While I was in New Orleans for 8 months I ate a lot of beans & franks and saved my per diem food money. This allowed me to buy several new to me pieces of gear.

Two of which were Cd players. The Roksan is a single disc player while the 205 is a 5 disc changer. It's not a carousel type but rather something like a car changer that moves vertically.

I hooked them both up and had set the levels with a sound meter and used two discs that were the same. The IC's used were made by me and identical.

I was prepared for the Roksan to sound better because it being a single disc player. However, the 205 beat it in every sonic category that my limited knowledge can think of. Which is not to say the Roksan sounds bad. It's just that my ears prefer the 205 to it.

It sounded bottled up compared to the Mac. The soundstage was small and almost compressed sounding. The Roksan sounded warmer but it was an unnatural warmth that sounded almost cloudy.


I'm not a good reviewer as I don't listen too critically. I get wrapped up in the music and forget what I'm supposed to be listening for 1/2 the time

I'm just happy they both sound decent enough for me. I think part of the problem could be synergy. I noticed when I hooked up the newer SS amp to the lows on my speakers they came alive like never before. So there is a synergy there but not necessarily between the Roksan McIntosh mix.

i remember that Mac player, super smooth sound without sacrificing anything in the sound. i'm not surprised that it outclasses the Roksan.

Many years ago - 1994 - a had a really bad experience with Roksan. The Rok-DPI.
I still have that unity but never use it since than.
In those days i was using a Philips cdp recorder as a transport with the Alchemy Dac V1.1 and i was looking for a better transport so i bought the Roksan DPI.
In resume, the Philips cdpr witch cost me ten times less, was ten times better than the Roksan.
Meanwhile, Roksan have made great improvements in their cdps...

Sorry to sat this about Roksan, but i have to. I never forget that terrible experience...

Later i'll put some pics of that mean machine.

Roksan made great turntables ( the Xerxes comes to mind ) and tried to cash in on their reputation by launching a great looking CDP in the form of the ROK-1. Pitty they used a rather cheap Sanyo transport mechanism and average electronics.

I have never heard any Mac CDP, but then I look at Mac in very much the same way I look at Rotel. They seem to be uncapable of making a bad piece of gear.

You are partial right about the DP1.
I mean you're right concerning to some electronic parts, but not about Roksan transport.

Roksan build its own transport in this unit. The principal reason for them choosing to design its own transport were a conviction that there were improvements to be made over existing mechanisms, like the swing-arm mechs by Philips or the sled-type alternative adopted by most Japanese manufacturers.
All this to make a cdp sounding like vinyl...

In my most humble opinion, they failled... Of course this player have one of the most radical and why not say, brutal designs ( the only reason for me to keep it) but only that...

Here's the "Beast" :

I suppose you are right Alvaro.

I seem to remember reading about Sanyo Lazer optics, but it is a fact the transport mechanism itself was designed from the ground up by Roksan, just like Linn´s CDPs, and unlike other UK manufacturers like Mission and Meridian, who I think resorted to Philips transports.

The fact the designer wanted to have this player sounding like vinyl only goes to show how misunderstood the CD medium was then, particularly by the more conservative british manufacturers.

Thare´s no denying the player looks splendid, though.

Jorge

A new pic of this "mean machine" radical, brutal but magnificient design:D

It's cool looking in a institutional way It reminds me of one of those things you step on and it tells you your weight and gives you a foot massage.

Seriously I do like it's looks and would snag one in a heartbeat If given the chance and it was cheap enough.