CD players?

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,951
edited April 2009 in Electronics
What CD players is everyone using? Why did you pick it? What other equipment are you using?

I have had my eye on Wadia, Symphonic Line, Bryston, and upper end Shanling, Mcintosh

I think the Shanling is one of my weaker links...

Id like to keep it under 1,500-2,000 and I prefer used (but only a few years old)

Open to just about any suggestion. Give you an idea of what I like - I like in your face dynamics and as much detail and definition as possible. I do NOT****** want a tube CD player. I have never used the tube portion of my CDP and think to many tubes is a horrible thing...

So solid state CDP is my prefered. I just want a CDP with the lowest noise floor and good dynamic range --- but I do not want it to mask any details from my setup!

Thanks!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    I can tell you that you DON'T want a McIntosh in that price range, avoid the 201 like the plague.

    Given your description above, you should add the Cambridge 840C to your list.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,951
    edited April 2009
    Thanks :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    Marantz SA-11S1 on the used market is a great player and its in your Price range:D
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,537
    edited April 2009
    The Cambridge 840C seems to be the latest giant killer...of course the Rotel 1072 is a classic BARGAIN.
    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
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited April 2009
    Esoteric X-03. Good for both SACD and redbook playback. I think I made the right choice.
    Good luck Sid.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Marantz SA-11S1 on the used market is a great player and its in your Price range:D

    Its also does SACD very will:D
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2009
    I couldn't resist the deal from Audio Advisor for an open box Cambridge 640c v2 with dual Wolfson DACs (yeah - I succumbed to the hype, but so far I am impressed).

    I have it hooked up via some AQ Copperheads to my AVR which I put into Pure Direct to maintain the analog path from the CDP.

    Very decent mid-priced CDP -esp for the discount. ;)

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,951
    edited April 2009
    That Esoteric is awesome, but a little out of my price range (just a quick search on Audiogon..)

    Someone told me the Bryston BCD-1 would be perfect for my needs and sound taste, any experience here?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2009
    I recently heard the Bryston and a couple of SimAudio CDP's. The SimAudio Equinox was very impressive. Pretty similar sound between the Bryston BCD-2 (I need to check and make sure that's the right model that we were listening to!) and the SimAudio CDP's. SimAudio did have the edge on the noise floor, it seems to be a characteristic of SimAudio gear that they have an absolutely black background.
    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
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited April 2009
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »
    Someone told me the Bryston BCD-1 would be perfect for my needs and sound taste, any experience here?
    Heard it, loved it,but can't afford it.:(
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited April 2009
    I am totally hooked on Accuphase CDP and there are some used ones on Audiogon for around or below $2000 range.

    It's all SS Design. Accuphase Engineering and the craftsmanship is really a step above most others CDP in the market and comparable to higher end ones in the market. Besides, some models have excellent DAC and I have 1st hand witnessed an Accuphase CDP hooked up to my Oink Grand Integra M-510 amp with very positive results.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2009
    My player is passable but nothing special like most of the gear mentioned above. But I have heard a McIntosh, recently, in that range and I was thoroughly 'under-impressed' I couldn't believe how mediocre it sounded, not much better than my player...which doesn't even deserve to be mentioned with the likes of some of the above...

    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]
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited April 2009
    My next player will likely be a Cary tubed player -- probably a 306/200 or something comparable.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,233
    edited April 2009
    What about a Media center? using a hard drive? All your music stored in a Lossless format bit for bit. No scratched disc's, no changing disc's, think about it man. It's the way I'm going.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited April 2009
    Allow me to second the advice Face gave you above. Do NOT buy a 201 from McIntosh, I don't care what type of deal you can get. I had 2 with the first going back 2 times and the second one having several problems. Now if you can step it up to the 500, you're in a different league. What a wonderful player! I was thisclose to buying the 500 and my dealer gave me an offer on the MD1K I could not refuse.

    Again, stay away from the 201.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,233
    edited April 2009
    Hawkeye wrote: »
    Allow me to second the advice Face gave you above. Do NOT buy a 201 from McIntosh, I don't care what type of deal you can get. I had 2 with the first going back 2 times and the second one having several problems. Now if you can step it up to the 500, you're in a different league. What a wonderful player! I was thisclose to buying the 500 and my dealer gave me an offer on the MD1K I could not refuse.

    Again, stay away from the 201.

    Gordon
    What is so wrong with the 201? I just gotta know.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited April 2009
    cnh wrote: »
    My player is passable but nothing special like most of the gear mentioned above. But I have heard a McIntosh, recently, in that range and I was thoroughly 'under-impressed' I couldn't believe how mediocre it sounded, not much better than my player...which doesn't even deserve to be mentioned with the likes of some of the above...

    cnh

    Was it the 201?

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited April 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    What is so wrong with the 201? I just gotta know.

    Dan

    Well Dan, it is junk. Cut and dried. The drive was noisy enough to hear across the room even with music playing! It would lock up, skip and randomly not read a disc. When working, it was not a bad machine maybe equivalent to a Denon 2900 perhaps slighty above. But for the price they were getting the noise and lockup issues should not have happened. I'm a McIntosh nut to the end but they screwed the pooch on this piece.

