Review
C-S5VL (August 24, 2011)
| Ease of Use |
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(4/5.0) |
| Value |
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(4/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(3/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(3/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Peter C. - Billerica, MA
I compared the Onkyo C-S5VL over a few listening sessions in a week’s time to a Marantz SA8004 and also a Pioneer Elite DV-58AV purchased from Vann’s a while back. For what it’s worth, the Pioneer player retailed for about the same price as the Onkyo and received a class B rating in Stereophile magazine. I used a Parasound JC2 preamp and A21 amplifier with Dynaudio Audience 72 speakers.
These comments apply mostly to SACD listening in direct mode. I found the Onkyo to have more desirable top-end extension than either the Marantz or the Pioneer. Perhaps this accounts for the Onkyos greater sense of freshness and in-the-room presence than either of the other two players. The Onkyo did not give up any detail to the Marantz and sounded somewhat more detailed, focused and smoother than the Pioneer.
However, the Onkyo’s overall presentation was lightweight and bass-shy compared to both other players. You could still feel the bass from the Onkyo, but the frequency spectrum was definitely shifted upward. Although the Onkyo was a smooth performer most of the time, there was some glare, especially on crescendos. In fact, the Onkyo tended to be somewhat fatiguing after listening for a while – the Marantz and Pioneer were not fatiguing.
The Onkyo’s soundstage was not even close to what the Marantz is capable of, and the Pioneer was more spacious, as well. The Onkyo’s soundstage was compressed within and between the speakers, with little depth and ambiance.
The Onkyo was also colorless. This may be desirable to some folks, but the lack of harmonic richness detracted from the enjoyment of the music for me. For instance, strings on my James Taylor disc have a “chimey” quality that is lost with the Onkyo. The Onkyo has a kind of light gray, cardboard-bland quality, overall.
I tried the different filters. They are interesting but do not really ameliorate the problems without creating new ones. For instance, DSD filter 1 results in a grainier quality, filter 2 sounds kind of hard and metallic. Filter 3 was sweeter, but voices were a bit strident. Filter 4 mellowed things out, but the desirable top end extension was decreased.
I did listen to a little Redbook. I think the Onkyo is a better Redbook player than SACD player. Other than still being light in the bass and a bit glaring on the crescendos, it beat my Pioneer in just about every other way. I quickly toggled-through the different PCM filters but did not notice a lot of difference.
I feel like I have been kind of hard on this Onkyo. It is a good-sounding player. It is an interesting machine and a good value with the discounts typically available not if you pay retail, however. I am not even sure what else you can get in the mid three-hundreds these days that plays SACD. It’s really just a matter of what kind of sound qualities you can live with.
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Further notes after reading my review above and listening some more… This Onkyo is a fatiguing, dry-sounding player. Both the Marantz and the Pioneer have richer tone. The Pioneer is sweeter, as well. Sorry, but will have to send back the Onkyo… Glad I bought the Pioneer from Vann’s.
Review
I have a new CD collection! (June 01, 2011)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: David C. - Grant, AL
I was told by a high end home theater installer to not worry about a cd player, just get a Blue ray player and you are covered. Two years later after upgrading other parts of my system I discover the radio sounds better than my cds??? What is up with that??? I have a large cd collection with many remastered gold cds and SACDs and the sound quality was just not there! So I do a little research, actually a lot and decide to pop for the C-SVL5. Best investment I made in my system yet!!! I am a happy CD listener again!!! My wife likes to listen to music and appreciates good sound but does not car to get involved in the whole equipment thing. The evening after I got the new player I put in one of her favorite CDs and she stopped what she was doing and asked what had I changed with the speakers. My speakers are DIY and I constantly make changes I said nothing it is the new CD player!!!
So the short story is a good dedicated CD player is much better than your average Blue ray player for stereo music!!! I am using the analog outs.
Now I am going back and playingrediscovering a lot of my old CDs and it is like having a whole new collection.
By the way Vanns service is awesome!
For the price this is a steal, dont think about it just get it if you are looking!
Review
Onkyo C-SLV5 CD player (February 14, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
|
(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Reggie H. - Detroit, MI
Very smooth operation, clear and pristine sound, a very good replacement for my Technics SL-PG450. I would recommend highly, especially for the sale price.
Review
Great Quality (August 31, 2009)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
|
(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Sebastian - Los Angeles, CA
The clarity of the sound of this cdsacd player is awesome, you can listen to your old and new cds and can be blown away.
