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Vinyl guy seeking recommendation for a top level cd player

I know cds are dead.  Best time to buy a cd player, the way it looks.  I want an all in one box.  I don't stream so a separate DAC is not required.  Most of my cd collection have been ripped to a PC as Flac files and then down loaded to a Sony HAP-Z1ES.  Currently about 3000 Redbook and perhaps 100 SACDs.  The way cds are being dumped I figure on becoming a buyer again so these numbers will go up.  I have looked at Marantz SA10, Esoteric K1 (lightly used), and Luxman D-10X, so far.  It would be good if the sound could approach vinyl.  The Z1 does up to a point.  Listening this morning to the same recordings, the Z1 compares to a high end MM cartridge, but not to a SoundSmith Experion.  Maybe I am asking too much, but in any event a new cd player is being sought.  Thanks in advance for any advice.
Bill
billstevenson
gary_c
46 posts
 
OP asked for CD player recommendations, and half the gallery goes off into the weeds as usual.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,862 posts
 
The Aesthetix spinner includes a very lush organic DAC. Stuff it with great tubes from Andy at Vintage Tube. Andy and Jim white of Aesthetix know how to get great sound.

The Ayre decks have also served me well over the years.
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arize84
56 posts
 
I will give my 2 cents. I have a Luxman D10x. When I play the redbook layer of Analogue Productions jazz SACDs and then A/B it against the corresponding 45rpm record from AP, the difference is almost negligible. In fact, I have started replacing some of my AP 45 rpms with AP SACDs. I used Nina Simone's Little Girl Blue, Grant Green's Idle Moments, and Cannonball's Something Eles, to do the comparison. On the flip the DSD layer of those SACDs sound flat compared to vinyl.

Moving to rock, the AP DSD layer of Pink Floyd's "I wish you were" sounds no different than the most recent release on vinyl. The DSD layer of my Japanese SACD of Fleetwood Mac's rumors is noticeably better than my copy of the Bernie Grundman's 45 rpm cut that everyone claims is the best version of the album.

My analog rig is Rega Planar 8, Sound Smith Paua MkII cartridge, PS Audio Stellar Phono. Amplification is Pass Labs XP-20 preamp and Parasound JC 5 amp. Hope this helps.
hotei
143 posts
 
I like the ARC CD3 MKII.
billstevenson OP
345 posts
 
Arize84 wrote:  I have a Luxman D10x. When I play the redbook layer of Analogue Productions jazz SACDs and then A/B it against the corresponding 45rpm record from AP, the difference is almost negligible. In fact, I have started replacing some of my AP 45 rpms with AP SACDs. I used Nina Simone's Little Girl Blue, Grant Green's Idle Moments, and Cannonball's Something Eles, to do the comparison. On the flip the DSD layer of those SACDs sound flat compared to vinyl.

This is particularly helpful, thank you.  The D10X has to be pretty good.  It got a great write up in Absolute Sound this month.  Marantz ,too, gets praised constantly.  Have not found much on Esoteric.  I am trying to work with a local dealer so will have to inquire about availability of some of the other recommendations.  The only one I would not consider is Audio Research.  Not because it is not good, but because of a bad experience years ago.  I am an elephant.  I am a tube guy.  All of my amplification is top level Conrad Johnson:  GAT/2, ART150, TEA1/series3.

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