Better CD Sound: The Search


Went Big into Vinyl last 2 years, then re-discovered my many CD’s, mixing it up plenty now.

I continue to try and find a CD Player with better sound than my existing cheapo Sony Changer that surprisingly keeps on keeping on.

I am hoping recent upgrades to the system will more readily reveal differences:

99.9999 copper speaker wires and interconnects, locking rca connectors, mx110z tube tuner/preamp overhaul by Audio Classics; cayin a88t bias by VAS; 16 ohm L-Pads replacing 8 ohm pots; and finally a I bought a sound meter to balance/refine the speaker’s L-Pads (it ain’t easy) for the best sound ever.
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CD Quest So Far:

I want dual processors, go used to keep cost down, even consider older vintage.

1. my Onkyo Grand Integra (DX-7500 I think), fixed the damn drawer opening problem several times.

2. This cheapo Sony Changer given to me, eh, use if for parties, why not.
surprisingly sounded as good as the Onkyo to me and friends, gave the annoying Onkyo away.

3. tried used Oppo 83 Video Player for it’s audio

Laser was weak, ’no disc’, found it is a common problem with heavily used lasers. Back it went

4. lightly used Oppo 105. Everything worked, but didn’t sound better than the Sony. Oppo is big, single, expensive, not sellers fault, so I sold it myself rather than return it, lost $205. on that attempt.

5. ’new original stock’ KLH (made by?). played a few discs, then the discs started mis-tracking on discs I know are ok.

found small black bits clinging to the surface in the area of the problems (cds play from the inside out, just guess how far out). Turned out, the belt(s) were dried out, thus when put into motion after years of storage (where?), they shed bits of rubber. Back it went, full refund including return shipping. never compared it to the Sony’s sound

6. Resolved: if vintage, make sure belts are available, get a low price, open it up when it arrives, watch it move ... use, replace belts, return as last choice.

7. Just Bought Two, in transit, One Single; One 6 Disc Changer. (both with oem remotes and power cords, most for sale are missing).

a. Denon DVD-2910 Single Player (big dent on the top. $52. del’d, eBay) (crutchfield keeps old info on their site)
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-6TIPMQKBMUZ/p_033DV2910B/Denon-DVD-2910-Black.html

b. Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 six disc changer (open box/demo) ($51. delivered) (bserplus.com)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_164CDC34/Integra-CDC-3-4.html

c. a bag of belts. because I will be keeping something, and I have other old stuff with belts
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334135204014

d. spare rare OEM remote for Integra 3.4, eBay

Keeping My Ears Crossed!

elliottbnewcombjr
If you already have a modern suitable dac buy a CD Transport.  I bought a Audiolab 6000 CDT and the Cambridge Audio CXC is also good. Tested both in store and in my system against CD players at least twice as expensive. Both were better IMO.
Denon has made some really great CD players over the years. You have to get their higher end lines though for them to really be high quality. A great CD/said player with 24 bit processing and amazon build quality is the Denon 3910. It’s maybe 15 years old, but was 1500 new then, and it can be found sometimes from $150-200 now. That player would destroy anything under $800 new today. Keep it simple buy a high end used CD player and rely on your preamp or the processing from the CD player for DA conversions. Don’t forget the high quality interconnects not came with my DVD player spares, yes it all makes a difference, some more than others but interconnects make a massive difference, if your downstream gear can reveal it.
I am using an Audiolab CDT6000 transport connected to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC and the sound is amazing! The Pontus which is an R2R ladder DAC has been a game changer for my system. The Pontus increased the soundstage, brought more airiness to the music and smoothed out much of the digital harshness associated with CDs. I have over 2.5k CDs so the Pontus was a great investment. I also run my Bluesound Node 2i streamer into the Pontus. I agree that having a great standalone DAC is an essential component for a digital system. The CDT6000 is also one of the more affordable CD transports currently available.
Yes to Denon. I’ve sold many over my audio sales days. And yes, definitely upper range for better, more natural sound. 
Currently auditioning an open-box Denon DCD-1600 - a pure CD/SACD player, no ins and outs, just a straight player with no frills. Retail of $1500. I found an open-box for $680, and it’s spotless.