As Good as a Mohican... But Used.


I’ve owned a Hegel CDP4AMk2 since 2010. It’s gotten hundreds of hours of play over the last decade. The only problem it ever had was a bit of an LED issue: a couple hundred bucks, and really just an aesthetic issue. The sound was great for the price for the time. It’s still not bad, but def has a decent amount of digitalits associated with its sound compared to higher end, more recent players.

I might be in the market for a "new" player. I’m aware of the controversy over Hegel sourcing Opera parts from China. Yet the Mohican is widely praised for its sonics. That said, I’m not sure I want to drop $5k for a Mohican. They do appear used, but not often. I recently missed one I could have purchased...

I know the Bryston has been said to be almost as good as the Mohican, and for $3500 I could buy new if I felt like it.

All that as preamble, what is out there that’s sonically as good as the Mohican on the used market for about $3k? Anything?
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xsumadoggie
I’m aware of the controversy over Hegel sourcing Opera parts from China


clarify what is meant by this?
Are you willing to go the DAC transport route?  If not, I have the Bryston DAC3.  Same chip as the Bryston CDP.  The DAC is fantastic, I imagine the CD player would be as well.  Otherwise get the DAC3 for about 3K and pair with any transport.
Other gear: Hegel H360; Rega P10; Herron VTPH-2A; two pair Sjofn HiFi The Clue (a pair each side), inverted on top of each other (spaced), wired in parallel (advice of designer): all Supra Sword wire.

Don’t really want to do a DAC/transport set-up at this point. Possibly down the road. Just want a one box player which sonically is a good bit more refined than my decade old CDP4A-Mk2.

I’ll probably start to stream down the road, but not ready to get married to another pay-for-play service at the moment. More in the mood to get rid of them.
I had a Mohican in my system for about a month, swapped players with a good friend and fellow audiophile.  It is a nice unit but I felt my Sony SCD1 still sounded more natural overall.
It all depends on what you mean by "good".

It should be easy to pick up a used Marantz Ruby SACD for under 3K, and they're very good.
"Good" is short hand for: holographic soundstage; tonal, timing, timbral accuracy; vanished noise floor; dearth of digitalis, etc.
sumadoggie

I would match your H360 with another Hegel cd player for synergy.
I look forward in reading about the direction (cd player) you take.

Happy Listening!
millercarbon  I got vinyl covered.  And after talking with Keith Herron I jumped on the  VTPH-2A bandwagon.  ;-)
The Hegel, Bryston, and Marantz will all be good, but will have different sonic presentations.

The BCD-3 will be strictly neutral.  Never heard the Mohican but odds are it will be close.  The Marantz will be a little warmer.  A lot of Audiogon members rate it very highly (check the threads).  I own the Bryston and use it in my second system.  I wanted something a little warmer and got a Luxman.
@twoleftears What Luxman do you have?   I'm looking hard at the Marantz at this point.  Reviews are reviews; and marketing is marketing, but the description of how the Marantz was voiced sounds just like what I'm looking for.   Mohican reviews as neutral and more analogish, relative to the Bryston being more neutral.  
Yeah I got your msg, thanks, and congratulations. That's one fine phono stage. Sounds great right out of the box, and then gets a whole lot better over the next month or so. Enjoy and let us know how it goes!
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sumadoggie

 

An update- which Player did you purchase?

 

Happy Listening!