CD player finally died. Need rec.


Help!!! My Sonagraphe CD player has finally expired. It gave me over 6 years of great sound, but it has now been silenced. I want to replace it with a DVD/CD player, but, I don't know of any that are Reference quality at a good deal. On the other hand, should I stick with CD only for now??? Please help!!! I want to buy today.
bday0000
I was able to bring home the demo unit for a couple of days. It sounds awesome!!! The image is like a living thing, or looking at a landscape. The new-in-the-box unit will be hooked up today. I'm sure it will need to burn-in, but I know what to expect. Thanks once again, everyone!!!
GREAT CHOICE with the PLANET!!! I'm not going to get all caught up in the digital war.You bought a great C.D. player.Stereophile CLASS B and an awesome looking unit.How does it sound? You are most of the way there for under $800.00. Happy listening!
Thanks for all the great info and humor!!! David99's comments were helpful, I might add. For those of you keeping score at home, I have added a beautiful new Rega Planet to my current set up (BK ST1400 amp and a conrad johnson PV10A preamp, with Alon 1 speakers and Tara cables). In the future, I will probably upgrade to a nice transport and outboard DAC (when the format wars are over). Thanks again, everyone!!!!
Buy another Sonographe. You can pick them up at used stereo stores for $150. I have had one of the SD-1 alphas for years. They were simple 14 bit players with Conrad Johnson high quality analog sections. I recently bought a Wadia 830 and Sony XA7ES to compare to it. They are both better, but not by much. A little more detail and bass, but not nearly the improvement per dollar that I saw with other componentry. Besides, that's the same CD player Leonard Bernstein owned (saw him in a home interview once). If you want something modern, the I have been impressed with the Denon 1650 (900 new), the Adcom GCD-750 (1150 new), and the Sony XA7ES (2300 new). I think the adcom is the best buy of the bunch.
The MUSE MODEL EIGHT DVD/CD TRANSPORT & 296 DVD/CD PROCESSOR Combo, capable of handling the 24-bit/96kHz format is, at the very least, a EXCELLENT choice and further considered by most the best. - BAR NONE-. Perhaps and even better choice initially however, would be the new MUSE MODEL NINE CD/DVD PLAYER, the one box answer to the 8/296 combo. The NINE, like the EIGHT & TWO NINETY SIX, is based on DVD technology, and is capable of playing 8 & 12 cm versions of CD, DVD VIDEO & AAD's (ADVANCED AUDIO DISC) formats now available. The NINE comes in at $3,250.00 (half the cost of the 8/296 combo at $6,750) and I've been told, due to it's modular design, can be readily converted to the EIGHT Transport at a later date. This option certainly provides the flexibility of staging up to the more expensive pair, should you so decide, when the budget allows. I certainly can't justify buying ANY high quality CD-ONLY playback gear, now that this technology is available. With either the 8/296 transport combo or the single box NINE Player, you would then have the gear capable of functioning as your premiere signal source in BOTH your Audio & Video systems. If you don't subscribe to Stereophile Magazine, pick up the APRIL 99 Stereophile Recommended Component issue(Vol.22 NO4) if you possibly can. That issue has an extensive review that you will find very informative. Also same issue has interview with the MUSE Designer (MUSING ON 24/96) I know you would appreciate reading as well.
Sorry you felt it necessary to complain about me to the man. You'll notice I'll be scaling myself down from now on, so as to fit on this site and its regulations.
I recently purchased the Muse 8 DVD for a transport and the Bel Canto DAC and was floored at how good the sound is after break-in. I now realise how awful my Linn karik and numerik sounded. You must let digital equipment break-in for at least 100 hours. Most people expect quality sound as soon as they open the box thats why you see all this equipment for sale only after being purchased for a few weeks.
That was pretty good carl about "david2000". Sometimes you crack me up. How about you keep putting energy in being funny and not stubborn? (please take that as lightly as it was meant to be).
I have had wonderful sound from my Audiolab 8000 CD player. This is the all-in-one unit. Check the reviews and try to audition one. Your ears will tell you what to get.
Gee, everybody's gone ape$#!+ in this thread the last couple of days! HERE'S MY LONG AND BORING PHILOSOPHY (heh heh): It's almost impossible to get truely highend sound from CD if you're spending less than $1000 on a player (DVD or CD). I'M GLAD "DRUMSGREG" IS CONSIDERING A CD50. He won't be disappointed. I agree with "David99" (except he needs to change his name to "David2000", or "00", heh heh). Below $1000 or so, vinyl will beat CD BY QUITE A BIT. But the perentage of the total potential of each format is more or less the same in the $1000 to $4000 range (which means vinyl of course still beats CD, but by not quite as wide a margin). I AGREE IT CAN BE A PAIN TO DO THE BLACK DISC RITUAL SOMETIMES, that's why I enjoy both CD and LP...I THOUGHT A GREAT MANY OF US DID/DO...And in 5 or 10 years, we'll all be enjoying CD, LP, and additionally whatever high rez digital format takes off by then. ALL THAT SAID, the new affordable upsampling DACS from Perpetual technologies, MSB, and Bel Canto SHOULD DEFINITELY HOLD ALL OF OUR ATTENTION, WHERE QUALITY AFFORDABLE CD PLAYBACK IS CONCERNED...
