Considering getting a CD player (again). Used? New? Criteria?


After years without one, I'm considering getting a CD player. I'm not against streaming, but I have many CD's and would like the simplicity of just playing them from time to time. I probably want to cap my expenditure at $700, or so, because this won't be the only way I play music.

A few questions:
If you've purchased a new CD player, what did you buy? Why?
If you've purchased a used player, how old is too old? What factors helped you choose?

My concern with used is that the transport mechanism of older players will be getting tired, and this won't be knowable just because a unit "checks out" with the site (or individual) testifying to the player's working condition. There's got to be an average point for many machines to give up the ghost, mechanically (varying from machine to machine, of course).
hilde45

Showing 1 response by kacomess

I have read two very favorable "Stereophile" reviews of the Rega Apollo CD player (the original and the revised version) though I've not heard one myself. According to the 2018 review, the transport (Sanyo, if I recall correctly) is still in production and is used by several manufacturers. The Rega rep who was interviewed for the article stated that Rega has a large number of replacement drives in stock and these are available for future repairs. What wasn't mentioned though was the repair cost. That unit is about $1000.