tough decision on a cd player

silvertuner

im in the market for a new cd player, finally. i am interested in sound quality, however not spending 2 mortgage payments. ive had a denon 2900, loved it short of the brightness, which may have also been a product of the amp/speaker combo i was running.

i am not worried about dvd/blu ray playback, and no sa-cd playback. strictly redbook cd's. it will be strictly 2 channel analog, so internal DAC's play a big role, i dont want external, i have enough **** as it is lol. also ease of set-up. my 2900 was a serious pain in the **** to fine-tune for my set-up. i have two options at this point, but will also possibly consider others in the price range if you guys have any suggestions. the first is a marantz CD5004. high point is it will be brand new, 3 year warranty, and seems to fit the bill for EXACTLY what i want. i am looking at $350 out the door for it with tax, not a bad price at all IMO. i have the option to demo this before committing as well. i have always been impressed with marantz electronics, that also helps. input on this one?

my other option would be a used denon 3910. its about 5 years old, 30 day warranty, however it would do sa-cd and dvd playback if i ever decided down the road to go with that kind of stuff (doubt i would but u never know). im looking at around $375 out the door for this. input on this one as well? im also noticing these are going on audiogon for about $250 plus shipping

$350 is my max i would like to spend, but will spend extra if need be to get something of good quality. help me out here guys, what would you do in this situation?

leroyjr1

For a couple hundred more you could get the Jolida cdp-100.

silvertuner

that simply is not an option. trust me i had considered it, but at this time its just not possible, and not even sure when i would be able to do the extra couple hundred unfortunately.

[Deleted User]

I just scored a used Sony ES DVP-NS999ES player for $250 shipping included off of Ebay. It plays most everything except DVD Audio. It is built like a tank and sounds WONDERFUL. It was about a $1,200 player new (I think). I've been absolutely thrilled with it. Cheers. :cool:

silvertuner

any input on a Pioneer Elite DV 47A? i know it does video, but also sa-cd, and for the price point i may jump on it... $130

fishbones

While I can't speak for this model or how the newer Pioneer Elite's are, I have run a PD-65 for many years and have been happy with it.

Conradicles

I'd get the Rotel if it is still for sale here on the forum.

silvertuner

Conradicles wrote: »

I'd get the Rotel if it is still for sale here on the forum.

holy crap you're right, i completely forgot about that thing. PM sent to him. lets see how this pans out...

Conradicles

If I had the cash I would have jumped on that player already!!! He is a class act Polkie to deal with as well.

cfrizz

silvertuner wrote: »

any input on a Pioneer Elite DV 47A? i know it does video, but also sa-cd, and for the price point i may jump on it... $130

I still have this player, and it will do a fine job with all formats.

silvertuner

that is what i have heard. essentially that will break the current audio-fund, but its certainly worth it, as it is the final piece needed to keep me satisfied for a few days lol

silvertuner

cfrizz wrote: »

I still have this player, and it will do a fine job with all formats.

hows the sound? ive seen mixed reviews on how it sounds

leroyjr1

The Pioneer BDP-51 also does a great job playing cd's. It's also a blu ray player. I have one without a remote for $80

inspiredsports

I can only share what I've listened to myself so here goes:

A vintage Conrad Johnson Sonographe SD22 ($1,500 when new, now approx $150 used) through a tube buffer (Yaqin CD-1 (new $100) or vintage Musical Fidelity X10v3 (used $225+) will nearly rival a Musical Fidelity A1 Pro ($850 used) or Raysonic CD128 ($1,000 used). You will want to plan on using decent interconencts.

For the scenario/system you are describing, if you could find one, this would be a stellar choice (even without the buffer).

silvertuner

inspiredsports wrote: »

I can only share what I've listened to myself so here goes:

A vintage Conrad Johnson Sonographe SD22 ($1,500 when new, now approx $150 used)through a tube buffer (Yaqin CD-1 (new $100) or vintage Musical Fidelity X10v3 (used $225+) will nearly rival a Musical Fidelity A1 Pro ($850 used) or Raysonic CD128 ($1,000 used)

lol, nice. im trying to stay away from a dvd-p used strictly as music, the sound from many seems to lack. im taking my time on this purchase, if deals disappear before i explore all my options i wont be necessarily heart broken.

as far as interconnects, i cant use my lamp cords for speaker wires and 1990 rat-shack rca's? lol. the last line would be a set of silver interconnects if i feel they are truely needed, the speaker wire is good IMO

geebolt

Emotiva ERC-1

cnh

You do know that the Denon 3910 is a Universal player, which means it's also a DVD-p? Right? But it's still probably worth around 300 if in good shape and sounds fine. I like inspiredsports suggestion of using a CJ with a tube buffer. I've heard some Conrad Johnsons without a tube buffer in the past and was never really that impressed with them for THAT PRICE (the MSRP, that is)!!

I'll tell you a player I liked A LOT if you can find it used, the Pioneer Elite PD D9J SACD/CD.

