Is it worth upgrading a CD player?

Yes, my pre-amp/phono pre are custom built in an industrial (non-audiophile) box. The builder used soft spiked feet. It resulted in vocals having a covered sound, light a blanket. I already owned two of his pre-amp only units in 2000 and his phono stage. Those chassis were audio build type. So, I tried everything from Magico Qpods (the worst, dark, slow and muddy) to Isoblocks, to original and Ultra mini Stillpoints. Ginkgo, Herbies, Isoacoustics, tungsten carbon balls, etc. I stuck with the Ultra SS as the best for that unit through the years.   That pre-amp sounds better than an EAR 912 which is saying a lot for something handbuilt back in 2000.  It uses 6 subminiature tubes in the pre-amp and 8 in the phono stage.  All voltage regulated.  

Depends on what you have for a player now. My current player is a Cary Audio CDP-1. Ive had it for maybe three years. I took home a Marantz CD60, and burned it in for 72 hours. I didn't like it. I don't know why, but it left me unsettled. Next came a Rotel RCD-1572 MKll. After a 50 hour burn in this is a keeper for sure. This was a substantial upgrade from the Cary. Good luck!

I've owned the Jay's Audio MK3-CDT3 for about 4 months now. It is amazing. However, Qobuz on my English Electric Network Switch to my Aurender W20SE most often sounds superior than the Jay's flagship CD transport. Investing in an ultimate streaming setup is wiser than an ultimate CD setup. I have both, but if I could choose one, it'd be streaming by far. That's just from my own experiences in my own HiFi glory life. Happy CDing.

If your dead set on dumping,thousands on a,cd player, jump on a Bryston

enjoy

fleschler

PM sent.  Season's Greetings!

Happy Listening!

fleschler

2nd Note;

whom modded your Kyocera 310x CD player?

Happy Listening!

OK here is my take based upon my experience.  An Agon member sent me his Cary 306 SACD player to perform upgrades.  TO put this in perspective, my company manufacturers our own audio components.  We also have been repairing, upgrading, modifying audio components for over 20 + years.

So we get a Cary 306 SACD in for upgrades.  In stock form, it is rally nothing special.  So we replace the laser, upgraded the Opamps, and replace 100 parts in the power supply section.  Then nothing but awesome sound.  We were completely in awe of the transformation.  We are tube guys but we were so impressed that we may built a SS DAC based upon the results.  Now understand that we have heard almost every transport and DAC available.  So we are very experienced with everything mentioned above.  One note, using my Metronome CDP as a transport into the Cary's DAC, was also an improvement.  

So to answer your question, yes, upgrade your CDP.

Happy Listening.

I is amazing to me how popular streaming is today. I have a very simple 2 source system. I have a Rega elex-r integrated all analog amp. I have a P3 modified with all 3 groovetracer upgrades and a Rega exact 2 mm cart. My other source is a 2017 Rega Apollo used as transport and connected by Kimber $390 rca digital cable to a Rega dac r(last dac they produced, I believe they ended production in 2015? I have all Kimber cable for different needs. I get so much enjoyment from this system I am done. My loudspeakers are Meadowlark audio swift floorstanders. They have vifa drivers. 1” silk dome tweeter and 5 1/4 woofer. They are a true transmission line design. I have had them since 2002. They are immaculate and musically very satisfying. Glad that is out of the way. Ok. I cannot understand how so many people are throwing money away on a predominantly streaming based system. I would love to have access to Tidal and Quobuz, but the majority of posts I read suggest today they are spending at or over $10,000 on their streamer, their dac and linear power supplies, etc. They are throwing their money into a bottomless pit. And setting up a streaming system has so many hardware and software issues to contend with. And most listen to red book cd quality as the predominant format. I can understand wanting to try out MQA or DSD, but they are listening to some average sounding formats and I guarantee you that my humble $1700 digital front end sounds as good or better than their streamer. Am I missing something. I am a little new to streaming but I have been into this hobby for over 30 years. I like Aurender a lot. I would never invest in such a high cost fad. And I have not even gotten into all of the software issues when pairing this gear. Maybe I am missing something? Someone have another way of looking at this way too complicated and expensive fad. Thanks.

@walkenfan2013

I really like the Meadowlarks… great speakers. You have done a great job of putting together an enjoyable system.

However, you have streaming all wrong. While in your price range vinyl is likely to be the low cost solution. Streaming is not a fad… it is the future, period. physical media will be relegated to niche over time. Those that love nostalgia will stay in.

While getting a satisfying streaming system in the budget categories can cost more than vinyl… say a 25% premium… as you move up in sound quality the difference disappears. In my system, my digital and analog ends cost the same and sound about the same. I listen to my streamer about 95% of the time. You can see my systems under my UserID.

You do not need to spend $10K to get streaming leg that equals your vinyl. But if you do, the cost of music virtually disappears… $12.99 / month for access to millions of albums. This fundamentally changes the pursuit. You can get a $1K Streamer and $2K DAC that is likely to give your vinyl rig a run for its money and show why it is the future. 

bigkidz

Thank You for keeping the cd player Flame burning!

Season's Greetings!

bigkidz

What is your Professional opinion on E.A.R. (Yoshindo) cd players?

Have you restored any iterations of the Acute(I, II, II)/Classic models?

Happy Listening!

Acute (I,II,III) : Corrected.

Hell yes it is! I still use my elite dv-79avi, until it dies, she is my go to player!

maybe even has more detail than the Mccormack UDP -1

wanna know what chaps my a$$, the money,we spend on a,high quality CDs player, and some (me) have had horrible luck with CD players.

Acurus and-11

onkyo dx-7500

andma few elite dv spinners.

the 12 $ ac delco CD player in my truck,is,from 07-08, dust dirt, exploding v8 cans, slurpees from kids,, moisture, dry, hot as hell in summer w windows rolled up, parked outside up to -10 after about 10-15 below or lower, won’t start, but after all the grit, sand, dust, kids shoving crap in the slot, sometimes won’t even eject, but damn thing always does, it’s a cheap ac delco stock player, after all the years, filth, etc etc, I put in a cd p layer, and it plays just fine,……….yet we spend hundreds, some thousands on a good CD player, and after a year or so, tray slows, laser goes bad, buttons,don’t work properly, skips with no warning, yet this cruddy 12 $ ac delco still works,…..anyone see the problem here?

500-7 thousand on a good player, they always go awry it seems, 

maybe I will just buy a remote for the PlayStation 1 and use it when the dv-79 pees up a rope. 
 

sick of the absolute shoddy quality of some home audio, not made the same, that,Acurus and Onkyo were damn good players, but eventually started the mindless skipping, so grabbed the adjustable and pliers, flathead and a hammer, as I had to get my Bathory first press ….the return….f darkness and evil cd out when the drawer jammed closed 

@arcticdeth 

What was that old old song from 1963? Jimmy Soul

If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife