Attn Vinyl lovers - what CD Player do you use?

@akg_ca - I would love to hear the Rega Isis Valve, however it's WAY out of my price range. I have the Rega Saturn-R which I think is very good, especially at the used price. If the Isis Valve is the same house sound, but just a bit better across the spectrum, I'm sure its a sonic marvel....

BTW, for anyone interested, the Rega Saturn-R is a CD transport/player/DAC all in one very nice chassis. It's a great CD player and transport. It also has a very competent DAC which I use mostly for internet radio (Radio Paradise) and for bit perfect output from an iPod and iPhone through a NuForce iDo. Very nice.......

I just focus on a minimal setup, TT is my only source in my critical listening room.

I’m using the Schiit Gungnir Multibit DAC with an Oppo 105D transport.
excellent in every respect, but doesn’t capture the spatial element that my analog setup does.

California audio labs icon mark ii. Oldie but very musical

Yamaha CD-S2100 SACD/CD.  I run it balanced and also through my DAC.  to be honest, I can't tell the difference between running through DAC.

Well in our home we have enjoyed listening too and collecting vinyl over many years however we have now arrived at a decision to move on from vinyl playback all together.
A purchase of PS Audios Direct Stream Memory Player and Dac have changed all this.
To begin with sound quality from a standard cd is riveting edging out our EMM Labs player and Dac including our vinyl front end by a good mile .

Cambridge CXC  w/Wyred4Sound DAC1v2 .

I never made the jump. But looking at options to play Redbook now, only because some of the records I'm chasing are beyond expensive- 3 and 4 figures. No legit vinyl reissue, or mediocre reissue. But older, some from the tape CDs legitimately released back in the day.
I'm considering a basic transport and looking at a cost effective ladder DAC, no oversampling, tube rectification is fine, no additional analog filtering. 
I'm not really interested in setting up a network, or streaming or DSD. Just the ability to access some relatively obscure recordings for which legit CDs were made, once upon a time. 
For me to set up a serious digital front end comparable to my vinyl front end would be very costly, and it seems favored DACs are changing rapidly. (I also have quite a collection of CDs that were acquired while I worked on the edge of the industry as a lawyer or bought them for use in a car or on a background system for dining/living area of various houses). So, I'm not starting from scratch on the "software" side. 

I'm in a dilemma. I have a lot of music on my PC (redbook and high-resoIution). I normally load an album by connecting to the PC using a VNC client on my phone. I have very few SACDs, but a lot of DSD files that I can play from my PC. If you had the money for either the Marantz SA-10 or the Aurender A10, which one would you buy? The Aurender definitely wins in convenience: I would only need to buy an iPad and then I could play everything using the Conductor app. On the other hand, I hear amazing things about the reproduction quality of the Marantz, and although I have already ripped all of my music onto my hard drive, the Marantz can also be used as a DAC via USB (but without a proper control app). The disc reader is nice and a lot of thought has gone into it, as far as I understood from the reviews, but I am afraid that the future will not in physical discs (especially since the Marantz cannot play multi-channel recordings).
Any opinions are welcome.

I have an Oppo 103 but never use it for redbook. Only HT Video. I use to. But after much experimentation I discovered ripping CDs using db Poweramp to lossless FLAC. Then playing back the files using a PC running JRIver fed through USB to an outboard DAC made even a player as good as the OPPO sound bad. Even when I ran the Oppo through the same outboard DAC.

phillyb,

Just listened to Sgt. Peppers 50th on vinyl. You were right. Will listen to the alternate takes when I get home from another follow up with the Surgeon.
Well worth having this 50th anniversary issue.
Your advice is solid.

Thanks
Norbert

I use the Modwright modified Marantz player. I like the modifications and performance Dan can get.

Musical Fidelity M1 CDT transport, Pagoda balanced dac.

REGA ISIS valve....

Anyone own a Hegel cd player?

Don't use a CD player as such. 

I have a multi-format Pioneer DVD player, which handles SACD, DVD-A and the odd CD here and there, but generally speaking, the CDs (which have all been ripped) are played back through Squeezebox Touches from the files. 

Jafant, I have not. I own a Esoteric K01 so I am not searching for a new player, if I was and for the money my money would go to the Marantz. They are and have always been great sounding, dependable and well made and if a audiophile small company built it cost 3 times more. 

I use a Prima Luna CD-8 (with upgraded NOS tubes). While I can't claim to be an expert on all the gear that's out there, this one was by far the most analog-sounding player I've come across in its price range ($3K). 

Have you auditioned the SA-10 phillyb?

Happy Listening!

PS Audio DMP and D'S JR

I have owned all Marantz reference players and all have been superb. The SA 10 will join that great group. This one with advances and design. 

Has anyone auditioned the new Marantz SA-10 ?

I had a modded Shanling T-80 CDP (tubes, opamps and capacitors) that sounded very close to vinyl.

I now use an Esoteric DV-50S that, while not as warm-sounding as the Shanling, is much more detailed.

