The best CD Player for the money

Check out the Reference Audio Mods Web site. RAM reports the stock Oppo to be favorably compaired to the stock Marantz SA-11S1 that retails for $3,499.US. Not too chee'zy Aye ?

Jazze22: TAS 1/07 under 2006 Product(s) of the Year Awards lists the Budget Component of the Year for '06 as the Oppo DV-970HD (149.US).

TAS magazine also features an article by Chris Martens , p.26 regarding the Oppo. Based on the glowing review I purchased the DV-970HD which supports DVD-audio/Video,SACD,HDCD and CD and provides HDMIoutputs w/ 720p/1080i upconversion directly from www.Oppo.com .

I then compaired the Oppo to a fully out-rigged EAD combo that initially retailed for approx.$5K(US). The Oppo in-terms of sonic layering ,soundstage & presence thrashed the EAD no small feat in my book.

If you have not already made up you mind buy the 970 and pocket the savings.

Well at least the Oppo exists...

This tweak will add a tad of zest to the search for the "Best CD Player for Mo' Money" . What ever CD player you decide upon mate it with the discontinued and for now widely available GE composite video cable. You can find the interconnect @ Big Lots , Ollies , Goodwill and other discount houses. Use the cable for the coax output as a transport or the players outs to the pre-amp. The RCA interconnect creates real magic with everything I have mated it with. The interconnect was distributed by Thompson, Inc under the GE nameplate , made & manufactured by Jasco in China. Deeply discounted @ $1 or 4 bucks per 6' run -- 2 runs for a pair . Takes any player up a notch or more. Oppo's sound more musical , the tones just right. What have you got to loose ?

In my part of the country , the GE cables have been sold-out by the discounters for now.

Threaders: Oppo has been selected by TAS as the budget digital component of the year again --That's 2 years running.

In order to enjoy the superb digital, the unit must be calibrated to your musical taste using a PC, LapTop , keyboard and monitor. Don't do that and no matter what the unit offers you will never hear it.

I suggest that's the musical key the reviewers fall in love with...