    An insider I know told me that it was rushed through production and no Beta testing was done to find the faults. Actually to bad because it could have been a nice entry level McIntosh piece.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,007
    edited April 2009
    Open to just about any suggestion. Give you an idea of what I like - I like in your face dynamics and as much detail and definition as possible. I do NOT****** want a tube CD player. I have never used the tube portion of my CDP and think to many tubes is a horrible thing...

    And just when I thought you developing an appreciation for musicality.
    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

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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited April 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    What about a Media center? using a hard drive? All your music stored in a Lossless format bit for bit. No scratched disc's, no changing disc's, think about it man. It's the way I'm going.

    Dan

    I like the simplicity of popping in a CD and playing it. I'm not saying that a media-center approach doesn't have its pluses, because it does, but I think there's a lot to be said with a good old CD player too. I don't like having to rip CD's, manage a library, create playlists and hunt for songs. I do it with my IPod (barely) but much prefer just putting in a disc, kicking back on the couch, and listening to it.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,007
    edited April 2009
    I have never used the tube portion of my CDP and think to many tubes is a horrible thing...

    Another comment. If you have never used the tube output, how do you know what it sounds like???
    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

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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,233
    edited April 2009
    tcrossma wrote: »
    I like the simplicity of popping in a CD and playing it. I'm not saying that a media-center approach doesn't have its pluses, because it does, but I think there's a lot to be said with a good old CD player too. I don't like having to rip CD's, manage a library, create playlists and hunt for songs. I do it with my IPod (barely) but much prefer just putting in a disc, kicking back on the couch, and listening to it.

    I see. I once thought as you do until I got the SC-07 receiver and heard my Ipod for the first time clearly. I had a 1/8 inch stereo to rca cable and tried listening to my ipod on my Rotel. No dock or digital connection, just analog and I thought it sucked. It was ok I guess , sucked is strong but it sounded nothing like it does now. And I even had recording in Lossless then.
    after a few hour conversation with a fellow audiophile, I personally am eager to build a media Pc or buy a media center of some sorts. I plan on spending some quality time researching this very Idea.

    I really like the idea of all my media stored in one place. How cool would it be to dial up a movie or song you wanna hear/watch? There is some really good media centers out there, we have the Elan VIA DJ at work, I'm not sure how good it is for sound quality as I only listen to it with a house system with mostly inwall speakers. But I like the idea.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited April 2009
    By media center, do you mean a Media PC?
    SDA 1C, SDA 2A, SDA SRS 2, CMT-340SE, Swan M200MKII, Swan D1080MKII, Behringer MS40

    Outlaw Audio M2200 x2, GFA 555 II, BGW 750C

    GDA 700, Outlaw Audio Model 990, Sansa Fuze, X-Fi Platinum Fatality
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2009
    Sony 5400ES SACD player with XLR outputs, $1499 list, but $1100 at various online stores. For CDs, the 5400ES is a digital transport feeding a Benchmark Dac1. For a multi-mega-CD-changer, a music server into the Dac1 is the ticket.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Sony 5400ES SACD player with XLR outputs, $1499 list, but $1100 at various online stores. For CDs, the 5400ES is a digital transport feeding a Benchmark Dac1. For a multi-mega-CD-changer, a music server into the Dac1 is the ticket.

    How do you like the Sony 5400ES sacd player?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    How do you like the Sony 5400ES sacd player?


    I like it as a single disk SACD player, and it has XLR, RCA, and HDMI output, which supports Sony's jitter free technology HATS over the HDMI link. If you have pre-amp which supports HDMI and HATS, or equivelent, it would be a good combination. HDMI is the only way to get multi-channel SACD playback as analog is only 2 channel. It does not have a digital input for using its DACs with other devices.

    The player appears based on the Sony 9100ES DVD/SACD player, which I use in the HT room, and is heavy, solid, very well constructed, and, to me, sounds great for SACDs. I think the digital output to the Dac1 sounds better for CDs than does the 5400ES.

    Unfortunately, I cannot give a comparison, such as it sounds better/worse than player "X", since it replaced my 1999 DVD/CD player which I was using as a CD digital transport into the Dac1, and, obviously, could not play SACDs. I can say there are some hybrid disks which will not play on the DVD player, but, so far, I have not had any issues with the 5400ES in that area.

    I was amazed Sony released this player in November 2008 since the SACD market is suppossed to be going away. Aside from needing an SACD player with XLR output in the 2 channel setup, and being very pleased with the 9100ES as both a DVD player and an SACD player, my logic in buying it was if Sony is going to release a dedicated ES SACD player in a declining market then it must have something going for it. Of course, that could be faulty logic, and it is a just an average SACD player, but I hope not. :)
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2009
    Why not just add an outboard DAC?
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    I used to have the 9100ES multi-SACD player. I thought it was very good on SACD
    playback. Im very interested in the 5400ES. Thanks
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2009
    venomclan wrote: »
    Why not just add an outboard DAC?

    Grab the PS Audio DLIII for $695 while you can. It may the answer you are seeking, or at least the beginning of the path.
    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
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,249
    edited April 2009
    Anything with Wolfson DAC's will be analytical which I believe are the characteristics you seem to favor. Me personally, I find Wolfson DAC's to be a bit too "in your face" and analytical and uninvolving. It is possible to get something less analytical but still not miss any detail.

    The Cambridge's or Rotel's come to mind for being a bit more forward and analytical as well as providing good dynamics.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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