Have your say & ask the experts

Hi a.g.,

All the best with the Cyrus then. I didnt find the Naim fatiguing at all very enjoyable not forward quite natural sounding, the Arcam sounded a bit dull in comparison . Even in the what hifi magazine it said it was very musical machine for under 1000 pounds, most mags have commented on that fact. I have listened to the cyrus 6 for about 10 minutes from memory it seemed very enjoyable too, with a nice open sparkling top end quite punchy and detailed - but I didnt compare it with anthing else at the time.

I look forward to the outcome.

Regards,

Steve.

 

Thanks for your reply Steve, your experiences are useful and interesting.

Sevenoaks will not agree to refund me any money, they are offering either a trade-in for the Cyrus or another new CD192, which is unsurprising seeing as they are now selling new CD192s on eBay for £399! So I'm in a bit of a quandary. As far as I can see, I have three options:

1) Gamble and go for the Cyrus, I might like it, then again I might not. I've been reading the Cyrusunofficial forums and there are some mixed reviews.

2) Get a new CD192 and flog it. Again, a bit of a gamble. It's looking unlikely that I would get any more than £400 for it.

3) Use the store credit to buy new speaker stands, and/or a rack or some other accessories. I would be happy with this, but it leaves me without a decent CD spinner until I can rustle up the funds, which will be a few months. This is probably the best option because by then the Cyrus disc loading problems might be sorted out, making the Cyrus a more attractive option.

Any opinions or advice is welcome.

a.g.:

Thanks for your reply Steve, your experiences are useful and interesting.

Sevenoaks will not agree to refund me any money, they are offering either a trade-in for the Cyrus or another new CD192, which is unsurprising seeing as they are now selling new CD192s on eBay for £399! So I'm in a bit of a quandary. As far as I can see, I have three options:

1) Gamble and go for the Cyrus, I might like it, then again I might not. I've been reading the Cyrusunofficial forums and there are some mixed reviews.

2) Get a new CD192 and flog it. Again, a bit of a gamble. It's looking unlikely that I would get any more than £400 for it.

3) Use the store credit to buy new speaker stands, and/or a rack or some other accessories. I would be happy with this, but it leaves me without a decent CD spinner until I can rustle up the funds, which will be a few months. This is probably the best option because by then the Cyrus disc loading problems might be sorted out, making the Cyrus a more attractive option.

Any opinions or advice is welcome.

Advice... Stop buying blind. I cease to have any sympathy. The CD192 is a well reviewed, well liked player. You gambled, albeit on a VERY good price for a player that was once £900, and it looks like you lost.
Go to a shop.
Try some stuff out.
Choose the one you like.
In the mean time, I would take the other CD192, and sell it on if you still dont like it.

a.g.:

stephennic:

I did try the Arcam against the Naim cd5i in a hifi shop. The Naim I enjoyed much more, more sparkle, punch and drive it sounded much more alive and open. Some have even compared it against the Cambridge 840c and have found it more musically involving.

I can't help but think of cheap amps whenever I hear the words Cambridge Audio.

My Arcam is currently in the capable hands of Mr. DHL so I'm waiting to see what Sevenoaks reckon. I was reading a letter sent to another hi-fi mag - the writer was saying he reckoned identical pieces of equipment can sound different. Made me wonder.

I keep hearing that the Naim is fatiguing, which I don't really want. I have my heart set on the Cyrus.

Here is your problem. Instead of thinking what you will be listening to. Listen to it and make your mind up. My Cambridge amp is far from cheap and is superb. The fact that you would not even consider it because of the manufacturer explains a lot.

fr0g:

a.g.:

Thanks for your reply Steve, your experiences are useful and interesting. Sevenoaks will not agree to refund me any money, they are offering either a trade-in for the Cyrus or another new CD192, which is unsurprising seeing as they are now selling new CD192s on eBay for £399! So I'm in a bit of a quandary. As far as I can see, I have three options: 1) Gamble and go for the Cyrus, I might like it, then again I might not. I've been reading the Cyrusunofficial forums and there are some mixed reviews. 2) Get a new CD192 and flog it. Again, a bit of a gamble. It's looking unlikely that I would get any more than £400 for it. 3) Use the store credit to buy new speaker stands, and/or a rack or some other accessories. I would be happy with this, but it leaves me without a decent CD spinner until I can rustle up the funds, which will be a few months. This is probably the best option because by then the Cyrus disc loading problems might be sorted out, making the Cyrus a more attractive option. Any opinions or advice is welcome.

Advice... Stop buying blind. I cease to have any sympathy. The CD192 is a well reviewed, well liked player. You gambled, albeit on a VERY good price for a player that was once £900, and it looks like you lost. Go to a shop. Try some stuff out. Choose the one you like. In the mean time, I would take the other CD192, and sell it on if you still dont like it.

seconded

Hi Ag,

I second the idea to try before you buy, take your Arcam 192 into the shop with the music you enjoy and compare with the other cd players you are interested in (if you can on similar speakers and components and cables) - this will help you not to make the same mistake again. Let your ears do the deciding not just peoples reviews. As I said earlier I made similar mistakes buying cd players and now I always try usually over a few days before buying. You may be happier in the long run.

Regards,

Steve.

For anyone with a tight budget or simply not wanting to blow loads on a bit of wire, just got these interconnects and am very impressed -  I'm sure I'll now get laughed at...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=330248670836&Category=116850&_trksid=p3907.m29

Blimey... calm down, lads. I have never disputed that it would be better to go into a bricks-and-mortar establishment, I'm sure it is, which is why I'm planning on buying accessories with the credit I've got from returning the CD192 and going to a shop to audition components. Please read my posts before jumping in with your criticisms. Yes I am wise after the event but that's irrelevant now, so stop repeating what has ben said already. Message received loud and clear, I don't need to hear it again.

I do not know why people are suggesting I get another CD192 when I know that I don't like it! If I got another one then it wouldn't leave the box.

I never ruled out buying a Cambridge Audio CDP because of the name. I live WAY too far from a Richer Sounds to make buying from them feasible. There are plenty other manufacturers out there.
My first amp was a Cambridge Audio and I loved it. Still got it, in fact.

a.g.:

Of course I SHOULD listen first before buying but I am prepared to take a gamble with the Cyrus because I'm a gambling man and I'm running out of patience with my quest to find a good CD player..

what you mean posts like this, i think thats why people are getting a bit hot under the collar. you have had 4 pages of posts, all telling you the same thing, "try before you buy", sorry if you think thats attacking you, its not,  it's just an observation,

a.g.:

Of course I SHOULD listen first before buying but I am prepared to take a gamble with the Cyrus because I'm a gambling man and I'm running out of patience with my quest to find a good CD player..

what you mean posts like this, i think thats why people are getting a bit hot under the collar. you have had 4 pages of posts, all telling you the same thing, "try before you buy", sorry if you think thats attacking you, its not,  it's just an observation,