Looking for better CD player suggestions

Timothy Smith

I am looking to step up in terms of sound quality for my next CD player.

I have owned a slew of different CD players, mostly different NADs, Rotels, and Cambridge Audios with some other brands thrown in.

Any new or used CD player suggestions from Forum members?

Considering something $500 or less whether new or used. Maybe more if I sell some other stuff.

Thanks!

EndersShadow

Oppo.....

tonyb

Any of the MF players, Cary.....too many out there to nail down one.

steveinaz

How about a used Rega Apollo?

falconcry72

Since your Rotel has a digital output, I would recommend adding an external DAC and keeping the Rotel as a transport only. A $500 DAC will get you better sound quality than a $500 CDP.

You should be able to find a Benchmark DAC-1 for close to that price. Great DAC, just ask Steve above.

cnh

Something with "tubes". CD sound is fairly brittle and the main problem with it is up HIGH. All the players you list (owned) are "good" but can have a little digital glare up top. A nice tube player (used) can probably be had in the 500-700 range. And you can always roll the tubes.



cnh

soundfreak1

falconcry72 wrote: »

Since your Rotel has a digital output, I would recommend adding an external DAC and keeping the Rotel as a transport only. A $500 DAC will get you better sound quality than a $500 CDP.

You should be able to find a Benchmark DAC-1 for close to that price. Great DAC, just ask Steve above.

+1 on the DAC a 500.00 DAC will make a MUCH bigher impact than a 500.00 cdp!

leroyjr1

Timothy Smith wrote: »

I am looking to step up in terms of sound quality for my next CD player.

I have owned a slew of different CD players, mostly different NADs, Rotels, and Cambridge Audios with some other brands thrown in.

Any new or used CD player suggestions from Forum members?

Considering something $500 or less whether new or used. Maybe more if I sell some other stuff.

Thanks!

I'd get a nice DAC.

erniejade

I agree with all the suggestions. A nice DAC or a tube player. Or Both eventually. Or a tube dac. I will say this, I had a few nice solid SACD players but, when I got the w4s dac2, redbook cd's sounded better then sacd! Since the DSD part does not go through the digital out on a sacd player and it uses its own internal dac, it started me on my quest for a better sacd player and I wound up going with a tube sacd player and wound up rolling several tubes till I found the right combo of some early 60's Mullard.


Do you have or into SACD? If not, get a new DAC. Plenty out there on the new and used market for what your looking to spend and it will help you get onto digital like flac files and such.

treitz3

The tried and true Jolida JD-100 tube CDP [12AX7 based] is a rather fine player that many here on this forum still use for their rig. Even if other equipment comes and goes, many have not let go of their Jolida. Food for thought since you asked about a CDP and if you decide not to go the DAC route.

Tom

Jhayman

+ 1 on that advice...

falconcry72 wrote: »

Since your Rotel has a digital output, I would recommend adding an external DAC and keeping the Rotel as a transport only. A $500 DAC will get you better sound quality than a $500 CDP.

You should be able to find a Benchmark DAC-1 for close to that price. Great DAC, just ask Steve above.

Jetmaker737

treitz3 wrote: »

The tried and true Jolida JD-100 tube CDP [12AX7 based] is a rather fine player that many here on this forum still use for their rig. Even if other equipment comes and goes, many have not let go of their Jolida. Food for thought since you asked about a CDP and if you decide not to go the DAC route.

Tom

+1 on this. A couple of years ago I did a side by side comparo of Jolida versus Rotel posted on CP. Jolida won easily. It sounds better to my ears than my Rega DAC. I don't think a SS DAC will get you what you're looking for.

Edit: Here's the link if you are interested in reading: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?108913-CDP-Shootout-Jolida-JD100-vs-Rotel-RCD-1072

treitz3

I actually "upgraded" from the Rega Apollo to the Jolida. While the Rega sounded good, it presented more of an "in your face" playback whereas the Jolida was further back with it's sound stage presentation. This made for front to back imaging that was more realistic in reproduction [depth of sound stage] than that of the Rega. When coupled with the tubes I have, the Jolida won out between these two players in my system with many aspects. Not just the sound stage presentation. FWIW.

Tom

Timothy Smith

Wow!

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies and suggestions.

It seems like I have been at this hobby for a long time, but I have a lot to learn.

The next step in the journey toward better sound is always exciting, and the payback is that you can go back through your "old" music collection and rediscover nuances that you have missed for all of those years.

We all probably know that the journey will never end, and if it ever did, that would be a letdown, and frankly boring.

Tim

stretchl

falconcry72 wrote: »

Since your Rotel has a digital output, I would recommend adding an external DAC and keeping the Rotel as a transport only. A $500 DAC will get you better sound quality than a $500 CDP.

You should be able to find a Benchmark DAC-1 for close to that price. Great DAC, just ask Steve above.

