Marantz CD6005,SA8004 or Oppo 105?

I personally wouldn't get anything that wasn't SACD capable. You may not care about the surround SACD option, but it would also increase your options going forward. I have a Pioneer Elite stereo SACD player that the few people that care seem to like. I also might steer away from Oppo simply because I like the idea of simplicity and not paying for features that you will never use. Often, there is more value in other products.

If you are just going to listen to CD's, I would try to find a used Rotel RCD-1072. They do come up for sale every so often, but you have to be fast because they sell almost immediately. Its just one of those components that they just got right.

Mceljo,

Why SACD? Its a great format but I don't see a lot of support for it. Are you able to find music that you really want to listen to? For me, I just accumulated a bunch of demo CD's that I used to test the format, but not much more.

If you look on Amazon you will see quite a few SACD options and in my experience they are almost always excellent recordings. It seems that if the goal was SACD then it makes sense to listen to it in that format. I also have a Sony blu-ray player that outputs stereo and surround DSD into my receiver and for some music surround really makes a huge difference for the positive. Stereo is better for the vast majority, but surround is the ticket for some recordings. SACD includes the surround as an option. Just recently I heard a positive improvement between Redbook and SACD, my integrated seemed to take my system to the point that the difference was real.

Klimt - If you haven't yet, check recent postings to a very old thread called, "The Best CD Player for the Money". Some interesting comments there from Mr.Tennis. See also his recent CDP reviews in Audiophilia.

Thanks for the responses. It seems like everyone is switching to music server based systems these days. Is that truly the trend and if so is the sound quality as good? And is it more or less expensive?

Thanks

I'm very interested in this feature of the Oppo. Can anyone tell me how their experience with it?

USB Asynchronous DAC – By bypassing the low fidelity, poor quality DAC of traditional computer soundcards, the BDP-105 turn any computer into a high performing multi-media source by converting digital audio to analog through the ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC. If your computer can play it, the BDP-105 can convert it to analog.

If playing higher resolution files via front load thumb drive is important to you the Marantz 6005 will not do higher resolution files via front load USB thumb drive. Brochure claims it will do 24/192 and we have tired numerous file formats of that same resolution and it does not. Called Marantz support - they cannot confirm that the unit will do it even though the marketing department advises it can...

Can't speak for the same issue with the SA-8004 but rest assured the Oppo 105 can as my 95 does everything so damn well.

Excellent, excellent excellent Rgd!

Really appreciate the advice. I'm definitely leaning toward the Oppo!

Thanks again.

One more thing,

Will I need to have the Oppo set up thru a TV set in order to play the digitized music? Can I just use the remote? Or a laptop?

Just get a cheap 7" Haier LCD monitor for eBay (or something equivalent) and connect to the Oppo via a simple and cheap composite video cable. You can use he remote, but you will need to see what you are selecting. This works well for me.

Awesome.

Thanks 1markr

One more question:

Anyone know if an ipad can be used to control the usb thumb drive digitized music?

Thanks

Yes, an ipad with Oppo's MediaControlHD app installed can control usb thumb drive connected to a 105.

Yes I use the 5004 on one of my systems, but mostly play rock n classic rock on it .