30 replies to this topic

[vmhf]

I received delivery of a Resolution Audio Cantata this week.
The company has been around for some time in the US but it seems never been represented on our shores until now.

I have read articles of the brand over the years in US and UK publications but only listened to the Opus 21 with GNSC modds very recently.
To say it is a superb player is an understatement.

I was investigating importing one of these units from the US myself and having the transformer changed. Then I read about the Cantata and the buzz surrounding it.

Now the Cantata has arrived I am as happy as Larry!
Time will tell how good it really gets with run in.
I look forward to trying out all its streaming options too...

Edited by vmhf, 20 November 2011 - 08:48 AM.

[Drizt]

I haven't heard of this before, what is it worth?

[pete_mac]

Gee Victor! It's bloody impressive to look at! I hope it sounds similarly good. Looking forward to hearing your impressions.

[proftournesol]

It's had a good write up in Stereophile (for what that's worth). Can you turn off those 'Resolution' lights?

[CP_]

$6999 is the RRP. Nice looking unit Victor!

[firefly0071]

All I can say is that there is a scallop finish. I read the review in Stereophile - clearly a positive review.

[vmhf]

Thanks guys. This player sounds as good as it looks. A totally engaging, foot tapping sound which also has bags of detail, separation and a large soundstage. I think that ticks ALL the right boxes.
I have really only been listening to CD replay but since new out of the box. First impressions of music streamed from my wireless Sonos connected via coaxial digital are promising as well.
But I can do away with Sonos altogether with the Cantata and stream directly from my iMac itunes library. This may yield even better sound.

That display has a 3 levels of intensity from blisteringly bright, which can light up a room, to completely off.

Edited by vmhf, 20 November 2011 - 11:07 AM.

[petng]

At this price range, I would love to see how it compares with new playbackdesigns cd/dac player!

[petng]

Hey Victor

Am I correct in that the cantata can take files straight from your computer wirelessly, just like a squeezebox?

[vmhf]

Yep, you can stream directly from PC or Mac using USB direct connection, wirelessly using a router and an interface called Resolution Audio Neu Pont. I have not explored these options yet so need to do a little more research on how it is done.

Edited by vmhf, 20 November 2011 - 11:12 AM.

[cfcjb]

Hey Victor, I am the guy the Khoi bought the Resolution Audio 21 from. Congrats on the Cantata. RA are a bit of an underground company, even in the high-end, but discerning people will know that their products are excellent and play way above their price.

Regards,
J.

Edited by cfcjb, 22 November 2011 - 10:57 AM.

[tbag]

really nice looking! Glad you can turn off those lights as they would drive me insane.
http://www.stereophi...nter/index.html for the mini review.

since USB can quickly falter at distance, Kalt has developed the Pont Neuf device to convert the USB to Ethernet which can then be networked across a house with either a standard cable or wireless bridge.

That's a bit messy. Why not just use Ethernet? Or is there some jitter or some other kind of concern I'm unfamiliar with?

[vmhf]

The best connection is USB over short distances. Via USB you can stream at 192k whilst with coaxial only 96k. If you were going wireless the Pont Neuf would be way to go with minimal but measurable loss in sound quality. Some people's gear may not be resolving enough to hear any difference at all. Does sound a bit messy but I am sure the guys at Resolution Audio know what they are doing. It costs about $500US for the Pont Neuf so I have held off it for the time being. I am just streaming music via my modded Sonos to the Cantata using SPDIF.

Thanks cfcjb for selling your Opus 21 with Great Northern Sound Reference mods to Khoi. I would of never known how great this brand was. Will have to bring it over to Khoi's one day so we can do a head to head and you will have to join us!

[ozcal]

wow , that's one gorgeous unit Victor , congrats.

[cfcjb]

Thanks cfcjb for selling your Opus 21 with Great Northern Sound Reference mods to Khoi. I would of never known how great this brand was. Will have to bring it over to Khoi's one day so we can do a head to head and you will have to join us!

Hey Victor, I look forward to hearing the RA Cantata, but more so, to meeting you. Khoi speaks highly of you.
See you soon.

John.

[vmhf]

We'll have to organise a GTG shortly John.

I have had the player for over a week now and compared it to my North Star Design combo and my friend's Acustic Arts Player ES solely in CD playback mode.
I found the NSD combo had slightly more resolving ability and separation was greater. Compared to the RA, it sounded leaner in the mids and less engaging. The music had better rhythm on the RA no doubt.
The AA CD player sounded very similar to the RA but with a touch less resolving ability and separation to my ear. The AA also sounded a bit more forward on some test discs.

