SACD / CD Player

My Onkyo has bit the dust....which makes me sad since I just hooked it back up. Looking for a good, used player or transport that is considered "bullet proof" in terms of spinning and laser reliability. Also looking for good recommendations. Budgets is 1k which is a lot, but 850 much more doable. Thanks dudes.

Comments

  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,955
    Are you planning to use a DAC with it or just straight from the analog outs?
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    edited May 26
    billbillw wrote: »
    Are you planning to use a DAC with it or just straight from the analog outs?
    DAC is the plan. Key is it has to play SACDs also.

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,540
    Hard pass! Denon lasers were my two least dependable players. I won't even get into their customer service.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,955
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    billbillw wrote: »
    Are you planning to use a DAC with it or just straight from the analog outs?
    DAC is the plan.

    If you go for a DSD capable DAC, you might consider just ripping all your SACDs using a cheap bluray player and then you don't have to worry about another unit dying. For simplicity, I extracted the DSD files off all my SACDs about 7 years ago. Done once, and no worries about the laser going bad. There is no quality lost. You can play them from an SSD if you have a streamer than can read from local storage, or host them on a NAS which is nice, especially if you already have one.

    I had a post in the Going Digital sub-forum about a year ago with links to other sites that detail the process.
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Hard pass! Denon lasers were my two least dependable players. I won't even get into their customer service.

    Thank you sir..Here are some other options:
    Yamaha 2000
    Oppo 105
    Sony ES but these are getting old in the tooth
    Marantz DV series
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    billbillw wrote: »
    kevhed72 wrote: »
    billbillw wrote: »
    Are you planning to use a DAC with it or just straight from the analog outs?
    DAC is the plan.

    If you go for a DSD capable DAC, you might consider just ripping all your SACDs using a cheap bluray player and then you don't have to worry about another unit dying. For simplicity, I extracted the DSD files off all my SACDs about 7 years ago. Done once, and no worries about the laser going bad. There is no quality lost. You can play them from an SSD if you have a streamer than can read from local storage, or host them on a NAS which is nice, especially if you already have one.

    I had a post in the Going Digital sub-forum about a year ago with links to other sites that detail the process.
    While I appreciate this idea, I will never get around to ripping my SACDs to local storage or a laptop.
    I am too lazy lol.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,955
    edited May 26
    At some point (we may already be there), there will be a severe shortage of good quality SACD players. Just saying.

    They are pretty rare, but maybe worth looking. I was really happy with the Pioneer Elite PD-D9j that I had before I ripped my SACDs. The build quality was better than anything I saw at the time under $1000. There is essentially no difference between the original and MkII version other than cosmetic. I compared the service manuals at one point.
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,955
    edited May 26
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Hard pass! Denon lasers were my two least dependable players. I won't even get into their customer service.

    Agree. Every Denon combo DVD/SACD player I've owned needed a laser replacement, even at less than 5 years old. I never touched the brand for disc players after the 3930 model I had needed two laser replacements (DIY) to start working. Even then, it was the most picky player I've ever owned. It didn't really like CD-R discs.
    EDIT: Actually, looking back at some of my thoughts when I had the 3930, it didn't have trouble with CD-R, it was the home burned videos on DVD-R that it didn't like. I did replace the laser and recall that being a headache.
    Post edited by billbillw on
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,865
    The Oppo Blu Ray players I have had have been bullet proof, if there really is such a thing when it comes to physical disc players. The disc drives will fail eventually.
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,396
    edited May 26
    I personally like the higher end Yamaha spinners.

    Nothing wrong with buying an older player and replacing the laser as it's usually pretty easy.
  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,104
    Are you looking for newer or older?

    I have a couple I’d consider letting go.

    Skip
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    edited May 29
    skipshot12 wrote: »
    Are you looking for newer or older?

    I have a couple I’d consider letting go.

    Skip
    Either is fine.

  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,104
    I have a couple disc spinners I’d part with.
    One’s the Marantz DV9600 and the other is a Pioneer DV-AX10.

    Also have a Marantz BD8002 that does everything including blu-ray but it does not play sacd.

    PM me if you may be interested.

    Skip
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,476
    I have a few sitting around that are available.

    Denon DBP-1611UD BlueRay, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD
    Pioneer Elite DV-45A DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD
    Sony DVP-NC80V SACD multi disc
    Oppo DV-980H DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD display is dim.

    I believe that I have remotes for all.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,104
    edited June 2
    Forgot to mention I have the original shipping box, manual & remote for the Marantz.
    I’m the only owner, bought it new through Marantz.


    The Pioneer I also have the original manual, remote and shipping box. I don’t have all the original innards for the pioneer’s shipping container though.
    I’m the 2nd owner of the DV-AX10.
    Purchased the Pioneer off the original owner on Audiogon many years ago.

    Both are in excellent condition, play and cosmetically, with a couple marks on the Pioneer.

    Skip
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    skipshot12 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I have the original shipping box, manual & remote for the Marantz.
    I’m the only owner, bought it new through Marantz.


    The Pioneer I also have the original manual, remote and shipping box. I don’t have all the original innards for the pioneer’s shipping container though.
    I’m the 2nd owner of the DV-AX10.
    Purchased the Pioneer off the original owner on Audiogon many years ago.

    Both are in excellent condition, play and cosmetically, with a couple marks on the Pioneer.

    Skip
    PM sent
  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,069
    skipshot12 wrote: »
    I have a couple disc spinners I’d part with.
    One’s the Marantz DV9600 and the other is a Pioneer DV-AX10.

    Also have a Marantz BD8002 that does everything including blu-ray but it does not play sacd.

    PM me if you may be interested.

    Skip
    skrol wrote: »
    I have a few sitting around that are available.

    Denon DBP-1611UD BlueRay, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD
    Pioneer Elite DV-45A DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD
    Sony DVP-NC80V SACD multi disc
    Oppo DV-980H DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD display is dim.

    I believe that I have remotes for all.

    Obviously I'm on the back burner, but I might be interested in one of the players mentioned above. Please let me know if no deal is made. Thanks

    2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods
  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,104
    edited June 10
    Nothing yet Hz.
    Kevhed said he’s thinking about it.

    Which one are you thinking?

    The Pioneer is a beast.
    Have two of them.

    Have had my eye on the Marantz UD9004 but, they’re not in my price range.
    That’s the only one I’d replace my Pioneer with.
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 5,187
    Man that Pioneer is a beast after checking out some of the videos online. Ill decide here soon and update you Skip.
  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,104
    Stereo phil reviewed that Pioneer when it came out.
    Check it out.
  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,069
    skipshot12 wrote: »
    Stereo phil reviewed that Pioneer when it came out.
    Check it out.

    I will, thanks!
    2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods