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Advice needed re: new CD player purchase

Hello everyone. New member but long-time lurker here. My system: Bryston 4B-ST amp, Bryston BP25 preamp, and Meridian 508.24 CD player (all purchased in 1998 and all performing flawlessly), Kimber KCAG balanced interconnects, Audioquest speaker cable, and Esoteric power cords. I have Thiel CS2.4 loudspeakers.

I have about 4500 CDs (about 3% of which are hybrid SACDs). I love my system, but I want a new CD player. Am I right to think that advances in audio technology over the last 24 years have left my Meridian in the dust, sonically speaking? So I have been looking at various players. A few parameters: I will only buy new; I want XLR outputs; and I’d prefer to not spend over 5k.

I’m looking hard at the Bryston BCD-3, and the Technics SL-G700. Having owned Bryston products now for almost 24 years, I’m extremely impressed by their build quality and performance. However, the BCD-3 is not an SACD player. I’ve read a few solid reviews of the Technics, but I’m suspicious of their long-term reliability. There are no dealers where I live or within 200 miles. I looked at the Marantz line, and their only player with balanced outputs is the SA-10, which I’ve heard is awesome but I’m unwilling, at this point, to pay $7500 (although my mind is not closed on the matter).

Anyone here have either the Bryston or the Technics player? Will I notice a marked improvement with a new player (as compared to my 508.24)? Like most of you, this is my life. After work, I listen 2-3 hours per day, sometimes more on weekends. Thanks in advance for your advices.
jeroboam

Showing 4 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 
Nearly everyone is telling me to get a good transport with appropriate digital output, and a separate DAC. Then you can also use the DAC for streaming as well as SACD/CD Play.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/better-cd-sound-the-search

No matter what, the drawer has to open/close; CD has to spin and be read: belts get worn; internal moving parts get dirty or lube gets sticky and lasers get old/weak or out of alignment and no longer read the discs.

I checked date of manufacture and availability of replacement parts when considering.

I want a combination of single and changer. Space considerations, and no desire to stream, I am staying with a units with internal DAC(s). Cost considerations I am going used.

I researched, determined I wanted dual DACs and decided to try one with Burr Brown DACs; another with Wolfson DACs.

Denon 2910 arrived played erratically for 2 days, then Laser couldn't find the discs at all. New laser arrives Monday, fingers crossed. It plays SACD and CD.

Integra CDC-3.4 changer does not play SACD, I found one made in 2019, it arrives this coming Friday. Belts and Lasers are currently available.

Many units are missing remotes, I limit choices to units with remotes, and it if breaks, replacement remotes available.

Even then: sometimes an unidentified change is made, and a different remote used. Integra used one remote until they issued Mark 2 with a different remote. suffix letter M after the serial # means mark 2, otherwise there is no way of knowing mark 2 exists. It took me many emails to get that answer.




elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 
everyone

I just posted my favorable comments about the Integra CDC-3.4 with dual Wolfson DACs here

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/better-cd-sound-the-search

OP: it does not play SACD.

Integra 8.5, dual DACs (same wolfsons?) does play SACD

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/integra-dpc-85
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Denon 2910 with dual burr brown DACs: I put the new laser in the Denon 2910

Got it playing CD's, it does play SACD, but I need to find the magic combo of two allen head adjusters to get that.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 

OP, reminder, it doesn’t play SACD. For me: forget my SACD’s (from my CD Quest)

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****** Integra CDC-3.4, Mark 2 ******** It’s BY FAR the WINNER!

Last night I realized: It’s like I was given more than 4K new CDs free with the unit. The distinctness I described above just adds up in so many ways. It’s taken me a few years to get here, I am so glad I didn’t give up.

I prowled the small clubs in NJ and NYC twice a week for live music for over 20 years. Yesterday I listened to many musicians/singers I have seen live and also many local musicians I know well. I couldn’t be happier.

A great example, final one last night, is Willie Nelson, Teatro Album. One of my favorites, surprisingly better. New respect for Daniel Lanois and all the performers.

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Denon 2910. Close but no Cigar.

Like the Integra it is more distinct than the Sony, however it’s salad of dual burr brown dacs and Denon’s mix of additives: over sampling, clock, jitter, .... produces a slight brightness compared to the Integra.

i.e. Emmylou Harris’s voice, Jose Feliciano strings, Melissa Etheridge, Tierney Sutton .... high frequency piano and violin notes, like many good individual things adding up, here that very slight aspect adds up.

Others may love it.

I have wide dispersion horn tweeters, just balanced via sound meter and new L-Pads, so, combined with the Denon’s excellent distinctness, these speakers reveal this slight brightness more than some speakers/systems/rooms might. It may sound terrific thru another system/speakers/space, the Integra could be a bit dull compared to the Denon in that situation.

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I am done, and will keep my eye out for another Integra. MARK 2.

I never heard mark 1, so I can only say great things about my Mark 2. How to know: It uses remote control rc-778c, ’squarer’ outside corners, and has a suffix letter M after the serial #. Newer date made is shown on serial number tag is also a hint.

Original (unidentified as Mark 1) use remote rc-553c, same key layout, but rounded outside corners

customer service should be able to tell you from the serial #

service@11tradingcompany.com

elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 

CD's ONLY:

I got solid confirmation regarding 'look no further' after listening for 4 hours last night with my friend/neighbor/music producer. If not streaming higher resolution content, just playing CDs, the DAC(s)/Additives of some CD Players do a great job.

he brought music he just mixed, music he won a grammy for, and we played lots of my music, LP's and CD versions via the Integra CDC-3.4.

He likes Peter Gabriel, Steamroller as a quick revealing test. I have favorites I find revealing. 1st round darn good, but ....then we tweaked the tweeters a bit higher with their L-Pads, then he pronounced the system sound, imaging, depth excellent. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that.

I had been over-cautious with the tweeters, I got +/- 1.5db up to10k, then let the highs drop slowly from there. He heard that, I twirled the controls a speck at a time L & R, he listened and thinks we got it just right. He's interested to know what the meter says we did. Of course I will get L/R equal if they are not.

I'm lucky to know him, a great guy, brought some good beer, told me some funny stories ....

It's a shame it doesn't play SACDs.

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