CD Player Recommendations…

Another vote for Marantz 6007 cant fault it for the price, read the reviews. https://www.whathifi.com/au/reviews/marantz-cd6007

@jsbach1685
I have a similar amplifier, Musical Fidelity A300 paired with a forward sounding set of B&W 805 Matrix.  I have used a Meridian 508 (20bit) unit in the past and it was very good -smooth and full bodied bass. But I didn't enjoy how finicky it was playing some CD-Rs.  Eventually sold the 508.  

I then came across a Meridian 596 DVD player, my plan was to use it as a transport with my Chord DAC.  To my surprise, the Meridian 596 as a Red Book CD player was better sounding than my previous 508. I was even more surprised, when the 596 as a stand-alone sounded better than when hooked up to my Chord DAC. I now only use the DAC when streaming. The Meridian 596 is my dedicated stand- alone CD player.

Compared to my 508, the 596 is more detailed without sounding forward or fatiguing.  508 had more bloom and smoothness at the expense of detail.  The 596 has both, smoothness and detail.  Also the imaging is significantly better on the 596. More believable, precise imaging and also more expansive sound stage when the the recording calls for it. Classical piano (when recorded well) and orchestral music sound especially great.

Long story short.  Meridian 596 is a killer, under the radar, stand alone CD player. Better than a 508 (at least in my system) and can more than hold it's own against modern DACs.  Also will play anything you throw into it. The only downside, no balanced outs, only RCAs for analog.-Sean

Arcam.

Orfeo - if I stay with Meridian for a CD player, it would be something in the 5 series to match my 551 integrated and 504 tuner.

dabel - Gene, I’m very seriously considering a Cambridge CXC right now

sbaik - Sean, interesting commentary on the Meridian gear, thank you. I have read that the 506.24 is better than the 507 as well. All of the Meridian 5 series stuff is expensive. In some respects, it seems like you are paying for the sleek look of this gear, in the same way you are paying for the sleek look of Bang & Olufsen gear, albeit way better.

My Meridian 551 is nice but not any better than my Linn Majik I. Seems for the money, with the Cambridge CXC & a good DAC, I could probably do as good if not way better than a Meridian 596 at significantly less cost and would just have 2 pieces of mismatched gear than the aesthetics of 3 matching Meridian pieces, unless I were to get a Meridian 5 series DAC with the CXC.

I must admit, I do like the simplicity of a one unit cd/dvd player though, and in that scenario, I would still need a DAC for my Node 2i.

In the end, the Azur 840C solved everything with its Dual internal DAC inputs on the rear… decisions, decisions :)

I love my Rega Apollo. Smooth sounding, for sure. A little over a grand but I am real happy with it. Fun to use, too.