Find a 'used' one if you can and listen to it. It will surprise you. This is a 'sleeper' player that can compete with units at twice its price.

cnh

silvertuner

geebolt wrote: »

Emotiva ERC-1

i cringed a bit. until i can listen to anything Emotiva for more than a few seconds, i wont be able to convince my fingers to click on the "buy now" feature on their site

silvertuner

cnh wrote: »

You do know that the Denon 3910 is a Universal player, which means it's also a DVD-p? Right? But it's still probably worth around 300 if in good shape and sounds fine. I like inspiredsports suggestion of using a CJ with a tube buffer. I've heard some Conrad Johnsons without a tube buffer in the past and was never really that impressed with them for THAT PRICE!!

I'll tell you a player I liked A LOT if you can find it used, the Pioneer Elite PD D9J SACD/CD.

Find a 'used' one if you can and listen to it. It will surprise you. This is a 'sleeper' player that can compete with units at twice its price.

cnh

i will certainly look into both options. and yes i knew the 3910 was a universal player, and im trying to stay away from that. i will look into that pioneer as well

inspiredsports

silvertuner wrote: »

lol, nice. im trying to stay away from a dvd-p used strictly as music, the sound from many seems to lack. im taking my time on this purchase, if deals disappear before i explore all my options i wont be necessarily heart broken.

as far as interconnects, i cant use my lamp cords for speaker wires and 1990 rat-shack rca's? lol. the last line would be a set of silver interconnects if i feel they are truely needed, the speaker wire is good IMO

The Sonographe SD22 is pure CDP, not DVD. Or did I miss something from another post?

silvertuner

inspiredsports wrote: »

The Sonographe SD22 is pure CDP, not DVD. Or did I miss something from another post?

it was more of an interjection, not a "hey thats not just a cdp!" lol.

geebolt

silvertuner wrote: »

i cringed a bit. until i can listen to anything Emotiva for more than a few seconds, i wont be able to convince my fingers to click on the "buy now" feature on their site

30 day no questions return priveledges and free shipping to you.

silvertuner

geebolt wrote: »

30 day no questions return priveledges and free shipping to you.

wait, wut?

silvertuner

cnh wrote: »

I'll tell you a player I liked A LOT if you can find it used, the Pioneer Elite PD D9J SACD/CD.

that looks like a "no bullsh*t" bullet proof piece of tank armor, i like that. the specs are great, and the reviews are great. whats the normal price range on those, and where to find one... lol

nooshinjohn

geebolt wrote: »

30 day no questions return priveledges and free shipping to you.

Don't fall for it ST... it's a trap!:biggrin:

joeparaski

Why not just go for the Marantz you mentioned in the OP...after all, it does "exactly" what you want it to do at a price you can live with.

Joe

Tony M

pioneer PV 47-a....130.00.

That's a great player.I have one and it's neutral sounding to me.I don't think it adds anything that's not on the recording. It gives Detailed soundstage and sound field for sure. It impresses myself and other people all the time. I got lucky also in a package purchase and paid 130.00 also for mine.

I have a Ultech UCD-100 for 300.00 if your interested. 95% exc. cond but this model didn't come with remote capability. Weighs about 20lbs.:eek:
This does add a little (very little) warmth to the midrange probably to tone down sibilances on some recordings. All else seems powerful and alive in a certain kind of way that you have to hear. It's welcomed though. Not a minus at all.
A Tuber kinda sound?, maybe...

silvertuner

joeparaski wrote: »

Why not just go for the Marantz you mentioned in the OP...after all, it does "exactly" what you want it to do at a price you can live with.

Joe

i know marantz is a very neutral sound, doesnt do much to the audio, and me having no pre-amp and no tone controls, simple a pot to adjust gain with RCA's straight it, that is definitely enticing me. im going to consider quite a few right now, and to be honest the Rotel is very high on my list. its justifying spending every... last... dollar i have currently budgeted in for audio thats stopping me on it. the bills are paid for the next 2 months, so good there, lol.

cfrizz

+1 on what Tony said. I like the sound just fine, however, I generally play my cds on my Rotel RCD-1072. But every once and a while I will pop a cd into my Pioneer & it sounds just fine.

tony millard wrote: »

pioneer PV 47-a....130.00.

That's a great player. I have one and it's neutral sounding to me.I don't think it adds anything that's not on the recording. It gives Detailed soundstage and sound field for sure. It impresses myself and other people all the time. I got lucky also in a package purchase and paid 130.00 also for mine....

silvertuner

cfrizz wrote: »

+1 on what Tony said. I like the sound just fine, however, I generally play my cds on my Rotel RCD-1072. But every once and a while I will pop a cd into my Pioneer & it sounds just fine.

well the rotel sold, so im going to put an offer in on the Elite DV 47A. if he doesnt accept, i will most likely call it quits for the time being on a dedicated cdp and wait for something to just pop up

Gulfstrings

I've got the Marantz 5003 (last year's 5004) CD player in our bedroom system and it's just fine. I A/B'd it against the Onkyo in our main system for a month or two before choosing the Onkyo for our main system. There is a diference but the Onkyo's price point was more than doyuble that of the Marantz.

You won't be at all disappointed with the 5004. Spend some time reading about it's internal components and I think you'll be adequately impressed. Actually, I think it's reviewed in either this or last month's Stereophile with very favorable comments.