NAD 541i vs Rotel 1070 vs Marantz cd5003

holt
holt Posts: 131
edited March 2010 in Electronics
I came across a CL ad for a bunch of audio gear locally this weekend and wanted to get opinions on whether the two cd players he had listed would make a significant upgrade from my current Marantz cd5003. I've read reviews of both the Nad 541i and the Rotel 1070, and I think the Rotel might, but I don't know.... I have been real happy with the Marantz sound wise, but it does tend to skip at the slightest imperfection on the cd and that is annoying.

He also listed an Adcom 545 amp and preamp/tunner (both in white) and I am looking for a preamp to integrate in an HT setup, but I don't think this one will fit the bill. I wish I was in the market for setting up a nice little 2 channel system as he also had a Carver CM 1090 integrated along with some KEF Q50's, Focal JM Labs 707's, and Epos ELS 3's. I haven't heard any of those speakers, but I'm not in the market anyway.
Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
Anthem Pre2L SE
Marantz cd5003
Proceed amp 3
Sherwood Newcastle A-965
Signal ll IC's
Polk lsi-15s
Polk lsic
PSW505
Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
Samsung ln52a650
Post edited by holt on
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Comments

  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,429
    edited March 2010
    I have experience with both Rotel and NAD cd players. Honestly it's a pick em. They both sound fantastic. Rotel is regarded as the best bang for the buck cd player made. But the NAD is in my opinion every bit as good.

    I don't know how they will compare to the sound of your Marantz as I don't know that model but sounds like it's going so a replacement is necessary.

    Good luck
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited March 2010
    If you're going to get a Rotel, get the RCD-1072. Just a little bit of research around here or on the web will help you understand why.
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  • holt
    holt Posts: 131
    edited March 2010
    Thanks for the responses, but after reading the current thread by concealer404 on his new Pioneer BDP-51FD, I'm wondering if I should try a route similar to that. I'm still using a PS3 for bd movies and the thought keeps occurring that the normal life span of those things don't seem to be that long. I would like to consolidate functions if I don't have to sacrifice SQ i doing that. If I do the cd player only route, I'll be looking at the RCD-1072 pretty seriously.
    Decisions, decisions......
    Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
    Anthem Pre2L SE
    Marantz cd5003
    Proceed amp 3
    Sherwood Newcastle A-965
    Signal ll IC's
    Polk lsi-15s
    Polk lsic
    PSW505
    Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
    PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
    Samsung ln52a650
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited March 2010
    I'm not going to pretend that i know what the NAD or the Rotel sound like, so i can't really comment on the comparison there.

    BUT: If you want a dual purpose player, both BDP and CDP, i can't imagine it getting much better than this thing.

    I AM still a fan of dedicated CDPs, but my main point in my thread was that my source is no longer my weak point by a rather large margin. :) I DO stand by my thoughts that this is the "richest" sounding CDP i've heard in a very long time, though. That said, the highest dollar dedicated CDP i've had through here is the ERC-1.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • holt
    holt Posts: 131
    edited March 2010
    "I AM still a fan of dedicated CDPs, but my main point in my thread was that my source is no longer my weak point by a rather large margin. I DO stand by my thoughts that this is the "richest" sounding CDP i've heard in a very long time, though."

    Oh I understand your point, and I have some thinking and reading to do about this, but I hadn't even considered this as another viable alternative before reading your thread. And I like options that can possibly kill two birds with one stone - replace aging PS3 and possibly dying CDP in a single solution - without the usual sacrifice in quality somewhere. Its something to ponder....
    Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
    Anthem Pre2L SE
    Marantz cd5003
    Proceed amp 3
    Sherwood Newcastle A-965
    Signal ll IC's
    Polk lsi-15s
    Polk lsic
    PSW505
    Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
    PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
    Samsung ln52a650
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited March 2010
    holt wrote: »
    "I AM still a fan of dedicated CDPs, but my main point in my thread was that my source is no longer my weak point by a rather large margin. I DO stand by my thoughts that this is the "richest" sounding CDP i've heard in a very long time, though."

    Oh I understand your point, and I have some thinking and reading to do about this, but I hadn't even considered this as another viable alternative before reading your thread. And I like options that can possibly kill two birds with one stone - replace aging PS3 and possibly dying CDP in a single solution - without the usual sacrifice in quality somewhere. Its something to ponder....

    I don't think you'd really sacrifice anything given your current situation. :)

    Send the PS3 my way. I need one. :D I promise to not play Blu-Rays on it. ;)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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