Okay......best single box reference CD player

>>I can't believe no one listed the Ayre C5xe in the list<<

Believe it.

It would have been mentioned otherwise.

Mike,
You should disclose that you've been dealing with the distributor for quite some time and have received favorable pricing on other purchases.

>>Its weird that everybody who has an Evolution Acoustics speaker has a Darzteel amp<<

Not if you are familar with all of them.

It's not a coincidence.

Stringbean,
Thanks. but it doesn't change the fact that nobody mentioned the Ayre heretofore.

And for good reason.

I could care less about being booed; it's still better than being you.

Stringbean,
Let me address two issues.

First, if you canvas 10 folks with really high end systems (I mean high end, not stuff like yours) and ask which one box cd player they prefer, none will say Ayre. You'll hear Esoteric, EMM, AMR, etc.

Point two, getting "booed" by some amateur analogists is not a big deal.

Thank you.

You're right Kops. As you said, that is the title of the thread.

There are a dozen players an experienced audiophile would select before the Ayre as the "best one box player".

Agree with Bar81 on Ayre amps.

Killer products; among the best solid state gear available.