What high-end cdp for low-end quality CD's ?


I need advice, in some foreseeable future I’m going to upgrade my cdp. My budget is going to be about $4000 top $5000. I was thinking about used Wadia 861, Accuphase 75V. But I had heard that they are true performers only on high quality audiophile grade CD’s. I heard that the more expensive SS cdp playback the worst it will sound with awful quality CD’s.
Unfortunately most of my CD’s is mean quality from BMG, SONY etc. buying CD’s from only audiophile companies or import them from Hon Kong, Taiwan, Japan (they are the best to me) is not a valid solution. I have heard rumor that some tube CD’s like Audio Areo, Lector (maybe Audiomeca ??-it is solid state though) can be more forgiving to mean CD’s, so you can actually listen to them. It is really hard for me to listen to them on my budget Arcam cdp, I cannot imagine it sounding worse with high-end player. So I’m looking for forgiving high-resolution, very dynamic, live, analog sounding cdp. So what would you recommend, I’m listening to soft rock, pop, classic.
Rest of equipment is Clayton monoblocks, Thiel 3.6 speakers by the end of summer I will have Supratek pre (I hope at least).
sorlowski

Showing 2 responses by bsal

Absolutely, Jeff. I haven't given up on CD and I agree that the Cap is an amazing player -- one of the very best available.

Nonetheless, I can tell you that my $2000 VPI Scout/Dynavector vinly rig absolutely blows it away, especially with older recordings, which are mostly what I listen to.

Most of the efforts in digitial are aimed at making it sound more analogue, so why not go to the source?
The only answer to this question is vinyl. Bad redbook sounds bad no matter what. I have an Audio Aero Cap, and although it makes these recordings sound "better" than many other players, they still sound congested, compressed, and veiled.