro Jazzy

The way you worded your review, it'll be a sin for us not to change those SMDs.

The unforgiving characteristic of the T-amp after change in capacitors/resistors should simmer down after more hours of burning in, else a big chunk of our CD collections (those locally pressed ones) would be rendered unplayable.

Xtorm,

Yes, my Sansui + T-amp + Q-Acoustics could be compared to my main system and is certainly better in certain area(s).

Do you remember the quotes in your own Post 216?
…that magical thing that it's hard to put a finger on. Magic is about as close as I can come to describing it. The sort of thing that triode lovers rave about. Though they don't really sound like triodes.

Yes, it is in that particular area where my Sansui + T-amp + Q-Acoustics beats my main system, the so-called directness, expressiveness and micro detailing...

I'm now listening to Nigel Kennedy performing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons (EMI 724355635328) and the tone of his violin, mood and different interpretation of these pieces are shockingly well rendered to me. And certainly, not all affordable amps or systems could do that!


This post has been edited by Y.C.: Sep 15 2008, 12:23 AM

bro Xtorm,

Hehe, so I see that you don't have much faith in my Sansui CDP yeah?

It's very good although not in the same class as my Roksan Caspian m-series-1; it certainly beats Rotel RCD-1070 and more musical than a Sony CD-XA5 ES, both of the latter CDPs I owned in the past.

Music playback is about overall coherent sounding of the system and not strength of each individual equipment.

Jazzy,

I'd certainly think so; that was what I commented in above post in replying Xtorm.

Totally agreed, or others would think we're set to gain in the form of commissions from every T-amp we successfully promote here.

To me, I think it's fabulous sounding.