I't's kind of like Dac's. Our club did a shootout of Dacs from several hundreds of dollars to thousands. If the engineering and implementation is solid, the differences may not be as significant as the dollars would indicate. My experience is that you need to spend a whole lot more on an analog system vs. a cd player for the sound to pull away. I have a hard time with pop's and clicks on analog. It drives me crazy. I have had 7 cd players over the years. The last three were Modwright models and my current one is a Marantz based player. Every one of those Modwright models has been a step up due to the tube power supply and output stage. The ultra expensive units would require an audition and a used purchase.
What Sonically is the Difference between a $1,500 CD Player and a $10K-$25K One?
I realize opinions may vary, but if I could give an example of two CD players perhaps someone can give me their thoughts on the cost benefits of either one? What would be the difference in your opinion between say a Cambridge Audio Azur 851C CD Player and the Gryphon Scorpio S CD Player? And are the difference truly audible or more technical and rather indiscernible through human hearing?
In general, what makes a CD player (other than build components) 10x more costly than a decently built one other than features?
In general, what makes a CD player (other than build components) 10x more costly than a decently built one other than features?