Best CD player now made.

I have listened to many one box units and have to agree it all comes down to the other stuff in your rig. After auditioning players from Proceed, Audio Research, Krell, CAL, Cary, and Sonic Frontiers, I bought the Sonic SFCD-1. It may not be everyones fav but, I and my wife and everybody else that we have let borrow it all say the same thing... it's awesome. And for about $1500 used I'm not sure you can do much better. The Proceed can be had new for $2000 but all truth be told in my current system I could not tell much of a difference between it and my previous player the marantz cd67se (although it was modified) Anyway, that's my take.

What's the deal with guys using the names of women as their member names. Seems like they'd have identity "issues"...that's my take...no offense, I guess, whatever floats your boat.

Of course the Linn is rated the best in stereophile, and is a wonderful machine. At 20K very little of the audio community will spend this. I recently puchased a CD player. I auditioned accuphase,Sim Moon Eclipse, Theta and BOW. The Sim Moon Eclipse was very good, but was a little bright and sibilant. At 5k I expected more of an improvement over my old Theta ( I listened to Sim Moon in my home for over a week). The accuphase was a little laid back and too polite(listened in a friends home.It did not sound good with HDCD's). Then I bought a Bow technologies ZZ-8! absolutely wonderful. I have never had one piece of equipment make such a temendous difference in soundstage and detail- and the bass is increadable! This player is $7500 and hard to find in the states. I placed an wanted ad and bought one for $3000. I know where one is for $2800. If you are Interested. Mike Thiel

Linn CD

Wadia 270/27ix using Aura Symphoin Optimism glass for clock link and Transparent REF Digital for signal path, as well as the Wadia Power DAC using the same cableing with 270 transport, or the Linn Sondek CD12. All others are not even close with exception of top Naim with out board power supply (close but not quite, but for the cost it is worth a lsiten), then the top meridian is also worth a listend for the money but still not up to the top three. Sony SACD, close when playing the SACD's but no titles available and will never fly (FACT). Also when listening and comparing the CD12, use a referance preamp, not a mid line preamp, these preamps will not be true referance comparisons as well as using top end cables over mid line which tend to be colored cables. When it is all said and done, most likely the Linn CD12 will come out on top along with Wadia. The Krell's Top CD/Pre?, not even close in my opinion, and any Japanese brand can not even touch the knees let alone the shoulders of the referance CD players listed, I owned the Denon DPS1 ($8K) what a joke, Sony's top X7 (almost comical in comparison), CEC TL0 MKII (No way, very similar sonic signature as the Denon DP-S1) and can give it away for 30% of retail. But we all have different ears enjoy your search as I have been through everything just listed and more to come up with my top three picks.