To increase sound stage from digital source, get another amp and a pair of speakers that have opposite charateristics from ur existing speakers.
Bday, forget the LP.....Right LP equipments are even tougher than taking care of a one year boy. Stcik with CDs. U probably are not do or dier insane audio critic. My suggest is to get a NEW CD player. Amps, Pres or speakers, u can get it used and it is OK..A CD players get it new. Not only is there upgrades in tech but also there are too many parts that can be worn or "go old" in a CD player. If u are an average listener go try Rega, Acram, Cal Labs, adcom, sony etc..Go try DVD player...I bought a cheap Toshiba DVD player and it does not sound that bad at all. It sounds bit bright and the sounds are bit closed in. Well it does not cost 3000.00. U just got to decide how much u are willing put out for a CD player. From previous experience, I would go the Denon, Cal Lab, sony or Adcom around 1000.00
Check out CAL LABS CL -20 or the ARCAM 9 or the RESOLUTION AUDIO CD-50,I`am looking to upgrade myself to one of these and a NEW turntable too,don`t know what to get yet as far as turntable, but I`am sure I`ll get plenty of help here from my hard nose LP buds when I ask!!!!!! Greg
I bet your sorry you posted a question on this site by now.You did not mention any of the other componets that make up your system. In my opinion is a balance factor when matching a piece to a system, no matter if its a replacement to an addition. Also what type of music do you listen to most of the time? What type of sonic quailities are you looking for? Find yourself a few good dealers and let your ears decide. Good luck........
You might want to check out the Muse seperates, I have heard that they are awesome and are great on CDs. The Meridian 508.24 is really nice for a CD player also. I think analog sounds better too, but what are you gonna do if you can't get what you want on LP, miss out on some great music so that you can stand firm on analog ground, not me. Good luck, Ryan
If you're just looking for a recommendation rather than a philosophy, I will tell you that I am very happy with my CAL Audio CL-10. I think that the CL-20 plays CDs and DVDs.
I agree with David. There's no way a cd can sound superior to a lp. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can get a decent used LINN LP 12 with ITTOK arm for about a grand. If you really need to buy a cd player, I wouldn't buy a dvd for that purpose. In the $500 price range, you should consider a used rega planet, a cambridge cd-4se or even a ah! tjoeb 99. Happy listening. carlos
Bday,Its obvious you haven't heard an even modest analog set up compared to a digital source.Nor did you read the post I mentioned to you.If you had done either you wouldnt have responded the way you did.Circuit City has a C.D.player right up your alley!! Happy Listening!!
Brad,I am sorry for not being more helpful,thats why were here.I also dont mean to dominate your posting.If I were to buy a C.D.player I would get a REGA PLANET used on this site for under $500.00 I think I saw one for that price.I have no clue about a DVD player.Analog is not for everyone.There is much more work,care and tweaking involved and it can be a pain in the ass.Right,Carl?
Carl,If people want the best sound they can afford why are they so narrow minded? If I went to Digital I would have to pay 3-4 times what I have invested in analog and then probably be disappointed.I finally broke down and bought 2 new C.D.s yesterday because I recieved a gift certificate from a C.D. only store.I am so used to the superior sound of analog honestly,I dont know if I can even enjoy these C.D.s The sound stage shrunk,in my face,bright,lack of air,3-D gone!! C.D.s NO WAY!!
Carl,If people want the best sound they can afford why are they so narrow minded? If I went to Digital I would have to pay 3-4 times what I have invested in analog and then probably be disappointed.I finally broke down and bought 2 new C.D.s yesterday because I recieved a gift certificate from a C.D. only store.I am so used to the superior sound of analog honestly,I dont know if I can even enjoy these C.D.s The sound stage shrunk,in my face,bright,lack of air,3-D gone!! C.D.s NO WAY!!
Bday,Its obvious you haven't heard an even modest analog set up compared to a digital source.Nor did you read the post I mentioned to you.If you had done either you wouldnt have responded the way you did.Circuit City has a C.D.player right up your alley!! Happy Listening!!
If I were you I would go a totally different route.GO ANALOG!! You dont know what your missing.Read the posting SACD vs CD vs DVD vs LP
There are quite a few good DVD players out there that can handle CD"S pretty good. With the options of digital outputs on most all of them it gives you future options of getting a better DAC for it on CD playback while you enjoy the great entertainment of the DVD. Sony 7000, CAl Audio, Meridian, Mcintosh all make great DVD players that can produce good CD playback as is - in fact even lower end models can handle it all. Buy something decent and enjoy the DVD element and be oK with the CD area until other companies come out with a more versatile high quality unit that handles DVD, DVD-A, CD, CD-R, CD-RW and Super CD. When that happens just move the for time-being unit to a secondary entertainment area. It is impossible to go without anything for very long. I do not know what your budget is but use your eyes and ears to make your decision. Happy listening and viewing.