Cayin CD-50T

Rega Apollo R

phillyb,

Lived in Juneau, AK. Quiet place in winter; especially 40mi out the road. Heard a noise, more that I felt something. Investigated outside. Nothing I could identify. Over and hour and I heard/felt it even more. About 1/2 hr later the sound/vibration increased. Staying at a wilderness lodge.sitting in the big room w/ windows that looked out to the ocean. Then saw the running lights
on the Alaska Marine Feery coming from 90ml north out of Haines. 
This incident made me realize low freq. / bass was a powerful force.
When we got home; I put the TT around the corner, away from direct sound.Better Everything!!
Dealers setup for convenience. You don't know their system or Room. Pay attention to detail/ setup. Even the best racks , TTs, floor, walls dance to the tune.
We spend so much on isolation devices. Out of the room; spend the bucks on long ICs or SC less on a lot of vibration control that will vibrate if you like to RockOut once in awhile.

Your right to have the turntable outside of your playing area. Not many know what of the nice effects of a turntable is it picks up the vibes and room in the reproduction and that gives it a special sound. On a good system just have someone cover the table with a cover, have the music playing and then lift the cover off, you will hear and feel it. Gives vinyl an acoustic feedback so to speak, your hearing your room. The Telefunken label may be long gone but google it. Your system should be about the music not the format nor gear. Gain the experience and you will know when good is good and then sit back and enjoy. I am finding more and more with cables and their off the wall designs are hurting music. Simple solid designs will do the trick, audio jewelry is just that, looks at sky high prices. By the way keep in my it was the Master tapes used and the pressing and cutting of the disc that made the Stones sound so good. To this when ever I hear Sympathy For Devil I feel sad, it sounds like crap compared to the Telefunken DMM pressing.

phillyb, 

Exactly what I have been searching for; I hear the German label "Abraxas" is the one to have. Didn't know the label. Any other avenues to follow would be appreciated.
 I agree with your posts on analog and digital.
Play with gear of either but "Get Your Room Right" and "Dedicated"
Care in setup,dedicated ( No TV, HT, between the Speakers ) I am a fan of long ICs and TT out of the room. Classic Rock, some Jazz , tiny bit of Classical. I will look into the Marantz players ; the JVC will give up one day.

Thanks
nkonor

Nkonor,

I thought the British Blue Box was the best the Beatles sounded on vinyl. mobile Fidelity EQ them and I was not happy and really don't like a lot of their releases. Stones sounded better than any releases in Vinyl on the German Telefunken's label. In fact shocked me to hear them without all the reverb. Try to find original 1st pressings. They will always sound the best. 

Greg, i never enjoyed early Esoteric. The K series though really hit the mark. I will say best buy in a New CD player is Marantz Reference players, the new one is musical as the old one but more purity. I could live with any of them. The K01 is just more of everything. I like my vinyl and I like my digital I don't expect one to sound like other. When I read that crap in the magazines I laugh sounds more analog like, that is crap. Analog can sound many ways and as bright as a bad CD player or recording. Both formats you have to take care with setup, more electronics in a CD player so noise is a big thing like it is in preamps etc. Good power cords, great stand, clean your CD's and speaking that I've had many of the top ones and they made the sound different, some warmer to brighter. Go figure much like adjusting the VTA on a turntable go one way to far off it sounds bright, then the other was off to much bass. So much goes into your final sound like your room that any review is about worthless, you have to get the product in you own home, room and system. If people worked more on setup and their room they enjoy their system more. Sticking expensive speakers in corner or with gear and TV between them is a waste of money. Your audio system needs it own room and be dedicated to it and it alone. 

greginnh-

you have owned some very nice spinners. I was impressed w/ Esoteric for SACD playback only on the DV/SA 60 series.  Those spinners do not sound good (to my ears) on rbcd playback.

The K-01 / 01x  appears to be the sweet spot for Esoteric at that kind of price-point.  Most will stop there.  Looks like your journey has reached its peak, must be a good feeling.

Happy Listening!

gwalt-

the hope is that a company will come along and revamp the AA line.
A digital company from France would be the most logical step.

Happy Listening!

phillyb,

Will have to try your recommendation on the Sgt Peppers. I have a mint MFSL / UHQR that is superb. I wish MFSL would do their "One Step" process on it. The Santana "Abraxas" is really Superb. Waiting for "Bill Evans Trio"
I use a 26-27 yr old JVC CDP.

