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CD player recommendations

Bill S

Bill S

Thread Killer
I'm looking for a new (used) CD player. I don't know what I want other than I'm not interested in a 100,200 or 300 disc machine. I've owned a couple single play and a couple carousel players and all have been, well, unimpressive. I don't know if I should just roll the dice and pick up something rather inexpensive, or pop for something higher end. Anyone have recommendations??
 
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I'd suggest getting an inexpensive DVD player. JMHO. Without any information on the system into which you'll be putting it...
 
You´ve got several recommendations here:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=322895
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=322768
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=322304
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=319678


Personally, I would be inclined for a redbook (no DVD , SACD or BR) CDP. If you would like to keep your budget contained, look for a Belgium made Philips or Magnavox from the second half of the 80 ´s, a Denon DCD-XXXX, with XXXX larger than 1000, or a Cambridge Audio CD 4 SE. Those are in my experience some of the best CDPs you can get under 150 $. Also some early Sony ES models. If you can go a bit further, look for any Arcam or newer Cambridge Audio CDPs. All of these are single disc players.
 
Bill S said:
I'm looking for a new (used) CD player. I don't know what I want other than I'm not interested in a 100,200 or 300 disc machine. I've owned a couple single play and a couple carousel players and all have been, well, unimpressive. I don't know if I should just roll the dice and pick up something rather inexpensive, or pop for something higher end. Anyone have recommendations??
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Telling the folks here what you found disappointing about the CD players you've had might help in making more accurate recommendations, or going into more detail about what you've had.

Digital gets better as you go into higher-end units, but that doesn't mean they have to be super expensive. Many folks here have had good luck with decade-old higher end players that, in there time, were very expensive (and well constructed) but now, are pretty affordable.

I'm not expert, at all, in digital, having only owned maybe 7 or 8 CD players in my life...but they did all sound very different from one another and I was only happy with two of them.
 
I agree!

Infinitoid said:
I'd suggest getting an inexpensive DVD player. JMHO. Without any information on the system into which you'll be putting it...
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The Denon DVD-2910 is an excellent choice. It plays everything except Blu-Ray and plays it well.
 
Infinitoid said:
Without any information on the system into which you'll be putting it...
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I don't think we need to know the specifics of his system to be able to recommend some good CD players, although it wouldn't hurt. What we do need is a maximum budget.

This comes down to how much you can spend, and how serious you are about getting really good sound out of the much-maligned Red Book CD format. It has potential beyond what a lot of people realize, I think. But before I say anything more, I'd like to know roughly how much your upper limit is with spending in this case.
 
I recommend you pop for something higher end, even if it is older.

Newer sub-10lb. CDPs are all plastic, and your human interaction with them can damage the entire audio experience. I personally hate pushing cheap CDP buttons (very poor tactile feel, sometimes makes a creak type noise), and worst yet is when the entire player moves back so you have to hold the unit down with one hand to push any buttons (bad audiokarma). Also, the sound of a cheap plastic disc drawer in operation really kills me.

Now, try the above on my Yamaha CDX-2000 and you are transported into an audio state of bliss. Heavy chassis (approx 35lbs.), smooth drawer, very high quality electronics, and visual candy external design (smooth brushed aluminum panels with solid wood sides)...higher end can be quite satisfying!

yamaha-cdx-2000.jpg
 
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, my question wasn't very specific. Guess I'm looking at $3-$4 bills. Was thinking about the Emotiva - anyone have any feedback on that unit? The Cambridge 640 also comes with high marks. Might check on that one as well.
 
Bill S said:
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, my question wasn't very specific. Guess I'm looking at $3-$4 bills. Was thinking about the Emotiva - anyone have any feedback on that unit? The Cambridge 640 also comes with high marks. Might check on that one as well.
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Both of those seem to be fairly popular, although in the world of hi-fi CD players they would be considered "entry-level." You'd probably get the most bang for the buck buying a used unit, one that's not very old. That way you'll be able to get something much better than what your budget would normally afford. Based on universal rave reviews, I typically point people to the Rega Apollo, which goes for about $400 used, and that is without question what I'd get in your position, but that's just my opinion of course.
 
Mr. Lin said:
I assume since you're in Canada you mean Simaudio Moon? Hmm, that's a good one, I always forget about them...
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Yes you're right SimAudio. Although I don't own one myself, I know a few people that do, and it is a very good player.
The only flaw about this model is, the drawer is a bit noisy while opening and closing, and according to this guy, it was like this since new.
 
moinau said:
Yes you're right SimAudio. Although I don't own one myself, I know a few people that do, and it is a very good player.
The only flaw about this model is, the drawer is a bit noisy while opening and closing, and according to this guy, it was like this since new.
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I think that's just the way a lot of newer CD players are, my Jolida is like that too. I'm all for high quality transports, but it's not a big deal if it performs well.
 
Mr. Lin said:
I think that's just the way a lot of newer CD players are, my Jolida is like that too. I'm all for high quality transports, but it's not a big deal if it performs well.
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The Moon Eclipse CD player and the Moon Equinox SE CD player are two other CD players made by SimAudio, the late 90s for the Eclipse and early 2000s for the Equinox. The Equinox has also a drawer that is a bit noisy while opening and closing, but you're right, it does not affect their performance.
One thing about the Eclipse and the Equinox, they were very expansive while new, and still are somewhat expansive as a used CD player, but they are of very high quality.
One more thing about SimAudio, all of their products are guarantee for 10 years.
 
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