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Considering getting a CD player (again). Used? New? Criteria?

After years without one, I'm considering getting a CD player. I'm not against streaming, but I have many CD's and would like the simplicity of just playing them from time to time. I probably want to cap my expenditure at $700, or so, because this won't be the only way I play music.

A few questions:
If you've purchased a new CD player, what did you buy? Why?
If you've purchased a used player, how old is too old? What factors helped you choose?

My concern with used is that the transport mechanism of older players will be getting tired, and this won't be knowable just because a unit "checks out" with the site (or individual) testifying to the player's working condition. There's got to be an average point for many machines to give up the ghost, mechanically (varying from machine to machine, of course).
128x128hilde45
jeffvegas
372 posts
 
Used Linn Ikemi. Will smoke anything mentioned on here. Used for 700 bucks. Bulletproof. 
mesch
3,419 posts
 
As I mentioned in an earlier post I am with you on getting a transport to use with your DAC. Added flexibility, no need for redundant DACs, better upgrade path.  There are a couple posters on this thread that preferred the Audiolab transport over the Cambridge. The original Cambridge can be had for close to 1/2 the price however (~$300).  
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,876 posts
 
@mesch Thanks. I ordered the Cambridge and will try it out. Got it for $399, new. The Audiolab has good reviews but is, as you say, twice the price. For some, the stakes here are higher than they are for me; I simply won't be able to determine how good a choice this was until I have settled on a DAC, a new preamp/amp, and speakers. With all those choices yet to come, more analysis of this choice seems imprudent!
tworozbyt
15 posts
 
My vote would be a Linn Mimik II, which is well below your budget. I have two of them, one in an all-Linn system, and one in a Naim system, and they are still, after many years, powering right along, and sound better than flac files.
gt99
1 posts
 
I have just recently acquired a Cambridge Azur 851C and am extremely happy with overall performance.  Its brought new life to my CD collection and being as advertised a digital preamp, offers great flexibilty for adding digital sources such as BT (audioengine via toslink), IPOD via digital dock, ++.   Cambridge Audio appear quite specialised with DAC technology considering the number of DACs offered in their range, plus the upsampling  24bit/384kHz technology.  No direct comparisons, but it works for me . fed into a tube amp.
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