At the end of the day 3 superb players to suit different tastes. For me the RA has closed the gap between vinyl and digital replay. In fact with some great quality CD recordings I preferred the Cantata to my Transrotor!

More updates to come when I hook up some streaming sources.

[cfcjb]

The RA is a very analog sounding CD Player. They always have been, which I think speaks volumes to the design of it.
If you use ITunes and a Mac you should consider buying the Pure Music Player app that massages the bits between Itunes and your player. If you don't already have it, it makes quite an audible difference, for the better. At around $150 it's a no-brainer.

Hopefully we'll meet up soon Victor.

J.

Edited by cfcjb, 24 November 2011 - 08:09 PM.

[khoihuyen]

The RA Cantata is superior to Opus 21 mod John , very very musical with massive soundstage & depth , more air .....

Cantata can easily be my last Digital play back , Opus 21 also nice to own .

Cantata is close the gap between digital & analog .

However , vynil still the King !

[cfcjb]

Hey Khoi,
so you are just going to have to save up then ;-)
See you soon , hopefully.

J.

P.S. Vinyl is KING.

Edited by cfcjb, 29 November 2011 - 02:44 PM.

[vmhf]

There are lots of digital options out there including disc spinners and DACs from companies such as Vitus Audio, Soulution, DCS, Esoteric, the list goes on. They can offer you something the cost of a 3 series BMW or more!
Certainly if I had the money I would love one of those mega buck disc spinners. This is where the Cantata steps in IMHO. Its not cheap but not super expensive for what it can do.

The Cantata is one of these players that is truly musical and lets you forget your gear. Sort of what a good vinyl rig can do.

Vinyl is King if you have the source material you enjoy. Else the Cantata challenges the throne most of the time...

[cfcjb]

I agree Khoi, Vmhf.
I think that vinyl rules when you want to access music prior to the early 80s.
After that it's a toss up and today's music, to my ears, sounds no better on vinyl (most of the time). Pretty much all music now-a-days is recorded and mastered in the digital domain. Again, with caveats, because if the record is sourced from the digital master there is the potential for it to sound better than CD, but mostly, to my ears, it sounds the same.

I'm moving towards vinyl because my current speakers crave it. There is a noticeable difference in sound (for the better) when I play vinyl.
Back to RA products, as I have said, they punch well above their price point. You may get even more detail and air as you pay MUCH more for those super premium products, but you'll be hard pressed to get more musicality.

J.

Edited by cfcjb, 30 November 2011 - 06:32 AM.

[cafe67]

Ifonly the cantara had a set of analgue inputs it would be perfect imho

[vmhf]

Just wondering what you would be connecting to the Cantata using analogue inputs if it did have this option?

I have had the Cantata for a few weeks now and it still needs more time to run in. Still sounding a little harsh up top compared to Khoi's Opus 21 with GNSR modds.

My laziness means I have yet to really explore its streaming options though. Perhaps a new years 'resolution' for me!

[cafe67]

A phono stage :-) as i under stand the only way to hook up a turntable would be to use a photo to usb dac and i not aware of any that would be good enoughto hook,up to the cantara???
.....i could be wrong tho :-).

But certainly a cantara hooked upto some powered speakers (having heard a friends Adam tensors which sound great) would make for a truly mimimal but excellent sounding system.

Failing i want to hook up a nice big valve amp for a crazy retro-futuro system.........


One powerball

[vmhf]

Yes, that would be a great idea but would perhaps involve too much additional circuitry in the already super compact chassis.

I am keen to hear the Cantata MC into some SGR speakers one day to see how it sounds.

[Proac]

HI Victor
Andrew here - just caught up with this - looks very interesting mate. I've got the SGR's if you want to hook them up at some stage..
Mind you I want to hear your Carmels ate some stage..maybe over the break.
Best AS

[alistairm]

Victor - this looks GORGEOUS.

[vmhf]

Thanks guys. The Cantatas do sound as good as they look too.

Oh, nice to see you back on the forum Andrew. You sound very content with those SGR's!

You are certainly more than welcome to pop in for a listen if in my neck of the woods. I might take you up on hooking up the Cantata to your SGR's one day too.

[Proac]

Yes - I like them very much. Its the bass foundation I like and endless ability to scale.

[dalamii]

I love the looking so much Victor. Thanks for bringing in for listen!!!

[vmhf]

Your welcome mate.
The Cantata Music Centre sounded great connected directly to the SGR CX3B via balanced cables.
A really simple and elegant system that sounds bloody awesome.