Norm Apter
05-02-2009, 03:14 AM
Although there are already a number of Polkies who own and use the Bada HD22SE (several of them are responsible for me stumbling across this unit), I thought I’d share my listening experience after one week of use. For those who aren’t familiar with the player, it is made in China and distributed solely (to the best of my knowledge) though Pacific Valve & Electric Company. It currently retails for $599 and comes with a one-year service warranty through Pacific Valve.
Personal History and Associated Gear
I joined this board just over a year ago, not long after purchasing a pair of LSi9s. Since joining, everything other than the speakers has been replaced (some items multiple times). As an aside, I recall one incident last May in which I queried TroyD about the relative merits of upgrading to a better pre vs. amp (I ended up doing both); Troy remarked that while doing both was crucial, perhaps the source was really the most important piece in the rig. Having just purchased a Marantz CD-5001 about 6 weeks earlier, I found that difficult to digest at the time. Of course Troy was right, but nevertheless I decided that I would try to work on everything else before reentering the market for a CD player. Hence, this move (from Marantz CD-5001 to the Bada) was a mighty big jump and that might explain why some of the language below may seem a bit hyperbolic.
Here is the gear that is being used in tandem with the Bada HD-22SE:
Parasound Halo A23 Amplifier
Parasound Halo P3 Pre-amplifier
LSi9 Loudspeakers
MIT Shotgun S-3 Interconnects (CDP to pre and pre to amp)
Signal Cable Ultra Speaker Cables
IeGO 70530 Power Cords (for amp, pre and CDP)…These just arrived today from Taiwan.
Basics, Functions and Accessories
Upon arrival, the Bada strikes one as particularly attractive, heavy, and well built. The casing is very solid with a very nice brushed steel surface that matches quite nicely with the Parasound gear aesthetically. The layout of buttons on the faceplate is simple: 6 buttons for the most basic functions. The display may be a bit too simple for my taste. When a CD is loaded, it lists the total number of tracks and total time. When playing a CD, however, only the current track number and time (expired/remaining) are displayed (my old CD player lists both current track and total tracks simultaneously which I preferred). Just a minor quip. Erndog has noted elsewhere that there is no shuffle function. I tend not to use that, but some folks might find that to be a detriment.
As noted in other threads, this CDP uses a single tube (though both tube and SS outputs are available). Mine came with a stock Chinese tube which everyone suggests replacing. I went with the GE 5670 ($10), as suggested by the folks here and on the demo video at Pacific Valve. It took me a few days to find the correct tool (it requires a right-sized star wrench), but once I did it was very easy to change. I noticed a marked improvement in sound with GE 5670 over the stock one, as expected.
The remote is fantastic. Heavy with a solid silver metal casing like the player (I’ve never had a non-plastic remote before, so this is certainly a step up for me). It is long and thin and easy to handle. My only substantial quip with the remote (and the whole package in general) is that the remote does not have an on-off option. Yes, I’m lazy, but it’s nice to be able to turn everything off from afar…perhaps I’m spoiled by previous players.
Sound
For these ears (stepping up from the Marantz), the Bada is nothing short of phenomenal. I’m not an audiophile. I doubt I ever will be. I just don’t know that much about sound and I certainly don’t know all of the nomenclature to describe the nuances of sound. I love music and this CDP has brought a level of enjoyment to music listening that each of the various other upgrades I made did not. They might improve this or that aspect of sound, but the Bada has made recordings enjoyable and life-like on a level that these ears did not know was possible (though of course all of the parts work in tandem so I would by no means disparage the relative contributions of those other upgrades to the final product/sound).
I’ve especially enjoyed going back to the late Elliot Smith’s Figure 8 (2000), because I am very familiar with that CD, because its recorded and mixed particularly well, and because it features a plethora of instruments. I have this benchmark in mind of how it has sounded since I purchased it 9 years ago. Any changes/enhancements are particularly apparent.
First, I suppose the best way to describe the music that the Bada reproduces is rich, full-bodied and deep in tones (maybe this is the tube at work – I have never heard a tube before so it’s hard for me to know if this is just characteristic of tubes in general). These rich tones make it seem as if we are approaching a live /amp-ed experience. When I close my eyes, I can almost envisage his fingers rolling over the piano keys. Even the singer’s voice makes him seem more human (bringing out even feelings of vulnerability, for instance, in songs geared as such) and not as a bunch of digital bits, on a level previously not experienced by me outside of actual live performances. I suppose voices and strings in particular just seem to resonate and hang in the air in ways they didn't before.
Second, there is a greater tendency for all instruments to come forth together yet separately. When listening to a certain track in the past perhaps the lead vocal and the guitar might take “center stage” with most other instruments receding in the background. Now that second electric guitar, the guy walking the bass, the percussion, and the backing vocals are all on full display in unison, though again clearly distinct. Yeah, they’ve always been there, but it’s almost as if they were simply accompaniments before, playing a side role. Thus I guess this goes along with the point above about a fuller musical presentation.
Finally, there is also nice detail brought out...yet not in an overly precise/analytical sort-of-way. In particular, I’ve picked up the squeaking of fingers sliding along guitar strings that once again almost brings out a live-like performance…or much closer than anything I’ve previously experienced.
Perhaps I’ll sum up with a quote from Brad Mitchell’s Affordable Audio review of this unit's predecessor, the Bada HD-22 (Nov. 2006). This is what I’ve been trying to get at and he puts it better and more succinctly than I have: “The Bada simply delivered more music, and it was teeming with the level of excitement of a live performance”
That just about says it all.
