CD Player Recommendation

KYFHO
KYFHO Posts: 76
edited October 2012 in Electronics
I have been playing my CD's through my Blu-Ray player and feel that I am missing out on a lot of details on my CD's. I am in the market for a good quality CD player in the $400 - $500 range. Any opinions on good models to look out for?
Post edited by KYFHO on

Comments

  • PreCd
    PreCd Posts: 786
    edited January 2012
    SDA2BTL
    Marantz CD5004
    Adcom GFA-545
    Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited January 2012
    Jolida, Cambridge, music hall, Rotel, Bada, Musical fidelity, tons of good cdp's out there.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Obsession18
    Obsession18 Posts: 191
    edited January 2012
    If your willing to buy used the Jolida JD-100 is a good choice in the $400 - $500 range and you can swap out tubes to vary the sound.

    On the other hand if you want new, Audio Advisor has a clearance deal on a Cambdridge 650C - $499, this is a nice unit:

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CA650C

    Either unit will be a big improvement over a Blu-Ray player.
    2-Channel System
    Analog: VPI Traveler TT, Audio Technica 150MLX, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS
    CD Player: Jolida JD-100 Preamp: Cambridge 840E Amp: Odyssey Kismet Stereo
    Spkrs: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Systems
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    I'll play devils advocate and say that (new retail) $400-$500 CDP is likely going to be a sideways move at worst, and extremely subtle improvement at best. Now, a bump to the $1000 arena (new retail) would (IMO) be worthy of your time & money. Just MY opinion.

    Now, of course if you can find a killer deal on a nice unit (used/demo/refurb), knock yourself out.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • WagnerRC
    WagnerRC Posts: 2,158
    edited January 2012
    California Audio Labs Icon MK II CD Player

    I have 3 of these. Awesome sound
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    What model BluRay player is it?



    I'm going to throw out another suggestion:

    Keep using the Blu-Ray player, but buy a good external DAC for it. In my experience, the sound of a CD player or transport is determined more by the DAC than by the actual transport.

    Plus you could use the DAC with other digital devices you may have, or get in the future.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    True too^

    I run my Panasonic BR into my benchmark.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2012
    tonyb wrote: »
    Jolida, Cambridge, music hall, Rotel, Bada, Musical fidelity, tons of good cdp's out there.
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I'll play devils advocate and say that (new retail) $400-$500 CDP is likely going to be a sideways move at worst, and extremely subtle improvement at best. Now, a bump to the $1000 arena (new retail) would (IMO) be worthy of your time & money. Just MY opinion.

    Now, of course if you can find a killer deal on a nice unit (used/demo/refurb), knock yourself out.

    I'd agree but I think that list that tonyb gives would include most good players at the retail MSRP of 1000 or greater! So if you can find that stuff used for 4-500, you'd have something "really" nice.

    Good Luck!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • eeagle
    eeagle Posts: 226
    edited January 2012
    Bits are bits your player is fine....if you need improvement look at a DAC....another topic of endless discussion.

    Few CD players are sold these days for good reason. It is lots more convenient to place the bits on a HD and stream and control wirelessly.
    SDA SRS 1.2
    Adcom GFA-5802
    Adcom GFP-750
    Sony DVP-NS999ES
  • KYFHO
    KYFHO Posts: 76
    edited January 2012
    Thanks for the input everyone!
  • timalan
    timalan Posts: 106
    edited January 2012
    I was considering starting a similar thread, and so I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in and adding another question... in the same vein, looking for a simple CD-player, is there any significant quality advantage in the newer units, or would it be fine to get a 8-12 year old model that was once top-of-the line but is now selling for significantly less?

    If an older unit is okay, are there any "best deals" in older units that might be a good fit. I'm aiming to keep it below the OPs $500 budget. The cheaper, the better, as long as it doesn't sacrifice too much quality. It's just hard to know which models to be watching for.

    Thanks for the help.
    5.1 theater - Pioneer SC-07, Mirage OMD-CC center, 4 x Mirage Omnisats, Boston Acoustics VPS-210 sub
    2.1 living room - NAD 7400 integrated, 2 x Platinum Audio Duos, MIT Terminator4 cables
    2.1 bedroom- Arcam Solo, 2 x Mirage OMD-5's
    FOR SALE - Genesis Servo-10 sub, Genesis Servo-12 amp; Martin Logan Dynamo sub; Mirage MM-6 sub; Harman Kardon DPR-1001 7.1 receiver
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    eeagle wrote: »
    Bits are bits your player is fine....if you need improvement look at a DAC.

    Huh? Bits may be bits, but the way a player outputs their sound varies greatly. Much of this variance is due to a player's internal DAC, which you noted as a possible improvement. So if you acknowledge that a DAC can affect the sound, even an internal one, then how can you say "Bits are bits your player is fine". There's a disconnect in logic there. Different players have different DAC's, and almost no BR players have "audiophile" quality DAC's.
    Few CD players are sold these days for good reason.

    Huh? maybe at Best Buy or Walmart that's true, but any high-end CD player manufacturer who was making CD players 10 years ago is still making them today. With some new additions as well.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    timalan wrote: »
    I was considering starting a similar thread, and so I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in and adding another question... in the same vein, looking for a simple CD-player, is there any significant quality advantage in the newer units, or would it be fine to get a 8-12 year old model that was once top-of-the line but is now selling for significantly less?

