Is the Rotel RCD-1072 better than the $4K Krell SACD standard?

[audiojunky]

I spent the better part of the day comparing the Rotel RCD-1072 and the Krell SACD standard.

Both were running on the Krell 400Xi integrated amplifier and B&W 804s speakers.

Here are some of the music I used to compare the 2:

1) Diana Krall
2) Queen
3) Dave Brubeck
4) Yanni
5) Dire Straits

While the Krell SACD standard was definitely crisper and clearer, the Rotel sounded a lot warmer and less harsh than the Krell. I sounded a lot more musical...

The Krell was extremely revealing - to a fault. It almost made the music sound unmusical. I don't really know how to explain it - but the warmth was missing and it sounded almost mechanical/ industrial.

Bottom line, if I did a blind test between the 2, I would have probably selected the Rotel over the 6 times more expensive Krell.

[Aussie Geoff]

AudioJunky,

I know what you mean - the Absolute Sound didn't give the RCD-1072 it's "Product of the Year" for nothing... While there are better CD players - the RCD-1072 humbles many much more expensive players for shear musicality...

Geoff

[kurtholz]

well, another point of view, as i have listened to both in home extensively, the Krell did sound harsh to me, up to the point i was able to provide a total synergy of Krell processor,amp, etc to complete the chain, at that point i felt it really was an over-achiever, the demons left at that point

:-)

Rotel is a very decent player in my opinion,and did produce very warm sound,certainly easier to pair with less expensive amps etc, but i felt a tad to much grain to the sound, just my tastes run different, i would go with something different, the sony 9000es is also a great player, see them all over ebay under $2000

if you can go Krell Home theater standard amp,processor, it's sacd player takes on a whole new life

you dont see many for sale for a reason,

good luck whichever way you go

Kurt

[audiojunky]

Thanks for the feedback!

I guess in the end it is a very subjective topic (just like speakers).

It may be a good thing that my ears prefer a $700 CD player compared to a $4K CD player

On another note, the new Shanling CD player is truly a piece of art - too bad it doesn't sound half as good as it looks.