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Toshiba SD4960 as a CD source

Posted by Presto (A) on November 11, 2005 at 16:47:43

Fellow Inmates:

After many hours of listening and exhaustive A/B comparisons, I finally have something tangible to say about the Toshiba SD-4960 CD/SACD/DVD-A combination player. I would not really call this post a proper review, but take it for what it's worth, and call it what you think it is...

The system:

The system consists of a Behringer DCX2496 digital active crossover which feeds 6 channels of a Marantz SR6200 receiver in "7 channel mode" (subwoofer channel not used). Three channels are used for each speaker, low/mid/high for left and same for right = 6 channels. The mid/hi part of the speakers are a home-made (DIY) MTM consisting of a Vifa 4.5" treated paper midbass and a Vifa 1" Neodymium tweeter. The woofer cabinets under the MTMs each contain two Access (Focal) 8" treated paper woofers, which are ported to the rear. The speaker cables are a DIY CATV recipe of my own, consisting of multiple twisted pairs re-jacketed and covered in a braided nylon sheath.

See link below for system pics.

The Music:

Loreena McKennitt, Bruce Cockburn, Madeleine Peyroux, Jesse Cooke, Dire Straits

The Tests:

Since the Behringer accepts digital and analog inputs, I did tests for both for each player that had both analog outputs and a coaxial digital output. The optical output on the CD700 was not tested since the Behringer only has an XLR AES/EBU/SPDIF input.

The Results: (Why make you wait?)

1. Toshiba SD4960 (digital output)
2. Toshiba SD4960 (analog output)
3. Saxon CD700 (analog output)
4. Toshiba SD-2109 (digital output)
5. Toshiba SD-2109 (analog output)

The babble:

The CD700 CDP used as a reference is at least five year old technology, and has a VERY clean sound - with the only "sonic character" being a slight hardness to the sound, which some may call "clinical". The detail level of the $2K CAN CD700 can only be beat with a $4K to $5K player such as a Tube Technology Fusion - I really love my CD700.

But wait.

The Toshiba SD4960 out of the box and unmodified definitely has "Giant Slayer" capabilities. The analog outputs definitely have more high end sparkle than the Saxon, but any hardness heard with the Saxon CD700 is GONE with the Toshiba. The power of 24/192 outputs just may be the secret in this part of the showdown. The CD700 uses "24/96 capable Burr Brown" DACs. Capable, yes, but I am told it does not upsample redbook CD's. The analog outputs of the Toshiba SD-2109 are not even in the same league as the Saxon or the Toshiba. The sound of the SD4960 and the CD700 was close - both having stunning detail and resolution - but the SD4960 had such an incredibly detailed sound, but somehow less fatiguing than the CD700.

Now onto the digital outputs. Here we are comparing the digital out of the SD4960 to a)all of the analog out iterations and b) the digital out of the SD-2109. Again - the SD-2109 just did not even come into the contest. Very surprising, since I always *thought* the old veritable 2109 had TONNES of detail, and very sweet sounding analog outputs. Then again, I had never compared it directly with more modern or more expensive gear in fast a/b swap outs.

So we'll just be discussing the digital outputs of the 4960 as they compared to the analogs outs of the 4960 and the CD700. The first thing I *perceived* was that the background was TOTALLY black in this configuration, and that it *seemed* there was somehow less high end "sizzle" to the music. My concern for any loss of detail, however, was soon laid to rest. I conducted my classic "Dire Straits - Symbol Tap at the end of the track" test. Every one little fading tap was there - something I quickly checked with the analog iterations. They were there - but I really had to crank up the volume to hear them, where with the 4960 connected digitally, the taps were heard distinctly at the normal listening level.

The SD4960 used as a transport into a Behringer DCX2496 with *just* a Marantz SR6200 in a "tri-amp" mode with DIY speakers?

I know for fact there are $10K systems (and higher) that I have heard that simply CANNOT provide the level of detail and impact that this crazy combination of gear does. Almost every CD I played suddenly seemed to get a "DVD-A" or SACD quality about it. The music was incredibly detailed while remaining incredibly smooth - which, in my mind, is a challenge for any system to achieve.

Soundstage and imaging? It seemed like EVERY iteration had a very pleasing presentation. The secret here is the Behringer DCX2496. I do NOT know WHY but this unit seems to create a ghost like image and a soundstage that is very wide. Even my more "discriminating" audiophile amigos concede that the imaging is impressive - these are guys listening to systems reaching $50K in value.

So listen folks. This is a $100 player. Don't take my word for it. For the price of a bar-tab or an expensive meal, you can spend a weekend with this unit and see for yourself. Dare to compare it with your current CDP and see what happens. It may not win across the board. It may not even come close in your case as it did for me, but it just may raise an eyebrow in some areas.

There are many who will refuse to BELEIVE their boutique piece could even be APPROACHED by such a player. And I would be the first to admit there would definitely be much more of a difference with players such as the $5K Tube Technologies Fusion or the $10K Tube Technologies Fulcrum DAC/Transport combo. I know the sound of the aforementioned players well thanks to a good friend - they are, in my mind the best and second best players on the planet.

I say do it for the fun of it; try it as a transport or use the analog outputs or just do both as I did. I never did get a Toshiba 3950/3960, but chose to get a Pioneer DV-578A instead... which I am going to put in place with the Toshiba SD-4960 and repeat the above tests.

Do I need to get a life or WHAT? LOL!

For now, I am going to listen with the 4960 in digital mode for a few weeks and they switch over to the other iterations and see if I miss or notice anything.

It's been a very very fun time, and I have learned that psychological biases and preconceptions CAN be overcome with enough patience, iterations and time. I guess I realized that I really didn't CARE which piece did what - I was only concerned with listening and documenting my findings.

That's all for now...

Cheers,

Presto
"Cheap DVD Player" Tester Extraordinaire

• CDP Showdown - The System   (Open in New Window)

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