I've owned the Classe CDP-1 and it is a very good player. I can't say how it would stack up against the current Classe players though, because I haven't heard them. The CDP-1 would be very near the top of my list if looking in your price range (<$1000). I've heard great things about the Rega Apollo, and it may be worth a listen as well. Rega seems to have a very good reputation for less expensive cd players. I owned a Rega Planet once many years ago, and thought it was a good value, but not an overly stunning player. I haven't heard the Apollo though, so I don't know how it would compare to the Classe CDP-1.
Happy hunting,
John |
The Apollo is a great choice. It is kind of forward and has lots of energy in all registers. Some might find it a little too intense.
I have an Audio Aero Prima mk2 and like it a lot. That would be my recommendation. But there are many options. Best thing for you to do is get one that strikes your fancy and see what you think. If you buy used and don't like it, you can get most of all of your money back. There is no substitute for experimentation.
Arthur |
Thanks for the advise gents, I purchased a Rega CD player this evening and plan on getting my hands on a Classe unit as well to see which one I like better, some also advised on a Cambridge unit, so that will be on my list as well. This should be some good fun. |
Congrats Soundgravy. The old AudiogoN buy-n-try method is really the best way. You can listen side-by-side, and keep the one you prefer. I do this quite a bit.
Keep us posted on the results.
Regards,
John |
Update---
Well, I went through a couple of CD players, A Rega Jupiter 2000, a new Rotel RCD-1070 and 2 Classe players. The Rega was a very nice sounding unit, but wasnt quite what I was looking for.
Then someone suggested the Classe CD/DVD1, I purchased one from the for sale ads here and when I received it the video portion was not working, plus it just didnt sound right, the seller agreed to send it back to Classe for me to have it fixed, but when he found out that Classe was going to upgrade the DAC's on the video side for free, he then wanted me to pay him an extra $150 to keep the player since it raised the value. I dont think so...so I sent it back to him.
I then tried a Rotel RCD-1072, it didnt cut the mustard either.
Then I found another Classe Cd/DVD1 and thought I would give it another try, and I am glad i did. This unit had the HDCD upgrade and was newer than the previous unit and sounded wonderful. Took my system to a whole other level.I ended staying up until 4 am listening to music.
All in all it was a fun trip, I learned alot about different players and learned that you really cannot ask someone how something sounds, you just have to hear for yourself. Thanks for all the advice gents. |
Soundgravy: If you wouldn't mind, could you share with us what the Classe does that the Rega and the Rotel did not (or vice versa)? Also, how would you characterize your sonic taste and the rest of your system? TIA. |
If you ever change your mind, look for a Cairn Fog 2 24/192, used for about $600 and a killer CDP. |
If I get this right, you bought a player that needed service so Classe threw in a free upgrade and the seller wanted to profit off that? That doesnt seem to be a fair idea. |
"Soundgravy: If you wouldn't mind, could you share with us what the Classe does that the Rega and the Rotel did not (or vice versa)? Also, how would you characterize your sonic taste and the rest of your system? TIA"
Well the Rega had a wonderful midrange quality about it, heavy weighted bottom end, and slighty dark upper frequency range. But it all lacked a focus in my setup, the soudnsatge was narrow and was not too deep it was pleasant to listen to, but my taste tend to run towards a detailed presentation.
The Rotel on the other hand was more detailed, but lacked the tonal qaulitys of the Rega. The Rotel had a much wider soundstage but was missing that lifelike presentation, instruments and performers were well placed but the space that tied them together was missing. Kind of flat in a way.
Now the Classe seemed to do everything right, it had a wide,deep soundstage,had plenty of detail and was able to recreate the ambiance of where the recording took place. I guess you could say that it put you in the room with the perfomance, whereas the other two always felt like you were listening to a recording.
Do keep in mind that this was how I perceived these players in my setup, and they may act differently in another configuration. |
"If I get this right, you bought a player that needed service so Classe threw in a free upgrade and the seller wanted to profit off that? That doesnt seem to be a fair idea."
Yes, I was unaware when I purchased it that it needed service, I was happy to hear that the seller was going to get it fixed for me, but that feeling was turned around when the seller wanted an extra $150 for the free upgrade that Classe was going to perform on the unit. He said that it would have made the player have a slighty higher value, so I should pay more for it. I really thought it was a dirty deed by the seller.
To top all of this off, he said that he had to send the player in to Classe since he was the original owner, and if I wanted to keep it, I had to pay the shipping cost back to him, the shipping cost from him to Classe, the shipping cost from Classe back to him and then the shipping cost back to me again. What a jerk i thought, so I told him just to keep it and he could refund my money.
He agreed then said that he would cover the shipping cost back to him and that he would just send me the refund in the mail, I have yet to see that, plus the guy tried filing a claim with UPS saying that he never received it, the unit was tracked and UPS left it on the front porch, this guy made up so many stories about how he had to check to see if his neighbors had it, he then said that none of them had it, but when the UPS driver went back out to investigate it suddenly appeared. This guy was a real ass. |
WOW! That seller was a real ass! I would contact AudiogoN and make them aware of the situation. You should have your full refund by now at the very least. As it is, he has stolen your money.
For future reference, I usually use a credit card through Paypal when purchasing big ticket items for this reason.
I've found my bank to be the best resource, better than Paypal, and even better than AudiogoN. FWIW, AudiogoN is some help, they can kick a member out, but they cannot get you your money back. Paypal is worthless in dispute cases. The credit card bank has saved me though, by cancelling the charge. They then have me ship the item to Paypal, and let Paypal and the seller fight it out. Leaving me (the buyer) and the bank (credit card) out of the loop.
If you use cash (MO, check, etc), you are totally at the mercy of the seller.
John |
I used paypal for the purchase and got my refund on the player, but he still owes me for the cost of the return shipping to him. Its only $15 but.............with this guy, Im going to push it. |
