The best CD Player for the money

There is no right answer to your question. It seems that everyone has a different opinion regarding what is the best. If you compare the audio magazines, you will also see that they have their favorites. My recommendation is you pick some of the above CD players that are in your price range and go listen (both in the store and then in your home). I own the Meridian 508.20 (recently upgraded to 24 bit) and like it very much. Another good choice is the Arcam 23T CD player. Enjoy and go listen. cheers...

All i have to say is:

Get a semi-cheap cd player that can be used as a transport and get an MSB link DACIII with half nelson upgrade and let me tell you - that setup will FAAAR outperform the likes of the Rega Planet 2000 etc.

I was just visiting a bunch of stores over the past couple of weeks to find a replacement for my RCD 971 (Rotel), but for slightly less than a new REGA Planet, I can get the MSB with the Nelson upgrade. I compared the Planet with a cheapo combi-player (and i mean REALLY cheap) and it completely KILLED the Planet 2000.

If you're looking to bring your source to the next level, I strongly suggest you take a look at this approach.

It is certainly, without a doubt in my mind, the route I will be taking in the very near future.

Sony DVP-7000 ~$250 used (an excellent DVD player as well).

I would tend to agree with our colleague FastPArrot - I just purchased a used Accuphase DP-75 and I was unprepared for just how good that unit sounded. Got the DP-75 a couple of days ago. I gave it a few hours to warm up to room temperature before I played it – it was ice cold as it came off the Fedex truck.

My initial impressions are those of tremendous detail and harmonic bloom and gorgeous liquidity. Pianos sound like – pianos. Soundstage is huge and open and the characteristics of each recording venue are readily distinguishable. My wife - a music lover, but not an audiophile per se - was stunned at the musical presentation. She remarked that 'now the music just goes right through you.' This is a truly wonderful unit, and I can only marvel that it is a ten year old design. A superb bargain at its currrent used value of approx $2500 to $3000. I'll review it in depth after I've had time to live with it.

Any opinions on the PARTS CONNEXION Upgraded Shanling T100, especially compared to the Granite 657?