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ARCAM CDS50 vs Pioneer UDP-LX500 for CD/SACD playback

4880 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Panson, Aug 7, 2019

Rieper

Discussion Starter · Aug 6, 2019

Which has the better DACs, transport, components? Looking for the best possible experience when playing back my extensive CD/SACD collection after my Sony player was retired last week...

My budget is at $1000, so I feel these are the players for me. Unless someone can recommend another option at this price range.

Thanks in adv.

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Tex_Thai

· #2 · Aug 6, 2019

Hi Rieper, I don't have the Arcam but do have the Pioneer LX500 so I cannot compare for you, but I can recommend the Pioneer.
Are you primarily into multi-channel music, SACDs played by way of HDMI output, or 2 channel out using the single ended outs (which sadly is all the LX500 has)?
I find 2 channel using the built in DAC of the Pioneer sounds great, but I don't use it, preferring the surround sound, I let my pre-processor do the decoding. It also has room correction which I find helps in my home theater.
Wish I could help more, but the Pioneer is built like a tank and sweet sounding.
God Bless,
Wayne

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Tex_Thai

· #3 · Aug 7, 2019 (Edited)

Since no one else is chiming in here, I went to the Arcam site and looked at what they post about this player.
Not much.
They don't mention the ability to play native DSD, if it cannot then it would be a deal breaker for me, but it probably can since it plays SACDs.
They don't mention what DAC it uses, so I cannot compare.
They don't mention DVD-Audio discs. That would be a deal breaker for me if it doesn't.
The pic of the back of the player LOOKS like it has balanced outputs, for stereo, and that is woefully missing on the LX500, only available on the LX800.
There is info to download, I did not bother, I figure if you are interested in this player that you have already done that.
Hope you find out what you need to know,
God Bless,
Wayne

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glangford

· #4 · Aug 7, 2019 (Edited)

Rieper said:
Which has the better DACs, transport, components? Looking for the best possible experience when playing back my extensive CD/SACD collection after my Sony player was retired last week...

My budget is at $1000, so I feel these are the players for me. Unless someone can recommend another option at this price range.

Thanks in adv.

On paper the Arcam has a better DAC, ESS 9038, but I find the AKM DAC in my Oppo 203 to be very satisfying, so I have no doubt the AKM 4490 in the LX500 sounds good. As far as the comment on DSD, it does play DSD. I was communicating with Arcam when this player came out as I started to get one. They didn't mention DSD from USB, but told me in their testing it played DSD64 and DSD128. I suggested they update their data on their website, I guess they never did. If you are not into multichannel and strictly 2 channel, I'm sure the Arcam is a nice player. I've always been of the mind set a CD player is better at CDs than a universal player, but sadly I just own two universal players (Oppo 95 and 203). The thing I liked about the Arcam is the ability to use wi-fi and an app to navigate music on a USB drive. I store a lot of music on a 256 GB SSD based thumb drive on my Oppo 203 and it's very convenient to navigate via the app. Most of my music is ripped or hd tracks downloads, except SACD and DVD-A so I like having this ability. No such ability with the Pioneer, you may have to cut on a monitor to do that, but in the pioneer thread I heard there are work arounds. Either player is nice, depends on what you are looking for.

Google it and you'll find a thread on steve hoffman music forums on the Arcam for more insight.

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Panson

· #5 · Aug 7, 2019

Rieper said:
Which has the better DACs, transport, components? Looking for the best possible experience when playing back my extensive CD/SACD collection after my Sony player was retired last week...

My budget is at $1000, so I feel these are the players for me. Unless someone can recommend another option at this price range.

Thanks in adv.

Of the two, I'd go with the ARCAM CDS50. No experience with other than reviews. I like that they're not trying to do too much with this player.

If you're looking at longer-in-the-tooth items, Panasonic DMP-UB900 (now much below your budget). Although its 4K and Blu-ray reading layer conked out on me, I still use it for CD, DVD, Network. The analog for CD section is excellent and hasn't been repeated in Panasonic's later UB models. Cheers.

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