Should I still buy a CD player? Suggest one?


I just read that Best Buy is discontinuing CDs. This seems like a bad omen for CDs in general. I had a system I liked and lost most of it in a fire this summer. Insurance will buy me a replacement, but is it unwise to buy a CD player now? What are high end people doing now for source?

And, my players was a Creek CD-43, CD-53, bought in about 2002. What would be an equivalent quality now? Insurance doesn't care that they are more expensive now, they just want an equal replacement. If I buy a player, which is the most popular good CD player now? It's important that is it a popular one, because I don't want to get saddled with something hard to sell since things are in flux.

Thanks.


river251
IMO vinyl has not peaked in popularity yet. Been buying and playing records from 1959 on. Had a reel to reel or two. Switched to cd for convenience and I thought superior sound at the time, 1983. Did not play vinyl again until just a few years ago. Still have some imports and Mobile Fidelity. There are 3 places to buy vinyl where I live, Redding CA. But no better quality electronics than the local Best Buy provides. BB does not have a Magnolia in the store-but can order for you.
If you have the electronic gear to support it, SACD might be the way to go. SACDs are harder to find, ebay works for me. They sound better, to me, than regular CDs.
Sorry to hear of your loss, especially any pictures or family items. I am not in favor of Chinese products, however my Oppo BDP 95 was not much of a choice, especially used. If your insurance will allow, used gear from Audiogon or other places, lets your money go much further.
Back to vinyl, they were also called biscuits back in the 70s. My favorite electronic variety store Putos 96002, sells new 180 gram reissue records at 25 a pop, he also has used records for sale. He is surprised how fast they march out the door. At other forums the quality of the reissue mix on new records seems to be a bone of contention for purists. Used/new records are available on Discogs as well as ebay. You have so many good choices to make. When possible listen to the hardware with you ears, or in your listening space.   Don't forget the various vinyl tools, cartridge alignment in 3 dimensions, cleaners, bubble level and Zerostat.  Good luck and happy listening.
I recently moved across country and left quite a bit of stuff behind.  I bought a Pro-ject Beatles turntable off Ebay. It should arrive shortly. I see lots of used Pro-ject and Rega turntables on Ebay for a decent spend. There seems to be quite a thriving market for vintage Technics as well. I see lots of vinyl records online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amoeba records.  There is more available on vinyl that first meets the eye for a  fan of 60s, 70s rock, jazz and blues.

For my Kpop, Jpop, Cantopop and Mandopop fetish, I have to look more at CDs.  I picked up an inexpensive Sony CD/SACD player on EBay, which will serve.

It's not the highest audiophile stuff, but as I am retired, I don't have the cash to throw at my hobbies like I used to.

I buy digital for my player/phone and stream music as well.  It's definitely more convenient when you are traveling.
Thank you all so much for bringing me into the present of the audio world.

Thanks for your sympathy too. I’ve learned that State Farm (I’ll never swtich) will replace everything I lost with new stuff...but I have to buy it then get reimbursed. If I choose to just take the money instead, say for my 35 year old Pinarello bike, they will accept the value of a new one (3K) as replacement value, then depreciate it 10% a year, up to 80% depreciation...I’d get $600. But if I buy a new one and show them the receipt, they will reimbursed me the full 3K. They will make you whole, IF you have the cash to replace things. Just for those who asked or commented about the process. State Farm came through incredibly on my damaged property. Fortunately the brush fire didn’t get the house significantly, just the storage building.

Anyway, Soix, your great post convinced me what to do. It made me recall that, even with a few hundred CDs, I often had trouble thinking of one I’d like to hear. The greater variety available with streaming will bring enjoyment that will more than make up for small differences in quality. But, I plan to buy a turntable too eventually.

Soix, when you say "Innuos Zen Mini Mklll, which at around $1500 could be your CD player, DAC, and streamer all in one" do you mean that it connects to the internet and does what my computer would otherwise do? Could I get just as good of sound quality if I simply buy a good DAC and hook it to my computer?

Thank you guys very much, now I’m going to have fun studying all the equipment you guys suggested. And they say it’s women who love to shop. :-)

NAD 546 is plenty good.
 OR
Buy a new Creek on eBay if insurance will compensate.