any thoughts?

I wouldn't.

I've got two Icons that's been sitting in the garage for years due to laser failure.  

Why no love for the newer Rotel players here?

Consider the Rotel CD 14 MRK II. Its not a transport, but I had heard good things about it.

If you want to keep playing your CDs don't purchase a transport just rip to hard drive as audiotroy suggested.  Will sound good as or better than most transports new or used.  

+1 for transition to streaming

invest in the future or hold onto the past?

Apporx 18 months ago I refreshed my transport with an Audiolabs 6000CDT, cost of roughly $600 with a digital coax uplink to the DAC

Nice unit at a nice price point 

6 months later I started streaming and can count the number of CDs I've played since on both hands

I own approx 600 CDs

The streamer is fiber connected from my internet router and i2s uplinked to the DAC

Needless to say I haven't bought a CD since then but still get all the new material from Tidal or Qobuz

No right or wrong here, like most aspects of this hobby it's more about personal preferences

If part of your joy stems from the physical media touch and feel or bin diving for rare finds of used CDs, get the transport

For new comers to the hobby who own no albums or CDs, the path of least resistance for price performance sound quality is streaming 

+1 @rickdoesaudio

I own the Audiolab 6000CDT also. Excellent transport for minimal cash. Check the reviews and you’ll be convinced (probably).

I have 2 audio lab 6000cdt's, love them. I use a separate  Benchmark DAC 3B with one, sounds great to me. Reasonable and built like a tank. You'll be happy and actually save some $  Robert TN

I just replaced my 1996, Sony CDP-2700 with the Audiolab 6000CDT and it sounds very good.   I also have an OPPO and I think the Audiolab sounds better when used as a transport.

All The Best.

JD

Sounds like most everybody talked you off a 28 yr old unit. So, new Audiolab if ok with slot loading. New Cambridge if you're not. Had the CXC, worked smoothly and sounded excellent. 

I bought the Audiolab CDT6000 1 year ago. I have had no problems and enjoy it quite a bit. It is a stable player.

Dump cds ripto a hard rd drive and gowith Roon superior experience and if you purchase theright gear a modern server will sound far better 

Dave and Troy

AUDIO intellect nj

STREAMING SPECIALISTS 

The only circumstances I would consider this is if you have cast iron proof that the laser was replaced very recently. But given that transport's age, lasers for it have probably been unavailable for ages.

It make far more sense to buy a new transport.

Buy the AudioLab 

I don’t think it is prudent to pay 400 for a 28 year old player. Others have provided sufficient reasons for this assessment about a player of this vintage.

Moving right along, $700 is a good workable number. Others on this esteemed forum have spoken about Tascam. I had not heard of it, but on a little investigation I reckon they seem pretty good value and quality. Features galore - like, recording, and other bells and whistles.

OK, about the third edit - confusing, going in circles - the prior and out of production model, 900, did not have balanced connections, The one I link to in the next sentence does have balanced. If that kinda thing rocks ya boat.

This one is about USD 600, a relatively new model I think.

Official international site.

Whatever, just sayin’. I know nothing, and even less about Audio Lab.

I would not do it.

Transports are the most unreliable component in audio. Ancient is not good, unlikely replaceable.

You might consider a streamer instead. CD players are slowly going extinct. Streaming is the future. My streamer sound better than my CD player, and the same as my analog end. For the price of one CD per month you get access to nearly infinite music. Qobuz streaming the highest quality. 
 

sns

I can't see purchasing older and/or well used cd transport. Even if one believed it may provide higher quality sound than today's transports I wouldn't do it.

I owned the Cal for many years - nice unit but nothing special. I now have the Audio Lab 6000 - it is a better unit. BTW if the Delta fails you can't get a replacement laser for it.

I can't see purchasing older and/or well used cd transport. Even if one believed it may provide higher quality sound than today's transports I wouldn't do it. CD transports should be considered as consumable product, defined lifespan. I had a single well loved cd transport many years ago, when it died I was pretty shattered. I tried heroic diy repair, factory approved repair facility would have charged me at least half of what unit sold for new, no way. Anyway, I tried various subsequent cd transports, none approached sound quality of dead unit. The whole thing drove me away from cd transports and into streaming. My take is what if you love sound of used transport, it dies, you can't repair, too big a risk. My take is either stream or purchase low hour repairable used or new transport.

Yes. Absolutely. At that age, even if the transport is repairable if it breaks, the caps and/or solder joints will be shot or almost shot. Better yet, check eBay for factory-refurbished CXCs for about $350. The Best Buy in the transport game. Not saying it’s better than the AL, but you can’t beat it at that price.