2. misc-audio
  3. 157212-75156

CD Transports

Greetings. I am setting up a second system for the basement and am using a 1978 Sherwood receiver. At first I was going to just use the turntable with it and play the tuner occasionally but then thought I'd like to play some CDs. In my main system I have a Rega Apollo R hooked up to an Exogal Comet/Ion. Clearly I don't need the DAC in the Rega so I reasoned that it may be better to transfer the unit to the basement and get a transport, namely the Cambridge Audio CXC, for the upstairs primo set-up. Does that sound reasonable? The CD format is moribund so I don't see the point of getting a top dollar one--most of my CDs are ripped on the laptop and I just kept some rare European favorites. I was also tempted to buy a 1995 Marantz CC 45 5-CD player for the basement, but it is probably not such a great performer. Do I reason correctly that the CXC is my best option? I think the DAC in their Topaz player is not as good but that sounds like a decent player too. Thanks for advice. rt
rtorchia

Showing 4 responses by rtorchia

rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
138 posts
 
Thanks so much for all the advice. The Cambridge Audio still looks good but there seem to be reliability issues. If I get a refurbished one possibly it had its problems and is fixed. I am leaning to the Audiolab and the Marantz HD cd1 so things are narrowed down. Kennyc, that was quite a fine list of alternatives! Jchiappinelli, all of your points are well taken and those are all important considerations; I have zero toleration for flimsy and poorly laid out stuff. I should have said from the outset that I have been delighted with the Rega Apollo R. You guys are great. 
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
138 posts
 
Audiolab CDT it is. The Marantz HD was tempting but why get the DAC when I'm fine with the Exogal Comet? The CXC is probably fine but too many issues for some. I like the idea that the CDT is simple, stripped down to basics and apparently sounds great.

For the record the Sherwood didn't work out for my second system so I ended up with Adcom GFA 545 II amp and GFP 565 preamp, for which I will use the Rega Apollo R. It wasn't worth having the tuner because I can't get the single jazz/classical station in my rural area without some big antenna. To me streaming kills FM but those old receivers are very cool.

Thanks all! rt
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
138 posts
 
For the record I did get the Marantz CC 45 5-CD player from 1995 to hold me over. It has Philips components and sounds great and cost me $50. I know 5-CD tray machines are anathema to audiophiles but they are very convenient, especially if you like Wagner operas. 
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
138 posts
 
Just to clarify, isn't it so that the new DACs are vastly superior to what they put in the older CD machines? Thus it makes best sense to get a transport because one is usually bypassing the built-in DAC on older players. So some older players may have excellent DACs but they can't measure up to something such as what I use, the Exogal Comet. To me that't the big advantage of the Audiolab--I'm getting a great transport and not paying for some internal component I don't need and will never use. Of course I do like vintage components and wouldn't hesitate to get one of the older CDPs for an early system, but that is a non-performance issue. 
More to discover