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Wadia or Arc CD player?

Hello all, I have a bad case of upgrade fever...I have just recently rebuilt my 2ch system with Vandersteen 3Asigs, ARC LS25 pre and ARC VTM100MKII.
All Cardas Gold reference cables. Next piece to go for is CD player.
Currently using my Rega Planet 2000. I welcome your thoughts, I am impressed with the ARC line up and build quality thus far. Looking for a comparable CD player to drive this system. I would of course be looking for an improvement in sound quality over the Rega, but also important is a reliable product with service support.
Thanks!
vdosc
mordante
511 posts
 
I know I'm not aswering you question. But you should also put the Astin Trew AT3500 plus on your list. You should be able to buy a new one for around $2k I guess and it is very good. I can hold it's own against older more expensive CD players. I have no commercial intrest in Astin Trew nor any other audio brand.
eee3
214 posts
 
I would ditto Rrog, the ARC CD-3 MKII would mate well with the other ARC equipment you have, the sound is very analog.
larryakay's avatar
larryakay
5 posts
 
I've had both Wadia and ARC, currently using the ARC CD7 (haven't upgraded it). I much prefer the ARC. I'm thinking about upgrading myself and might make a buyer a good deal on the CD7 (not heavily used as I'm mostly a vinyl listener. If you want to consider the CD7 get in touch with me.

Regardless, I think you'd end-up preferring an ARC piece and it would all go very well in your system (the rest of my gear is ARC and Vandersteen).
vdosc OP
51 posts
 
Thank you for you responses, this will help me in quest!
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
Get the CD-3 mk II. ARC will service it forever. Most older Wadias use Sony KSS-151A laser pickups that are no longer available. Same for Pioneer stable platter mechhanism (Wadia 830, 301), which gets harder to source.
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