2. digital
  3. 125418-10084

Budget CD player with USB input

I'm looking to put together a small system which will at times be used by my daughter when she practices music.  I need a CD player that has a USB input, but I'm looking to keep the cost low and the sound quality of the analog output high.

I'm not looking for anything ridiculous, something like NAD, Marantz, Rotel, etc.  Ideally $400 or less, and less is better.  Any thoughts?
ja2austintx

Showing 2 responses by chrisr

chrisr's avatar
chrisr
543 posts
 
second the Yamaha.  I have bought a bd-s677 (blu-ray, dsd, usb, wifi, $250) and I was more than impressed.  The sound in direct comparison with my msb dac (link iii) was much much better, better imaging, more natural.
The Japanese have been back in the mid-fi/hi-fi for some time.
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
543 posts
 
5 years ago, i compared NAD 315, Marantz 5004, and Marantz 8004.

I kept the NAD because it is punchy and lively with budget bookshelves (b&w 601 in my case)at low to moderate volumes, and I kept the Marantz 8004 because the midrange is superb, and because it is slightly on the warm side of neutral and powerful enough to drive speakers (rega rs-5 in my case) at more than moderate levels without compression or distortion.
The 5004 was not powerful enough and not lively at all (power supply is not a toroidal)

Now, I do question the reliability of the NAD (cracking volume controls very early with mine, and it does release "POPs" now).
The marantz built quality is second to none.
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