Norm
P.S. Some images of the outside of the unit can be found in another thread (Bada..come to papa), but here are a few shots I took of the insides and the remote. The single tube is located in the upper right corner.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/huang0513/IMG_0699.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/huang0513/IMG_0702.jpg
Personal History and Associated Gear
I joined this board just over a year ago, not long after purchasing a pair of LSi9s. Since joining, everything other than the speakers has been replaced (some items multiple times). As an aside, I recall one incident last May in which I queried TroyD about the relative merits of upgrading to a better pre vs. amp (I ended up doing both); Troy remarked that while doing both was crucial, perhaps the source was really the most important piece in the rig. Having just purchased a Marantz CD-5001 about 6 weeks earlier, I found that difficult to digest at the time. Of course Troy was right, but nevertheless I decided that I would try to work on everything else before reentering the market for a CD player. Hence, this move (from Marantz CD-5001 to the Bada) was a mighty big jump and that might explain why some of the language below may seem a bit hyperbolic.
Here is the gear that is being used in tandem with the Bada HD-22SE:
Parasound Halo A23 Amplifier
Parasound Halo P3 Pre-amplifier
LSi9 Loudspeakers
MIT Shotgun S-3 Interconnects (CDP to pre and pre to amp)
Signal Cable Ultra Speaker Cables
IeGO 70530 Power Cords (for amp, pre and CDP)…These just arrived today from Taiwan.
Basics, Functions and Accessories
Upon arrival, the Bada strikes one as particularly attractive, heavy, and well built. The casing is very solid with a very nice brushed steel surface that matches quite nicely with the Parasound gear aesthetically. The layout of buttons on the faceplate is simple: 6 buttons for the most basic functions. The display may be a bit too simple for my taste. When a CD is loaded, it lists the total number of tracks and total time. When playing a CD, however, only the current track number and time (expired/remaining) are displayed (my old CD player lists both current track and total tracks simultaneously which I preferred). Just a minor quip. Erndog has noted elsewhere that there is no shuffle function. I tend not to use that, but some folks might find that to be a detriment.
As noted in other threads, this CDP uses a single tube (though both tube and SS outputs are available). Mine came with a stock Chinese tube which everyone suggests replacing. I went with the GE 5670 ($10), as suggested by the folks here and on the demo video at Pacific Valve. It took me a few days to find the correct tool (it requires a right-sized star wrench), but once I did it was very easy to change. I noticed a marked improvement in sound with GE 5670 over the stock one, as expected.
The remote is fantastic. Heavy with a solid silver metal casing like the player (I’ve never had a non-plastic remote before, so this is certainly a step up for me). It is long and thin and easy to handle. My only substantial quip with the remote (and the whole package in general) is that the remote does not have an on-off option. Yes, I’m lazy, but it’s nice to be able to turn everything off from afar…perhaps I’m spoiled by previous players.
Sound
For these ears (stepping up from the Marantz), the Bada is nothing short of phenomenal. I’m not an audiophile. I doubt I ever will be. I just don’t know that much about sound and I certainly don’t know all of the nomenclature to describe the nuances of sound. I love music and this CDP has brought a level of enjoyment to music listening that each of the various other upgrades I made did not. They might improve this or that aspect of sound, but the Bada has made recordings enjoyable and life-like on a level that these ears did not know was possible (though of course all of the parts work in tandem so I would by no means disparage the relative contributions of those other upgrades to the final product/sound).
I’ve especially enjoyed going back to the late Elliot Smith’s Figure 8 (2000), because I am very familiar with that CD, because its recorded and mixed particularly well, and because it features a plethora of instruments. I have this benchmark in mind of how it has sounded since I purchased it 9 years ago. Any changes/enhancements are particularly apparent.
First, I suppose the best way to describe the music that the Bada reproduces is rich, full-bodied and deep in tones (maybe this is the tube at work – I have never heard a tube before so it’s hard for me to know if this is just characteristic of tubes in general). These rich tones make it seem as if we are approaching a live /amp-ed experience. When I close my eyes, I can almost envisage his fingers rolling over the piano keys. Even the singer’s voice makes him seem more human (bringing out even feelings of vulnerability, for instance, in songs geared as such) and not as a bunch of digital bits, on a level previously not experienced by me outside of actual live performances. I suppose voices and strings in particular just seem to resonate and hang in the air in ways they didn't before.
Second, there is a greater tendency for all instruments to come forth together yet separately. When listening to a certain track in the past perhaps the lead vocal and the guitar might take “center stage” with most other instruments receding in the background. Now that second electric guitar, the guy walking the bass, the percussion, and the backing vocals are all on full display in unison, though again clearly distinct. Yeah, they’ve always been there, but it’s almost as if they were simply accompaniments before, playing a side role. Thus I guess this goes along with the point above about a fuller musical presentation.
Finally, there is also nice detail brought out...yet not in an overly precise/analytical sort-of-way. In particular, I’ve picked up the squeaking of fingers sliding along guitar strings that once again almost brings out a live-like performance…or much closer than anything I’ve previously experienced.
Perhaps I’ll sum up with a quote from Brad Mitchell’s Affordable Audio review of this unit's predecessor, the Bada HD-22 (Nov. 2006). This is what I’ve been trying to get at and he puts it better and more succinctly than I have: “The Bada simply delivered more music, and it was teeming with the level of excitement of a live performance”
That just about says it all.
Norm
P.S. Some images of the outside of the unit can be found in another thread (Bada..come to papa), but here are a few shots I took of the insides and the remote. The single tube is located in the upper right corner.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/huang0513/IMG_0699.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/huang0513/IMG_0702.jpg