    If an older unit is okay, are there any "best deals" in older units that might be a good fit. I'm aiming to keep it below the OPs $500 budget. The cheaper, the better, as long as it doesn't sacrifice too much quality. It's just hard to know which models to be watching for.

    Thanks for the help.

    In my experience, an older, used unit that used to be top-of-the-line will be better. Even with digital stuff.. DAC's, CD players/transports...

    Are you looking to use it as a transport (digital output) or a full-on player (analog output)?

    You can find a great one of either used for under 500 bucks. Easy.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012
    Agree on some older units being good. I like my 1995ish Rotel 6-disc. To me, it sounds as good as later units. Inviting clarity and smoothness using its dac; a bit better on external dac, even though I don't have a high end one. It has a REALLY noisy motor when moving discs. Not a problem for me as long as it works, and it has yet to fail. My old faithful 1986ish Denon was a tank. Jittery, but it worked flawlessly on the beach rig until last summer. Loved the headphone jack and volume control on it.

    I'm in process of ripping all my cd's and lp's to stream with Squeezebox Touch which is as good as any cdp I would be willing to pay for except maybe an Oppo universal. My current brp is sloooowww to load and SACD interests me since I've never heard one. Just don't like the idea of buying more expensive discs. Was I rambling? I was rambling. Sorry. Buy a used cdp.
    b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
    Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
    Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
    Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
    Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
    Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
    Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
  • timalan
    timalan Posts: 106
    edited January 2012
    In my experience, an older, used unit that used to be top-of-the-line will be better. Even with digital stuff.. DAC's, CD players/transports...

    Are you looking to use it as a transport (digital output) or a full-on player (analog output)?

    You can find a great one of either used for under 500 bucks. Easy.

    Thanks for the advice. I'm looking for a full-on player, so recommendations on specific older models would be great. I've done a little looking around online, but its hard to figure out based on old reviews what models really stack up well against the latest gear. Any advice is appreciated. I'd prefer a single-disc unit, but I'm not opposed to changers if there is a model or two that is well liked.
    5.1 theater - Pioneer SC-07, Mirage OMD-CC center, 4 x Mirage Omnisats, Boston Acoustics VPS-210 sub
    2.1 living room - NAD 7400 integrated, 2 x Platinum Audio Duos, MIT Terminator4 cables
    2.1 bedroom- Arcam Solo, 2 x Mirage OMD-5's
    FOR SALE - Genesis Servo-10 sub, Genesis Servo-12 amp; Martin Logan Dynamo sub; Mirage MM-6 sub; Harman Kardon DPR-1001 7.1 receiver
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    timalan wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice. I'm looking for a full-on player, so recommendations on specific older models would be great. I've done a little looking around online, but its hard to figure out based on old reviews what models really stack up well against the latest gear. Any advice is appreciated. I'd prefer a single-disc unit, but I'm not opposed to changers if there is a model or two that is well liked.

    Full on player? One good option is the Adcom GCD-750. I sold one here a few months back for 450 I think. They normally go for more like 5. It has balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, but no digital output, so it can't be used as a transport. It's a great player.

    Another option is to get a less expensive, but decent, CD transport, and then get a good external DAC.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    vcwatkins wrote: »
    Agree on some older units being good....

    My newish-to-me Audio Research CD-1 is excellent. It was introduced in '95. Damn, that was 17 years ago?:eek::biggrin: It's internal DAC's sound great... not quite as good as my external DAC, but damn good nonetheless. :wink:

    I bought it used for 25% of its MSRP.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • Jer.War
    Jer.War Posts: 180
    edited October 2012
    I upgraded from a modded Denon 5 disc to a used Rega Apollo and could not be happier. Better bass response, clarity, transient response and tone. They can be had for around $500...

    [The Ever-Evolving System

    LSI15's (PNF Symphony cabels, modded X-Over and subs), LSIC, LSI7's, Rega Apollo CDP (PNF ICON ICs, modified PS cct.), Yamaha RXV-1700 w/ ipod dock, B&K REF200.2 (fronts) Samsung BDP-1600, XBOX360, Patriot Box Office Media Player, 42" Samsung LCD.
  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited October 2012
    KYFHO wrote: »
    I have been playing my CD's through my Blu-Ray player and feel that I am missing out on a lot of details on my CD's. I am in the market for a good quality CD player in the $400 - $500 range. Any opinions on good models to look out for?

    What's makes you feel you are missing out on details? That OPPO 95 is no slouch of a player.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited October 2012
    here's a sad tale. as much as i like my cdp my publisher at streomojo has just announced that stereomojo will no longer review stand alone cd players. the music server/computer based era is upon us:sad:
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
  • jim 249
    jim 249 Posts: 347
    edited October 2012
    Get an older Denon Universal player like a DVD-2910. Can be had for about $100 shipped. They work great as cd players and they also play SACD's. Read the reviews online about this player. Retailed for $750 back in its day. My 2c
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited October 2012
    Ditto on the outboard DAC.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,569
    edited October 2012
    No reflection on you marvda1, but I've never heard of StereoMojo and now that your publisher will not review CDP's, I'll never read it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2012
    I would either add a DAC such as a Music Hall 25.3 or PS Audio DLIII, both of which are in the $500 range, or look for a Rotel RCD-1072 which is a solid transport with a very good internal DAC and that will set you up for experimenting with external DAC's in the future. I can also vote yes on the Jolida JD-100, as long as you are OK with having tubes that will need to be changed, as the stock ones are not that good.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC