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My Last CD player

I like my vinyl but digital has its own set of benefits. When my last CD player fell of its perch, I move to streaming audio.  Overall, I have been happy with this decision.  I did notice that lately, a number of posters have been claiming that CD is “better” than streaming.  I figured that most of these were flat earthers. I recently had the opportunity to listen to a “new generation” CD player on a friends system.  I am not sure I would say it was better but it was different and in a very good way.  As I have an extensive CD collection, this set me off to evaluate a new CD player for my system .... at my age presumably the last I will own.  I have identified a few different used players that seem to check the short list boxes: Audio Research cd 7 SE, Ayon cd10 Signature II Ultimate, Ayon cd35 Signature I and Luxman 

D-06u.  I am auditioning the Ayon cd10 at home .... smooth, natural, musical, holographic image, but light on dynamics and soundstage. Anyone have experience with these players?  Any other suggestions?

chilli42
bpoletti
1,553 posts
 
I would suggest an Onkyo C-7030.  In addition to being a quite good CD player with a superior DAC chipset, it has coax and optical outputs if an external DAC would be used.  

I bought one quite some time ago and was very satisfied with the player.  I moved on to an external DAC and the C-7030 works well as a transport.
chicagoblue1977's avatar
chicagoblue1977
224 posts
 
Simaudio 260D Transport only use a stand alone DAC much better sound. Also the Audiolab 6000CDT is quite nice and very affordable and is a transport only.
ticr
5 posts
 
If money is not an issue I suggest you give a try to the dCS Rossini Player, it is one of the best DAC-CD transport combination units that money can buy
https://www.dcsltd.co.uk/products/rossini-player/
jolywins
20 posts
 
Linn cd players all the way back to the Mimic to me and many others have a nice warm analog sound most closely to vinyl that I have heard. I also had the California Audio Labs early model for a year with nice Linn like tone quality. Lastly you can’t go wrong with the NAD players, and at their price level they can still produce the sonority of many more expensive cd players. Pretty rugged construction as well !

honest opinions tossed in for your perusal 
jolywins
alucard19
363 posts
 
See if you can find a Simaudio Moon 360D Cd player it was one of the best that they made or the newer 750D player, they typically run between 2k and 3k used.
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