Audioguy86. Let us know about that Cyrus. I hear does nor read discs very well unless they are perfect condition and.other issues like buttons not working, short product life, and crazy high L250 base repair cost.
Need help choosing a new CD Player
I consider myself new to this hobby although I have dabbled a bit over the past 30 years or so. Recently purchased a McIntosh MA252 integrated and have a set of B&W Matrix speakers (1985 - 1989 vintage) that sound pretty good . Looking for a CD player (prefer under $1000) to replace my current Samsung DVD player. I primarily listen to classic rock and some classical.
For this price range am looking at the following:
Marantz CD6007
Rotel CD11 Tribute or CD 14
Pro-Ject CDBox S2 Chrome
My listening room is a little odd shaped (11x 16, bay window at one end and glass wall at the other end) and I have to listen across the shorter distance due to the room configuration.
Eventually will upgrade the speakers, but for now need a CD player
Would appreciate some advice on a decent quality CD player (at this time, not interested in a CDT and DAC setup). Thanks in advance.
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I've bought many used CD Players and never had a problem, but understand the concern if the player is more than a few years old...though it's actually pretty easy to find out if replacement transports and lasers are available, as some companies stockpile many or it is a generically available part...and the savings can be quite substantial |
I'm currently using the Marantz hd cd-1as a transport into a Border Patrol dac. It is 12 inch x 12 inch foot print, very compact, built like a brick house, and does a very nice job as a transport. I also own the Audiolab 6000cdt. On order, is the Cyrus cdt. The Cyrus is only 8 inch x 11 inch....very compact, and is supposedly a very good transport. Lastly, for SACD duty, I use my Marantz SA8005. So far, zero issues with the laser...it works very well, have had it since new. |
Lots of folks looking to get an inexpensive CD player got the Onkyo C7030 a couple of years ago. I stumbled across an Onkyo C7070 that has dual Wolfson chips and was $600 to $700 new. I paid $300 for it and it's a great unit. These may be getting harder to find, but if you come across a 7070 for under $500, I don't think you can go wrong. Happy Listening.
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I bought a marantz sa8005 sacd player a cpl years ago and the laser went out soon after, outside of the warranty period of course. Multiple calls and emails to Marantz yielded zero results so I just now use it as as dac with an Audiolab transport. I only bring it up because apparently its a known issue with that generation cd players so just beware. |
@jl35 - Well, if we're getting down to overall preferences, I'm a vinyl guy too. @deadhead58 - The Rega CD players are really good. I love my Rega Saturn-R. It's above your stated price range @ about $1500 for a good used one. Rega supposedly has a house sound, so @ about $1000, I would definitely consider the current Rega Apollo if I were looking to spend $1000 on a CDP. |
I see we are having a reading comprehension problem here. The OP stated he wants a plain old CD player, not interested in streaming or ripping disks. What is so hard to understand? @adg101, why keep pushing something the guy doesn’t want? Just because you like it, does not mean he will or even want it. I would go with the Yamaha player that is around 1K, give or take. I never warmed up to the Marantz sound, having owned both a SA8001 and SA8005. Don’t buy used, many of the used players laser assembly’s are near the end of their lives and many are no longer available. |
@jl35 - Not disagreeing with you. Just pointing out that the Vault "acts" like a CD player and also saves your played CDs for future streaming. Streaming, with a good user interface, album art, etc., using a nice tablet, laptop or even smart-phone, can be really beneficial to many people.
That said, I have a great CD player - Rega Saturn-R and I highly recommend it. But I also have 2 streamers that I use mostly for internet radio (Radio Paradise) and music discovery (mostly Spotify). Really enjoy both. But if I had to choose one, it would be the streamer with a good DAC. |
I love my Rega Apollo. Both the sound and the form factor, with a pop-up door rather than a mechanical sliding tray (one less thing to break).
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@jl35 - The Bluesound "Vault" is very much like having a CD player. It has a CD ripper and internal HDD built-in. Just stick a CD in it and play. At the same time, it rips the CD to the HDD for future streaming directly from the HDD. |
Even if you don’t want to stream, you can still use a Bluesound Vault 2 or 2i to play CD’s. If you need SACD then it’s not for you. Only downfall is you have to rip them first, but once done, how nice to have your entire library on your phone or tablet? No need to have to get up to change the disc, your phone/tablet is the remote, and if you like use volume control built within. As mentioned earlier I’ll never sell my dedicated CDP but I rarely, rarely use it but I’m keeping because it’s worth too much to give it away. I do use my Vault for streaming as well, so I’m unsure if you need an ethernet connection to use only for playing your own CD’s but I don’t think you do, but not sure it will load the artwork. Worth a look into if you’re interested in having your library of CD’s accessible from your phone or tablet. |
I have switched between Marantz and Yamaha CD players for years. The Marantz CD6007 is a fantastic choice below $1000. Great sound and great quality. The Yamaha CD-S1000 is a also a really good choice (also plays SACD), but it’s right above your budget. Between what you have listed I personally would choose the Marantz. I think their CD players work well with McIntosh gear. |
Like You, I do not want a separate DAC, and I do not and never will stream. My Quest, found two excellent sounding players. I consider only dual processors, then the results are effected by OEM solutions: over-sampling; over-clock; anti-jitter, proprietary things like Onkyo’s Vector Linear Shaping, ... I went thru a few Sony’s, 3 Oppo’s, KLH, Denon, finally found two. DVD/SACD/CD: Yamaha C961 (5 disc changer), 4 burr brown audio DACs CD Only: Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 II, 2 wolfson DACs (newer used and currently available new). Before, or IF you spend thousands, I suggest you try an Onkyo, happy done. Or, order a high priced one and a returnable Onkyo simultaneously, compare, return one. My Onkyo is for sale here, I describe it’s preferred sound
My Quest for a CD Player
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New, a little outside your budget but maybe you can find a used Bluesound Vault 2 then you can stream as well. Is a great streamer with a 2TB drive to rip your CD’s. You can’t throw a CD in and play immediately as it rips the disc first, but after that you can play. Great thing is you can stream and use a streaming service for a small fee and access a library larger than you could imagine and discover new music. The internal DAC is decent, meaning it is pleasant and not harsh but not the most revealing but for the money all around it’s a great buy. From memory it’s as good sound quality wise to the entry Marantz CDP which says a lot.
If you’re hard set on a dedicated CDP, I own and recommend a Cambridge Audio 851C which is now discontinued but if you can find one used it will be within your budget. Built very well, feels and looks like a player that should cost much more than it’s original $1,800 price, later when CDP sales started to drop Cambridge lowered the price to $1,500 I think. Also has digital input which I used to run my Bluesound Vaulit 2 through which was a noticeable improvement. As a player on its own it is a very nice and revealing but not fatiguing but if a recording is horrible it’s not going to fix it. Use quality cables on the 851C and you will be rewarded. I changed out both fuses too which opened things up and sounds a little more organtic.
Not sure they pop up often as those who own the 851C know they’ll never replace it without spending a lot more. I’ll never sell mine. Good luck. |