This brings up an issue I've been curious about.

Do y'all have any thoughts on whether using my Grant Fidelity TubeDac would be better than the internal DAC in my Rotel 855?

Need to try it, just havent gotten around to buying the damned cable.

tonyb

You have a digital cable going from your squeezebox to the dac, use that one to find out.

falconcry72

stretchl wrote: »

This brings up an issue I've been curious about.

Do y'all have any thoughts on whether using my Grant Fidelity TubeDac would be better than the internal DAC in my Rotel 855?

Need to try it, just havent gotten around to buying the damned cable.

You have to try it. Do it like this:

- Chain 1: Rotel > Analog Out > Input 1 on Yaqin
- Chain 2: Rotel > Digitial Out > GFTubeDAC > Analog Out > Input 2 on Yaqin

Now play a CD and just switch between inputs on the pre. This is especially easy if you have a remote; you can just sit in the sweetspot and switch back and forth on the remote. That's how I do DAC comparisons.


And FYI you can use most standard analog IC's as a digital coax cable. Ideally it would be 75 ohms. Component Video cables (the red/blue/green ones) are 75 ohm so they work well.

erniejade

the tube dac11 is a good player but roll the tubes in it. Lots of options with it. If your looking for dsd though, its not for you but, it does do 24/192. A lot of great reviews on it especially for the price.

stretchl

It's super short, like 6", and won't be long enough.

stretchl

falconcry72 wrote: »

You have to try it. Do it like this:

- Chain 1: Rotel > Analog Out > Input 1 on Yaqin
- Chain 2: Rotel > Digitial Out > GFTubeDAC > Analog Out > Input 2 on Yaqin

Now play a CD and just switch between inputs on the pre. This is especially easy if you have a remote; you can just sit in the sweetspot and switch back and forth on the remote. That's how I do DAC comparisons.


And FYI you can use most standard analog IC's as a digital coax cable. Ideally it would be 75 ohms. Component Video cables (the red/blue/green ones) are 75 ohm so they work well.

Great advice. Didn't know that about the component video cables. Definitely have some of them laying about.

F1nut

Another for the Jolida. Drop some Sylvania 3 mica black plate 5751's in it and a good aftermarket power cord.

vmaxer

F1nut wrote: »

Another for the Jolida. Drop some Sylvania 3 mica black plate 5751's in it and a good aftermarket power cord.

Hey F1, have you ever compared the Jolida to a Oppo?

I am sure the Jolida is better, but how much?

I would love to have something close to vinyl, not rich though.

I have a 83SE, thinking about the 105. Then again I'm not sure.

Thanks.

F1nut

No I haven't, sorry.

vmaxer

DSkip wrote: »

Assimilated owns both the 83se and 105. Perhaps you should pm him and get his thoughts.

Thanks, if I get very serious I will.

What I really would like to know is how they compare to a Jolida.

treitz3

vmaxer wrote: »

Hey F1, have you ever compared the Jolida to a Oppo?

Jesse hasn't but I have. We did a direct A/B between the an Oppo and the Jolida 4 or 5 years [and a couple of models] ago. I can't recall differences between CDP's that have been so drastically different in sound. In fact, we had the same album playing in both players at one point. The Oppo had the SACD and the Jolida had the rebook CD [on the same system] and the Jolida still came out on top in spades. Now as for a recent comparison, that we have not done. I have read that the newer Oppo's have improved their playback but as to how much? You'll have to ask someone who has perhaps done a comparison between a newer Oppo and the Jolida.

Tom

treitz3

Agreed, Mr. Skip. I don't think it would have been so well received by the audio crowd if it hadn't. That why I mentioned that it was a couple of models ago......but even the Oppo I A/B'd back then was getting some mad praise......so I don't really know what to think about that. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. The newer models have won some awards along with the praise [not from just reviewers], so one would think.....

Tom

Obsession18

vmaxer wrote: »

Hey F1, have you ever compared the Jolida to a Oppo?

I am sure the Jolida is better, but how much?

I would love to have something close to vinyl, not rich though.

I have a 83SE, thinking about the 105. Then again I'm not sure.

Thanks.

The Jolida will get you somewhat close to vinyl provided you change out the stock chinese tubes, the Psvanes I'm using in mine really smoothed things out.

If you decide to go the Jolida route be aware that there are/was two Jolida companies out there, Jolida.com (USA based in MD) and Jolida.net (China). I bought from Jolida.net a couple of years ago and came to regret it, the unit failed after about 18 months and Jolida.net was no where to be found, luckily Jolida USA agreed to repair it for me. The tech who did the repairs commented on the numerous cold solder joints he encountered, so make sure you get a Jolida USA unit.

Timothy Smith

You guys were right.

I bought a used Emotiva ERC-1 from a new friend last night and also borrowed a Keces DA-131 DAC from him too to try out.

Hooked them up after work today and I love it!