The Most "Analog" CD Player?

Well they're wayyyy more compact than 1920's WE/Vitaphone picture discs

twodolphins  No question about it, the EAR Acute sounds analog like the way you described it.  I started hoarding CDs even from the 1980s once I bought the Acute in 2006.  So easy to listen to.  However, 2019, I heard the COS Engineering DAC D2v which has superior resolution without giving up the tonal balance so I replaced my Acute.  I am probably going to move up to the D1.  DACs have improved to the point where LPs and CDs similarly mastered will sound similar.  With 7,000 CDs now, I appreciate them (I hated them in the 1980s and early 90s-it was the players I owned like the Muse Signature 9).   Unfortunately, in the 1980s, I didn't know about the Kyocera 310 and 410 which were extremely analog like sounding with tepid deep bass.  That was a great early CD player.  

Compare any direct data cd output, upsample it to 192/24 or better, convert it, then observe if you hear any difference between them.  You just might save yourself a lot trouble and money. 

That thing looks better suited for playing Laserdiscs than CDs!

If the price is'nt a problem have a look at ayon products.......absolutely magic

Meridian 506 20 bit, just my opinion.  Also have a 24 bit but don't notice any appreciable difference.  They can be picked up on the used market.  Took about 5 years of searching to find the 24 bit that was up to standards. 

The Hegel Mohican could fit that bill as well as some ARC players. Neither sounds rolled off or lacking in terms of details. So, if you mean "analog" like big old reel to reel (not vinyl LP) tape running at high speed (30 IPS), then these are decent approximations of that type of sound IMO. At least that is what I recall based on hearing tape (Revox decks) when I was in radio a million years ago.   

Until I evaluate the required adapter and it's cost I cannot give my endorsement.

The best that I have heard are:
1. MSB Technologies: The Select Transport coupled with the Select DAC (too much $$$ for me);
2. The new Esoteric K-01XD SACD/CD player with similar technology to (1) above, but cheaper ($23K), but not that cheap.

I do not like DCS because they seem to force their own version of musicality on the listener, but many love them. I would think the new Luxman would be great. 

Everyone should click the link on the OP's post it's not about analog sounding CD players.

I assume this post started off as a joke intended to get a chuckle from everyone.  It has ended up many look a bit foolish

Sparkler Audio S503 is a very analog sounding player. I have ow and I’m very impressed with its sound and tonal balance. 
https://sparkleraudio.eu/en/products/s503-spiral

AYRE makes a fine player.

Happy Listening!

@chayro - perhaps getting a separate DAC+transport may be a better sonic solution.  Maybe a tube DAC.

ditto @antigrunge2  regarding Audio Aero Capitol.  I have the Capitol Reference modded with Jupiter copper foil caps and Mullard tubes... best digital sound I've ever experienced.   Too bad they don't make them any longer.  If I had to buy another CDP, I'd look at Luxman.

Oh my word...I guess some posters never opened the op's link

LOL. Gotta say most manufacturers don’t give you a 12” transport in their CDP.

Good one!

seems like the comments jest jumped to discussing better CD 💿 players 😜😂😂😂

If I add a DAC does it turn from a player to a transport?

Oh my word...I guess some posters never opened the op's link

I have a music hall mmf-7.3, I would not say cheap, but came with an ortofon 2m bronze attached. I checked it and it is aligned dead on. It sounds fantastic.

Hello,
I agree with you all. It stinks that these less expensive turn tables come with the carts attached. Rega does this but they have three screw points for their carts so the likelyhood that they will be way off. Regardless you should always check your setup just so you don’t damage your cart and your records. As far as the most analog sounding CD player is Ayre. They should be coming out with a new player but the older players have really good analog sound due to the np filter. Also, A new CD player with that analog sound until Ayre gets out the new player is the Rega Apollo. It’s very affordable and the mids are great. Also at this price point which I think is under $1200 and a top loader. If you are in the Chicagoland area and want to visit an adult candy store try:
https://holmaudio.com/
They have the CD and SACD player at the store. Just to listen to the players is amazing. You will swear you are listening to the cleanest record in the world. 

Audio Aero Capitole Mk2, tubes in the output stage and way ahead for its time.

The most analog CD player that I know is Acute Classic, by EAR Yoshino. One of the best CD players of all times as well. It replaced my Big 7 DAC from Lampizator. It’s not the most transparent device I’ve had but the texture of sound is totally vinyl like. Troels Graveson consider it better than vinyl. The synergy with my Atma Sphere amplifier and Quad speakers was perfect. Designed by recently passed away Tim de Paravicini, the big English guy. It is also higly appreciated in France, where I live. Much better than Luxman or Rega.

CEC, audio Note.

Simaudio 260 D

The most analog cd player i have ever heard is a wadia transport and da converter never have i heard digital sound even close to that at all.

The sell copy you read for any DAC is that "it gives the music an analog sound". Having recently upgraded my equipment to an Audiolab 6000CDT through an Ares II DAC, I feel I can state categorically that a digital recording played through a DAC is a digital recording. There is a digital sound and there is an analog sound, and improved as it may be it still has the digital sound. The analog sound comes from the format and the wizardly ways developed by engineers and producers to get the best possible sound out of it (when they did). I still ultimately prefer the digital sound myself, but that's a preference. If the analog sound is what you want, I would suggest investing a lot of money in analog equipment.

i find the upsampling CD players tend to have a more "round" sound. the rega apollo sounded mellow to me as well. 

That's the way all CD players should look.

Rega should really sue NAD what a ripoff product!

Interesting only one five star review. Showing once again the importance of setup in getting the most from your CD player.

Does it come with an adaptor for the larger center hole in a CD?
My 45 adaptors are too big.

Cool, but one must purchase special replacement “micro-styli” to read the CD’s, which I hear are quite pricey!

35% 1 star.  Harsh but justified.

You are right that has to be the best fully automatic CD player ever built and a reasonable price...

At last they got it, CD's should have 30cm diameter.

G

maybe that explains all the bad reviews--- "won't read my disc"

Luxman D-08U...its known to sound more like Vinyl than any other Disc Spinner. The new Luxman D10 goes in a different direction.