phillyb

This endless Digital vs. Analog is non stop. Having owned both I can say both can be excellent and bad. Much is in the mastering and recording quality to begin with. early digital was new so like early analog it had issues but those days are many years gone. You have digital with its power supply and output and DAC that gives you the final sound and they will give a signature like all electronics. Then analog has platter, arm, cartridge, and setup quality and each produce their own significant signature. The LP pressings sound different base on mother pressing used or backups, then who cuts the disc. Digital mastering used, tape quality and generation, care taken and who did the mastering. Both care must be taken and system matching and your room that impacts sound more that your gear. I keep reading the BS always pushed forth by phile and TAS where digital version sounded unlistenable while playing that CD I don't hear it. So it must be their system, or room. Can CD sound bad, yep, can a LP sound bad yep. The nice thing about vinyl is you can get the older pressing used and to me that was the intended sound that they worked on, with now the reissue of some they have messed with it, trying to make it better like they do in digital at times. I like neither. There was a golden age of recorded music mid 50's through mid 60's. Those recording sound real, great tone, color and body and guess what they sound as good on well mastered CD. Most rock acts 60's sounded bad on vinyl due to compression used and mixed for radio and not high end systems. So these same records will sound bad no matter the format. The great thing about digital and still today is the amount of recording available that you never find on LP's unless you for lucky at a garage sale and then if it was playable. I never purchased used LP' unless they looked mint as new and even then you find needle grove damage and noise. I enjoy them both and years of experience I know what to look for a both to give me a good idea to buy or not. My digital of choice as been Japanese because it is their design they invented and understand. My current and one I enjoy daily is the Esoteric K-01. This player gives it like the recording played. It can be tube warm or forward aggressive or dry based on the recordings. So that is a good thing. My vinyl can sound the same based on recording, VTA and phono preamp used and its settings. So care must be taken in all areas. I like the large LP covers, I like the feel of involvement, even the clicks and pops make vinyl what vinyl is. What I like about digital is that it is flat as in natural to the mastering, I would say more honest and if done with outstanding realism. But to get this you better clean your CD's take with set up and make sure your room is cared for and made for listening to a highend system. Most of all what I like is collecting physical music and streaming will never be some I would want to do. Though streaming of songs out sell by far LP and CD which still out sells LP's. What LP sales were in their prime out sold in a monthly what LP' today sell in a year. I am glad to see people playing their records again, but I also would say there is a lot of great music to be had on CD. So if you like to collect, enjoy listen to a whole recording and just you favorite tracks from streaming then keep supporting both formats. As boomers die sales will decline and even many like myself that own so much it getting harder and harder to find something I need or want to buy. I am not buying just to buy any longer, something as to be good and interesting to buy. The new Beatles 50th anniversary release coming and remixed will be worth it. Having heard cuts on other Beatles CD's these will tronce either the LP's and CD Sonic's. Its about time they started on this project, imaging and placement is superb and the brightness of many Beatle recordings will be helped. Now these LP' and CD's will be worth the cost. The Beatles recordings were not that well done, White Album was about the best if sonics are your priority, the mono's come no where near what America was doing sonically. Compare any 50's Mono's and late 50's stereo to any later rock recordings, they for the most part cannot touch the experts in recording that we had. So technology gives us the tools to improve and hopefully better mastering and remastering will continue to gives us better enjoyment of loved music and the upcoming Sgt. Pepper will be something to behold. 

I recently upgraded from my Luxman D-06U to an Esoteric K-03X and now to an Esoteric K-01X.   I am finally at the point where I do not even think about another upgrade.

Old MSB Link 3 with Burson Audio discrete Op amp upgrade. fed from various sources.

Agreed- reubent

the Saturn-R is very nice indeed.  Happy Listening!

Very nice! gwalt-

I have always wanted to demo the La Fontaine spinner. You are a lucky Man.

I use a Rega Saturn-R. It is a fine sounding CD player, built in the UK by a company who's primary business is Turntables. The Rega Saturn-R is actually a quality CD Transport, plus a multi-input DAC, built into one very heavy and rigid enclosure. It's a very elegant piece and it mates especially well with Rega's matching Rega Elicit-R integrated amp. Add a Rega TT and Rega speakers and you would have a very find sounding system, all from a single vendor.

Added an original Rega Planet and Cambridge Audio 651c to the mix.

I still like my Lindemann 825 and Audio Aero Lafontaine. Both get to the music in a realistic/emotional way. In other words, they draw you in and just sound right. I am really late at posting this but don't get to the forum party often.
I got to hear the AA against a computer/Lampizator dac with same recording burned to computer vs. CD and the player was more organic and real.

I use two vintage PLAYERS, JVC XL-Z1050 and MAGNAVOX CDB 473 with NOS.

I say focus on buying a good sounding DAC and using a decent CD player as a transport.  In my opinion (don't kill me guys), you don't need to spend too much money on an expensive CD player. :)  I'm getting excellent results using a OPPO BDT-101IC Blu-ray transport player (about $400 dollars) connected optical to my Ayre Codex DAC.  

All excellent spinners guys! Keep the suggestions flowing.

How do the Electrocompaniet CD/SACD players sound?

Musical Fidelity NuVista CD (the new one). Amazing sound, very analog sounding, resolving, detailed, warm, and beautiful. Also built like a tank. 

Simaudio Moon 650. Has a sound quality I like

Of my 7 players, the Unison Research CDE with optional Dac, is the one I go to most. It is the most "non-digital" sounding player I've heard. You can listen for hours with no fatigue. Really musically involving. Probably more reel to reel sounding than Vinyl. Gorgeous.

My next go to is the Vincent CD-S8, more dynamic than the CDE but not as smooth, a very "listenable" player as well.