C542 vs. C541i

Litsa123: Try DMC electronics. It may still have some in stock. You can search on the web for the phone number. It is in the Los Angeles area. I bought many things there and I couldn't have asked for better service.

By the way, I am not the owner or in anyway related to DMC electronics.

If you are looking for an NAD 541i, go to www.saturdayaudio.com, in Chicago. They have new ones full warranty for $299. I doubt you can beat the price. I bought one a month ago.

Now the real question is: is the 542 worth $150-200 more than the 541i? It wasn't for me.

Thanks I really do appreciate all the info. & I will definately give them a call.

Litsa ;-)

I found a C541i on the 'gon for $275 and bought it last month. It's a good CDP for the money. I have to say, that previously I owned a NAD C521BEE CD player for all of one week. I bought the BEE used for $175 from the classifieds here and when it arrived I was thrilled with the sound. So thrilled in fact that I decided to sell it on Ebay and upgrade to a C541i that showed up in the classifieds here a couple of days later.

The C521BEE sold easily on Ebay (for more than I paid for it) and the C541i is a good but subtle upgrade to the BEE. The C521BEE is an oft overlooked good deal CDP (lots for the money like the C320BEE integrated Amp)

The C541i has a bit more air around instruments, the ability to play HDCD (which it does very well, I think) and possibly a bit tighter bass response.

I haven't heard the C542. But I have heard two opinions: 1) that it's a very small subtle improvement and 2) that it's a huge improvement that has to be heard. I have no idea which of these is true.

I just purchased the C542 from American Theater, here at the audiogon brand new at a great price.
I just love it.

Litsa ;-)