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My Last CD player

I like my vinyl but digital has its own set of benefits. When my last CD player fell of its perch, I move to streaming audio.  Overall, I have been happy with this decision.  I did notice that lately, a number of posters have been claiming that CD is “better” than streaming.  I figured that most of these were flat earthers. I recently had the opportunity to listen to a “new generation” CD player on a friends system.  I am not sure I would say it was better but it was different and in a very good way.  As I have an extensive CD collection, this set me off to evaluate a new CD player for my system .... at my age presumably the last I will own.  I have identified a few different used players that seem to check the short list boxes: Audio Research cd 7 SE, Ayon cd10 Signature II Ultimate, Ayon cd35 Signature I and Luxman 

D-06u.  I am auditioning the Ayon cd10 at home .... smooth, natural, musical, holographic image, but light on dynamics and soundstage. Anyone have experience with these players?  Any other suggestions?

chilli42
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,371 posts
 
My current CD player is an Ayre......also my last CD player.
dorkwad
536 posts
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Modwright players such as the MW Sony 5400 Signature Truth, MW Oppo 2005 or any MW Sony players such as the 9100 or 9000.  Anything Dan Wright has modded was already a good player--his mods just made it near state of the art.  I have also swapped NOS Mullard  GZ34 rectifier tube, Sophia Electric Blue 6SN7 tubes in it to further improve the sound.  One can also add SR Orange or Blue fuses to do the same.  Adding some of Krissy's magic also makes a significant difference.  The Modwright players immediately show the improvement in SQ.

I picked up my first MW 9000 for $600 used, went to a 9100 later for a little more, and now have a 5400 fully loaded, with about all you can do with it.  The sound is the best of analog and CD together.  I WAS a digital hater until I heard the first MW player in my system.  Now, it's just a matter of which format has a better recording.  My analog setup sounds spectacular, and the digital is also great.  My analog is much more expensive the the digital source.  So for digital to be very close in sound is saying something.

Bob
trebor33
38 posts
 
Luxman D-03X. Plays standard redbook CD’s a treat with amazing detail retrieval, soundstage and dynamics. A touch of warmth, but not too much. It’s also the quietest player in operation I’ve owned. As good as the discontinued D-06U and not too pricey.
audio-union's avatar
audio-union
179 posts
 
I use a CEC TL5 transport and DA5 DAC in my personal system. CEC makes on of the best belt drive transports on the market at a price point. I like the musicality of the CEC products the best. CEC transports only read RED Book and they do that extremely well. 
krimsonhead's avatar
krimsonhead
25 posts
 
Well....there is an article on this forum touting the new Project. CD box rsr ...( $ 6000) as being better than the Jay' s Audio CD ...( which is the one Steve Guttenburg uses)......personally, I have an onyko 7030....which I bought off of Craigslist for $100.00.....and it is good enough for me....( my system weighs in at about $1500.00)
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