Entry level CDP

Garn509

Those are some mighty ponderous and indefinite questions. Doubtful anyone can fully give a for sure answer given the way you prefaced them.

Which is better? Which one will last for years going forward?

Beats me. I’ll say Regga…. For no real good reason either. Just a shot in the dark… and as that’s exactly what you’ll be doing regardless of what is said here.

Being more pragmatic I’d say either of the 3.

Typically CDPs lasers last 4-7 years of normal operation and there are always exceptions to that rule in both directions.

As a source unit is mighty important, but not the only reason a system will be better in one area or another, I’d not be terribly worried on the pick here. I’d not think it the end of the line either. In the $500 area, and if it were the ONLY source unit, I’d think to get more flexibility and opt for a multiformat player, myself, like the Oppo BDP 83. Even one of the lesser priced Oppo units could be as good a solution.

From a grand to two grand, I’d look closely at the new Sony 5400? Or the Cambridge 840c and some others.

The digital surge is in full swing too, and server based HDD units are fast becoming great solutions affording users more versatility and variety while equaling or surpassing performance levels of many one box solutions.

I’d ask your questions of the sellers and add in their feedback section to gain more insight on those short list considerations you have available to you now.

Garn509

If as you say, there are two dealers in your area that together sell NAD, MH, and Marantz…

sheeshhh.

Ask to take one home for a weekend, provided it’s run in already, and see for yourself, then another, then another! Then buy one.

That dog probably ain’t going to hunt for you though, right? No home demos? No returns either?

Thems’ your options for first hand testing…. Or you can mule in your other pieces to the dealer and try that deal.

Uh oh… you wanna buy used, not new. Right? So OK… shoot me.

Then it’s just which type of chocolate you want.

As for multi format plaers mentioned here…. I have two. Both opo’s. just because they play more than SACD & CDs, doesn’t mean you have to put those types of discs into it. Nor does it mean that those disc players which play ONLY CD & or SACD, are better.

I had a $3K Sony CDP a while back. Got the $175 oppo. The Sony was better indeed. How much? Not a lot. New tech? probably. The 980 oppo came likely to about 85% maybe 90% of the Sony’s performance level…. Give or take a tad.

Build quality? Sony. Hands down! Quality pieces do last and are great means to ends. Digital changes mighty fast though.

I’d take that $300 and get a used 980 for about $100. Save up another couple bills and find me a Bel Canto DAC 1 or the like and do it.

For a vivid CDP… a strong voiced box, Sony is really tuff to beat. I’ve read here though that the Regga’s are strong, NAD to me is simply a value item with performance over it’s head usually. An over achiever. Marantz might be the more polite sounding of the bunch. Music hall?? Beats me completely, I’m no help there.

If you’ve a NAD INT… GET THE NAD. IF NOT, GET THE LATEST VER OF THE REGGA.

When ya find out you don’t like which ever, sell it and buy the other one and increase your feedback in the doing!

That was easy huh?

look here...

http://www.avguide.com/buyers-guide/the-absolute-soundhi-fi-guide-disc-players-dacs-music-servers

should help confuse things a bit more.