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04/15/2011

Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player (Impression II)

I have been using a Bryston BCD-1 CDP in my current audio system for the past 2 years.It is a well built CDP and the sound has always pleased me.However over those past 2 years i have had the chance to hear a few Tube CDP's and i enjoyed the warm harmonics and tube sound when compared to my solid state Bryston BCD-1........i had a feeling at that point i would get a tube CDP.

Fast forward 2 years and a huge ammount of tube CDP research.....i finally settled on the Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player (Impression II).
This CDP is physically built(actually its overbuilt) to a degree that will shame CDP's in the 6-8K price range.Very heavy and solid like a muscle car from the late 60's.Also just like a muscle car from the 60's its sexy as hell!!

I started my listening session with the late Nina Simone "Wild is the Wind".This song i have listened to so many times i know every little nuance in the recording very well.The CD-1000 played the track in such a way that the midrange was so well balanced and lush i felt like i was sitting at a front/center table in a dimly lit jazz/blues bar and Nina Simone was right there on stage!I was not expecting such a balanced-organic midrange(after all i was used to the Bryston which pleased me,but at times sounded over-analytical ....especially now when compared to the GF CDP......i moved on..

The next CD was from Diana Krall-The Girl in the Other Room track 12-Departue Bay.I use this song for testing various audio gear.Her vocals on this recording can make or break a systems synergy.The GF CD-1000 did not disappoint.....what it did do was flesh out Kralls vocals so that i heard the "Meat" of the track and not a congested version which ruins the song.
I played the track over/over and each time i could easily discern the separation of the lows/mids/highs.Kralls low heady breaths and sighs on this track came thru in full clear bloom.When i did a quick A/B switch to the Bryston BCD-1....those heady breaths and sighs sounded slightly muffled and to laid back.........the GF CD-1000 was winning my heart over quickly.

The last CD i played was the Rock&Roll band KISS.....the track was from their 1976 album Destroyer "God of Thunder"........this track has some heavy bass and percussion.I sat back and heard the CD-1000 present Gene Simmons voice bluntly and aggressively.....exactley the way its ment to be heard.It did not color or soften the bass in any way.The bass was very clean and well defined.

The Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player (Impression II) is a world class CDP at a budget price(when compared to CDP's in the 6-8K price range)......it will bring out every semblance and nuance in the recording in spades without being to laid back or over analytical(like the Bryston BCD-1 at times)

Ladies and Gentlemen the Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player (Impression II) is a winner in every sense of the word.

I applaud it and can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a very well built-beautiful sounding CDP as their "Last CDP"

Equipment Used=Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player (Impression II),Mcintosh MC452 Amplifer,Mcintosh C50 Preamp,KEF Reference 207/2's,Torus Power Conditioner,MRCA-1 Gold Coated Copper Reference Interconnects (Golden Dragon),GF PC 1.5 Power Cords.

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