CD Player upgrade suggestions?

[GerryC]

I'm looking to get some suggestions on for a high quality, CD or SACD player. I have a couple nice vintage systems: Main system is a McIntosh 4100 receiver driving some JBL L300 Summits and a Technics SL 1700. Second system in my listening area is a Marantz 2325 driving Altec Lansing 19's with a Thorens TD 160B. My Sony player stopped working properly today, it was a 5 disc carousel type, my other player is a 17 year old JVC single disc type. I want something similar in quality to my systems. Is there a big difference in players? My vintage audio knowledge is decent, not so much so for modern equipment. I'm looking for something durable and attractive, my budget is $500 and under. I just don't know if I'm missing anything by using cheap players with my much better quality systems? Suggestions welcome. If possible, I'd like something vintage looking, with a brushed aluminum face to match my systems. Thanks.

 

[bobschneider]

Some of the Denon universal DVD players make very good CD and SACD players as well. Since these are from before Blu Ray, they go for cheap these days. And they came in Silver as well as Black. Check out the DVD-3910 (original MSRP $1499) or its little brother the DVD-2910. There are a couple of silver 3910s on the auction site right now for around $160.

 

[damacman]

The new Yammie CDPs are well regarded. I bought a 300S for my office system and really love it.

 

[Schurkey]

Using a "DVD" player as a CD player works...but not very well.

Every "DVD" player I've seen has HORRIBLE lag as it tries to figure out what kind of disc has been loaded. Some of them even take forever to open the drawer.

If you want to play only CDs, buy a CD player, not a "universal" player.

Have you considered fixing the Sony?

For the record, I had a Sony 5-disc carousel, with 18-bit D/A (not the newer single-bit converter) and I liked that player very much. I don't remember the model number though. That player was damaged in a fire; I've replaced it with the 5-disc Adcom GCD-600. Beware, the GCD-700 looks the same, but is not up to the high standard of the '600.

 

[Bert 1100]

I'm happy with my Marantz CD6005, two years old now and not a single issue. I also use it as a DAC with my iDevices and a 1Tb HD with WAV files (front USB port)

 

[Daunia 70]

With a budget of $500,I'd be lookin' for something like a Pioneer PD-91... you could always pair it up with a Marantz CDA-94 DAC when budget allows.
Also,there were quite a few nice sounding Sony ES models from the 90's... Mustn't forget Technics gems like the SL-P990 either.

 

[motorstereo]

This comes in a bit under your budget. Heavy, great build quality and it's a cd player only. I have one and it's sent my Mcintosh cd players to other homes
https://emotiva.com/products/sources/erc-3

 

[tonyk]

Sony dvp-9000es.

The only player I've had that I can honestly say made a noticeable improvement in sound. The DAC in the Sony easily rivaled the DAC in my Denon DAP2500 preamp. At the time I had the digital out and the analog out connected to the Denon, so with a push of a button I could switch between DACs. The sound was indistinguishable between the two.

It a beast of a player too at almost thirty pounds. Nice copper clad chassis as well. Giant backlit remote also.

 

[JoeESP9]

How about buying a (any) player with the idea of reliability for use as a transport, and use an external DAC? Just about all CD/DVD/Blu-ray players have a digital out.